Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Lares to Wakawasi
You'll get picked up from your Cusco accommodation before sunrise and head toward the Andean highlands and Lares. Once you reach Lares Town, there's an option to soak in the hot springs if you want (extra cost, but optional). After that, you'll start trekking for about 6 hours through remote valleys with glacier views and chances to spot wildlife as you climb toward Wakawasi village. Along the way, you'll meet local families and get a sense of how people live traditionally in the Andes.
Included Activities
- Scenic bus ride through Andean highlands from Cusco to Lares Town
- Trek from Lares to Wakawasi (approximately 6 hours, 14 km) through mountain trails, valleys, and glacial landscapes
- Meet and engage with local families in Wakawasi village
Optional Activities
- Soak in hot springs in Lares Town (10 soles)
Landmarks/POIs Lares Town Wakawasi Village - Day 2
Wakawasi to Patacancha
After breakfast and a briefing on what's ahead, you'll trek upward for roughly 4 hours until you reach Ipsayccocha Pass at 4,400 meters/14,435 feet, where you can take a break and look at the mountain landscape. You'll descend for about 40 minutes to a spot by a lake where lunch is waiting. From there, it's another 3 hours of trekking through valleys and farming communities as you make your way to Patacancha village. Your camp for the night is set up here, surrounded by llamas and alpacas grazing nearby, and you'll have dinner under the stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lakeside lunch at Ipsaycocha), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Wakawasi to Ipsayccocha Pass (approximately 4 hours) with panoramic mountain vistas
- Descent to lakeside lunch spot (approximately 40 minutes)
- Trek from Ipsaycocha to Patacancha village (approximately 3 hours, 12 km total for the day)
- Camp setup in Patacancha surrounded by traditional Andean landscape
Landmarks/POIs Ipsayccocha Pass Ipsaycocha Lake Patacancha Village - Day 3
Patacancha to Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Start this morning with a hearty breakfast while taking in the mountain views around you. You'll trek for about 4 hours and cover 12 km through Andean valleys, passing small villages and terraced hillsides until you reach Ollantaytambo, the historic Inca town where you'll rest and have lunch. Next, you'll board a scenic train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, watching the jungle landscape and tall cliffs come into view as you get closer to Machu Picchu. Once you arrive, check into your 3-star hotel, walk around the town streets if there's time, and then have dinner with a guide briefing you on tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Ollantaytambo), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Patacancha to Ollantaytambo (approximately 4 hours, 12 km) through Andean valleys and villages
- Scenic train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Hotel check-in in Aguas Calientes
- Optional exploration of Aguas Calientes town streets and local shops
Landmarks/POIs Ollantaytambo Aguas Calientes - Day 4
Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
You'll wake at 5:30 am and take a 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, arriving as morning mist lifts off the ancient site. From 6:00 to 8:00 am, a guide leads a 2-hour tour explaining Inca history and how they built this place. After 8:00 am, you can wander around on your own to find quieter areas and spots you want to see. If you booked it ahead, climbing Huayna Picchu is an option for different views (extra cost). You'll head back to Aguas Calientes by bus and have time to browse the local market. Later, you'll catch the train back to Ollantaytambo, then a bus from there, arriving around 8:00 pm at Plaza San Francisco in Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic bus ride to Machu Picchu (25 minutes)
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu (approximately 2 hours, 6:00-8:00 am)
- Solo exploration of Machu Picchu
- Bus return to Aguas Calientes
- Local marketplace visit in Aguas Calientes
- Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Optional Activities
- Huayna Picchu climb (must be pre-booked at least 2 weeks in advance; prices subject to change—confirm before departing)
- Machu Picchu Mountain Hike (must be pre-booked at least 1 week in advance; prices subject to change—confirm before departing)
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Plaza San Francisco
