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The Lares Trek will take you a step back in time, letting you observe Andean life unchanged over the centuries. During the trek through the Sacred Valley, you'll see farmers at work in the fields tending their flocks, and watch hand-weaving carried out just as their ancestors did. You'll visit villages built with mud huts and thatched roofs, with wonderful views of snow-capped mountains, cobalt-blue lakes, and natural hot springs. The Lares Trek route ends at Machu Picchu, letting you admire both Andean culture and breathtaking nature.
The trek begins early in the morning. On the way to the Lares Valley you'll admire incredible scenery and snow-capped mountains reaching up to 4,265 meters above sea level. The Sawasiray and Pitusiray glaciers offer the most striking views of this part of the trek. Upon arrival in the Lares Valley, at 3,200 meters, you'll be greeted by a mild climate. Lunch will be served here and you'll have the chance to visit the local hot springs.
The first part of the trek is a fairly easy 4-hour uphill walk toward Huaca Wasi (3,800 meters). Along the way you can watch farmers working the fields using age-old agricultural techniques. You'll also see herds of llamas and cows grazing. The trek then arrives at Huaca Wasi, a small Andean village where you'll camp for the first night.
Early breakfast and departure for an 11 km trek toward the Huaca Wasi pass at 4,500 meters. From here on, the Lares Trek reaches its most exciting moments. You'll witness pre-Hispanic roads, mud huts, high-altitude Andean vegetation, llamas and alpacas, all framed by a unique landscape. Lunch will be served at the majestic Auroray Lake.
After lunch, you'll continue for another couple of hours to reach Manantnay, where you'll camp for the second night.
After a hearty breakfast, departure for the Urubamba Valley at 2,950 meters. During this part of the trek you'll see the famous Queñua forest, home to extremely rare Andean trees protected by the Peruvian government. You'll then walk downhill for about 4 hours toward Yanahuara in the Urubamba Valley, where lunch will be served.
The trek then continues toward Ollantaytambo, where you'll board the train to Aguas Calientes. On this legendary train you'll arrive in the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo. Overnight in a hotel and dinner at a local restaurant. In Aguas Calientes you'll already start to feel the mystical atmosphere surrounding Machu Picchu.
Early morning departure on one of the first buses to visit the historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. After a two-hour guided tour, you'll have free time to explore the Lost City of the Incas on your own. We recommend climbing Huayna Picchu (optional, USD$ 15). Please note only 400 tickets per day are available for this excursion. An alternative to Huayna Picchu is the hike up Machu Picchu Mountain (extra USD$ 10).
In the afternoon, you'll take a bus back to Aguas Calientes, then the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo you'll be transferred to Cusco, arriving in the evening.
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