The Lares Trek experience

The Lares trek is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Cusco Andes. Lares is a high Andean region located 3 hours from Cusco and whose main activities are Alpaca and Llama livestock, agriculture and recently local tourism due to its thermomedicinal waters and foreign tourism due to its beautiful landscapes.

Lares is a region that has not been promoted as much as the Salkantay trek and the Inca Trail and that is why not many people make the trek through this beautiful region.

It is important to mention that the Lares trek combines many aspects that make it one of the most beautiful and interesting hikes in the Andes. In Lares you can combine trekking and the beautiful landscapes with visits to locals’ homes, visits to Alpaca farms, visiting local schools and working together with community members in planting or harvesting crops.

Summary

Our last group on the Lares trek

On April 1 we started a 3-day Lares trek combining it with 2 days on the short Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
We did this 6-day experience in Inca lands with a family of 19 people from California, United States.
There were 5 families who came with their children and had a very enriching experience in the Andes of the Lares region.

In the following paragraphs I will copy and paste the impressions and photos of a mother of the participants in the Lares Trek.

Sara Pierce’s impressions

Day 1. Lares Trek begins! On our first day we were picked up at 5am from our hotel in Cusco and drove to Lares to pick up some supplies and tried quinoa porridge. We then took lunch at the thermal baths in Lares, prepared by our chef, Juan. During lunch we gave the toys and gifts to the local village children. From there we started our hike. We walked 3.5 miles or so to the town of Qollolay, at 13,300 feet, where the Lares people have lived for over 500 years. Three years ago, they received electricity. It was unbelievable to see how these Inca people still preserve the traditions. The women shepherd the llamas and alpacas, while weaving, while the men work the land with their horses. The highlight of the first day was meeting Sylvia, a Quechua woman from this town, from whom I bought a woven piece from which she sheared the alpaca, prepared the wool, and weaved. I’m so happy.

Colalay lake

Lares hot springs

Local house

Camina in a photo with local kids

Greg, Matt and Brayan

Day 2. Day two of the Lares Trek. Hiked to the “Apu” of Condor Pass at 15,483 feet. Sleet, fog, rain, and even a little snow were given to us by the Pachamama (Mother Earth). We finished our 7 miles and ended up in Cancha Cancha at another 13,000 feet, where we harvested potatoes, met our arrieros (horsemen) and porteros (porters), and played some combined soccer. 3,000 feet of gain is no joke at that elevation. Highlight of the day is that most people take until 2pm to reach lunch. We got there at 10:30am. We were found super hikers and the Cali Condors. Lastly we went to our horseman Patricio’s house to see his digs where they roasted us “cuy” for our dinner. The valle sagrado is indeed sacred.

Sara and Kannon

Celebrating on the summit

Harvesting potatoes

Nina Orqo and Macho Orqo lakes

Faustina preparing guinea pig

Day 3. On day three of the Lares trek we were able to hike our six miles to luxury. But, before departing, we met the local school children from Cancha Cancha. They chuckled about how our heights differed so drastically with same-aged children. We took turns having the children aski each other questions about their lifestyles. Their main question was what we ate to become so tall. No longer tent camping, we were on our way to Aguas Calientes to prepare for the Short Inca Trail. Although eating like reyes and reinas, we were ready for a shower and to be warm! After eating in Huaran, we were met by a bus and driven to the Salineras de Mara’s, a salt mine dating back to pre-Incan times in 700 BCE! We were off to bed getting ready to prepare for our next long day.

John

Maras salt ponds

Cancha Cancha school

Porters chewing Coca leaves

Julian playing Charango

Day 4. On day four of our Peruvian trek, after staying in Ollantaytambo where we met my parents, we took the iconic Inca Trail train built in 1917 to transport agriculture, to arrive to the beginning of the Short Inca Trail which would lead us to the Inti Punku (the sun gate)! Hiking many many Inca stairs, we made it after a decently grueling 8 miles, even taking a set of stairs called the Gringo Killer. Arriving through the sun gate to see the first site of Machu Picchu from above was breathtaking! Tomorrow we explore Machu Picchu!

Monkey steps

Chachabamba

Sungate

Sara, Kanon and Mandy

Kilometer 104

Day 5. Machu Picchu ! We started the day with an extremely tough hike up to Machu Picchu Mountain. It was only 4 miles in distance, but the 1600 Inca stairs made it feel like 12 miles. Then we spent the 2 to 3 hour tour learning all about the baffling history of how these incredible people built this city. It is so inspiring. I can definitely see why this is one of the wonders of the world. It is absolutely magical my new favorite place in the world….hands down.