4 Days 3 Nights
Daily Tour
10 people
English, Espanol
It is more cultural as you see local stone houses and encounter local people along the way. This is an excellent and popular alternative to the Inca Trail, offering more connection to the local people and culture. On this trek you also see many beautiful lakes, snow capped mountains, and herds of alpacas and llamas. This moderate trek is approximately 40 km/24.86 miles and goes up to 4,600m/15,092ft.
The Lares Valley Trek is usually completed over 4 days (4th day being in Machu Picchu), however, we can offer alternative lengths (3 or 5 days). Please email us to enquire about the itineraries and prices for alternative trek lengths. Minimum passengers necessary for trek departure: 2 people (1 person or private/custom treks possible with extra fee). Maximum trekkers per group: 10 people (special, private party groups can exceed maximum).
DAY 1: CUSCO – QUISHUARANI (LARES) – CUNCANI Private transport will pick you up very early at your hotel, departing Cusco at 05:30am for a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley. We will pass through Pisac and stop for a brief bathroom break and the chance to buy any last minute items (extra snacks, rain ponchos, etc.) in Calca, one of the towns in the Sacred Valley. Departing Calca, we head off for the scenic drive to Quishuarani (3,700 m/12,140 ft) which is the starting point for the trek. Along the way you will observe small Andean communities, spectacular mountain landscapes, herds of llamas and alpacas, plus Campesinos (people of the local villages) in colorful costumes, as is traditional with all villages around Lares. A packed breakfast will be served en route around 9:00am with arrival to Quishuarani before 10:00am, where we will meet our trek staff (horsemen, cook, etc). Snacks will be given out at this time to be enjoyed during breaks taken throughout the day. We commence our beautiful trek through the Andes with a gentle climb from 3,700 m/12,140 ft to 4,200 m/13,780 ft where we will arrive at the lake named Queuña Cocha with views of Sawasiray mountain (5,400 m/17,717 ft) and Colque Cruz mountain (5,600 m/18,373 ft). There is a short, steeper climb to our first pass, Hualcacasa (4,400 m/14,440 ft) where Veronica mountain (5,800 m/19,028 ft) can be seen when clear. After we reach this pass we descend for 1 hour to reach our lunch destination beside the picturesque seven lakes or Comer Cochas. Following lunch we descend for another 1 1/2 hours through the community of Cuncani, then gradually ascend beautiful hillsides for 2 hours to reach our first campsite in Cuncani (3,750 m/12,300 ft). You will have time to rest and enjoy happy hour and then dinner later. Walking distance approximately 14km/8.7mi (6-7 hours)\ Meals: box breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at lunch and camp Overnight: Mountain Hardwear Tent (double occupancy)
DAY 2: CUNCANI – YANACOCHA – WAKAWASI – MANTANAY After our 6:30am breakfast we leave Cuncani ascending for 2 1/2 hours to Cruz Cocha pass (4,200 m/13,780 ft) where we will see a beautiful lake called Cruz Cocha. We then trek past lakes, walking through Yana Cocha (4,000 m/13,125 ft), and gradually descend for approximately 2 hours until we reach the Wakawasi Valley (3,850 m/12,630 ft). Here we will visit one local family in their traditional stone house. After this visit we continue walking up for 1 hour where we will be able to observe potato crops and herds of domesticated llamas on our way to Chaqchapata (3,950 m/12,960 ft), our lunch stop. After lunch we begin hiking up to reach the highest point of our trek, the Aurora Pass (4,600 m/15,092 ft) where we will have a spectacular view of the lake Aurora Cocha. From the Aurora pass we will descend past Aurora Cocha and another smaller lake named Qeuña Cocha and traverse one more small pass to enter the valley of Queuñas (indigenous trees). You will enjoy a vast change in scenery before arriving at our beautiful campsite in Mantanay (3,900 m/12,795 ft) after approximately 2 hours. Walking distance approximately 17 km/10.6 mi (7-8 hours) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp Overnight: Mountain Hardwear Tent (double occupancy)
DAY 3: MANTANAY – YANAHUARA After breakfast we start our walk around 7:30am with a much easier day ahead as we descend to lower altitude and enjoy amazing views of mountains, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the Queuñas Bush Valley. You will notice the sudden change of weather and environment (warmer and more lush) and observe local campesinos (local farmers) farming different varieties of corn, potatoes and local vegetables. This walk will take approximately 4 hours to reach the picturesque village of Yanahuara where we enjoy the last lunch of our trek and say farewell to our staff, porters, horse handlers, cooks, and assistants. Private transport will then take us the final 20 minutes to Ollantaytambo where we will take the train to Aguas Calientes (2,100 m/6,890 ft), the town below Machu Picchu. Once in town you will be taken to a hotel for the night and you can visit the local hot springs if you wish before or after our dinner in a local restaurant. Walking distance approximately 12 km/7.5 miles (4 hours) Meals: breakfast, snacks on the trail, dinner at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes Overnight: Comfortable hotel room in Aguas Calientes (double occupancy)
DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO Wake up call and breakfast is very early (Approx 4am) in order for us to take one of the first (5:30am, 25 min ride) buses directly to Machu Picchu (2,400 m/7,875 ft). Once we arrive at Machu Picchu you will show your entrance ticket and passport. If you are a student you must bring your ISIC card to the entrance or you will not be permitted entrance. From the entrance, it is a 15-minute walk to the famous views from the South Zone of the farming terraces at the end of the Inca trail. Enjoy watching the sun rise over the ruin site and the fascinating tour of Machu Picchu with your guide who will unfold the mysteries of this magical site, explaining the history and flora/fauna. Your guide will spend about 2 1/2 hours relating interesting and amazing stories, explaining temples and special sectors. Your tour of Machu Picchu will finish between 9 and 9:30am after which you will have a little free time to take photos and explore. The new rules for 2019 have split the entrance times into three slots per day. Our tour includes the first ticket (6-10am) so at 10am you would need to exit the ruin site unless you choose to purchase an extra time slot (or two). If you wish to do one of the extra hikes within Machu Picchu (Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain) you would need to prepurchase a permit as well as an extra time slot in Machu Picchu (these new rules are dictated by the Peruvian government and we are sorry for the inconvenience). After you are done exploring the ruin site, either at 10am or later if you’ve booked more time, take one of the many, frequent buses down to Aguas Calientes. There are many restaurants to choose from and your guide can also help suggest a nice place to eat. After grabbing a bite to eat you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo where private transport will drive you back to your hotel in Cusco. Meals: Breakfast in the hotel, snacks on the tour Overnight: Not Included Helpful Info: There are no bathrooms in the ruin site. There are bathrooms right outside the entrance, cost is 1 sol per entrance, and they provide a little toilet paper. If you leave close to the time your ticket expires it is likely they will not permit re-entry. You are allowed to take in a small backpack (under 20L) They are no longer allowing box lunches to be brought into the ruin site. We recommend bringing extra snacks (we provide snacks too) or going down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and returning depending on how much time you’ve booked in Machu Picchu They no longer allow plastic water bottles so please come prepared with water bladders/reusable water bottle(s) Please do not climb on or deface the rocks or leave trash/debris of any kind. Our recommendation is to add one extra time slot to allow for more time in the Ruin Site (with or without an extra hike). Machu Picchu Entrance Times: in 2019 they changed to 3 time slots with only 2800 people allowed to enter Machu Picchu each day (down from 4000 in 2018) First Entrance: 6am to 10am Second Entrance: 9am to 1pm Third Entrance: 12pm to closing Note: there will potentially be 4-5 entrance times in future years Due to COVID19 – current capacity in Machu Picchu is has been varying based on outbreak numbers. Expect reduced capacity in 2021, extra hike closures, and difficulty obtaining time slots – we recommend booking early
HIKES WITHIN MACHU PICCHU There are hikes within Machu Picchu that you can do on your own if you wish. The hikes that historically have not required an entrance ticket are: The Inka bridge and the Sun Gate (where the Inka Trail ends with a view of Machu Picchu city), although these may become subject to permits and charges in 2021. Further, all permitted hikes are subject to closure due to weather, erosion, pandemic/epidemic, etc., and is outside our control as this is regulated by the Peruvian Government. Wayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain hikes both require a paid ticket and there are a limited number of spots (200 at 7am and 200 at 10am). If you want to hike one of these please let us know well in advance as these spots fill up very quickly. Please note we cannot guarantee you a spot for the mountains requiring tickets and that the Wayna Picchu trail is very steep and slippery and not for those afraid of heights or with vertigo). We recommend the 10am time slot as Machu Picchu tends to be cloudy in the morning. You are only allowed to hike one of these mountains on a given day so if you would like to do both you would need to return the next day to hike the other one. Extra hikes are affected by the time slots meaning you can: Stick with one entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (6am entrance time) that we include in the cost of our trips and go on the extra hike starting at 7am. This means you would miss the guided tour of Machu Picchu unless we customized your trip and added an extra time slot later. Book an extra entrance ticket (second time slot) along with the extra hike to enter Machu Picchu at 6am, have the guided tour first and some free time and then stay for the extra hike at 9 or 10am and depart after the hike. General Info about the Extra Hikes and Machu Picchu: You can only hike one of the extra hikes per day – these are Peruvian Government rules. If you wish to hike both you would need to stay overnight and return to Machu Picchu the next day to hike the second one. We can help arrange this. The hikes are permitted and require a paid ticket that is linked to your passport info There are 200 slots at 7am for Machu Picchu Mountain and 200 slots at 7am for Wayna Picchu and 200 slots at 9am for Machu Picchu Mountain and 200 slots at 10am for Wayna Picchu Mountain. If you want to hike both you need to return the following day to complete the second one. A guide is required to enter Machu Picchu with you but would not go on the extra hike with you unless you specifically request that. In 2019 they are no longer allowing box lunches to be brought into Machu Picchu so please plan accordingly with plenty of snacks (beyond the ones we provide if you feel you’ll need them). In 2019 they are no longer allowing plastic water bottles so come prepared with reusable water bottle(s).
A minimum of 2 trekkers required for this trek. Maximum of 10 trekkers in a group. Price for 6-10 trekkers: 770 USD per person. Price for 3-5 trekkers: 890 USD per person. Price for 2 trekkers: 1250 per person. Private treks, single trekker, custom treks, large groups, and packages welcome! Please email us to customize.
Yes, we do cater to any dietary restriction. We have had many people join our trips who are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, and have various other intolerances and/or allergies. Just inform us well in advance of your specific needs!
Year-round, though the best weather is usually seen between March/April to November (or dry season). This tour is rated as easy to moderate as it involves gentle walking at each site. This is a great acclimatizing day tour as it is gentle walking at a lower altitude than Cusco. Please note if the weather is very poor the trail could be dangerous and we may have to cancel the trip and may be able to substitute another day hike or day tour instead, depending on the circumstances.
We take your health and that of our staff very seriously. We adhere to the recommended rules as outlined by the Peruvian Government, including border closures, trail closures, face-covering orders, quarantine orders, negative COVID19 test results, and the eventual need for proof of COVID19 vaccination. We have instituted a number of increased hygiene precautions for food preparation and treks/tours outlined below. Face coverings will be worn at all times by the guide/staff and are required of guests in towns and ruin sites and anywhere else it is mandated per Peruvian rules. Social distancing will be observed to the best of our ability, especially along the trail if you wish to remove face coverings while hiking. Increased hand hygiene will be practiced and temperatures checked daily. Anyone exhibiting COVID19 symptoms will need to self-quarantine. Machu Picchu has been declared a Safe Travels destination. In line with the good news that Peru is opening to a wider range of international visitors, we have updated our safety protocols to help keep you safe while you are travelling with us. Trips will take place in small groups (8 people per group, including guide), and according to the instructions we receive from the Ministry of Tourism. All of our transport will continue to be private services. Our guides, drivers, and representatives: Will wear masks and use antibacterial gel at all times Will be monitored continuously with temperature and symptom checks. If anyone has symptoms, they will be obliged to rest and recover, and substituted with other staff members We will ensure social distancing by: Keeping 1-meter distance between passengers when boarding vehicles. Restricting physical contact between our staff and customers. To add to your packing list: Cloth or medical face masks Face shields Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol) for surfaces Digital thermometer We recommend the following steps to protect yourself and others when you travel: Always maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) between you and others Avoid crowds Wear a face mask and a face shield Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth Cover coughs and sneezes Do not travel if you are feeling sick Disinfect your hands often. It’s especially important after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry With our updated protocol, we hope to offer you a safe stay without compromising on our excellent service. We will continue adapting our standards according to the recommendations of health experts. The Inca Trail 2D is open again as of Nov 2020 with a capacity of 150 people per day (down from 500). We do not have confirmation as yet for the Classic Inca Trail 4D but we will keep you posted. There are vulnerable communities along this trail and they are being closely monitored by the Peruvian Government. The minister has informed that only 675 people will be allowed inside Machu Picchu per day, which is 30% of its capacity pre-pandemic. Visitors will enter in groups of 8, with a tour guide, and will need to maintain a distance of 1.5-2 meters apart. Visitors will only be permitted entry when accompanied by a professional guide and have their tickets booked through a registered travel agent, such as Killa Expeditions. All of the above information is subject to change. Right now Peru has opened its borders to most countries but we recommend checking specifics for your country as these are updated regularly. Wishing you happy and safe travels! Blog Post: https://killaexpeditions.com/covid-19-travel-safety-protocols-with-killa-expeditions/
Deposit: The entire day hike cost will be charged to your card when you book the trip. 50% of this is non-refundable. Payment of Balance: The balance of the tour is due 60 days prior to departure and will be auto-debited via the booking software system on that date. If you wish to pay early, or use a different card to the one you have on file, you may do so by clicking on the reservation number in your confirmation email and entering the pin that was provided to you in the original confirmation email. If you wish to make other arrangements (e.g. pay cash in Cusco), please contact us. Please note if you book your trip within 60 days of departure, the balance of the trek will be auto-debited the next day. If you do not wish this to happen please contact us. Passport: For this trek we do NOT need a photo of your passport bio page. However, as this involves international travel, please note that each traveler is responsible for knowing the re-entry rules for their country of residence/citizenship. Some countries require 6 months of passport validity beyond the final date of travel. Please ensure that your passport is up to date and meets your country and residency requirements. Visa’s: Most countries are allowed to obtain a visa upon entry at immigration. Very few countries require a visa to be granted in advance. Please note that each traveler is responsible for finding out and obtaining a visa prior to entry if required. Please also note that tourist visas are for 90 days or less (typically) and you must show proof of return travel.
Please review our booking terms carefully. The minimum number of trekkers required for departure is 6 for the price quoted online. If the minimum is not met within 2 weeks of departure, Killa Expeditions reserves the right to offer the 1-2 paid trekkers the option of 1) paying the difference to take a private trek, 2) transferring their payment to another trek with more trekkers booked, or 3) cancel the trek and provide a full refund. Please contact us with questions. At the time of booking the entire day hike cost is charged. This is required to secure your spot on the tour and 50% is non-refundable. The balance of the trip (if any) is due within 60 days of departure Cancellations: Initial deposit is non-refundable. You may cancel your booking by notifying Killa Expeditions or Agent used and the applicable cancellation fees shall be determined based on when the request is received by Killa Expeditions or Agent. (a) Cancellation received 60 days or more before departure of the first Product to depart in relevant booking: 60% of the Product total shall be refunded to you (Inca Trail excepted where 25% of the Inca Trail product total shall be refunded to you). (b) Cancellation received 59-30 days before departure of first Product to depart in relevant booking: an amount equal to 25% of the total Product shall be refunded to you. (Inca Trail excepted where no refund is payable). (c) Cancellation less than 30 days before departure of first Product to depart in relevant booking: no refund shall be payable to you. Travel Medical Insurance: is required to depart on any trek (including emergency evacuation coverage and high altitude hiking). We also suggest travel interruption insurance in the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances that may arise. Killa Expeditions is not responsible for losses incurred due to any travel interruption (ex: weather/natural phenomena, missed/delayed/canceled flight, acts of war/terrorism, pandemics/epidemics, strikes, etc.), passport, visa, family emergency, or illness/medical issues. Please be advised that due to COVID19 pandemic and any subsequent variants – there may be border closures, quarantine measures, changes in entry requirements, etc. We will do our best to change your trek to a different date if issues arise that are outside of our control on our end. Please note you may also be required to show proof of a negative COVID19 test within 72 hours of departure and potentially a vaccination card once vaccines are widely available. As these terms change we will alert travelers to the new regulations. For Full Terms and Conditions please see the policy linked at the bottom of our website in the footer. It is also available to read during the checkout process. https://killaexpeditions.com/terms-conditions-peru/
Helping Local Children or Andean People (Optional) Along certain treks we may encounter some local children and Andean people. If you wish to lend a helping hand you may bring some clothes, toys, books and school equipment (used or new), toiletries and other essentials, and new/sealed medication for a variety of ailments. You will be rewarded with their gratitude and beautiful smiles. Please do not give candy or sweets as they do not have access to dental/medical care and tooth decay can lead to serious illness. For those who wish to help but take a trek that does not pass local people or villages you can leave your donated items with a Killa Expeditions representative and we will distribute them to one of the local communities that we support. You can also set up a day to visit a local community to donate your items personally! There are a variety of other ways in which to lend a helping hand to local communities (charity events, building schools, and much more). We support several local communities so if interested please get in touch!
ETHICAL, SUSTAINABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY Our mission is to provide exceptional treks, tours, and adventure trips with a strong commitment to environmentally responsible, sustainable, ethical, and socially conscious travel. During our trips, we make every effort to minimize negative impacts and maximize the benefits to the local people and natural environments we visit. We pay fair, livable wages, ensuring we hire and maintain the absolute best guides and support staff. We are committed to international sustainable tourism guidelines and have developed ongoing community projects and charity events supporting 4+ local Andean communities. EXCELLENCE We pride ourselves on providing 5 star service before, during, and after your trip. Killa Expeditions is dedicated to excellent customer service and adventure experiences. We have been awarded the 2017, 2018 & 2019 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence! QUALITY When trekking through rugged mountain terrain, at high altitudes, with unpredictable weather, it is essential to have the best equipment available. We provide Mountain Hardwear 4 season tents (3 season for Inca Trail due to warmer weather), extra thick mattress pads, dry bags for your overnight gear, and more, to ensure a safe and pleasant journey. NO HIDDEN COSTS Our treks and tours are truly 5 star and all inclusive. We do not charge extra to “upgrade” as we offer the best option included in the price already. There are no hidden meal costs, we are transparent about all inclusions, and best of all no booking fees! SMALL GROUPS Our groups average about 8 guests per departure, and are typically a mix of solo travellers, friends travelling together, and couples, all of varying ages, backgrounds and nationalities. Come prepared to make lots of new best friends. If you book a custom/private large group we provide 1 guide per 8 travelers, ensuring a small group feel and specialized attention. GOURMET Only the best, quality ingredients are selected from local farmers. Our chefs prepare a specially designed menu to maximize energy and facilitate acclimatization. And the dishes, a mix of traditional Peruvian cuisine and contemporary cuisines, are delicious too! And yes, we cater to any dietary need. PERSONALIZED We can customize any trek or tour to suit your travel, fitness, budget, and time preferences. Got a corporate or work shindig, charity group, or other major event you’d like to book a trek or tour for? Get in touch, we can arrange everything for you! LEAVE NO TRACE Our trips leave behind nothing but smiles and footprints, as it should be. REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE We love our planet, which is why we reduce, reuse and recycle. Our gear is reusable (no paper or plastic plates/cups/utensils), we buy local goods that do not come in paper/plastic wrapping, and we recycle everything we can. This is not the norm in Peru but we hope to help it become the norm one day soon! PASSIONATE All of our employees are passionate about what they do. Who wouldn’t be with majestic mountains and never-ending vistas as your office! We are proud to offer our guides and staff the highest wages. WE GIVE BACK We buy locally produced food, hire native tour guides, and book locally owned hotels and restaurants whenever possible. We hold numerous charity events throughout the year in various traditional Andean communities. Events often involve distributing food, drinks, daily essentials (such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and more), toys for the children, shoes and clothes donated by many of our wonderful guests, and we are currently raising funds to finish building a school in the Willoc Community. Ask us about how you can help! For further information about us please see the following links: Equipment: learn about why we provide the best! https://www.killaexpeditions.com/our-equipment/ Our Team: meet some of our amazing guides! https://www.killaexpeditions.com/our-team/ Reviews – find us on Trip Advisor! Killa Expeditions Trip Advisor Page (Awarded 2017, 2018 & 2019 Certificate of Excellence)
| # | Discount group | From adult | To adult | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-5 trekkers | 3 | 5 | $360,00 |
| 2 | 6-10 trekkers | 6 | 10 | $480,00 |
Member Since 2022
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