The Lares Trek
- Kandoo Trekking
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our UK team
All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Cuzco Airport (CUZ). From the airport we will arrange an airport transfer for you. That evening you will meet your local Kandoo representative and have a full pre-trek briefing
We leave Cuzco and drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our day begins at the town of Chinchero where we will meet the indigenous people who still speak the ancient Quechua language and learn about the traditional textile weaving techniques. We will then visit the Salt Mines of Maras which date back to pre-Incan times and where over 3000 salt pools have been carved into the mountain side. From Maras we will walk down to the Vilcanota river where we will meet our transport and continue our drive to Ollantaytambo, arriving around midday. The remainder of the day is free time to relax.
We leave Ollantaytambo after breakfast by private vehicle and travel to Calca where we will stop for a short break to visit the farmer’s market. We will then continue driving, crossing the Willkapunku Pass at over 4400m, before descending to Cuncani. Here we will meet our arrieros (horsemen) and start our trek.
We begin by trekking for around 2 hrs before stopping for lunch, and then continue trekking to cross the Huillquijasa Pass at 4445m. After another 2 hours we will reach a small valley where we will see traditional Andean farmhouses and herds of alpaca and llama. The views are spectacular, with three beautiful lagoons in the valley and the sacred valley mountains of Veronica and Ccolque Cruz. We will arrive at our campsite next to Quishuarani.
An early start will give us the best views as we begin our gradual ascent of the Abra Pachacutec, or Condor Pass. At 4700m, this is the highest point of our trek. From the top we are rewarded with views of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray (5750m) and Chicon (5500m). At the top of the pass we will make a small offering to the Andean gods to thank them for our safe passage. Our trek continues for an hour along a narrow, barren ridge before dropping down to the brilliant glacial lakes of Suirococha and Yuraccocha where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we will trek downhill into an area full of potato plantations, to reach our campsite near Cancha Cancha village.
After breakfast we will continue trekking downhill to the lower part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our trail follows a small river flanked by steep mountains, passing through Queuñas bushes and pretty farmland. When we reach Huaran village we will stop for lunch before continuing by road to Ollantaytambo. We take the train from here to Aguas Calientes and spend the night there in a hotel.
Today we will catch the bus up to Machu Picchu where you will be given a guided tour of the site which will last for around 2½ to 3 hours. There is also an option to climb Huayna Picchu, the famous mountain behind the ruins, but you will need to book a permit in advance. In the afternoon, we will catch the train from Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where you will be met by our driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Cuzco.
After a much needed night’s rest, we will bid you goodbye. We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Cuzco Airport for your departing flight.
Staying
well-fed on your trek is absolutely vital, especially when conditions are such
that you might not want to eat or drink as much as you should.
Because
so many trekkers experience a loss of appetite at altitude, our head chef has
developed special menu plans that are appealing, healthy, and filled with all
the energy you need to make it to Machu Picchu. By default, our meals include
fresh fruit and vegetables every day, as well as fresh meat and fish.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
is usually fairly hearty. Of
course, you’ll also have hot drinks, generally a choice of tea, coffee or hot
chocolate. Let your guide know if you are still hungry, or even if you think
you could ‘pack in a few more bites’. Our cooks always try to provide more
food than necessary to ensure everyone gets a good meal.
LUNCH
Lunch
is packed for you, to carry in your rucksack.
AFTERNOON
TEA
Afternoon
Tea is served at the end of the day’s walking, once you get to camp. In
addition to tea and other hot drinks, there are plenty of snacks to help
restore some of the energy you’ve just burned off.
DINNER
Dinners
are quite filling. They usually begin with a nice hearty soup, and then a
main course with fresh vegetables, and plenty of rice, pasta or potatoes,
followed by a yummy dessert.
DRINKING
WATER
On
the trek, we filter and boil all the water that we give to you for drinking.
You may wish to bring purification tablets as an extra precaution but they
are not essential. Every morning we will fill up your water bottles or
hydration bladder with at least 2 litres of water.
Coca
tea is thought to help relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness. In Cuzco,
all the hotels have dried leaves and hot water available throughout the day
so you can make your own tea whenever you wish.
On the trek we will take coca leaf tea bags for you.
We use only the very best high altitude
mountain tents, Eureka K-2 XT, to ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable on
your Lares
trek. Please bear in mind, these are proper mountain tents, designed to cope
with extreme conditions so don’t expect to be able to stand up and walk around
inside!
The hotels in we use in Peru all have western, flushing toilets. Whilst on the trek the toilet situation will be a little less luxurious. At camp each evening we will set up a toilet tent. This is a simple facility that provides a little privacy and comfort whilst on the trail. The toilet tent will contain a portable, sit down toilet. Whilst trekking, if you need to go you will have to find somewhere hidden, off the path and go wild. There's plenty of places to hide in the Peruvian forests!
We insist on using a high standard of
vehicle and driver for all of our transfers. In Peru it is not a legal
requirement to have seatbelts fitted in the back of vehicles, and while we try
to use vehicles that do have rear seatbelts fitted, this cannot always be
guaranteed. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the vehicle or the standard
of driving, please speak to the driver or our local office immediately.
Bag weight: 7kg
If
you’ve decided to rent gear, then below is a list of equipment available.
Just let our team know what you’d like to hire at your Pre-Trek
Briefing.
All
payments are made locally in US
Dollars (cash only):
All
items must be packed in your main equipment bag.
They
should not be attached to the outside, as we are not responsible if items
fall off when the bags are being carried on the trek. The sleeping bags weigh
approximately 2kg each.
UPPER
BODY
LEGS
FEET
OTHER
ACCESSORIES
From | To | Price | Availability | Book | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
14/12/2024 | 20/12/2024 |
$1,455
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
01/02/2025 | 07/02/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
15/03/2025 | 21/03/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
05/04/2025 | 11/04/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
26/04/2025 | 02/05/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
10/05/2025 | 16/05/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
21/06/2025 | 27/06/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
12/07/2025 | 18/07/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
26/07/2025 | 01/08/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
09/08/2025 | 15/08/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
23/08/2025 | 29/08/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
20/09/2025 | 26/09/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
11/10/2025 | 17/10/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
15/11/2025 | 21/11/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
13/12/2025 | 19/12/2025 | $1,555 £1,199 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
14/03/2026 | 20/03/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
04/04/2026 | 10/04/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
25/04/2026 | 01/05/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
09/05/2026 | 15/05/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
20/06/2026 | 26/06/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
11/07/2026 | 17/07/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
25/07/2026 | 31/07/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
08/08/2026 | 14/08/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
22/08/2026 | 28/08/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
19/09/2026 | 25/09/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
10/10/2026 | 16/10/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
14/11/2026 | 20/11/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
05/12/2026 | 11/12/2026 | $1,599 £1,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
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