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On the Lares Valley trek, women and children continue to wear traditional clothing, of bright red and its varying shades of natural dyes, oranges and pinks. This is one place in Peru where people continue to wear traditional Peruvian clothing.

In the Lares mountains the red of these ponchos and skirts stand out from a distance as children herd flocks of sheep and llamas and Andean farmers tend their fields. Stone houses are covered with thatched roofs and its like you have stepped back into the middle ages, while great herds of Llamas roam the landscape as you hike.

The traditional Lares treks are blessed with plenty of high mountain scenery, alpine lakes and waterfalls. This region is rich for adventure, and criss crossed with paths and routes used by the local folk. This trek is sometimes known as the 'Weaver's Way' or the Weavers Trail.

An exquisite example of a traditionally woven manta in this region.

Lares four day trek - Huaran, CanchcaCancha, Quisurani, Concani, Lares
Day 1: We leave Cusco early morning by public bus and travel to Pisac and then the small village of Huaran, deep in the Sacred Valley, where we start our hike. We pass through pretty farmland while following a small river up through the mountain corridor. After walking about 4 hours, we arrive in the traditional community of Cancha Cancha (3800 metres/ 12464 feet) with many stone houses. After passing the village, we set up camp for the night, surrounded by imposing peaks.

Day 2: Our hike takes us past the Upper Cancha Cancha village, where children sometimes tend large herds of llamas. After a climb, we reach two brilliant glacial lakes, Suirococha and Yuraccocha. Here we can see several bird species, including Andean Ibis and Andean geese. From the lakes, the trail climbs steeply for about 21/2 hours to the first pass, Pachakutec (4460 metres/ 14628 feet) Near the top, we are rewarded with views of the snow-covered peaks of Pitusiray (5750 metres/ 18860 feet) and Chicon (5500 metres/18040 feet). The path continues for an hour along a narrow, barren ridge before dropping down into a beautiful secluded corrie filled with glacial lakes and rich in birdlife. We follow a series of nine cascading waterfalls to the village of Quisuarani (3700 metres/ 12136 feet), where we camp for the night.

Day 3: Heading west up a small valley we arrive at a lake at the head of the valley and start a steep zig-zag climb up a narrow trail to the top of the second pass known as Abra Huillquijasa (4200 metres/ 13776 feet), about 3 hours' from Quisuarani village. Below are incredible sapphire blue lakes. We lunch beside these lakes before continuing on for about an hour to the village of Concani (3750 metres/ 12300 feet).

Day 4: The trail follows the river valley down hill for about 3 hours to the town of Lares (3100 metres/ 10168 feet). ½ hour before arriving in Lares we will stop for a well deserved soak in some open air hot springs. Depending on bus schedules we may lunch at the Lares hot springs. In the afternoon we return to Calca, and then Cusco by public bus

Lares Trek with Machu Picchu extension - 5 days/ 4nights

Just for the record, the traditional Lares trek (which ends at the Lares Hot Springs) ends up nowhere near Machu Picchu! However, as the Inca Trail spaces fill up quickly, many agencies now offer this option. So do we - the route basically follows the 4 day trek described above but in reverse.

Day 1: Cusco - Lares Valley

Day 2: Lares - Quisurani

Day 3: Quisurani - Cancha Cancha

Day 4 Cancha Cancha - Huaran - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Day 5 Visit to Machu Picchu, return to Cusco in the evening

Lares 5 day Trek - Huaran, CanchcaCancha, Quisurani, Concani, Huilloq, Ollantaytambo

Days 1 and 2 (as per 4 day itinerary)
Day 3: From Quisuarani to Lares is nearly all downhill and easy walking, firstly on rarely used roads and then on the main road to Lares. We pass through pretty farmland and green vegetation.
Nestled in a green valley, Lares, with its few streets, can only be described as picturesque! We continue through town to the famed hot springs, half an hour north where we take a well deserved soak. After lunch, we continue on a gentle path above a picturesque valley for about 2 hours to the campsite.

Day 4: After continuing up through the valley, we arrive in Huacawasi which is a weaving community. They are often out in their fields weaving while they watch their animals, and we can see how they work. Passing the village we climb to Condor Pass (4100m.) From here, if it is clear, we can have a beautiful view of the Mount Veronica (5750m.) Descending gently for about one hour, we come to the Epsaycocha Lake, where we will camp for the night.

Day 5: From here it is all downhill into the Sacred Valley. We eventually arrive at the community of Huilloq from where we can catch public transport to Ollantaytambo. Situated in a fertile river valley and sheltered by mammoth mountains, this ancient Inca village is considered one of the most important living museums in the world. After visiting the complex, we return to Cusco in the afternoon by bus.

Lares 6 day Trek- Huaran, CanchcaCancha, Quisurani, Concani, Lares, Choquecancha, Paucaparta

Days 1-3 as per 5 day trek

Day 4: The trail follows the river valley down hill for about 3 hours to the town of Lares (3100m). ½ hour before arriving in Lares we will stop for a well deserved soak in some open air hot springs. Nestled in a green valley, Lares with its few streets can only be described as picturesque! A 3 hour walk north downhill along the road brings us to the foot of a small steep path, climbing up to the friendly village of Choquecancha (3200m). Local weavers offer beautiful hand made weavings, while the main square is lined by an impressive 14 niched inca wall. We camp close by.

Day 5: It's a 3 hour climb along a narrow winding path, at times almost carved into the mountainside, to reach a ridge top with spectacular views of two valleys. This is truly where the mountains drop down to the jungle. We have lunch where we will camp for the night. In the afternoon we'll explore the surrounding region including some neglected Inca ruins covered in dense vegetation and a spot where, if we are lucky, we can observe the majestic Andean Condor which nests in nearby cliffs.

Day 6: A 2 hour descent from the camp site brings us to the tiny village of Paucarpata where we'll have lunch and wait for our public bus back to Cusco. (about 5 hours)The route to Calca is spectacular and worth the journey itself

Itinerary Notes

• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group and the guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has their own preferred route and it might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• If required, riding horses or horses to carry luggage can be arranged at a reasonable daily rate.
• An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged. We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. Please also note that your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for one day only, if you wish to visit the ruins on a second consecutive day you will need to purchase the ticket again, valued at approx $40 US.
  

  Standard Lares Trek - What's included?

  For complete facts about many aspects of Apus Peru tours, check out our FAQs page!

  • Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure.
  • Transport from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the trek. Private transport to Quiswarani, and from Patacancha to Ollantaytambo
  • Entry fee to Machu Picchu
  • English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people).
  • Tents - 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks. All tents were purchased in 07/08.
  • Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can hire you an inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest) for $5 per day.
  • Cook and Cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
    Toilet tent
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
  • Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 5 kg per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire an extra mule at a cost of $8 per day.
  • 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
  • Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
  • Tents for our staff to sleep in
  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
  • Bus from Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu. We highly recommend walking down from the ruins at the end of the day… it's an excellent opportunity to really get a feeling for the location of Machu Picchu. If you chose to catch the bus, it costs
  • Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • Train ticket (Backpacker service) from Ollantaytambo to Aguas
    Calientes - Ollantaytambo.
  • 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in one star hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel, please check out the options listed on our Aguas Calientes accommodation page.

  What is not included?
  

  • Breakfast on the first morning.
  • Lunch on the last day: after the guided tour at Machu Picchu, you will have the choice to further explore Machu Picchu on your own, dine at the restaurant in Machu Picchu or return to Aguas Calientes
  • Entrance to the thermal springs
  • Sleeping bags (can be hired from us for US$5 per day) If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
  • Tips for the guide, cook and porters
  • Additional horses for passengers luggage. If there are any substantial items or backpacks, passengers will need to hire an additional mule at a cost of $8US per day. Bus down from Machu Picchu - cost $6US. We give you the option to hike if you wish.

  You should bring:
  

  • A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek - prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
  • Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
  • Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
  • Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
  • Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
  • Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
  • Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
  • Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
  • Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
  • Sun block
  • After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
  • Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET - although no malaria risk has been reported
  • Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
  • Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
  • Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
    We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
  • Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol etc.
  • Small towel or sarong
  • Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs)
  • Cash - sufficient for your final lunch in Aguas Calientes, tips and souvenirs.
  • Original passport
  • Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
  • Binoculars (if you have them)
    

“In the mountains, the shortest way is from peak to peak: but for that you must have long legs” Friedrich Nietzsche

Villagers in this region dress in typical clothing. (Please note that this village is not on this route.)

ALL NEW : scans of recent trip reports. Click on the link to view the pdf. After you have viewed it, click on back to return to this page.

24 August 08 report 1/ 24 August 08 report 2/ 24 August 08 report 3/

How would you rate your overall enjoyment of your trip? 10

  How would you rate your guide? 10 - Ronarto was very friendly and patient and looked after us all when we were not feeling well!

What was the highlight of your trip? Glaciers, villages, children en route

Sarah, Canada, Nov 2007

___________________

How would you rate your overall enjoyment of your trip? 10

  How would you rate your guide? 10 - Excellent guide & cook and horseman etc. Renato was knowledgable and had some good stories which kept spirits high!

Did trip meet your expectations/was the trip well described on the website? I knew it would be hard, but the spectacular scenery made it easy.

What did you think of the route? Really good. Varied scenery and spectacular views. Meeting local Andean people was a fantastic insight into their lives and culture.

What was the highlight of your trip? the hailstorm on the third day! I loved seeing the villagers and the people - very cultural.

Any other comments? Meal times were brilliant, esp games and stories with Renato;

Adam, Australia, Nov 2007

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005-08. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru