Itinerary
Discover what awaits you in the LARES TREK AND SHORT INCA TRAIL TOUR – 4 DAYS
day 1
DAY 1: CUSCO - LARES - SONDOR
The Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail tour begins with pickup from your hotel in Cusco around 6:00 a.m., heading to the town of Lares, with a brief stop at the Calca market to buy snacks and provisions for our Lares trek. In Lares, we’ll enjoy its famous thermal baths before beginning the hike to Sondor. After lunch, we’ll start the trek to the first campsite, where we’ll have dinner and rest surrounded by nature.
day 2
DAY 2: SONDOR - HUACAHUASI PASS - ARURAY COCHA - YURAC COCHA - PUCARA
After breakfast, we’ll begin the hike to Huacahuasi Pass, the highest point of the route, with spectacular views of the Andes. Accompanied by support horses, we’ll descend to the lagoons of Aruray Cocha and Yurac Cocha, where we’ll have lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll cross the queñua forests, home to birds, until we reach Pucara, our second campsite, where we’ll have dinner and rest.
day 3
DAY 3: PUCARA - OLLANTAYTAMBO - CHACHABAMBA (KM 104) - WIÑAYHUAYNA - INTIPUNKU - AGUAS CALIENTES
Very early, we travel to Ollantaytambo to take the train to Chachabamba – Km 104, the start of the famous Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We begin the hike, and our first stop is the archaeological site of Chachabamba. From there, we ascend to Wiñaywayna, one of the most impressive complexes of the Classic Inca Trail. Then we continue to the Sun Gate (Intipunku), from where we’ll see the Machu Picchu Citadel for the first time at sunset. We descend to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), where we’ll have dinner and spend the night at a hotel.
day 4
DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY – CUSCO
After breakfast, we board the Consettur bus to the Machu Picchu Citadel for our guided tour. During this tour, the guide will provide an in-depth explanation of the history, architecture, and mysticism of the site. We’ll also have free time to explore, take photographs, or visit Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional with prior reservation). Afterward, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch or to stroll through its streets, then board the train to Ollantaytambo station and return to Cusco.
Includes
- Information one day before the tour
- Transportation Cusco – Lares / Ollantaytambo – Cusco
- Transportation from Pucara to Ollantaytambo (train station)
- Entrance to the thermal baths in the village of Lares
- Train Ollantaytambo – Km 104 / Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (uphill)
- Entrance to the Inca Trail
- Entrance to Machu Picchu on circuit 3B
- 3 nights’ accommodation, cabins or campsite (day 1 and day 2) and hotel (day 3)
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish / English)
- Camping equipment: mats, dining tent with table and chairs, bathroom tent
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, and snacks (vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options available)
- Cook and kitchen equipment
- Mule drivers and horses for all camping equipment and personal luggage (up to 4 kg)
Not include
- Breakfast (day 1), lunch (day 4), and dinner (day 4)
- Bus Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (descent)
- Entrance to thermal baths in Aguas Calientes
Packaging list
- Original passport, original ISIC student card
- Backpack with waterproof cover
- Sleeping bag
- Clothing for warm and cold weather (waterproof jacket and pants)
- Change of clothes for 3 days
- Trekking shoes
- Sandals (for showers and thermal waters)
- Long and short-sleeved shirts
- Rain poncho
- Sunscreen, hat
- Swimsuit
- Insect repellent
- Alcohol and hand sanitizer gel
- Water bottle
- Purification tablets (optional)
- Personal hygiene products and toilet paper
- Camera and batteries
- Flashlight
- Snacks such as chocolate bars and nuts
- Cash, preferably in soles
