Tour Lares, Short Inca Trail, Machupicchu & Rainbow Mountain

Day 01: Cusco – Lares – Ipsay Pass – Patacancha – Ollantaytambo

We start the vehicular Journey from the city of Cusco to get to Calca and then continue to the Andean community of Wakawasi. From Huacawasi, we begin the one-day Lares trek until we reach the Ipsay Pass 4410 meters (15,431 feet). We descend towards the IPSA COCHA lagoon at 4,200 meters. We continue the walk until we reach Patacancha, the neighboring community of Rumira. In Rumira, our tourist vehicle awaits us to complete the trip until we get to the “site of our overnight stay” in Ollantaytambo.

Informational note: The walking route takes hikers through two attractive weaving communities in Huacahuasi and Patacancha. We will be able to observe alpacas grazing in their natural habitat.

The Lares route is easily accessible from Cusco:

• Travel distance from Cusco to Huaca Wasi “Huaca Wasi: 03 hours 20 minutes
• Hiking route: From Huacahuasi to Rumira (Patacancha)
• Walking distance – 14km / 9 miles
• Hike Elevation Start: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet
• Ipsay Pass Elevation: 4,440 meter / 14,435 feet.
• Elevation of the end of the walk: 3,800 meters / 12,467 feet.
• Hike difficulty: Challenging – Moderate (depends on your fitness level).
• Lodging: 2 Star Hotel “Ollantaytambo.”
• Ollantaytambo Elevation: 2,851 meter / 9,353 feet.
• Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory

Lares Information

Day 02: A Short hike on the Inca Trail from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu

At 07:00, we walk to the Ollantaytambo train station (a 12-minute walk)

• Train service: Expedition by Perurail – Route: OLLANTA to KM 104.
  • Train service information: [Outbound Journey]
    • Train company: PERU RAIL
    • Service: OLLANTA – KM 104 (01 hours and 20 minutes of trains ride)
    • Class: EXPEDITION 83
    • Departure: 07:45 we start the train journey.
    • At Station: 07:15 – Otherwise, you may not be allowed to board.
    • KM 104 Arrival: 08:55

Onboard, at km 104, you will find our starting point for trekking. SERNANP MACHU PICCHU, where you must register and show your permits and passports. Right after the first checkpoint are the ruins of Chachabamba.

The path climbs gradually, taking three hours to reach the Wiñay Wayna complex. The walk offers breathtaking views of the ruins of Choquesuysuy and the Urubamba Valley.

Wiñay Wayna was mainly agricultural, and the curved terraces on the incredibly steep slope are impressive. Given the importance of water, this seems to indicate a religious preference.

After a packed lunch, continue the trail, walk from Wiñay Wayna to the Intipunku “Sun Gate,” taking two hours. The path to the ruins itself lasts about half an hour. You descend by CONSETUR bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night at our hotel.

Informative data:

1. Height of the start of the walk: 2100m/6900ft. (Chachabamba, Km 104)
2. The highest point of the walk: 2730m/8,792ft. (Inti Punku)
3. Hiking distance: 10km / 6.3 miles (Chachabamba to Machu Picchu)
4. Hiking difficulty: Moderate.
5. Accommodation: 2 Star Hotel “Aguas Calientes”

Day 03: Guided tour of two hours to Machu Picchu – PM return to Cusco by train and car

Finally, we have the principal day of all vacations in the Andes of Peru; the visit to Machu Picchu 🙂

At the chosen time of the entire group organized with our tour guide, we start the tour by tourist bus that takes us to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu. We enter the Inca citadel, ascending in a walk of about 15 minutes to obtain the best panoramic view of Machu Picchu.

We explore the Inca citadel thoroughly from above to cover all the important sites like the Inca quarry area, the temple of the sun, the sundial, the temple of the condor, etc.

After the spectacular visit to Machu Picchu, we can put the stamp of the Machu Picchu logo “optional stamp; it is free; it is interesting to put it in the passport (the real proof that Machu Picchu visited).”

At noon or early in the afternoon, we began to return to the city of Cusco; It takes a total of three and a half hours by “train and ground transportation.” Thank you for exploring the Andes and the jungle of Cusco.

Day 04: Adventure of the Rainbow Mountain & the Red Valley

Hikers begin the expedition at 6:00 in the morning. You will see hundreds of alpacas throughout the trip. On top of the colored mountain, there is a 360-degree view to enjoy the views.

RED VALLEY: Highly recommended; this extension takes 35 minutes of additional walking. The red valley has an incredible view. From here, we continue our way back to the beginning of the trail to return to the imperial city of Cusco.

Helpful information about the trek.

• Travel time: Cusco to Llactoq 03 hours
• Height of the starting point of the walk: 4,900 m/16,076 ft. (El Parqueo – Llactoq)
• Tour Circuit Max Elevation: 5,100 meter / 16,732 feet.
• Hiking distance: Hike between Llactoq to the Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley: 14 kilometers / 9.6 miles
• Hike difficulty: Challenging “uphill” – Easy “Downhill.”
• Meals: Box lunch.
• Return time to Cusco: Arrival in Cusco between 4:00 p.m. at 7:30 p.m.

Included:

• Outdoor activities on treks through the Andes
• A bilingual local tour guide who speaks Spanish and English has a “current card to enter the tourist circuits.”
• Private tourist transport for transfer services (according to the itinerary)
• DAY 01: LARES
  • Authorization and payment of entry to the tourist area of Lares via Patacancha
  • Food: 01 box lunch prepared in a tourist restaurant in Cusco “hikers take their box lunch on the hiking trail”
  • Accommodation: 01-night hotel in Ollantaytambo (2-star hotel.)
• DAY 02: SHORT INCA TRAIL
  • Breakfast buffet at the hotel
  • Train by PeruRail: Outbound Journey: OLLANTA – KM 104: Expedition 83, at 07:45
  • The tour guide travels on the same train as the walkers to make the stop at kilometer 104 of the railway.
  • Authorization to get off the train at km 104.
  • Entrance tickets plus authorization to enter the Inca Trail network
  • Cold box lunch “visitors carry in their backpack.”
  • Bus ticket down from the ruins to Aguas Calientes
• DAY 03: MACHU PICCHU
  • Buffet breakfast service at the hotel
  • 02 bus tickets (up and down)
  • Guided tour 02 hours
  • Train by PeruRail: Inbound Journey: MAPI – POROY: Expedition 34, at 15:20
  • Private transfer service from POROY train station to CUSCO
• DAY 04: RAINBOW MT. + EL VALLE ROJO
  • Entrance tickets to Cusipata rainbow mountain + red valley
  • Lunch box
• First aid kit and medicated oxygen “just in case.”

Not Included

• Hotels “Cusco.”
• For food not described in the itinerary, “there are several alternatives to cover it every day.”
• Tip for your guide(s) and driver

What to bring to the excursions? Important checklist

• ORIGINAL PASSPORT (Keep it in an airtight plastic bag in case of rain). We use the passport to board the train to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• COMFORTABLE DAY BACKPACK: A small, comfortable, and light backpack with an adaptable waist strap to balance the weight to enjoy the walks. It’s also great to add a waterproof backpack cover to keep all your gear dry and dust-free.
• PLASTIC BAGS: Keep your belongings and clothes dry.
• WALKING POLES: It does highly recommended to have walking poles for your trek. At Lares and Rainbow Mountain, you can use metal spikes, BUT FOR THE INCA TRAIL, use rubber bands to protect the trail and preserve the Inca Trail; In Machu Picchu, canes do prohibit.
• WALKING BOOTS: Select comfortable, lightweight, good-quality shoes. Booties and waterproofs do recommend, but if you already have something comfortable and grippy, don’t rush to buy new boots; it’s better than the old ones!
• REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE – Fill your bottle with bottled water to recycle plastic and pristine hiking trails.
• WARM CLOTHING FOR LARES AND RAINBOW MOUNTAIN: Fleece, jacket, wool hat, gloves, and bandana.
• WATERPROOF CLOTHING: Rain Poncho does recommend. Some hikers also like to wear waterproof pants; however, a Poncho will suffice if it covers up to the knees. The rainy season is from December to March, but it can rain in the Andes any day of the year. It is better to be careful.
• TOILET PAPER: This is an essential item on the hike! Take plastic bags for garbage, so we keep the planet blue and green.
• PERSONAL MEDICATIONS AND BASIC FIRST AID KIT: Band-Aids for blisters that can be generated when walking, stomach upsets, altitude sickness, among other medications prescribed by your doctor.
• FOR THE SUN: Solar radiation in the Andes is intense. Bring an excellent sunscreen and apply it from time to time to protect yourself from the sun. Also, bring sunglasses and a hat.
• INSECT REPELLENT: In the Lares Valley, sometimes through Ollantaytambo, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu, there are some flying insects or mosquitoes, so it is advisable to bring a good insect repellent.
• SNACKS: chocolates, chips, crackers, granola bars, or energy bars “bring a few extras, just in case, just what you need.”
• EXTRA MONEY: In Peruvian national currency, also in dollars since most businesses handle US dollars and Peruvian soles.

Location of Machu Picchu

The Inca City does locate within the so-called ‘Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu,’ which covers 35 thousand hectares (350 km2).

Machu Picchu does locate in the district of Aguas Calientes, province of Urubamba, department of Cusco in Peru.

Its coordinates are: 13º 10′ 19” and 13º 14′ 00′ (south latitude). It is also located at 72º 30′ 5” and 72º 36′ 33” (west latitude).

The mountains in Machu Picchu

• 03 mountains surround the Inca City: the Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and Putucusi mountains.
• The closest mountain to Machu Picchu is the Salkantay (6,271 m.a.s.l.).
• The Inca City hills belong to the ‘Salkantay Massif.’
• The rivers in Machu Picchu
• The distance from the citadel of Machu Picchu to the river is 500 meters the Vilcanota River (also known as Urubamba).
• Besides Machu Picchu, the Vilcanota river crosses other Inca archaeological sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
• The river’s flow increases considerably between December and April (rainy season). The river maintains its usual flow for the rest of the year (dry season).

What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

• Due to its location, Machu Picchu enjoys a very peculiar climate.
• In Machu Picchu, there are 02 very marked climatic seasons: the dry and rainy seasons.

The dry season in Machu Picchu

• The dry season is between April and October. Many people think it is the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
• During these months, the day is exceptionally sunny, and there is almost no rain, allowing the tourist to have a pleasant tour of the Inca City.
• In June and July, daytime temperatures can reach 25ºC (77ºF). In the early mornings, the lowest temperatures can reach 0ºC.
• There is also the “high season of tourism” during the dry season, in which Machu Picchu supports the highest number of visitors.
• The rainy season in Machu Picchu
• The rainy season is between November and March. During these months, the Inca City can dawn covered with fog. Although in the day, the mist will clear.
• In February and March, the rains are more frequent than in the rest of the year. The maximum temperatures can reach 22ºC. Minimum temperatures can reach 8ºC.
• The rainy season is known as the “low season for tourism.” And that is why you can find meager prices in all tourist services.

Top Cusco Hiking Tours 4 Day

PRICES PER PERSON 2022. Private hiking tours are only open to your party.

• 02 people US$ 811. “prices reduce if there are more people in your group.”
• 03 people US$ 713.
• 04 people US$ 624.
• 05 people US$ 604.
• 06 people US$ 562.
• 07 people US$ 549.
• 08+ people US$ 524.

*Student discounts $ 20 off.

Lares Trek Short Inca Trail Machupicchu & Rainbow Mountain

HOW TO BOOK

Lares Trek plus Express Inca Trail plus Rainbow Mountain 4 Days

1st. STEP

2nd. STEP | First down payment.