Peru

Starting Price:	$4,106.00
Trip Length:	11 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Lares trek

Machu Picchu

Sacred Valley

Lima and Cuzco with 3 Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

This trip takes you to the lost city of Machu Picchu via the Lares Trek, a great alternative to the classic Inca Trail. The Lares Trek is less traveled and ideal for hikers who may wish to get off the “beaten path”. Along the way, this Yampu trek will display a beautiful combination of amazing mountain scenery, glacial lagoons, cloud forests, visits to authentic Quechua communities, and a visit to the colonial town of Lares and its natural hot springs.

The Lares trek to Machu Picchu is a great alternative to the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This trek is not as restricted as the Inca Trail and is arranged privately with open dates. This 4-day, newly developed itinerary offers an outstanding combination of amazing mountain scenery in a remote area and visits to authentic Quechua communities. The hike runs through the Lares Valley and village of the same name, where you can enjoy a night dip in its hot springs, the Andean communities of Huacahuasi, Willoq and Patacancha, and reaches Aguas Calientes on the third night. The last day is devoted to the visit of the impressive Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Recently, following UNESCO recommendations, Peruvian authorities have placed restrictions on the visitation of Machu Picchu, the lost Incan ruins. Currently, no more than 2,500 people daily will be allowed to visit the ruins. While these new restrictions are great for the preservation of the ruins, they may cause some difficulties in your ability to visit them, so we recommend booking with plenty of notice.

This trip can be customized to fit your individual travel dates and any specific requests you may have. Your travel consultant will prepare a customized itinerary for you. We offer a choice of 3, 4, 5-star and deluxe hotels. The Deluxe option is with the Orient Express hotels: the Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu, Monasterio in Cuzco and the Park Plaza in Lima.

This tour includes airfare allowance from Miami (US), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via Miami; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Visited Cities:
Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu

Day 1

Overnight flight to Lima, Peru.

Day 2

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon tour of Lima, one of the most important cities in South America since its founding in 1535. Journey through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martín and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visit San Francisco Convent, religious building from the end of the 16th century, and its catacombs. Also drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
Note: check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).

Day 3

Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to acclimatize.

Day 4

City tour of Cuzco, visit the Korikancha Temple or Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. After your visits, you will continue to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. After the tour, return to your hotel.
Note: Because of the altitude in Cuzco, we recommend that this tour be done privately at your own pace, at an additional cost of $28 per person, based on two people.

Day 5

Cusco to Cancha Cancha
We leave Cusco at 7 am in private transportation and drive for 2 hours towards Huarán, the starting point of our trek. On this first day, we will walk for approximately 5 hours following an uphill path that starts in a valley with lush vegetation and that will take us to our first campsite in Cancha Cancha, a small farming community in the middle of spectacular mountain scenery. We will stop for lunch along the way. Once we get to Cancha Cancha, we set our camp and get to know the local people and their way of living.

Day 6

Cancha Cancha to Queuńaqocha Lagoon
We leave our camp after breakfast to start walking along an ascending path that will lead us to the first mountain pass of the trek, the Abra Pachacutec (4400m/14432ft/3h), from which we can enjoy awesome views of glacier lagoons and the surrounding valleys. Along the hike, we may also have spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains in the area, such as Colquecruz, Minas and Sirijuani. We will have lunch after the pass, to then descend to Quiswarani, a small peasant and textile community, from where we continue following an uphill path until we reach the beautiful lagoon of Queuńaqocha, where we set up our second camp.

Day 7

Queuńaqocha Lagoon to Lares and Aguas Calientes
Today we continue our hike towards the second mountain pass, the Abra Willkiccasa (4100m/13448ft/2h), offering impressive views of both sides of the pass, especially of the Colquecruz and Pitusiray mountains. The trail continues along changing puna, lakes and agricultural areas with roaming deer until we arrive in Cuncani 3 hours later, another small peasant community from where we follow our hike down a fertile valley with more vegetation, crops and agricultural communities. Along the trail we may see native flowers such as begonias and wild orchids. After an approximated 2 hours walk we arrive in Lares, capital of the district with the same name, a large village whose principal attraction are its pleasant hot springs, where we can enjoy a dip. After lunch, our private transport will drive us to Ollantaytambo, where we board an afternoon train that will take us to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.

Day 8

Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast, we board a bus to go up to Machu Picchu and then immediately begin a two-hour guided tour of the Inca citadel. Afternoon, you have time to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain, where you can appreciate spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it. Overnight in Machu Picchu.

Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so we may confirm your entrance to the ruins.

Day 9

Day at leisure. You may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. In the afternoon, we will board the train to return to Cuzco. Upon arrival, train station reception and transfer to your hotel.

Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Please contact your Yampu travel consultant if you think you would like to go back to the ruins or hike the Huayna Picchu at time of booking (subject to availability).

Day 10

Transfer to airport, to return to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon shopping tour of Lima, taking you to the famous handicraft markets accompanied by our guides.

Day 11

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Lima
3-star	Casa Andina, Allpa, or similar.
4-star	San Agustin Exclusive, Antigua Miraflores or similar.
5-star	Casa Andina PC, Radisson Decapolis or similar.
Airport	Ramada Costa del Sol airport hotel.
Deluxe	Miraflores Park Plaza (Orient Express), JW Marriott, Lima Country Club or similar.
Cuzco
3-star	Casa Andina Classic, San Agustin El Dorado, Rumi Punku or similar.
4-star	Costa del Sol Picoaga, Novotel, Casa Andina Private Collection (oxygen available) or similar.
5-star	Inkaterra La Casona, Libertador, or Suite at the Casa Andina Private Collection inc. oxygen, matrimonial beds only, or similar.
Deluxe	Monasterio (Orient Express), Casa Cartagena or similar.
Machu Picchu
3-star	El MaPi or similar.
4-star	Sumaq Machu Picchu (this is a free upgrade to all 4 star clients). Yampu guests enjoy special benefits: welcome drink, tea time, dinner and cooking lessons.
5-star	Sumaq Machu Picchu (see above for special benefits) OR Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Yampu guests enjoy dinner and a choice of a 25 min massage, a wine bottle or chocolate truffles
Deluxe	Sanctuary Lodge (Orient Express - includes all meals), or Junior Suite at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

11 days , from $4106

Occupancy Type	3-star	4-star	5-star	Deluxe
Double	$4106	$4448	$4800	$5290
Single	$5571	$6227	$6665	$7606

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Price includes:
Air transportation from Miami to Lima in economy class (surcharge applicable from other cities)
Air transportation from Lima to Cuzco return
Hotel accommodation including 2 nights in Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes
All transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling
Guided tours in English including all entrance fees
Meals where specified

Trek includes: all meals during the trek, personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field; one foamy sleeping pad per person; dining tent with tables and chairs; kitchen and toilet tent; English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people); chef and cooking equipment; horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment); 1 emergency horse for every 6 people; hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead; all Lares entrance fees and one entrance ticket to Machu Picchu; first-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. Taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are already included in the quote (if airfare has been included in the quote)

Note: Cost includes Expedition train for 3-star category, and Vistadome train for 4-star category and above. Expedition train features comfortable seats, fixed tables, backpack storage, panoramic windows as well as heating and air conditioning. Vistadome is ideal for travelers who want a personalized immersion of Andean culture with traditional dances and music along the way. This train features panoramic windows, leather seats, new table design as well as heating and air conditioning. Upgrades available from Expedition to Vistadome; please add $46 per person.

Deluxe service Hiram Bingham train features an observation wagon with a bar and two dining cars. In addition, this train includes a gourmet brunch on board, exclusive bus return to Machu Picchu, entrance to Machu Picchu as well as a guided tour. Afternoon tea in the Sanctuary Lodge, pre-dinner cocktails and a 4-course, a la carte dinner is also included. Does not operate on Sundays. Upgrades available from Vistadome to Hiram Bingham Deluxe; please add $575 per person.

Hike rate: Moderate to difficult due to the high altitude and steep ascents. We recommend that you rest on your first day in Cuzco; if you are prone to altitude sickness, please consult with your physician.

This is a private trek. If you are able to travel on one of the following dates and join a group, there will be a deduction of $ 475 per person based on two people traveling and $ 950 per person based on one person traveling. Date corresponds with the first day of the trek (day 5 in the itinerary below):

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