You will be transferred very early from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Calca. During the transfer, you will pass through the highest point of the trek at 4,265 meters above sea level. From this point, you will be able to admire the beautiful mountains of Sawasiray and Pitusiray, before descending to the warm Lares Valley at an altitude of 3,207 meters above sea level. Lares is a typical colonial town with a church, a main square, and narrow streets. In Lares, you will meet your porters and have lunch to begin your great adventure on the Lares Trek. Our trail ascends through the community of Huacawasi (first campsite), located at 3,600 meters above sea level. Huacawasi is a small and charming community with small houses built of adobe and straw. We will hike for approximately 2 to 3 hours, covering a distance of 6 to 7 kilometers.

After a nutritious breakfast, we’ll depart from our camp at 8:00 am, heading towards the Huahuqasa Pass (4,500 meters), the highest point of our trek. We’ll continue our journey to the Aruraycocha and Yuracocha lagoons, formed by the melting glaciers of the Pumahuanca and Kiswarani mountains. We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch near the lagoons. Day 2 of our adventure is the most spectacular, as with a bit of luck we might spot condors and many other Andean bird species. Our second campsite is located 1 hour and 30 minutes from lunch, near the village of Mantanay, situated at 3,800 meters above sea level. We’ll hike for approximately 8 to 9 hours, covering a distance of 10 kilometers.

After a pleasant night, we’ll be ready to begin our third day of trekking towards Yanahuara (2950m.a.s.l.), a beautiful village with a very pleasant climate, located in the Urubamba Valley, the sacred valley of the Incas, the great supplier of food products for Cusco, with its vast fields of corn. The large-kernel corn, well-known and admired throughout the world, is produced in our Urubamba Valley. Upon arriving in Yanahuara, a tourist bus will pick us up and take us to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll make a short stop at the Miski Unu Restaurant for lunch. Afterward, we’ll board the train to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Visit Machu Picchu for the whole day.

We’ll get up very early to visit the “lost city” of Machu Picchu before the other tourists arrive on the morning train from Cusco or those who hiked the Inca Trail. Seated at the top of the steps, we’ll have a spectacular view of this new wonder of the world, surrounded by a cloud forest and the imposing Urubamba River. Machu Picchu was covered by dense vegetation until the historian Hiram Bingham began clearing the site. Over many years, the city was rebuilt, and while it may have lost some of its mystery, it still offers an unforgettable view. Our tour includes a visit to the temples, plazas, palaces, and residential areas, and we’ll also give you time to explore the ruins on your own.

In the afternoon: Return to Cusco by train and transfer to your hotel.