Christmas Lares Trek Vacation 2024

Arrival in Lima. Reception and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, flight to Cuzco, reception and transfer to the hotel. Free day to acclimatise to the altitude.

Full-day excursion to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during Colonial times. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Indians barter their products, and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. On Sundays, it is also the meeting place for the local Mayors of the region, who come dressed in their traditional costumes, to attend morning mass. After buffet lunch at the Tunupa Restaurant, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which is still inhabited. Explore the ruins above Ollantaytambo before returning to Cuzco via the traditional market town of Chinchero. Return to your hotel. Dinner and folkloric show in the evening

Today a guided visit of the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cuzco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Briefing on the Inca Trail Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

After breakfast, depart from Cuzco early in the morning by bus and travel through the Sacred Valley before arriving to Lares Hot Springs (2 hours) where you will spend the morning soaking in the medicinal hot springs. After lunch, commence your two hour trek to your campsite. Dinner and overnight camping.

After breakfast, continue up through the valley before arriving to the community of Huacawasi. People here produce some of the finest weavings in Peru. Here, you can also observe their great skills and brilliant techniques in the fabrication of ponchos and other garments. Passing the village you will begin climbing up to Condor Pass, the second pass of the trip at 4300m. From here, you will catch a stunning view of the renowned Mount Veronica (5750m.) Descending gently for about one hour, you will come to the beautiful Epsaycocha Lake, and your last campsite.

After breakfast, your trail leads downhill to an overlook facing a wide valley. Descending into the valley, you will eventually arrive to the community of Huylloc in time for lunch. From here it takes two hours to arrive to Pumamarka and enjoy the Inca terraces, before arriving 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. This is a perfect place to appreciate the vast archaeological remains and a wide variety of flowers and birds species. Take the train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Boarding of the bus for the short ride up to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel.
Shortly after, a Guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Return to Cuzco onboard the train and to your hotel.

After breakfast, take the tourist bus across the stunning altiplano to Puno. Lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, Puno is also the folkloric capital of Peru. Accommodation at the hotel.

Full day excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Uros, a group of islands made entirely of tortora reeds is home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. The inhabitants of Taquile are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. Basic lunch on the island prepared by the local inhabitants. Return to Puno.

After the tour, transfer to Juliaca airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting flight home.