Hiking to Machu Picchu

Hiking to Machu Picchu 

It´s 3 Most Famous Alternatives

     

Machu Picchu is the most popular place in South America peaking at 5,000 people traveling to see this amazing site daily. With all those people, it´s hard to make your trip as unique as possible. 

At Valencia Travel Cusco, we offer 6 treks that allow you a unique experience unlike the norm to the magnificent Machu Picchu but let´s talk about the 3 most popular Inca Trail, the Lares Trek and the Salkantay trek. 

Inca Trail Trek

Inca Trail is so famous not only because it leads you to Machu Picchu but

1. There is only a limited of individuals who can participate inside this trek daily. 
2. It is protected so you can see all the natural wildlife, an array of wild orchids in full bloom and many more untouched gems.
3. The Trail leads you directly to the Sun Gate which overlooks Machu Picchu. 

And last you get to see the ruins leading to Machu Picchu that travelers on different routes do not get to experience. The Inca Trail Trek is, by far, one of the best hikes you will ever take.
4 Day Trek
5 Day Trek

Short 2 Day Trek

Lares Trek

Inca Trail is obviously talked about a lot but what deserves more recognition is the beautiful Lares Trek. This trek is not a "runner-up" or in any competition to be the best. This beautiful trek is surrounded
by stunning mountains, lakes, and valleys. And it starts in a small city inside the Sacred Valley.  Just by looking at the picture you can tell this trek is nothing like the Inca Trail and anyone who has experienced this hike loves that it´s not.
This is the trek I would recommend :)

4 Day Lares Trek

Salkantay Trek 

National Geographic Adventure Magazine rated the Salkantay Trek as one of the Best Treks in the World. The most impressive is the snow peak Salkantay.  If you have missed to sign up on time for the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek 5 days 4 nights, is your best option to get to Machu Picchu. There are also excellent hot springs at the end of your trek. Note: The Salkantay Trek in private service, is addressed to small groups since there is personalized attention so you can really get an insight into the local Andean communities and way of life.

This trek is perfect for slow, peace seeking individuals that loves mountains.

5 Day Salkantay Trek

As each trek will deliver its different essence of the Inca Culture, whichever trek you choose will deliver it`s amazing once in a lifetime experience. And if we were to recommend something, it would be to take the chance to plan out how you can witness not one but two of these unforgettable journeys.

 

Please tell us your experience below which trek did you choose and what was your favorite part?

7 Day Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu

This 7 day trek will take you into the Lares region of the Peruvian Andes. Enjoy the landscapes while heading towards Machu Picchu!  

  7 DAY LARES VALLEY TREK LINK


ITINERARY

DAY 1 -  FLY TO CUSCO

After arriving in Cusco, a Valencia Travel Cusco representative will transport you to your hotel for the night. The following day, you will have the day to enjoy at your leisure. There is the option of taking a free walking tour! You can confirm in advance to schedule a tour guide. The tour will be about 2 to 3 hours.

    Places to be visited is as followed:

• Regocijo square 
• Plaza de Armas (Main square in Cusco)
• Plaza Nazarenas
• San blas town
• The stone of 12 angles
• San Pedro market

DAY 2 -  OPEN DAY AT LEISURE

You can enjoy what Cusco has to offer at your own pace or take the optional: full day Sacred Valley tour.

Optional - SACRED VALLEY TOUR

After having breakfast, you 'll be picked up from your hotel and head towards the Urubamba valley to visit the following places: 

• Pisac- Known for its famous indigenous market held every Sunday
• Urubamba - We will have lunch here
• Ollantaytambo- The oldest occupied town in the South American continent
• Chinchero- Also known for its indigenous markets 

At the end of your tour, you will be returned to the main square in Cusco around 6:30 pm. The rest of the night is free at your leisure. 

DAY 3 - THE START OF OUR ADVENTURE TOWARDS LARES VALLEY

Early in the morning,we depart Cusco for the town of Ollantaytambo located within the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After 4 hours driving, we arrive in Patakancha, a Quechua community, where the locals still live like their Incan ancestors. The locals live in abode homes with thatched roofs, weave their clothing and work the land. Their main income is from their livestock of llamas and alpacas.The locals also work as porters for travel companies. We will visit the community and its school. After the visit, you will meet the trekking crew and pack up to start your hike. Along the beginning of the trek, you will enjoy views of alpaca and llamas grazing in the fields. After an hour and a half ascending, the trail flattens out and we will reach Lake Ipsaycocha. In the afternoon, we will cross our first high pass called Ipsaycocha pass then the trail will go downhill until we reach our campsite.

DAY 4 - HUACAHUASI TO LARES HOT SPRINGS

After breakfast, we will begin to descend for about three hours until we reach the community of Huacahuasi. The scenery will be different from yesterday filled with fields of potato, barley, quinoa and corn. Many of the houses in the village of Huacahuasi are built from stone and have thatched roofs. The people in this community produce colorful textiles. The next day, we will learn about their weaving techniques and admire some of their high quality products.  As we continue our walk (2 to 3 hours)  we arrive in the colonial village of Lares, where we will camp for the night.  We will take a relaxing dip in the hot springs.   

DAY 5 -  LARES TO OLLANTAYTAMBO TO AGUAS CALIENTES

In the early morning, the bus will pick up to head towards the beginning of a trail near the Totora canyon. After 2 hours, we will keep going until we reach Ollantaytambo, where we will rest and have lunch. In the afternoon, we will catch a train to Aguas Calientes. This journey starts off in the Quechua highlands and descend into lush tropical vegetation as we near Aguas Calientes. Once in Aguas Calientes, we will check into our hotel for the night. 

DAY 6 -  MACHU PICCHU IN ITS GLORY

After having breakfast, you guide will pick you up to take the bus to Machu Picchu.  We will watch the sunrise after which, you'll being a guided tour. When the tour is done, you will be able to explore the citadel by yourselves. You will then meet your guide in Aguas Calientes to have lunch and be given your return train tickets to Cusco. Make sure to be early at the train station (20 or 30 minutes) in order to catch your train back to Cusco. 

DAY 7 -  FLY TO LIMA

After having breakfast in your hotel, you will have the morning to enjoy at your leisure. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima. 

Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu

Valencia Travel Cusco offers alternative treks that takes travelers off the beaten path to discover the natural and cultural beauty of the other trails that lead to Machu Picchu!


Treks offered:

• 4 Day Lares Trek To Machu Picchu

• 5 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Additional treks offered:

• 7 Day Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu

• 8 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

• 8 Day Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu

• 9 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

4 Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Our Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is an excellent alternative for those who want to get off the beaten path. Travelers will gain insight into authentic communities while being surrounded by stunning scenery. *There's the option to take a private trek or group trek- links below*

4 DAY LARES TREK LINK      
4 DAY LARES TREK - GROUP LINK

ITINERARY

DAY 1 -  CUSCO TO PATACANCHA TO IPSAYCOCHA LAKE

 We start our morning departing Cusco to travel towards Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  We will spend about 4 hours on the road. Then, we will arrive in Patacancha, a Quechua community, where the people still live like their Incan ancestors. The locals live in adobe home with thatch roofs, they weave their own clothing and work the land.Their income is based on their livestock and working as porters. We will visit this community and its school. Afterwards, you'll meet your trekking crew and take off on your trek. As you leave the village, you'll enjoy views of alpacas and llamas grazing along the trail. We will start to ascent for about an hour and half until the trail flattens out and we reach Lake Ipsaycocha. Towards the afternoon, we will cross our first high pass called Ipsaycocha Pass, the rest of our hike will be downhill until we reach our campsite.  Lunch and dinner are included. 

DAY 2- HUACAHUASI TO LARES HOT SPRINGS

After breakfast, we will begin to descend for about three hours until we reach the community of Huacahuasi. The scenery here differs from the other community. There are fields of potato, barley, quinoa and corn. Many of the houses we will see are built from stone and have thatched roofs.The locals produce colorful textiles.  We will get to learn about their weaving techniques and admire their finished textiles. We will continue walking for about 2 to 3 hours until we reach hot springs near a colonial village, this is where we will set up camp.  We will take a relaxing dip in the hot springs after setting up camp.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. 

DAY 3-  LARES TO OLLANTAYTAMBO TO AGUAS CALIENTES

Early the next morning, the bus will pick us up to head towards the Totora canyon. This will be a 2 hour drive that will take us into the valley of Ollantaytambo.  We will rest and have lunch here.  In the afternoon, we will catch the train to Aguas Calientes. This journey passes spectacular scenery that starts in the Quechua highlands and changing into tropical 
vegetation as we near Aguas Calientes. Once in Aguas Calientes, we will check into a hotel for the night. 

DAY 4 -   MACHU PICCHU

After having breakfast, we will catch the bus to Machu Picchu in order to view the sunrise above the citadel.  There is the option to hike up Wayna Picchu due to new regulations, these tickets need to be booked in advanced. There are only two time slots: 7-8 am and 10 - 11 am.  If choosing the 7 am option, you will miss the guided tour of Machu Picchu. Your guide will give you a 2 hour tour of Machu Picchu after this, you can explore the citadel by yourselves.  Afterwards, you will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes for lunch and be given your return train tickets to Cusco. The earliest train is 1 pm and the latest is 9 pm. The train included in the tour stops at Ollantaytambo and we will catch a bus back to Cusco. It is possible to request an extra night in Aguas Calientes through your booking agent.  This option is popular as it lets travelers explore the area and Machu Picchu. 

VERY IMPORTANT: There is a mandatory fee of $15 USD to hike Wayna Picchu. Guide is not included for this hike. To include a guide, the fee is $50 USD, which would be a total of $60 USD.

VERY IMPORTANT: A pre-tour briefing is held at our office or your hotel (whichever is preferred) the night before your tour at 6 or 7 pm (exact time to be confirmed).