Off the beaten trek in the Lares valley

Lares trek

Lares trek - The Weaver's Way

For something a little different, with all the beautiful scenery of the Inca Trail but without many other trekkers at all, the Lares trek is an ideal route for anyone wanting to explore the spectacular mountains in the Cusco area and can make a good acclimatisation trek for those wanting to prepare thoroughly for something like the Salkantay trek.

The three-day trek has two fairly high mountain passes, but otherwise offers fairly gentle paths rich in birdlife and with some stunning views across the Cordillera to peaks like Pitusiray as well as some lovely glacial lakes. This really is a slice of the Andes untouched by most tourists, and is all the more fascinating for that.

Difficulty: Moderate-


Trek Itinerary

Lares trek Day One - Into the Sacred valley

This morning we will head out of Cusco, travelling by minibus through the Sacred Valley until we reach our trailhead at Huaran. From this base at 2850m, we have two hours walk through the stunning scenery of the valley until we reach Somacpampa, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we will continue our ascent up to the town of Cancha Cancha (literally “Field Field” – don’t ask why) where we will camp for the night at 3900m.

Cancha Cancha Day Two - Queñococha

An early start this morning as we pack up and head in the direction of Queñococha. We will pass the two beautiful glacial lagoons of Acopata as we head for the Pachacutec pass – the high point of our trek at 4600m. This ascent will take us at least 2 hours but the views from the pass of Pachacutec lake and snow-capped Pitusiray are well worth it! From here we will head down to into a beautiful secluded valley, where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we ascend again, past several large waterfalls and the traditional Quechua town of Quishuarani before we reach Queñococha, where we will camp for the second night.

Lares Day Three - Down to Lares

After breakfast we will head up a small valley and start a steep climb up to our final pass – Abra Huillquijasa, at 4200m. Below us lies a stunning series of turquoise lakes and we will rest here for a while to enjoy the view before we dip down into the next valley and stop for lunch by the lakeshores. From here we will head on to the village of Cuncani, and then on to Lares itself, where we will arrive in time for you to bathe in the thermal springs that make the area famous. After plenty of time here to relax, we will take you back to Cusco for some well-earned rest!

Rather than heading all the way back to Cusco, it's also possible to stop in Ollantaytambo and from there catch the train to Machu Picchu...

Prices

This trek can fit into any of our tailormade Peru holidays and the price of £320pp includes the following:

  • Top-class trekking equipment, including tents, cooking equipment, sleeping bags and sleeping mats
  • All transfers to/from Cusco
  • The services of a guide, arriero and mules/horses for the duration of the trek
  • All meals on the trek

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The Lares trek

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We will definitely recommend your company to our friends as it took all of the stress away.

EL, Galway
August 2009
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