Lares Trek & Machu Picchu

Welcome to Peru and to the beautiful city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. After arriving at the airport, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. The rest of the day is at leisure to discover the fascinating history of Cusco, from colonial churches to incredible Inca ruins, it's easy to navigate by foot.

Please note: You may wish to arrive a day or two earlier in order to adjust to the altitude. Pre tour accommodation can be booked upon request.

After breakfast, you have a free day to explore Cusco at your own pace. Cusco was once the capital of the Inca Empire and is now a top spot for archaeology in the Americas. It's also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the continent. You can check out local archaeological sites like Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay, and Qenqo, or perhaps join a Peruvian cooking class.

Day 3 is the start of our trek and after a hearty breakfast we set off to Calca in the Sacred Valley. We begin with a uphill climb, taking us up to 4,265 metres above sea level, where we're greeted by a stunning view across two mountains, Pitusiray and Sawasiray. Descending down to 3,207 metres, we travel on to the small village of Lares, after which this incredible trek is named. In Lares we can make the most of the local hot springs, enjoy lunch and enjoy the scenery surrounding the town before we start the trek.

From Lares we set off on foot towards the colourful little town of Huacawasi, with its adobe houses and roaming llamas. Our trek today will take four to five hours and on arrival we have dinner and camp for the night. Huacawasi is a traditional weaving community and you can spend some time watching the local weavers at work, and maybe have a go yourself.

After an early start and a hearty breakfast we embark on the toughest day of the trek. It's a steep uphill climb to a mountain pass at about 4,500 meters above sea level – the highest point reached on our Lares trek. Here there's beautiful views over the Aruraycocha lake and the rugged landscape. We then make our way down to the lakes edge, watching the vegetation change as we go. Our hike continues to the conservation area of Mantanay where we stop for lunch on the banks of a pretty lake. Keep your eyes peeled here as we might be lucky enough to spot the mighty Andean Condor flying overhead, one of the largest bird species in the world. After lunch we continue our descent to the village of Mantanay (at 3800 meters) where we camp for the night. This is another great opportunity to interact with the local villagers and see how they live their lives in this remote region.

Beginning the final day of the Lares Trek we set off towards Yanahuara (2,950m). As we reach this beautiful town, we notice the temperature change and the climate begins to warm up. This area is important for its white grain corn production, used by many as a staple of the local diet. We enjoy our final meal with our trekking crew before we continue our adventure by road.

Arriving into Ollantaytambo, you'll notice the incredible Inca ruins that make this town so special before we board our train to Aguas Calientes. Arriving into Aguas Calientes we settle in to our hotel for the night, in anticipation of our visit to the breathtaking Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

It's an early start this morning as we take a short bus journey to the gates of the mystical Machu Picchu. With our knowledgeable local guide we begin a 2-hour walking tour around this incredible site, taking in the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. As we walk around we’ll have spectacular views of the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges.

After our tour of Machu Picchu we return to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo, winding through stunning mountain scenery. Disembarking the train in Ollantaytambo we return to Cusco where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Optional Activity: Wayna Picchu There is time for those with enough energy to climb Wayna (Huayna) Picchu (at your own expense). Wayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu. The climb itself is interesting as you will see how the Inca cut some steps out of the rocks and as you wind around the side of a mountain will see Machu Picchu from different angles. Please note that this option depends on permit availability and should be arranged at the time of booking.

Our week of excitement and adventure comes to and end today. An airport transfer will be provided to take you to Cusco airport for your onward flight.