+51 984 813 399
info@peruinfinitetravel.com
The Lares Valley trek is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail. Off the beaten path, it offers visits to authentic Andean communities while being surrounded by impressive mountains, lakes, and valleys. This trek provides a real insight into the life of the people of Cusco as it was before.
The route we offer begins in the village of Pumahuanca in the Sacred Valley and ends at the hot springs of Lares with a visit to the village of Cuncani on the way.
On day 3 of the trek, you will take a bus from Lares to Ollantaytambo and then continue by train to Machu Picchu. This organization is part of the program we offer.
Day 1: Cusco – Urubamba – Pumahuanca Valley – P’acchayoq – Cuyoc Camp.
Hiking distance: 14 km
Starting elevation of the trek: 2800 m / 9,186 ft.
Campsite elevation: 4000 m / 13,123 ft.
Difficulty of the hike: moderate challenge
Climate: cold
Lodging: tented camp.
Approximate hiking time: 7 hours
Day 2: Cuyoc – Pumahuanca Pass – Cuncani Camp
Hiking distance: 13 km
Starting elevation of the trek: 4000 m / 13,123 ft.
Maximum altitude: 4580 m / 15,682 ft.
Campsite elevation: 3750 m / 12,300 ft.
Difficulty of the hike: difficult challenge
Climate: cold
Lodging: tented camp.
Approximate hiking time: 7-8 hours
Day 3: Cuncani Camp – Lares Hot Springs – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes Village
Hiking distance: 6 km
Starting elevation of the trek: 3750 m / 12,300 ft.
Maximum altitude: 3750 m / 12,300 ft.
Elevation of Aguas Calientes town: 2000 m / 6,560 ft.
Difficulty of the hike: easy challenge
Climate: temperate
Lodging: hotel.
Approximate hiking time: 3-4 hours
Day 4: Aguas Calientes Village – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
Walking distance: 3 km
Maximum altitude: 3400 m / 11,155 ft.
Elevation of Aguas Calientes town: 2000 m / 6,560 ft.
Difficulty of the hike: easy
Climate: warm and sunny
Lodging: hotel
Approximate hiking time: 3 hours exploring.
The Lares Valley trek is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail. Off the beaten path, it offers visits to authentic Andean communities while being surrounded by impressive mountains, lakes, and valleys. This trek provides a real insight into the life of the people of Cusco as it was before.
The route we offer begins in the village of Pumahuanca in the Sacred Valley and ends at the hot springs of Lares with a visit to the village of Cuncani on the way.
On day 3 of the trek, you will take a bus from Lares to Ollantaytambo and then continue by train to Machu Picchu. This organization is part of the program we offer.
Day 1: Cusco – Urubamba – Pumahuanca Valley – P’acchayoq – Cuyoc Camp.
Our guide will pick you up from your hotel and transport you in our bus to the village of Pumahuanca. There, we will meet our muleteers who will be in charge of carrying our camping equipment with mules and horses. Our support staff, porters, and cook will prepare breakfast, and then we will start our hike through a beautiful landscape of queuña trees endemic to the area. We will walk for three hours from 2,800m/9,184ft to 3,600m/11,800ft until we arrive at our lunch place called Paccha, where we will have a delicious lunch. After lunch, we will continue our hike for three more hours until we arrive at our camp located at an altitude of 4,000m/13,100ft. Upon arrival, we will find our tents set up by our support staff, and we will have some time to rest and prepare our equipment for sleeping. At 5:30 PM, our guide will invite you to our dining tent to enjoy tea time. He will offer you hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies, etc. During tea time, you will receive information about the next day. After dinner, you will enjoy a mate de coca, a traditional Andean drink, especially in cold seasons, to keep warm and help you sleep like a baby llama. Finally, you will go to rest and be ready for the next day.
Hiking distance: 14km
Elevation at the beginning of the hike: 2,800m/9,184ft
Elevation of camp: 4,000m/13,123ft
Difficulty of the hike: moderate challenge
Climate: cold
Lodging: tented camp
Approximate hiking time: 7 hours
Day 2: Cuyoc – Pumahuanca Pass – Cuncani Camp
Our support staff will wake you up with a hot coca tea. After a good breakfast, we will start the hike uphill for 4 hours to the Pumahuanka pass at 4,580m/15,682ft. Once we arrive at the pass, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will then descend for an hour until we reach a beautiful lake where we will have our lunch. Afterwards, we will hike downhill for 2 more hours until we arrive at the village of Cuncani located at 3,750 m/12,300 ft. where our camp is located. We will have the option to meet local people and see the way of life they have in the mountains. Tea time will be at 17:30 hours, followed by dinner, and finally, we will go to sleep.
Note: If time and physical condition permit, we can have a walk of 3 more hours after lunch to the thermal baths of Lares and camp there near the hot springs. We will have the option to enjoy the hot springs and relax our muscles.
Hiking distance: 13km
Elevation at the beginning of the hike: 4000m/13123ft.
Maximum altitude: 4580m/15682ft.
Elevation of the camp: 3750m/12300ft.
Difficulty of trek: difficult challenge
Climate: cold
Lodging: layer camp.
Approximate trekking time: 7-8 hours.
Day 3: Cuncani Camp – Lares Thermal Baths – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes Village
We will begin our day with a cup of hot coca tea and breakfast, followed by a 3-hour walk to the medicinal hot springs of Lares. Once we arrive, you can take advantage of the pools of hot water to relax your muscles. Our support staff will prepare lunch before we say goodbye to them, as they will not be accompanying us to Machu Picchu. It is customary to tip the support staff, with the amount collected from all members of the group. We will then board our private transportation, which will take us on a 3-hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, we will board a train that will take us to Aguas Calientes village, a journey that lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes, allowing us to enjoy the stunning Urubamba canyon. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes village, our guide will take us to our hotel, where we can shower and get ready for dinner at 7:00 p.m. After dinner, our guide will inform us about the plans for the next day.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes Pueblo – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
Today is very important for us, after breakfast we will board the bus that will transport us to the citadel of Machu Picchu bus ride for 25 minutes, upon arrival Machu Picchu will enjoy a guided tour with your guide visiting the most important places of the citadel, guided tour that will last 2 ½ hours approximately, if you book for the Huayna Picchu Mountain the guide will leave you at the entrance control for this mountain, after the guided tour of Machu Picchu you will board the bus that will return you to Aguas Calientes town for lunch, after lunch the guide will inform you about the return to the train station Ollantaytambo and then Cusco city, be sure to be 30 minutes before at the train station Aguas Calientes Pueblo, the train leaves at scheduled time.
Walking distance: 3km
Maximum altitude: 3400m/11155ft cusco Elevation from Aguas Calientes town: 2,000m/6,560ft.
Difficulty of the hike: easy
Climate: warm and sunny.
Briefing: Prior to the start of the trek, one night before, your guide will brief you on the entire 4-day, 3-night trek.
Professional tour guide: With extensive knowledge of history, first aid, and bilingual.
Camping equipment: Dining and kitchen tents, chairs, tables, and cooking utensils.
Tents: Eureka Timberline for 4 people to be used only by 2 people.
Duffel bag: You will receive a duffel bag to carry your personal items, up to a maximum of 7 kgs/15.4 lbs (weight includes sleeping bag).
First aid kit and oxygen tank: Which will be carried by your guide in case of emergency.
24/7 customer service.
Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners.
Tea time or Happy Hour: Every afternoon after the hike, our support staff prepares hot chocolate, tea, coffee, popcorn, and cookies that you can enjoy while waiting for dinner.
Water for the hike: Which will be distributed after each meal, you will only need one bottle.
Wake-up tea: Every morning after waking up, you will receive hot coca tea.
Transportation: Day 1: Transfer from Cusco to the trailhead. Day 4: Transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco city.
Bus ticket: Up and down Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, day 4.
Train ticket: Return day 4 from Aguas Calientes town to Ollantaytambo station.
Permits and entrance fees: Entrance ticket to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Sleeping bag: You can rent it in our office.
Walking sticks.
Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu mountain ($60.00).
Lunch and dinner on day 4.
Tips for support staff.
VERY IMPORTANT:
TOILETRIES:
How many days of acclimatization do I need before starting the trek?
We recommend that you arrive in Cusco city at least 2 or 3 days before the trek to adapt to the altitude and avoid possible symptoms of altitude sickness during our Salkantay tour. For this purpose, we offer tours around the city of Cusco, such as the CITY TOUR, SACRED VALLEY, MARAS MORAY, MARAS SALT MINES, and WALKING TOUR, which will help you acclimatize to the altitude.
Season: Any month of the year (rainy season from December to March).
Informative meeting or briefing:
A briefing meeting is held one night before the trek. During the meeting, you will receive information about the 4 days and 3 nights of the tour, and this meeting will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you are unable to attend, you will need to inform us via email so that we can arrange your meeting with the guide at another date or time.
Payment of the balance of the trek (in Cusco):
The payment of the balance of the trek must be made at the time of the meeting or one day before. We would appreciate it if you pay the balance in cash. You will have the option of withdrawing money at ATMs in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas or on Avenida El Sol, which is Cusco’s commercial street, where you will find banks, ATMs, etc. We do not accept bank checks or traveler’s checks.
Travel bag or duffel bag:
You will receive a duffel bag or travel bag that the horses will carry. In this duffel bag, you can put your clothes for the 4-day trek, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.
NOTE: You will also need a backpack to carry your personal items, such as sunscreen, water, rain gear, sunglasses, etc.
What do I do if I want to climb the Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu mountain?
The citadel of Machu Picchu is most beautiful when seen from above, so it is best to hike up one of the mountains next to the ruins.
Huayna Picchu: This is the most popular and should be booked in advance because it sells out very quickly. This hike takes approximately 45 minutes to the top and another 45 minutes down. Tickets are sold in timed sessions that indicate when you can start the hike.
First session: 7 AM to 8 AM. Second session: 10 AM to 11 AM.
This refers to the time period when you can start your hike. Normally, we reserve the second session so that you can enjoy the tour of the Machu Picchu citadel with your guide. Afterward, you will do this hike on your own, although your guide will show you where to start.
Machu Picchu Mountain: The route of this hike is slightly longer than Huayna Picchu. The hike has an ascent that takes 1.5 hours to the top and another 1.5 hours to return.
First session: 7 AM to 8 AM. Second session: 9 AM to 10 AM.
Peru Infinite Travel will provide the second session for this tour.
Strikes/Demonstrations:
Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked and trains are stopped. We will do our best to ensure that your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before the start date. In rare circumstances, tours may need to be cancelled. In such cases, our operations department will coordinate with you. Your safety is always our primary concern.
Lost and Found:
Each client is responsible for their items throughout the tour. Please be mindful of where you leave your belongings and remember to collect all items from our vehicles, stores, restaurants, etc. It is possible for other hikers or teams to mistake them for their own.
Back to Cusco:
To return to the city of Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu, certain logistics are required, which are included in the tour. Below we explain some of these logistics:
From Machu Picchu, you will take a 25-minute bus ride to the town of Aguas Calientes. Buses operate on a first-come, first-served basis and run throughout the day.
Next, you will take a train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo train station. Your guide will provide you with your train tickets along with the designated time. It is important that you arrive at the train station 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
The travel time by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Ollantaytambo train station, please look for a member of our company who will be holding a board with your name. We will pick you up in our private transportation and take you directly to your hotel in Cusco.
The travel time from Ollantaytambo to the city of Cusco is approximately 2 hours.
