Schedule

Day 1: Cusco – Lares

This morning, we´ll leave Cusco at 06:00 am to start our Lares trek, on a private vehicle, and will travel for about 4 hours, along the Sacred Valley; heading towards Lares (3,100 mts / 10,168 ft.), a little rural village located in the beautiful valley of the same name, which hosts some well-known hot water springs and thermo-medicinal baths. Upon arrival, we´ll leave our equipment there, and will continue towards Choquecancha, an impressive archaeological complex, with amazing views over the neighboring valleys. After a guided visit of the site, we´ll hike back to Lares, where we´ll have a chance to enjoy an evening dip in the hot water springs, before or after dinner, as our camp will be set next to the thermal baths, and access is free throughout the whole night. (L, D). Maximum Altitude: 3,950 m/12,959 ft. Minimum Altitude: 2,700 m/8,858 ft. Distance Travelled: approx. 14 km Approximate Walking Time: 7 hours

Day 2: Lares –Ipsayqocha

After waking up early and having had breakfast, we´ll meet our horsemen and their horse. We leave our campsite, around 09:00 hrs, and walk up an ascending path that will lead us to Huacahuasi (3,600 mts/11,808 ft.). This remote Andean community is located in an impressive valley, where we´ll have a chance to observe the typical lifestyle and house construction techniques of the Quechua communities, living at high altitude. There, we´ll visit a typical house and family, before we enjoy our lunch. In the early afternoon, we´ll continue our hike, ascending towards the Ipsay Mountain Pass, at 4,450 mts/14,596 ft., in 3 hours, passing by small communities and across extensive flatlands (Pampas), with the almost constant presence of herds of lamas and alpacas, all around us. The mountain pass offers overwhelming views of Mount la Veronica and surrounding snow-capped peaks. Ipsayqocha is a beautiful altitude lagoon, just half an hour from this point, and we´ll set our campsite next to it, to spend the night, amidst awesome landscapes. (B, L, D) Maximum Altitude: 4740 m/15,551 ft. Minimum Altitude: 3700 m/12,139 ft. Distance Travelled: approx. 16 km Approximate Walking Time: 7-8 hours

Day 3: Ipsayqocha – Aguas Calientes

Today, we´ll leave our camp around 07:30 am, and following a downhill path, we´ll hike towards Patacancha (1½-2 hours) which is a well-known traditional textile producing Andean community that still preserves its ancient Quechua traditions and dressing code at its best. So, we´ll visit it on the way, and then, we´ll walk for another 1½ hour, until we reach Huilloq, hiking along a gorge, with increasing vegetation, as we´ll draw closer to the Sacred Valley. Huilloq is another well-preserved authentic Andean community, where our private transportation will be waiting, to take us to Ollantaytambo, in time for us to board a late afternoon train that will take us to Aguas Calientes, recently re-baptized as Machupicchu Pueblo. Upon arrival, we will settle at a preselected hotel or hostel, to enjoy dinner and a well-deserved and comfortable night´s rest. (B, L, D) Maximum Altitude: 3,200 m/10,498 ft. Minimum Altitude: 2,700 m/8,858 ft. Distance Travelled: approx. 12 km Approximate Walking Time: 4 hours

Day 4: Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu – Cusco

After an early breakfast, we´ll board a tourism bus, to go up to Machu Picchu, and will immediately go on a complete two-hour guided tour of the Incan City, after which you´ll have some free time to explore the site and climb up Mount Huayna Picchu (Providing you have booked this activity way ahead of time), from the top of which you´ll be able to appreciate spectacular panoramic views of the entire Sacred City of Machu Picchu, as well as of the valleys and mountains that surround it, unless you decide to visit the Temple of the Moon, or the famous Incan Bridge.(B) Maximum Altitude: 3400m/11186ft Minimum Altitude: 2100m/6909ft Distance Travelled: approx. 9 km Approximate Walking Time: 4-5 hours