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Along this authentic route you’ll experience the most intimate connection with Andean culture. Meet the locals of Wakawasi and Patakancha and stay in their rustic but comfortable lodges which are the perfect refuges in the extreme landscape. From turquoise lagoons and incredible agricultural terraces to dizzying altitudes and smiling locals herding their alpacas, this is one hike you will treasure for years to come.
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Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and transported to Ankashmarka archeological site. After exploring and strolling through this fascinating place, the journey continues for another 1 hour towards the town of Lares, the starting point of this trek. Meet the crew that will look after you and make sure you have an unforgettable experience. The trek starts in a beautiful Lares Valley, and you will trek on a pre-Hispanic trail that once connected the sacred valley of the Incas with the amazon jungle, where (according to the legends) is located the lost city of El Dorado. Have lunch in a local family house, located in a small picturesque valley. Continue your trek walking on an original Inca trail until you reach Wakawasi village (12,467 ft/ 3,800 m), where the first lodge is located.
Walking distance: 6.2 miles/ 10 km (6 hours)
Meals: Lunch, dinner -
Start your day with a delicious Andean breakfast prepared by your chef and the local family. Today’s hike starts with a gentle climb to the first pass from where the view of the valleys, snow-capped mountains, and tranquil Andean lakes and lagoons are just amazing. Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to visit a local family house and witness their daily lives which have not changed a lot through centuries and see llamas and alpacas grazing. The ascent is generally not very difficult—mostly flat with several short steep sections (10-15 min approx.) but you might find it more difficult due to the high altitude.
Walking distance: 5 miles/ 8 km (6 hours)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner -
Start your day with a hike towards the great Ollantaytambo, considered the last living Inca town. After 20 minutes, you will take local transportation from Patakancha to Willoq. Along the way, visit amazing ancient villages that guard the Inca traditions and the historical site of Pumamarka. Learn about its incredible system of farming terraces that are still used by local farmers. The trail is mostly downhill and the landscape offers spectacular photo-ops. Have lunch on a beautiful platform with a spectacular view of the valleys. After a nice rest, visit another Inca site and continue down another trail to the great town of Ollantaytambo. where you’ll board an afternoon train that will take you to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, get some rest in a selected local hotel.
Walking distance: 5 miles/ 8 km (6 hours)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner -
After an early breakfast, board a bus to Machu Picchu and head for a guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately 2 hours. In the afternoon, meet your guide in the town of Aguas Calientes. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where you’ll arrive after nightfall.
Walking distance: 1.3 miles/ 2 km (2 hours)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
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