Lares and Machupicchu 4 Days / 3 Nigths

We recommend following the basics of ecotourism. We must respect and protect the environment, as well as the archaeological complexes and local customs.
If you have any questions you are welcome to contact us.

This spectacular 4 day program has been specially designed for people who are looking for an exclusive trail, away from the usual tourist routes and which allows them to see traditional Andean communities. There are typical Andean communities dedicated to agriculture, livestock farming and weaving, where the people still wear their impressive traditional dress from the area, and we can appreciate their generous hospitality. The last day we dedicate to visiting the famous Machu Picchu.

BOOK THIS TOUR

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: CUSCO - WACAWASI PASO (4400m) - THERMAL BATHES IN LARES (3250m.) - HUACA WASI (3600m.)
Around 6:30 in the morning you will have a pick up from your hotel in Cusco. Travelling by bus we make our way from Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the town of Calca. From here we head up into the mountains past the communities of Accha Baja and Totora.
Viewing the snow covered mountains we arrive to the Lares Pass at 4400 meters above sea level for the drop into the Lares valley. We pass century plants, wild anis, mountain Cancha Cancha Casa (4984m.), alpacas, llamas and children on their way to and from school. Upon arrival to Lares (3250m) their will be a chance for a soak in the hot springs before an early lunch, which have a temperature between 28 and 36 degrees Celsius. While lunch is being served our horsemen prepare the equipment for our trek. Today’s trekking is short only 4, towards Huacawasi (3600m), to our campsite.
Time of bus trip: 5 hours. Time spend on walking: 4 hours in a cold climate.

Meals during the day: Lunch/Dinner.

DAY 2: HUACA WASI (3600m.) - ABRA IPSAYCOCHA (4400M.) – PATACANCHA (3650m.)
After the breakfast, at 6:30, we will continue up through the valley and we arrive at the community of Huacawasi. People here produce some of the finest weavings in Peru. We will observe their great skills and brilliant techniques as they make ponchos and other garments. Passing the village we begin climbing up to Condor Pass, the second pass of the trip at 4400m. From here, we catch a stunning view of the renowned Mount Veronica (5,750m). Descending gently for about one hour, we arrive at the beautiful Ipsaycocha Lake, our last campsite (3650m).
Time spend on walking this day: 7 hours in a cold climate.

Meals during the day: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

DAY 3: PATACANCHA (3500m.) – WILLOQ (3400m.) – PUMAMARCA (3200m.) – OLLANTAYTAMBO (2850m.) - AGUAS CALIENTES (2050m.).
After a delicious breakfast we start our easy hike, down for about 3 hours hike to the community of Willoq (3400m) and Pumamarca (3200m). Going through the valley of Patacancha we will get to know indigenous towns with ancestral Incan traditions and habits which in spite of all the years have survived. We will have our transportation to Ollantaytambo (2850m), witch also have a beautifully Inca site, and arrive around 2:30 pm. In Ollantaytambo we will have a train to Aguas Calientes (2050m); witch takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes. We spend the night in a basic but comfortable hotel.

Meals during the day: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES (2050m.) - MACHU PICCHU (2450m.) - CUSCO
After an early breakfast we will try to take the first bus at 05:30 am from Aguas Calientes to the city of Machu Picchu. The tour takes around 20 to 30 minutes. At this early morning we will enjoy the Machu Picchu ruins while the sun slowly warm up the site and the fug disappear. We will enjoy a guided 2 ½ hour visit of the great Machu Picchu sanctuary-city, and after it is possible to visit the complex at your own. There is an optional hike for the more energetic and adventurous people in the group, to the top of the Huaynapicchu Mountain - the pyramid-shaped peak that overlooks Machu Picchu. After our visit, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where we can enjoy a relaxing bath at the local hot springs.
The train to Cusco departs in the afternoon from Aguas Calientes, and it is important to be aware of the time schedule of the bus bringing you from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. Normally busses leave every 25 minutes and the prices of the bus and train tickets are included in the total price of the tour.

Meal during the day: Breakfast.

The transportation from Aquas Calientes to Cusco can be difficult to order, and we can not promise when you exactly will be back at your hotel in Cusco. We order the train after this schedule:
You will get on a train that depart from Aguas Calientes to the train station in Ollantaytambo at 2pm or 6pm and it takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. In Ollantaytambo you will have transportation by bus to your hotel in Cusco that takes aproxlymatly1 hour and 45 minutes.
You will be back at your hotel around 5.30pm to 6pm or 9:30pm to 10pm.

IMPORTANT:
- Your passport number
- If you have any special diet ( ex. Vegetarian)
- The hotel and address you stay at
- If you have any special dieses that we should be aware of (you are responsible to bring your own medicine). We will provide basic first ad kid and oxygen.

For the tour we provide a duffle bag (normal sports bag), where you can put in your personal belongings and sleeping back that you don’t want to carry at the trek, but still have with you on the tour. You are allowed to fill the bag with 7 kg, which the mules on the trek will carry. To get this duffle bag you go to TARA TOUR OPERATOR. The office is located in Urbanizacion Ttio U-16 in Cusco.

INCLUDES:
- Map of the Lares – Machupicchu.
- Transportation from Cusco Hotel - Lares Hot Springs
- Transportation Poroy train station – Cusco hotel.
- Transportation: Willoq - Ollantaytambo (3rd day)
- Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide.
- Accommodations: 1 night hotel (Aguas Calientes), 2 nights camping
- Horses (for camping equipment and personal belongings) including horsemen,
- Toilet tent.
- Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes
- We supply boiled water to fill in your water bottle all the time, if requested with enough time ahead.
- Cook (3Breakfast,3Lunch,3Dinner) & snacks
- Camping equipment (tents, mattress, cooking equipment, dinning tent, table and camping chairs), first aid & emergency oxygen bottle.
- Bus up hill to Machu Picchu, entrance fee, guided tour, bus down hill, Tourist Train back to Cusco.

Not Included:
- Breakfast day 1
- Lunch and dinner day 4
- Personal equipment (sleeping bag)

RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST
Below you will find a list of equipment we recommend you bring with you.
- Original passport:
- Backpack
- Sleeping bag (suitable for temperatures down to -5C)
- Strong footwear
- Sweater, jacket (something warm)
- Camera, films and extra batteries
- Water bottle, ideally non disposable canteen (boiled drinking water will be provided)
- Torch / flashlight, plus extra batteries
- Broad - brim or peaked cap
- Sun block
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries & toilet paper, small towel
- Swimsuit, for the hot springs
- Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits, energy bars etc.
- Camera, films and extra batteries Cash in soles and US$ Dollars
- Original passport.
- Optional: walking Poles/sticks (rubber covers necessary).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What time will we be picked up from my hotel?
Your guide will pick you up around 6:30am. It deepens on witch hotel you stay at.

How do you know witch hotel I am staying at?
You are responsible to give message about this at least one day before departure, and better if you do it advance. You can send an email or make a call to TARA TOUR OPERATOR.

What about breakfast the first day?
Many hotels in Cusco, do not offer breakfast as early in the morning. Ask when your hotel starts having breakfast in the morning. Otherwise buy bread and juice in a store the night before.
Is it possible to buy necessaries like cloth, walking stick and snacks in Cusco, and where?
It is possible to buy all necessaries near Plaza de Armas in Cusco. If you want exact information about a specific thing, then ask TARA TOUR OPERATOR.

If I don’t have my own sleeping bag, where can I rent one?
It is possible to rent a sleeping bag in Cusco for a recently price. If you want help, then contact TARA TOUR OPERATOR.

What kind of nationality are the other people from my group?
There can be all kinds of nationalities in the group, but mostly all of them are English speakers. If some are only Spanish speakers, the guide will be guiding in both Spanish and English. We run the tour trough the company “TARA TOUR OPERATOR”, and also other companies can have costumers at this trek.

How cold does it get on the tour, and does it rain?
The weather in the Andes can change very quickly, and depend on the altitude. It will always be cold if there is over clouded as you in the high altitude don’t get the warm from the coast. As higher you get, as more cold would it be. At night especially the temperature gets down. Expect that nights can be down at 5- to 5+ degrees. During the day it can be really warm if the sun is shining, and remember to have a very good sun cream with you.

How do I supply myself with water during the tour?
There will be 1 litre of boiled water available every day, except day one. Remember the night before to tell your guide that you would like to have water, because the boiled water will cool of during the night. You can also ad purifying tablets to your water and supply yourself during the trek, or by water on bottles.

Why should I bring my original passport?
You need to show your passport to enter the trains. You can if you want get a staple in your passport at Machu Picchu.

How do I know if I have altitude sickness, and is it dangerous?
Altitude sickness occurs by the minor amount of oxygen in the high altitudes and is simply because you body is used to get a larger amount of oxygen by breathing normally. By having a little head egg or felling a bit uncomfortable the first couple of days in Cusco is very normal, but remember to be aware if it gets worse. It is also normal to fell a bit tired, simply because your body works harder to get the same amount of oxygen in the altitudes. Altitude Sickness can be dangerous, but being aware of your reaction of your body, minimizes the risk. If you start having serious head egg, throwing up or fell very uncomfortable then make sure to contact your guide medially. The guide will on all treks have oxygen and basic first kid ad with him, and he is educated to help you. Altitude sickness is something you need to take seriously, but be aware that thoughts about it can be big effect.

Is the trek hard physically?
Trekking in the Andes is a physically hard sport, where you suppose not to fell too easy when you are walking. It means that you need to be in a good physically health to make the trek. On this trek you are walking in very high altitudes, but be in mind the good feeling you will have by making the top knowing that you did it.

Can I take a shower under the way, and how do I go on toilet?
There will be a possibility to get a COLD shower at every camp, and you will also be able to use the toilet or nature. If you are in a need of a toilet during the trek, there is plenty of space in the nature for such things.

I am a vegetarian, what do we get to eat?
You will get plenty of healthy food during the trek. If you are a vegetarian (not eating meat), then you must contact TARA TOUR OPERATOR at least the day before departure.

I am worried about, that the other people in the group are in better condition than me and I will slow them down?
The guide will always follow the people who are walking back in the group, and if there is more that 8 people on the trek, there will be 1 or 2 assistance guides. There will be many brakes during the day, and trekking should be both hard and fun, so remember to enjoy the day.

What are we doing while we do not walk?
It is up to you: Bring a book, listen to music, take pictures, eating, take a shower or sleep.

What will happen if someone gets seriously sick?
If the person can walk, a guide or assistance guide will follow the person to the nearest place to get help. The only way to get around is by walking. If the person can’t walk and need emergent assistance, then the guide will call for a helicopter.

Can I recharge batteries during the trek?
There will be a possibility in Lares and Aguas Calientes

I don’t fell well, and don’t know if I am able to walk the trek – what am I during?
You contact TARA TOUR OPERATOR travel expeditions by mail or phone. Then you will have a talk together and discuss the options there will be.

Are there any extra costs that I should be aware of?
Breakfast the first day and lunch/dinner the last day. Entrance fee for the hot springs in Lares. Tip for guide/cook and porters. Snacks (ex. Chocolate)

I will like to have more information about the trek?
You get in contact with TARA TOUR OPERATOR.