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LARES VALLEY 4 DAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
PRICES PER PERSON IN 2010 US$ 400 PER PERSON - MINIMUM 2 PERSONS TO LEAVE
TAKE THE WEAVER´S WAY TO MACHUPICCHU! AVOID THE CROWDS AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE ANDES, LAKES, AND WATEFALLS.
DEPARTURES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
For a detailed day-by-day itinerary, click here
TREK ITINERARY
First day: Cusco - Calca - Quishuarani (Lares) - Cuncani
Second day: Cuncani - Huacawasi - Ipsaycocha Lake
Third day: Ipsaycoccha Lake - Patacancha - Willoq - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Fourth day: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Cusco
DISTANCE: 33km
DURATION: 4 days
WHEN TO GO: Can be done year round.
ALTITUDE: 2100m to (4350m second day)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TREK FEES: None
WHEN TO BOOK: AS SOON AS TO BE ABLE TO BOOK YOUR TRAIN TICKET AND THE ACCOMODATION IN AGUAS CALIENTES.
INTRODUCTION
Our trek takes place on a hidden valley that very few outsiders have ever been. The colonial town of Lares, with the natural delightful hot spring bath, and the spectacular view to the Urubamba Mountain chain The Area offers moderately strenuous trekking, though small mountain villages, crossing passes of over 4,000m with spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon. The best know of which is Veronica (5,750m), the most prominent snow peak that can be seen from the Machu Picchu train.
The trek, described here, gives you the rare opportunity to see how the Quechua-speaking Indians of the high mountain villages live by farming potatoes and oca, and herding llamas and alpacas on the inhospitable flanks of the towering peaks. Where the colorful ponchos of the men vie for attention with the exquisite “manta” shoulder garments of the women, and each wear a distinctive local headgear that announces their origin from this part of Peru; The Lares Valley is particularly well know for its very high-quality, brightly colored weavings and characteristic upturned hats, many of the popular tourist markets gets supplied from here. The villagers along the way are generally friendly and welcoming, and some will offer to sell you their excellent weavings.
The trek itself is rated moderate, similar to the Inca Trail. There are, however, one pass over 4000m so it is essential that you are well acclimatized to the altitude. Our trek finishes at Machu Picchu.
(At 6:00 or 7:00 PM Tour Orientation the night before your trekking with your group and guide)
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Free transfer from the airport to your hotel in Cusco
Transportation from: Hotel - Lares Hot Springs
Transportation: Willoq - Ollantaytambo (3rd day)
Professional English and Spanish speaking guide; 2 guides for groups over 08 people
Cook; to prepare the meals
Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks, sleeping bags and mattresses (Max. 6 kg / 13 lbs per person
Emergency Horse: Just in case someone needs help
Ticket: Machu Picchu
Bus ticket: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes (4th day)
Hostel: Double accommodation in Aguas Calientes (3rd night)
Train Service: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Meals: 3 Breakfasts/3 Lunches/3 Dinners/3Snacks and afternoon tea, vegetarian and especial diet can be request
Equipment: tents (2 people in each, 3-person-capacity), sleeping pad, dinner tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transfer from train station to the hotel
Breakfast (day 1), usually the hotels offer this service
Sleeping bag
Lunch (day 4)
Tips for the guide, horseman
OPTIONAL:
- US$ 15 Sleeping bag rental (-10°C) for the whole trek
- US$ 15 single accommodation
EXTRA INFORMATION:
$ 15 DOWN SLEEPING BAG 2 kg minus 10 degrees Celsius
- Mattress included weigh 1 Kg.
Unless you hire an extra porter you need to carry your back pack, sleeping bag and the mattress
Porter to carry up to 9 Kg = $30 up to 18 Kg = $60 for the tour from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
Regarding porters who carry personal items. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, water bottle, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you. You will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.
Best to put everything up to 20kgs in one backpack for the porter so that you donït have 2 large backpacks in your tent. We can provide you with a big rice sack but it is better to use a backpack so that it is easier for you to bring your stuff back on the train etc from Aguas Calientes.
Take EXTRA MONEY for The bus down from MachuPicchu to Aguas Calientes $6, if you don´t want to walk down the trail so it is optional, tips for Porters etc.
You need to take at least 350.00 soles emergency money that you hope to come back to Cusco with!!!
SUGGESTION FOR A FANTASTIC HIKE: ALTITUDE SICKNESS:
Itïs possible you will feel the effects of altitude on arriving in Cusco, ( 3,400 Mts) especially if you fly from sea level, eg LIMA. It is best to wait at least two days before setting out on the trail, don¨t drink alcohol, smoke or take sedatives. Drink lots of water and coca tea. Drink at least two litres per day, especially on the second day pass. In high altitude you breath rapidly and shallow causing you to dehydrate more quickly. Drink extra water or coca tea to avoid this as coffee also tends to cause dehydration. Always purify water you take from the trail waterfalls and streams. You can purchase purification tablets (eg Micropur) from any pharmacy. You must leave micropur tablets in the water for at least 90 mins before drinking. Iodine only 20 mins. If you have any medical conditions, allergies or special food requirements etc. Please write this clearly in the registration book.
Water: We suggest you take a 1 and a ½ litre bottle of water on the first day and then you can refill this on the trek. We boil water each night which is available after breakfast each morning for your water bottles. We still suggest you take water purification tablets or filters for any unboiled water you take directly from streams or Waterfalls etc. You can buy bottle water from the 3rd afternoon in Ollantaytambo and onwards.
Regarding TEMPERATURES during the day...If you are walking in the sun it is very hot and feels like 26 degrees Celsius, but when you walk through the forest or in the shadow of a mountain it can feel like 14 degrees almost immediately. At night it could get to -5 degrees Celsius if you are really unlucky but more likely just freezing! Main hint for dealing with the temperatures is to try and keep your body temp as regular as possible by using layering of clothes so when you feel cool put on an extra layer before you get cold and if you start to feel warm take off a layer before you perspire which will leave you with a chill later if you don´t take care..
The weather from Dec through to early March is usually the wettest on the trail.
Some days it may be drizzly all day or you may have a burst of rain and clear skies for the rest of the day or it could be wet off and on all day. You need good rain gear for walking as well as something to protect your pack. We have dining tents for all meals so you are protected at this time.
RETURN OPTIONS FROM MACHUPICCHU (AGUAS CALIENTES)
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES: RETURN BY BACKPACKERS TRAIN (approx 4 PM) TO CUSCO or WITH PRIVATE BUS CONNECTION FROM OLLANTAYTAMBO BOTH ARRIVING ABOUT 9PM TO THE CUZCO PLAZA.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING / CARRY
BACKPACK & DAYPACK
- 8 C SLEEPING BAG: (Can be rented at PERU EXPEDITION office)
HIKING BOOTS (Sneakers or Runners shoes are not recommended)
WALKING POLES
WARM CLOTHES: LAYERS for variable temperatures especially at night.
FLASH LIGHT
CAMERA AND EXTRA FILM & Batteries
SUNPROTECTION: SUNSCREEN: SUN HAT: SUNGLASSES
THERMALS: WOOL SOCKS: AND WOOLEN HAT FOR COLD NIGHTS:
INSECT REPELLENT
RAIN PONCHO: A GOOD RAIN JACKET
TOILETRIES / TOILET PAPER / SMALL TOWEL
BATHING CLOTHES for the hot springs.
GLOVES / SCARF: Trekking Pants or similar.
WATER BOTTLE: WATER PURIFYING TABLETS
PERSONAL MEDICAL KIT:
ORIGINAL PASSPORT AND ORIGINAL ISIC STUDENT CARD IF APPLICABLE:
EXTRA MONEY FOR SOUVENIRS, DRINKS & TIPS
OPTIONAL: Little presents for kids of Communities along the trail such as school supplies, second hand clothes, etc.
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