Compare Peru: Discovering the Lares Region by MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka-Cusco

Arrive in Cusco, Peru. You will be greeted by a representative and transferred to your luxury hotel—the ideal spot to relax and get used to the high altitude before your trek. Cusco was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire; today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its ruins and vibrant beauty. The day is free to explore or unwind back at the hotel.

Day 2: Discover treasures of the Sacred Valley

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Lamay Lodge

Begin your adventure with a journey from the urban setting of Cusco into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, full of lush green fields and surrounded by striking mountain peaks. Explore the archeological site of Chinchero, where colonial buildings rest atop Inca foundations. Go back in time and study the natural Inca salt mines of Maras and the astonishing circular terraces of Moray, believed to be an Inca laboratory dedicated to the study of foreign plant species. If you prefer you may choose on this day to embark on a full-day, challenging yet memorable hike amongst impressive views of the Ausangate mountain range to the Inca complex of Huchuyqosqo, thought to be the Palace of Viracocha (the eight Inca ruler), where it is said he would enjoy the ‘fireworks of the gods’ during thunderstorms.

Group Activity: In the morning the whole group visits the archeological site of Chinchero.

Activity Menu (morning to noon):

- Cultural activity: Guided tour of Moray Inca Agricultural site and the Salt Mines of Maras.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate to challenging 6-hour hike from Taucca to Huchuyqosqo. Mountain pass elevation of 14,550 feet.

Day 3: Explore the archaeological complex Pisac

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Lamay Lodge

The town square is often the center of activity throughout this region, but so too is the town market, and none is more alive than the famous market at Pisac. A morning visit to check out its unique array of products will inspire you with a small taste of the rich culture yet to be explored on your journey. Travelers seeking inspiration in nature can opt for an invigorating morning hike surrounded by amazing views of the Andes Mountains that guard this magnificent valley. Later, enjoy exclusive access to the isolated community of Viacha, where you will learn about its artisanal potato farming practices and enjoy a traditional “Pachamanca” meal, cooked under hot stones. After lunch you will visit the archaeological complex at Pisac, an afternoon excursion that offers a unique opportunity to explore the complex free of crowds, with the sun setting behind the peaks.

Activity Menu (morning to noon):

- Cultural activity: Visit the town of Pisac and local market, and experience an encounter with members of the local community of Viacha.

OR

- Bike excursion: Take an easy to moderate 2½-hour bike ride along the Urubamba River from Lamay to Pisac.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate 3-hour hike from the local community of Amaru to the local community of Viacha. Mountain pass at an elevation of 14,200 feet.

Group Activity: Group lunch in the local community of Viacha. In the afternoon, the whole group visits the Pisac archaeological site together, before heading back to the lodge.

Day 4: Visit Inca sites and villages in the Lares Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Huacahuasi Lodge

Now that you have gotten a glimpse into this rich Andean tapestry, today you will have the opportunity to go even deeper with an exploration into the heart of the Lares Valley. A scenic drive into the mountains along the celebrated “Inca Weaver’s Trail” allows you to visit the unique and uncrowded archeological site of Ancasmarca to the hub-town of Lares. After lunch, you can choose between visiting the traditional and ancient weavers’ village of Choquecancha, or opt for hiking amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where you will spend the night. This lodge, which is run in joint venture with the local community and aims to protect the cultural heritage and the environment, provides an interesting insight into the evolving role of the original Andean people in both the culture and commerce of modern-day Cusco.

Group Activity (morning to noon): In the morning, explore the town of Lamay briefly and visit the archeological site of Ancasmarca. Group lunch at the local town of Lares.

Activity Menu (afternoon, after the group visit):

- Cultural activity: Visit the town of Choquecancha, meet with the local weavers and visit the old church.

OR

- Hike: Take an easy to moderate 2½-hour hike from Quelquena to Huacahuasi. Mountain pass is at an elevation of 12,595 feet.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate 4-hour hike from Cuncani to Huacahuasi. Mountain pass is at an elevation of 13,838 feet.

Day 5: Explore Huacahuasi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Huacahuasi Lodge

If you’re in the mood for a cultural experience today, you can walk through the village of Huacahuasi and learn more about its heritage and daily activities, with a possible visit to a farmer’s home. The expert weavers and farmers will share their stories, each depicted in artful textiles full of traditional Incan symbols and imagery. Then take a Peruvian cooking class and test your skills during lunch with the rest of the group. For those who want to go deeper into these remote mountains, challenge yourself with an all-day hike from the community of Quiswarani onto the “Trail of 1,000 Lakes”. Although a strenuous hike, you will be amazed and awakened by the simple but majestic beauty of this eden, as you enjoy the company of herds of alpacas and llamas grazing on hillsides, and make your way over challenging mountain passes.

Activity Menu (all day):

- Cultural activity: Explore the village, meet local weavers and participate in a cooking class.

OR

- Hike: Take an easy 1- to 2-hour trip to visit the community of Huacahuasi and walk to nearby waterfall.

OR

- Hike: Take a challenging 6- to 7-hour hike from Quiswarani to Quelquena. Mountain pass is at an elevation of 14,505 feet.

Day 6: Enjoy an expedition to Ollantaytambo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel

Spend some time in the morning learning more about the heritage and day-to-day activities of the Huacahuasi community. Then, you can choose to embark on a spectacular hike through varied terrain and over a high pass, to the adjacent valley leading to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, the oldest living city in Latin America. If you prefer to see more of the Sacred Valley, you can drive back for a visit to an ethnographic museum featuring the history of Peru’s rich civilizations of the past or choose to explore the valley on mountain bike. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the Urubamba River countryside on your way to Ollantaytambo, where you can spend time meandering through its charming maze-like streets.

Activity Menu (all day):

- Cultural activity: Drive back to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visit a local farmer’s market and a Pre-Inca and Inca cultural museum. Enjoy lunch at a countryside restaurant and, in the afternoon, explore the town of Ollantaytambo.

OR

- Optional bike excursion: Drive back and explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on a 2-hour mountain bike ride. Enjoy lunch at a countryside restaurant and in the afternoon, explore the town of Ollantaytambo.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate to challenging 7-hour hike from Huacahuasi to Patacancha. Mountain pass is at an elevation of 14,646 feeet. Enjoy lunch en route at Ipsaycocha Lake and arrive in Ollantaytambo in the afternoon.

Note: Guests that opt for the cultural activity and guests that opt for the optional bike excursion will meet for lunch in Urubamba at a countryside restaurant and visit the town of Ollantaytambo together in the afternoon. Guests that opt for the optional hike will meet up with the rest of the group late in the afternoon at the hotel in Ollantaytambo.

Day 7: Discover Inca sites at Ollantaytambo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

From its beginnings as the royal estate of Inca-Emperor Pachacutec, to a stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors for Manco Inca Yupanqui, the temple at Ollantaytambo was regarded by the Incas as one of their most important ceremonial centers. On this day, an optional and short early morning hike to Inca storage structures high above Ollantaytambo will give you a magnificent view of the town as well as of the main archeological site across the valley. Afterwards, as your guide leads you through a morning tour of the temple and explains its strategic architectural planning, you will also get a sense of its mystical history…a perfect introduction to the wonder of Machu Picchu.  Around noon you will embark on a scenic train ride along the famous Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, whose charm lies in a history that began as a small railway stop and evolved into a bustling town still bisected by the train tracks.

Activity Menu (early morning, before the group activity):

- Hike: Take a moderate 1½-hour hike to Lower Pinkuylluna Mountain above Ollantaytambo.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate to challenging 2½-hour hike to Higher Pinkuylluna Mountain above Ollantaytambo.

Group Activity: In the morning, after the optional early morning activities, explore the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, before boarding the train to the town of Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes).

Day 8: Journey to Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka-Cusco

At dawn, you begin your journey to Machu Picchu with a short and rollicking uphill bus ride. As you enter the “Sanctuary” (as locals refer to it), the morning sun rises over the iconic Sun Gate and washes the structures and terraces with resplendent light. Prepare to be awed by the imposing and skillful architecture of the Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Take a moment to quietly sit and listen to the wind…or to meditate and absorb the mystical energy that envelops you. Your imagination will soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins. Some may even choose a hike to Huayna Picchu, the iconic towering mountain often seen in photographs, for dramatic views that stretch from the Urubamba River valley to the edge of the Amazon Jungle. Either way, you will be touched by a feeling of peace and rejuvenation which will linger even as you journey back to the city lights, and hustle and bustle of Cusco.

Group Activity: Early in the morning visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Activity Menu (late morning, after the group activity):

- Cultural activity: free time to explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu at an elevation of 7,872 feet.

OR

- Hike: Take a moderate to challenging 2½-hour  guided hike of Huayna Picchu Mountain. Mountain pass is at an elevation of 8924 feet.

Day 9: Depart from Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

This morning is free to explore Cusco. Bid “adios” to your traveling companions before your afternoon flight to Lima and connecting flight home.