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GALLERY
Lares Valley Trek
Lares Valley Trek 2 days 1 night
Trek in the Andes high above Cusco’s Sacred Valley of the Incas. This journey into the realm of the last Incas is a unique experience. You will visit isolated villages where life has changed very little since Inca times, experiencing the lives of communities dedicated to growing their crops and herding llamas and alpacas. Villagers have conserved their traditional weaving techniques, making clothing from sheep, alpaca and llama wool. During this unforgettable trek we will use llamas as pack animals.
YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY AND SERVICES:
Day 1: Cusco – Lares – Huacawasi – campsite
In the early morning you will be picked up
from your hotel in Cusco for the drive to the village of Lares in the fertile
valley of the same name. From this subtropical location, we will continue to
the trailhead near the village of Huacawasi.
Huacawasi is a weaving community and the
people still dress in their own handmade traditional clothing. These
Quechua-speaking people maintain their ancient way of life, herding alpacas and
llamas, farming the slopes of the Andes and engaging in cultural practices
inherited from their Inca ancestors. During our visit there will be time to
experience the daily life of this traditional Andean community. The villagers
are friendly and welcoming, and some may offer to sell you their excellent
weavings. After visiting the village, we will continue our hike along a gentle
uphill trail to our campsite.
In the early morning you will be picked up
from your hotel in Cusco for the drive to the village of Lares in the fertile
valley of the same name. From this subtropical location, we will continue to
the trailhead near the village of Huacawasi.
Huacawasi is a weaving community and the
people still dress in their own handmade traditional clothing. These
Quechua-speaking people maintain their ancient way of life, herding alpacas and
llamas, farming the slopes of the Andes and engaging in cultural practices
inherited from their Inca ancestors. During our visit there will be time to
experience the daily life of this traditional Andean community. The villagers
are friendly and welcoming, and some may offer to sell you their excellent
weavings. After visiting the village, we will continue our hike along a gentle
uphill trail to our campsite.
Day 2: Huacawasi pass – Yanahuara
After breakfast, we will leave our porters to
strike the camp and begin our day’s trek uphill to Huacawasi Pass (4650 meters
/ 15,193 feet), from where we will have fine views of the surrounding Urubamba mountain
range, before descending to Lake Aruraycocha (4445 meters / 14,580 feet). From
here, we will continue through the narrow Mantacnayniyoc canyon to the village
of Yanahuara, where our vehicle will be waiting to pick us up for the short
drive to your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, or the return drive to
Cusco.
After breakfast, we will leave our porters to
strike the camp and begin our day’s trek uphill to Huacawasi Pass (4650 meters
/ 15,193 feet), from where we will have fine views of the surrounding Urubamba mountain
range, before descending to Lake Aruraycocha (4445 meters / 14,580 feet). From
here, we will continue through the narrow Mantacnayniyoc canyon to the village
of Yanahuara, where our vehicle will be waiting to pick us up for the short
drive to your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, or the return drive to
Cusco.
EXTENSIONS: DO YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND IN PERU?
Other travelers added the following extension to this Peru itinerary...
MACHU PICCHU Full day
Visit Machu Picchu, South America’s most iconic attraction, on a one-day excursion, traveling by train on one of the world’s great railroad journeys. Located at the top of a steep, forested hill overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was hidden by thick cloud forest vegetation for centuries until the American explorer Hiram Bingham began to clear the site after its rediscovery in 1911. Today the city has been extensively restored, creating an unforgettable sight for visitors like you who arrive from all over the world.
CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED AND WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING...
Included
- Private vehicle, outbound and return
- English-speaking tour guide
- Trekking services, including: camp cook, porters and camp assistant(s)
- All group camping equipment, double tents and Thermarest mattresses, kitchen and/or dining tent, and toilet tent
- Food: hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner as described in the itinerary (all the trash produced during the trek will be returned to Cusco)
- First aid kit
Not included
- Sleeping bag (sleeping bags can be hired at an additional cost)
- Drinks
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips
What to bring:
- Passport
- Daypack
- Warm clothes for the high Andean section of the itinerary
- Rain jacket
- Long sleeved cotton shirts
- Shorts for walking (optional)
- Hiking boots
- Cap and sunglasses
- Walking poles (optional)
- Insect repellent
- Sun block
- Water bottle for the first day (we will refill your bottle each day)
- Binoculars for birdwatching enthusiasts
- Flashlight
- Camera
- Swimwear and sandals for thermal baths
FAQs - Frequently asked questions
How far in advance do I need to book a trek or hike?
For trekking and hiking routes other than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you should make your booking at least five days in advance, so we can make the necessary preparations, although we recommend that you make your booking up to 90 days in advance. Full refunds (minus administration costs) can be offered 45 days before your scheduled departure date. After 45 days, only partial refunds will be given.
I would like to trek with my friends, can I book now and my friends book later?
Yes, for trekking and hiking routes other than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you can add other travelers to your group before departure. Write to us for more information on the treks, hikes and tours we have available.
What is the maximum group size? Is there a maximum?
The maximum group size is 16 persons. For more than 16 persons, a second group must be organized. A single guide travels with 8 participants. For larger groups, an assistant guide will also accompany the participants.
If I am traveling alone can I have my own tent / hotel room?
If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent, with a member of the same sex or partner, family member or friend, then there is no additional cost. If, however, you would like your own private tent an additional supplement will be payable. Please contact us in advance, because on some trekking and hiking routes this option may depend on the availability of spaces at campsites designated by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.
What do we do for water?
Use of plastic bottles on the network of Inca Trails to Machu Picchu is not permitted. Other treks and hikes do not have this restriction, but we always recommend and encourage our travelers to use reusable canteens or second use plastic water bottles. Our cook will provide you with boiled water to refill your bottle at all the campsites.
What food safety processes do you have in place?
All foodstuffs are purchased immediately before departure to guarantee freshness, and they are correctly packaged and handled by our trained staff to ensure food safety. We use cloth bags when making our purchases, rather than plastic. The produce is fresh and bought directly from local farmers. Also, we pack the produce in cloth bags and hermetic multiuse containers, avoiding the use of plastic in order to make our operations as green as possible.
What do I need to carry?
You will need to carry your daypack with all the personal items you need during the day. The rest of your luggage will be transported by us (van / porters). Porters are only permitted to carry 8 kilos for each person (including sleeping bag). As a company, Andean Adventures Peru is committed to the well-being of its porters during treks and hikes, ensuring that they are properly paid, well fed, and comfortable at our campsites. On some of our trekking and hiking routes, pack animals are used.
What type of camping gear is used for treks and hikes?
We supply all the camping equipment needed for groups to enjoy the great outdoors safely and comfortably: 4-person tents for every two participants; air mattresses; complete table service; dining tent, chairs and tables; kitchen tent; latrine tent; sleeping bags on request (many travelers choose to bring their own sleeping bag; however, we also offer sleeping bags for hire at an additional cost).
What processes are in place to ensure the equipment is always in perfect condition?
Our full time logistics staff continuously maintain and/or replace all our equipment. To ensure proper use of our equipment, all gear is handled by our trained field crew during treks and hikes.
Do you provide sleeping pads?
Yes.
What food safety processes do you have in place?
All foodstuffs are purchased immediately before departure to guarantee freshness, and they are correctly packaged and handled by our trained staff to ensure food safety. We use cloth bags when making our purchases, rather than plastic. The produce is fresh and bought directly from local farmers. Also, we pack the produce in cloth bags and hermetic multiuse containers, avoiding the use of plastic in order to make our operations as green as possible.
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