LARES TREK TO MACHUPICCHU 4 DAYS

Take the untouched trail to machupicchu! avoid the crowds and experience the beauty of the lares trek. programme: 4 days / 3 nights ( at 7:00 pm tour orientation the night before your trekking ) .

ITINERARY

Day 1

meet at the office in the main plaza at 07.00 am, where you´ll meet your group and guide, before boarding the bus. always carry a copy of passport and your original isic student card.
we journey to calca through pisac where we have breakfast. from here you will have the chance to observe magnificent views of the surrounding landscapes, the highest pass we reach is hualcapunku at 4,400 meters, from this point we can see the beautiful snow capped mountain of ausangate 6,370 meters the highest in cusco. there is an abundance of local flora and andean medicinal plants along the trail such as molle, retama, muña, marku, kuñuco.
we will continue on to pampacorral (3,400meters ), which is a total of about 3 hrs ½ where we start walking approx 2 hrs ½ to get to our lunch and then we continue for 2 more hrs to get to our first camping in the huacawasi community ( 3,7oo meters ) . local andean villages and way of life along this beautiful trail will astound you. this area of trail is famous for the intricate weavings created by the people in the lares region. please cooperate so as not to alter the ecosystem and local customs.

( Walking distance approximately 8 km.)

Day 2 Tinqui-Upis

wake up 6:00 am for an early breakfast so we can start walking around 7:00 here we will stop for a short visit with this community. those who have bought some school supplies for the children will be able to give them at this point and then we continue walking for 3hrs ½ on to ibsacocha pass ( 4,400meter ) with beatifull views of the cordillera vilcanota .and then we go dowm for 30 minutes and we stopping near by the lake for lunch and then we have to continue for 3 hrs more to get to the patacancha community ( 3,700meters ) camping throughout this day you will have views of typical andean mountains, lakes and flocks of llamas. this area is still relatively untouched by tourism so if you want to avoid the 500 tourists a day on the traditional inca trail this is the place to be!! if you catch the trout here it´s on the menu for dinner!

( Walking distance approximately 11 km.)

Day 3

after breakfast it´s a leisurely 4hrs walk down to ollamtaytambo ( 2900 mtrs) passing local farmers tending llamas, alpacas and their famous terraces of crops.
we enjoy lunch in the pumamarca community before we get to ollamtaytambo willoc is famous for her people clothed in the famous red ponchos. these people are considered some of the closest descendents of the inca people still conserving their traditions and their market days are the real thing!!
there is free time to visit the ollamtaytambo ruins and then we take the afternoon train to aguas calientes where we settle in to hostal viajeros for the night with hotshowers! or we can enyoy the hot springs before dinner in the hostal .

( walking distance approximately 12 km.)

Day 4

early breakfast ( 05.15am) before taking the early bus directly to machupicchu at 06.25am. optional: leave 05.10am and walk up to machupicchu arriving approx 06.20am. it´s still 10 mins walk up from here to the famous view from the terraces at the end of the trail. early tour of machupicchu and opportunity to take your photos now before the 10:30 crowds arrive. your tour of machupicchu should finish between 10:00am and 10:30am and you have free time to climb huayna picchu (min 90 mins), it will take you between 45 mins to an hour to walk down to aguas calientes. optional bus down to aguas calientes. us $6

*** special buffet lunch after you visit machupicchu back in hostal viajeros.
return to cusco. arrival back in the plaza de armas in cusco approx 9pm.

Extra information:

• Sleeping bag rent for 4 days $ 10 HOLLOFILL OR HOLOFIBER weigh 2 kg minus 4 degress celcius
• $ 15 DOWN SLEEPING BAG 1.8 kg minus 10 degress celcius
• Mattress included weigh 800gms.

The bag and Matress will be returned to Cusco for you on day 3 as you have hostal accommodation with bed and bedding provided in Aguas Calientes.
Unless you hire an extra porter you need to carry your back pack, sleeping bag and the mattress
Porter to carry up to 9 Kg = $30 up to 18 Kg = $60 for the tour from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
Regarding porters who carry personal items. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, water bottle, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you. You will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.
Best to put everything up to 20kgs in one backpack for the porter so that you donït have 2 large backpacks in your tent. We can provide you with a big rice sack but it is better to use a backpack so that it is easier for you to bring your stuff back on the train etc from Aguas Calientes.

Take EXTRA MONEY for The bus down from MachuPicchu to Aguas Calientes $6, if you don´t want to walk down the trail so it is optional , tips for Porters etc.
You need to Take at least 150.00 soles emergency money that you hope to come back to Cusco with!!!
Note: there are no ATM¨s in Aguas Calientes and higher commission on Travellers Checks.

Hints for a fantastic hike: altitude sickness

Itïs possible you will feel the effects of altitude on arriving in Cusco, ( 3,400 Mts) especially if you fly from sea level, eg LIMA. It is best to wait at least two days before setting out on the trail, don¨t drink alcohol, smoke or take sedatives. Drink lots of water and coca tea. Drink at least two litres per day, especially on the second day pass. In high altitude you breath rapidly and shallow causing you to dehydrate more quickly. Drink extra water or coca tea to avoid this as coffee also tends to cause dehydration. Always purify water you take from the trail waterfalls and streams. You can purchase purification tablets (eg Micropur) from any pharmacy. You must leave micropur tablets in the water for at least 90 mins before drinking. Iodine only 20 mins. If you have any medical conditions, allergies or special food requirements etc. Please write this clearly in the registration book.

Water:

We suggest you take a 1 and a ½ litre bottle of water on the first day and then you can refill this on the trek. We boil water each night which is available after breakfast each morning for your water bottles. We still suggest you take water purification tablets or filters for any unboiled water you take directly from streams or Waterfalls etc. You can buy bottle water from the 3rd afternoon in Ollantaytambo and onwards.
Regarding TEMPERATURES during the day...If you are walking in the sun it is very hot and feels like 26 degrees celcius, but when you walk through the forest or in the shadow of a mountain it can feel like 14 degrees almost immediately. At night on the second night it could get to -5 degrees celcius if you are really unlucky but more likely just freezing ! Main hint for dealing with the temperatures is to try and keep your body temp as regular as possible by using layering of clothes so when you feel cool put on an extra layer before you get cold and if you start to feel warm take off a layer before you perspire which will leave you with a chill later if you don´t take care.
The weather from Dec through to early March is usually the wettest on the trail.
Somedays it may be drizzly all day or you may have a burst of rain and clear skies for the rest of the day or it could be wet off and on all day. You need good rain gear for walking as well as something to protect your pack. We have dining tents for all meals so you are protected at this time.

Other. Tipping of the porters

As for all American countries, tipping is normal and it is apart of the experience. Generally groups prepare a collective tip at dinner on the 2nd night which is shared out between the porters and cook on the 3rd morning at breakfast. Tipping of porters who carry your personal items is separate and you are asked to tip an extra porter directly. The recommended minimum is 30 soles for 18kg.
RETURN OPTIONS FROM MACHUPICCHU (AGUAS CALIENTES)
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES: RETURN BY BACKPACKERS TRAIN (approx 4 PM) TO CUSCO or WITH PRIVATE BUS CONNECTION FROM OLLANTAYTAMBO BOTH ARRIVING ABOUT 9PM TO THE CUZCO PLAZA.

What you need to take:

• Backpack : Sleeping Bag : Warm Clothes : Flash Light : Wool socks : hat : Sunscreen/Hat
• Insect Repellent : Rain Poncho : Toiletries / paper : Gloves / Scarf
• Water Purifying Tablets Student Card
• Personal Medical kit Water Bottle

YOU SHOULD BRING WITH YOU:

• Sleeping bag (not included but can be hired from us)
• Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
• Travel Insurance is very important
• Hiking boots
• Waterproof Coat/rain poncho
• Warm jacket, hat and gloves
• T-shirts(at least one per day)
• Pants or trousers
• Sun hat
• Sun Block
• Metal water bottle or camel bag(Can be Plastic Bottle).
• Mosquito Repellent
• Toiletries
• Personal First Aid Kid
• Camera or Video Camera
• Head torch or flash Light
• Extra Money(EMERGENCY SITUATION)-NO ATMs Machine on the Trek
• Bathing suit (for hot springs in Lares)