The Lares Trail to Machu Picchu

• Day 1: Cusco-Lares-Quishuarani
  DISTANCE: 14KM/8.7 MILES
  HIGHEST POINT: 3,700 masl/12,139 fasl
  
  You will be picked from your hotel early in the morning and travel by private bus through the Sacred Valley to the city of Calca where we stop at a local restaurant for breakfast (optional) and then continue our drive until we reach the town of Lares. The trip takes approximately 3 hours. In Lares, we will hike to the natural hot springs where we will have lunch and have the opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths that consist of three pools that have temperatures ranging from 36-44°C.
  
  From here we will drive around twenty minutes to PASCANA where our trek will begin. Our hike will take approximately 2.5 hours crossing beautiful landscapes to reach our campsite will be setup for us for the night. We will have some free time to meet the local people who live in this town and see traditional weaving techniques.
  
  
• Day 2: Quishuarani-Cancha Cancha
  DISTANCE: 12KM/5.94 MILES
  HIGHEST POINT: 4,450 masl/14,599 fasl
  
  Our day will start early with a nutritional breakfast that will provide us with the energy for a big day of hiking where we will walk approx. 7 hours. We begin our ascent towards the highest point of the trek, Pachacutec Pass (4,450 masl/14599 feet). Our effort will be rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Pachacutec and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon. We will then continue downhill for approximately 2.5 hours passing beautiful scenery, wildlife and flora and fauna until we reach the town of Cancha Cancha where we will have dinner and spend the night.

• Day 3: Cancha Cancha-Huaran-Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes
  DISTANCE: 12KM/5.94 MILES
  HIGHEST POINT: 2,800 masl/9,186 fasl
  
  After a delicious breakfast, we will start our hike, where we will descend for approx. 5 hours to reach the village of Huaran. We will then take local transport to the town of Ollantaytambo, a beautiful well-preserved Inca town that is surrounded by beautiful mountains and has an incredible Inca archaeological site built into the mountain over looking the town. We will have some time to explore this amazing place before heading to the train station to take our train to Agua Calientes.
  
  We will be met by a member of our team in Agua Calientes, who will take us to our hotel. This will be followed by dinner in a local restaurant and a briefing about our visit to Machu Picchu the following morning. You will then have free time to explore the town, or visit the thermal baths.

• Day 4: Machupicchu-Cusco
  DISTANCE: 4KM/2.49 MILES
  HIGHEST POINT: 2,700 masl/8,829 fasl
  
  Today we will visit the majestic Machu Picchu! We will wake up early (before 05:30 am) and have breakfast and then take the tourist bus (optional) or walk up (2 hours aprox) to Machu Picchu. We will be one of the first groups to enter Machu Picchu having the best opportunity to enjoy the beauty and magic of Machu Picchu with tranquility. We will have a two hour guided tour of the most important places of Machu Picchu with plenty of opportunities to take great photos of this incredible place.
  
  After visiting Machu Picchu, you can either take the tourist bus (optional) or hike back down to Aguas Calientes. At the allocated time you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo where your transfer to Cusco will await you. You will arrive back to the city of Cusco in the evening.