Field trips and Trek begins with a walk on the day scheduled for the Inca Trail program. People note that the actual program may vary slightly depending on the time of year that is milder.
All day the trails are connected with occasional small villages on the Lares trek Valley roads. So we must consider the Lares trek has a lot more interaction with the direct descendants of the Incas than the traditional Inca Trail. Past and present intertwine here along the Inca roads, the traditional life has changed little since Inca times and the mountain people retain some customs of the Incas. There are some very spectacular and beautiful views to experience and people to meet. This trekking trip will be an unforgettable experience.
On day of departure to Ollantaytambo you will be passing through the town of Calca and then have lunch at a nice restaurant after which you will begin the get organized to hike the Inca Trail. In this small town are located our local crew of llamas, alpacas, horses, shepherds and horsemen to help them pack our items for the trip. Our guide and also great cook and take care of us throughout the course of the trip .
The next day we will go to Step Kiswarani to 4400m or so, where the flora consist of the Puna herbs, plants, all supported by the highest lakes in the upper area. After reaching the pass and enjoy the beautiful views, then we will go down to where we set up our camp Kunkani rest in the local village, consisting of mainly traditional mud huts under thatched roofs. The next day we went to the Kunkani Pass and then we continue to the passage of Ipsayqocha to 4500 meters or so, which then descend to our second camp with the same name as the Living Lands.
As we descend the next day our destination Patacancha passed through various microclimates of the place, suddenly realizing how different it was every hour. Throughout your journey you will have gained 3 or 4 passes, we walked through the high Puna "Grassland", then down in the woods, finally, in the lush Urubamba Valley warm. If we are lucky, we will have the good fortune to see and observe the Wild Fox, Chinchillas, Eagles and possibly the flight of the condors. From our destination Walk Patacancha, we will have our last lunch prepared by our cook and travel back to Ollantaytambo to catch the train to Aguas Calientes. It is located 2 hours away. Look forward to a good shower and a great night's sleep after the physical exertion of this awesome trek. The last morning rising early, breakfast then catching the 20 minutes bus ride to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu " Wonder of the World", which will end with a 2 hour guided tour, then plenty of free time to explore the citadel of Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco via the Expedition or Vistadome Train.
The Valley of Lares is located between the eastern slope of the Andes and the northern part of the Urubamba mountain range. It has beautiful glacial lagoons and warm subtropical streams, as well as a great variety of vegetation and wildlife. It is surrounded by a chain mountain of the mountain range, where the snow-covered of Verónica, Sawasiray, Pitusiray and the Chicón are.
Here live small communities of Quechua-speaking farmers, who maintain their customs of grazing llamas and alpacas, cultivating tubers and producing tissues. For all the aforementioned, this valley offers a great variety of tourist attractions. It is common for tourists to arrive to Lares to interact with local communities and learn more about their traditions, as well as the possibility of doing one of the best trekking routes in Cusco.
How to get to Lares
To get to Lares can be accessed by making 2 routes.
The road is in very good condition but it still takes time to reach the destination, it is advisable to hire the services of an agency to reach the Valley of Lares.
We started in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (in Huarán). We will climb the narrow part and have the opportunity to see stone houses with thatched roofs surrounded by herds of llamas, alpacas and guinea pigs.
The road is moderate compared to the Inca Trail. This road has two steps of 4000 masl (13,200 feet) is recommended to spend 3 to 4 days in Cusco before the trip.
The tour Lares 4 days trek to Machu Picchu is an excellent way to get to know the Andean landscape, with valleys, rivers, lagoons with crystal clear waters, waterfalls, forests of queuñas and to know the way of life in the Andes. In addition to the excursion in the Andes, the program connects with a visit to one of the wonders of the modern world Machu Picchu.
This remote and rarely visited region offers the traveler a privileged view of traditional Andean life: an enigmatic world where farmers plant their crops in the lands that their ancestors cared for and watched over, herds of llama and alpaca under the sacred snowy peaks that they worshiped as gods. The Lares trek to Machu Picchu is one of the trails of the Inca Empire era. Today, the trail is still used by farmers, who are descendants of the Incas. The tour of Lares connects the communities of Cancha Cancha, Quisuarani, Cuncani and Lares with life in the Sacred Valley.
Lares is one of the most impressive and interesting routes that, through ancient Inca roads, crosses this area of ??the Andes. Not much explored by travelers visiting Peru, this trek takes us to the heart of high Andean native communities and gives us the unique opportunity to learn more about the lifestyle that its ancient settlers have, the same one that has been maintained for hundreds of years...
The difficulty of this walk is moderate
The best time to hike the Lares Valley Trek are the months of May and September. It is dry, but the nights can be very cold. The dry season in the highlands is from May to September. Temperatures often fall below 0 degrees. Snowfall is not uncommon on the Lares Valley and Salkantay Trek, the Ausangate Trek or in the Rainbow Mountain. However, these months are also the high season and peak travel season for tourists.
You should avoid the rainy season from mid-October to the end of February. The Inca Trail tours are completely closed in February anyway, but the Lares Valley Trek and Salkantay are accessible. Incidentally, Our company recommends that you not come in February, since heavy rains, the trails are very dangerous and landslides then happen more often.
However, there is snow in the Lares Valley. In May and June a lot. But once the sun rises, the snow melts quickly.
Peru offers you a variety of ways to explore the country on foot. You have enough time to enjoy the surroundings and experience everything up close. Our local experts know all the treks and can give you the best advice. Just have your dream trip put together and soon the trek of your life can begin.
