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Are you looking for a trek that gives you more than just a delightful dose of adrenaline rush? Well, our 4-day Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail might be exactly what you’re searching for. This isn’t just a normal path to explore the beauty of Machu Picchu. Instead, the journey is filled with snow-covered mountains, serene lakes, and the sight of llamas and alpacas. Get ready to interact with the local Indigenous population and learn about the ancient traditions of the Inca civilization. Reach out to our team or explore our website to book your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail right away!
For the first day of your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, you will be picked up from your hotel at 6 am, from where you will embark on a 3-hour drive to the village of Kiswarani. This is where you will meet your horsemen before beginning your trek. After trekking uphill for two hours, you can explore the potato valley section, where the locals grow numerous varieties of organic potatoes.On the way, your guide will also point out some indigenous medicinal plants growing in the region. We will then stop for a while for lunch, which will be prepared by our professional chef.
Once you’re done with lunch, the llameros or horsemen will conduct a ceremony showcasing the beauty of llamas. These creatures were once considered sacred to the Incas and were fundamental to their economy.While back in the day, it was considered a sign of privilege to own llamas, these animals are slowly disappearing. Therefore, by including them in our Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, we hope to contribute to the community and their economy by providing work the llamas as well as the llameros.
As you go around the village, you will get to visit the homes of some of the locals and learn further about their lifestyle and ancient traditions. In case we have time, you might also get to visit the schoolhouse where the kids still speak Quechua, which is the language of the Indigenous people of South America. You can also bring along some toys, notebooks, or school supplies to distribute among the kids. You can then continue with your hike, and after a gradually uphill hike of two hours, you will reach the campsite. This is where you will be greeted by our trekking staff, who will set up your tents. As the day melts into the evening, you can relish some delicious hot beverages, after which you will be served a scrumptious dinner. You can either stay up for a bit to continue stargazing or turn in for the night in your tent.
The second day of your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trailwill begin at 5 am, which is when we will wake you up with a round of hot beverages. Allow yourself to be mesmerised by the views of the lakes and valleys all around. The locals will be up and about by this time, along with their llamas and alpacas. Breakfast will be served by the time you finish packing your gear. We will then fill up our water bottles, organize snacks, and then begin our expedition towards Machu Picchu. Climbing to the summit of the mountain will take anywhere between three to four hours. This is known as the Pachacutec Pass or Condor Pass.In order to make the steep uphill easier, we will be zigzagging our way to the top. The ambience around will include lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas.We will also have an emergency horse around in case a hiker needs to avail a ride if they get tired. Once you reach the Condor Pass, you will be situated above the mountain peaks, almost making you feel like you’re floating in the clouds. You will be able to witness the mountain of Pitusiray, which is situated at a height of 18,700 feet, and the Condor Pass is perched at a height of 15,354 feet. Our porters will be carrying a hot drink that will be served to you. This is when you can take advantage of the stunning surroundings and click as many photographs as you want before we begin our descent.
The downhill journey towardsEl Mirador or The Viewpointwill take about an hour, after which you will enjoy a delectable lunch. You will find llamas grazing nearby.Once you’re done with lunch, you will spend the next three hours hiking downhill. Enjoy the views of the natural beauty and the adorable alpacas and llamas before arriving at your campsite, the village of Cancha Cancha, which is known to be the only village that does not have modern technology.Situated at an altitude of 12,303 feet, this village is where the locals still follow the original Inca traditions, which is something the tourists can witness when they book their Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail with Andean Path Travel. You will notice that 85% of the houses are still built using ancient construction methods, made of stone and grass-thatched roofs.As opposed to the other villages in the Lares Valley, this village has no electricity or cars.While you breathe in the beauty of the wilderness, our porters will set up your tents.You can once again meet the locals and spend time with the schoolchildren in the area. In the evening, you can just relax, sip on some hot beverages, relish your dinner, and then retire to bed.
The beginning of the third day of your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail will entail your departure from the Ollantaytambo Station. On this day, you will be making your way towards Km 104, which is the beginning of the trail.Once you reach Km 104, which is located at a height of 7,052 feet, get off the train and make your way to the registration point. After completing the registration, we will be walking for a couple of minutes till we reach the Inca archaeological site known as Chachabamba. Built during the 15th century, it once served as a religious and ceremonial site for the Incas.Our guide will provide you further information regarding this site’s history.
Continue walking uphill until you reach Winay Wayna or Winayhuayna, which translates to ‘forever young’ in Quechua. Once you’re done exploring this Inca ruin, you can have your lunch or snacks and continue hiking towards Machu Picchu. After about two hours, you will reach the archaeological site near Machu Picchu known as the Sun Gate. After reaching Machu Picchu, take some time to click photographs of the awe-inspiring surroundings. For the last bit of the day, we will board a bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes. Check in to your hotel, relax, and have your dinner whenever you please. This dinner will not be included in the package, though.
Wake up to a healthy and hearty breakfast in the morning for the fourth and final day of your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail. Spend the rest of the morning exploring Machu Picchu through a private tour with your trek leader. This tour will go on till 12 pm. In case you have obtained a permit to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain, you can do so after this tour. However, remember that these permits are subject to availability, and in case you don’t obtain it, you will be climbing the Machu Picchu Mountain instead.
In the afternoon, we will head towards the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have lunch (not included in the package). A short while later, we will catch a train back to either the Ollantaytambo or Poroy train station and then drive to your hotel in Cusco.
For your duffel bag:
We provide you with a duffel bag for your 4-day Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail. This will be carried by packhorses and will not be needed during the day.
Toiletries:
For your daypack:
While carrying a daypack for the Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, it’s best to keep it small. The maximum daypack limit for this purpose is 30 liters.
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Andean Path Travel is a Peruvian travel company whose aim is to assist travelers in curating adventures that are unconventional and thrilling. After having been in the travel industry for over 10 years, we have managed to bring about the perfect balance between outdoor adventures and cultural heritage. With our Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, not only will you get to witness the natural beauty of two distinct treks, but also experience the culture and history of the local Indigenous people. Our team consists of people who are passionate, skilled, experienced, and highly intuitive, thereby knowing exactly what a traveler needs to add that extra zing to their travel plans. Reach out to us right away to secure your spot for our 4-day Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail.
Professional tour guides: Our tour guides are immensely professional and will do everything possible to ensure your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail is filled with insightful experiences. They speak English fluently and possess deep knowledge about the heritage and history of the Inca civilization. These well-educated individuals hold degrees in subjects such as history, tourism, archaeology, history, or botany.
Experienced chefs: The chefs we have at Andean Path Travel are skilled enough to cook meals that are healthy, gourmet, as well as delicious. They make use of the local and exotic produce to concoct dishes that are a mix of Peruvian and international cuisines. During your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, our chefs also keep in mind the allergies or dietary restrictions of the travelers, if any.
High quality equipment: The equipment we provide you for your 4-day Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail is of top-notch quality. Right from mats and mattresses to the tables, chairs, and tents, everything is handpicked and organized by our team, keeping every little detail in mind. Our first aid kids and duffel bags are designed in a way such that you will never run out of any essential items throughout this journey.
Small groups: We at Andean Path Travel understand that a large group may not always be feasible for every adventure, especially for something as elaborate as the Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail. This is why we ensure to keep the groups small so that everyone’s comfort and convenience is taken care of to the fullest.
You can store your luggage either in your hotel or in our office, based on whatever feels more convenient to you.
In order to book the Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, you can either email us at andeanpathtravel@gmail.com and our team will contact you soon after, or give us a call on the numbers listed on our website. You can also fill a form and one of our tour experts will get in touch with you.
Yes, bringing your original passport is a must for this journey. Make sure it’s the same passport you used to book your Lares Hike and Short Inca Trail, reservations, entrances, and permits.
In case someone is unable to complete the trek for health issues or any other reason, we will help you reach the nearest town and assist you with transportation. Your tour manager will also be carrying an oxygen bottle in case it’s needed for emergency situations.
Yes, we will absolutely drop you back to your hotel once the trek is complete.
The dry season, which usually lasts between May to September, is considered as the best time to go for the trek.