Best of Cusco and Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu 7 Days/ 6 Nights

The Sacred Valley tour starts at 08:00 am from Cusco. We pick you up from your hotel and bring you to our tourist bus, where you will meet your tour guide and your travel mates (shared service).

We leave Cusco around 08:30 am in the direction of Pisaq, descending to the sacred river Urubamba. With a few stops at various lookout points along the way, we will arrive at Pisaq, where you can enjoy checking out the traditional handicraft market with plenty of time for local souvenir shopping. Afterwards, we drive up the mountain where we will find Pisaq's ruins. Our tour guide will take you around the temples, terraces and tunnels of this complex, including the famous Intihuatana (sun clock), while constantly enjoying the majestic view of the sacred river. Then we drive along the river Urubamba, passing by a colourful little town where you can observe the descendants of the Quechua people wearing colourful ponchos.

We stop in the town of Urubamba for lunch (we recommend a lunch buffet of Peruvian food). After a short res,t we keep going until we reach Ollantaytambo, one of the last living Inca towns. You will be amazed by the impressive Temple of the Sun with its intricate stone-worked details, the terraces which are constructed to sustain the mountain and finally the temple in the shape of a llama.

You will have a short time to explore this amazing complex with its beautiful water fountains by yourself. After studying this magnificent complex, we take the road back to Urubamba and leave the river to go uphill to the beautiful fields of Chinchero. Here, we will discover another impressive Spanish Inca complex, and afterwards, visit a weaving family who still uses natural minerals and organic ink to colour the wool. We will return to Cusco around 07:00 pm and leave you at the beautiful Plaza Regocijo.

Accommodation: Amaru Group Hostels

Around 03:30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel and then leave Cusco at 4:00 am in the direction of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will pass by the colourful town of Calca and then ride up the Cordillera Alto Urubamba in the city of Qushuarani, where we have our wake-up tea. From here, we start walking uphill for 1,5 hours until we reach a viewpoint (3850 m.a.s.l.). Here, we will have our main breakfast, accompanied by a fantastic view of the Qeullacocha lagoon and the surrounding snow carpets. On our way, we will spot llamas and alpacas and if we are lucky, we will see the majestic flight of the Condor as well.

Then, we continue hiking uphill for approximately 2 hours to reach the first high pass (Qolqe Crus) at 4400 meters, from where you can see beautiful lagoons produced by the meltwater of the snow-covered mountains. After this, we will descend to Cuncani, a small local community, from where we will observe a beautiful waterfall formed by cold waterstreams whose source originates from the melt water of the glaziers. Reaching Cuncani at noon, we will have our lunch (lunchbox). After a bit of rest we get ready to continue our 3-hour-hike downhill to Lares and its hot springs. While descending to 3400 meters, we will enjoy the changing scenery and climate. Finally, we will be amazed by the view over the Lares Valley, ending our day’s hike in the relaxing hot springs of Lares, where we will camp and spend the night.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner – Snacks
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4400m/714476ft
Minimum Altitude: 3800m/12502ft
Distance Travelled: approx. 14 km
Approximate Walking Time: 6-7 hours

We wake up early to have a delicious breakfast, and then prepare ourselves for a fantastic hiking day where we will reach the highest point of the trek (higher than the “death woman pass” on the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu).
We first follow the slow ascending path for a few hours through the Lares Valley to its highest part (Urope Pass) at 4600 meters altitude. Stopping by small local families along the way, we share supplies, observe their way of life, and connect with the Andean culture, its costumes, and traditions.

After this astonishing experience, we keep ascending for a short time until we reach the Urope pass. Enjoying the incredible view,  we will be able to see the lagoon of the same name and great parts of the Sacred Valley, a significant extension of the Lares Valley.

At this special place, we will have a short rest and afterwards start our descent to the campsite at Mantanay (3900 meters), where we will have our dinner and share a coca tea.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
Accommodation: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4600 m./15134ft
Minimum Altitude: 3900 m./12831ft
Distance Travelled: approx. 16 km.
Approximate Walking Time: 7-8 hours

We wake up early, have our delicious breakfast, and then start our 4-hour descent hike to Yanahuara in the Sacred Valley. On our way, we will observe the local flora and fauna, including the famous Queuña, one of the most significant native trees of this area. We arrived in Yanahuara around noon and had lunch. Afterwards, we transfer you to Ollantaytambo from where we take the train to Aguas Calientes. Arriving there in the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the small city and, if you like, enjoy a dip in the hot springs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hostel Margarita’s house
Maximum Altitude: 3900 m./12831ft
Minimum Altitude: 2700 m./8883ft
Distance Travelled: approx. 12 km
Approximate Walking Time: 4 hours

The day you were waiting for!

Wake up early for breakfast and take the bus uphill to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The first bus leaves at 05:30 am and takes a 25-minute ride. (This timing can be changed according to the entrance fee to Machu Picchu)

Optional:  Take the path which winds up the mountain to reach Machu Picchu.

The Machu Picchu gate opens at 06:00, so arriving early will allow you to be among the first visitors of the day and avoid the crowds. However, we may modify the timing when you make your booking.

Upon paying your entrance fee, a private bilingual tour guide will escort you through the vast ruins for approximately 2.5 hours, providing a comprehensive explanation of Machu Picchu's historical significance and its importance within the Inca Empire.

Machu Picchu is the best known of all the Inca Archaeological sites, as it is recognised worldwide as one of the New Seven Wonders, even though it's not mentioned in any handwritten Chronicle of the Spanish Conquerors. Experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacuteq and was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham.

The guided tour of this fascinating site will be an unforgettable experience, visiting the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Sun Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (Intihuatana), and the Burial Grounds.

We offer optional hikes in Machu Picchu with an additional ticket. (has to be reserved together with your booking)

You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, there are only 400 entrance tickets available per day; therefore, you must let us know in advance if you want to do the hike so we can reserve your ticket at an extra cost of US$60.00.

Due to Huayna Picchu being very fast oversold, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as a second optional climb. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded, but not less beautiful! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.

La Gran Caverna a ceremonial place in Machu Picchu US$ 60.00 per person.

Also, there is another road to Inti Punku, the SUN GATE, which is the traditional end of the Inca Trail (a hike of 3 hours), US$35.00 per person.

You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a hike of 1 hour). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$35.00 per person.

You will arrive at Aguas Calientes for a late lunch.

At 14:30, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist transport to Cusco.

Please let us know if you want to spend more time in Aguas Calientes, so we can book a late train at 04:12 pm or 19:00 (according to the train service, it may have an extra cost).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Amaru Group Hostels

Based on your flight or bus schedule, we'll provide a complimentary walking tour of Cusco, allowing you to explore the city's enigma and enjoy some souvenir shopping. Afterwards, we will transfer you to the airport or bus station.

*Times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group; the guide can change the lunch and camping spots depending on the group’s progress.
The guide can have their own preference for which route to take, and this might not correspond exactly to the route described.
*An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged if you let us know in advance, so that we can change the date of your train ticket for the following day.
*The cost of the hotel will depend on your request.