4 Day Backpacking Trip Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Cuncani (3810 msl / 12500 ft) to Uray Qelwacocha (4350 msl / 14270 ft)
1 stop
1
The day’s activities will start at 6:00 AM when your private transport and guide will arrive to pick you up at your hotel in Cusco to begin a 3.5 hour drive to our departure point, Cuncani. There we will start our gradual ascent for 2.5 hours that will take us through colorful landscapes where we can see animals like llamas, alpacas, and viscacha, and enjoy spectacular views of mountain lakes and glaciers. After a 4-hour trek, you will reach the small village of Cancha (3,800 m) where you will spend the night. • Distance covered: 6 km / 3.7 miles • Duration: 4 hours • Lowest elevation: Cuncani, 3810 m (12500 ft) • Highest elevation: Paso Tortilluyoq, 4380 m (14370 ft) • Difficulty: Moderate • Highlights: landscape views, lakes, glaciers, wildlife (llamas, alpacas), local culture
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Uray Qelwacocha (4350 msl / 14272 ft) to Ccancao (4430 msl / 14534 ft)
1 stop
2
We will start our ascent for a period of one hour until Puca Cocha Pass at 4530 m above sea level (14862 ft elevation). Arriving at the pass we will enjoy a rare view of the Lares Valley and its mountains to then make a gradual descent, before beginning another ascent to Palchayoq at 4350 m (14862 ft), where we can observe a great diversity of the wildlife of the region. We will continue in this manner with our ascent to Mantanay Pass at 4660 m (15289 ft). From the pass you will have a spectacular view of the Auroray lagoon where we will set up a tent nearby for lunch. After lunch, we will continue a gradual ascent to the Wayruruyoq Pass (4690 m or 15387 ft), to then descend until our campsite at Cancao (4430 m or 14534 ft). • Distance covered: 8 km / 5 miles • Duration: 7 hours • Lowest: Ccancao, 4430 m (14534 ft) • Highest: Paso Wayruruyoq, 4690 m (15387 ft), • Difficulty: Strenuous • Highlights: landscape, lakes, glaciers, wildlife, local culture
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Ccancao to Marcacocha to Machu Picchu Pueblo (2046 msl / 6712 ft)
1 stop
3
Ollantaytambo
After breakfast we will continue on our descent past herds of llamas and alpacas, enjoying majestic views of valleys and ravines, through fields of crops like potato, corn, and quinoa, until we reach Marcacocha, where our private transport will be waiting to take us to the town of Ollantaytambo. There we will board our train to Machu Picchu town. • Distance covered: 5 km / 3.1 miles • Duration: 3 hours • Lowest elevation: Machu Picchu Pueblo, 2046 m (6712 ft) • Highest elevation: Cancao, 4430 m (14534 ft) • Difficulty: Moderate • Highlights: View of the valley, lagoons, llamas, alpacas, local culture
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Machu Picchu Pueblo to Cusco
1 stop
4
Machu Picchu
After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will arrive to lead you to the bus station to go to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. It will take approximately 25 minutes to drive to the control point, where you will enter one of the great wonders of the world, and begin a guided tour of the most striking locations around the Machu Picchu archaeological complex. You will be able to appreciate this maximum expression of Inca architecture, accompanied by your own private professional guide, for approximately 3 hours. We will then return to Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as Aguas Calientes) by bus and later take the train to return to Ollantaytambo, where your private transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

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