A TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS
At ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø, all our holidays are created individually to suit your preferences and the Mountain Lodges of Peru – Sacred Valley & Lares itinerary can be used for inspiration or as a starting point for your luxury Peru holidays. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular experience or wish to include extra stops on your journey, our experts will design an itinerary that is entirely unique to you.
ABOUT THE ITINERARY
A 5 or 7 day lodge-to-lodge trek, combining the rugged scenery of the Andes with the local communities who inhabit it.
Unlike Mountain Lodges of Peru’s Salkantay Trek, the Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure combines picturesque Andean scenery with historic towns and seldom-visited Inca archaeological sites of the Sacred Valley. It has been designed for those looking to mix an active holiday, with the history and culture of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Each day different activities are available and you can design your own adventure, based on your interests and how active you want to be. Everyone’s adventure ends at the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, where you will have a full day to explore the ruins before returning to Cusco by train.
Rather than camping you will stay in two purpose built mountain lodges (as well as a couple of hotels), where you will be greeted each evening to a hot shower and a comfortable bed. The lodges have been designed to fit in with the environment and actually have been built using traditional Inca methods, but have modern comforts like Wi-Fi and even a hot-tub!
Is this for me?
The flexibility of Mountain Lodges of Peru’s Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure means it is ideal for families or couples who may have slightly different interests or not sure how active they want to be. It’s also a great option for single travellers as group sizes are large enough for you to meet other travellers (normally up to 16, but often a lot smaller).
Unlike some walking itineraries in Peru, where there is often no alternative to trekking 6+ hours each day and the emphasis is very much on the scenery, the Mountain Lodges of Peru Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure, has been designed to offer a flexible itinerary, allowing guests to choose between active and cultural activities. Famous historical attractions are included along the way, but guests will also have the chance to explore relatively untouched areas and see the daily life of the remote communities in the area.
Note: The Mountain Lodges of Peru Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure has set departure dates and is in small groups (normally up to 16). It operates all year round, except for January and February.
For those short on time, Mountain Lodges of Peru also offer a shorter 5 day / 4 night Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure, which includes one night at Lamay and Huacahuasi Lodges.
CUSCO
Your adventure starts in the ancient Inca capital of Cusco. At over 3,300m above sea-level, Cusco is the perfect place to acclimatise before starting the Mountain Lodges of Peru, Salkantay Trek. We suggest three nights to adjust to the altitude and on your second full day in the city, you will be taken on a private tour of the Cusco’s main attractions.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Cusco is nestled in a green valley high in the Andean mountains and is home to some truly remarkable colonial architecture and relics left over from the Inca Empire. A private tour will show you the spectacular Inca ruins in the surrounding countryside, including the temple of Kenko, the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara and the mighty Sacsayhuaman fortress.
On one of the evenings you’ll meet the trip leaders for a briefing before the trek.
Stay: Three nights at El Retablo – bed & breakfast
SACRED VALLEY
Your first stop will be Chinchero, a small Andean village and Inca archaeological site. From there, choose an inspiring downhill hike from Chinchero to the town of Urquillos along historic Inca trails, or an afternoon exploring the circular agricultural terraces in Moray and natural salt mines in Maras.
Morning: All-Group Activity: Visit to Chinchero.
Afternoon: Cultural: Guided exploration of the Moray agricultural complex and the natural salt mines in Maras. Active: Hike from Chincheros to Urquillos.
Stay: Two nights at Lamay Lodge (9,705’ / 2,958m)
PISAC
Start your day with either an invigorating hike from the village of Amaru to the community of Viacha, or a visit to the lively town and colorful artisan marketplace of Pisaq. Midday, both cultural explorers and hikers will reunite in the village of Viacha to learn about traditional Andean farming before a hike or drive to the Pisaq archaeological site for a guided tour.
Morning: Cultural: Excursion to Pisaq for a guided tour and free time to explore its celebrated marketplace, followed a visit to the community of Viacha. Semi-active: Bike ride from Lamay Lodge to Pisaq (subject to additional cost). Approximately 3 hours – Easy to Moderate. Active: Hike from the village of Amaru to the community of Viacha. Approximately 3 hours – Moderate, 14,200’ / 4,328 m.
Midday: All-Group Activity: Meet the Viacha locals and learn about their traditional Andean farming practices.
Afternoon: All-Group Activity: Guided tour of the Pisaq archaeological site.
LARES VALLEY
The day begins with a visit to the small town of Lamay followed by a scenic drive into the heart of the Lares Valley. Your first stop will be Ancasmarca for a guided tour of this seldom-visited archeological site. Afterwards, choose a visit with the expert textile weavers in the remote village of Choquecancha or a hike amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where both groups meet again to spend the night.
Morning: All-Group Activity: Explore the town of Lamay and visit the Ancasmarca archeological site.
Afternoon: Cultural: Visit to the remote village of Choquecancha where you will have the opportunity to meet the locals and learn from the community’s expert textile weavers. Active: Option A: Hike from Quelquena to Huacahuasi. Approximately 2.5 hours – Easy to moderate, 14,200’ / 4,328 m. Option B: Hike from Cuncani to Huacahuasi. Approximately 4 hours – Moderate, 13,838´ / 4,219m.
Stay: Two nights at Huacahuasi Lodge (12,585’ / 3,835m).
HUACAHUASI
For a cultural morning experience, you will visit the village of Huacahuasi and learn more about its heritage and daily life of the locals. Afterwards, return to the lodge for a Peruvian cooking class with the lodge staff or take a short hike to the nearby waterfalls. Alternately, challenge yourself with an all-day hike from the community of Quiswarani to Quelquena along the ‘Trail of 1,000 Lakes’ for majestic views of the lakes, valleys, and mountains.
Morning: Cultural: Visit the village of Huacahuasi followed by a cooking class and lunch at the lodge. Active: Hike to the the waterfalls near Huacahuasi and lunch at the lodge. Approximately 1.5 hours – Easy
All-day: Active: Hike from Quiswarani to Quelquena (lunch en route). Approximately 6.5 hours – Challenging, 14,505’ / 4,421 m.
OLLANTAYTAMBO
Begin the day with a scenic drive from Huacahuasi to the remote village of Huilloc. From there, choose a morning hike from Huilloc to Pumamarka, or explore the village and nearby sheepherding community of Marcacocha before regrouping for lunch and a midday exploration of the Pumamarka archaeological site. After lunch, choose to hike from Pumamarka to Ollantaytambo or drive and spend the afternoon exploring Ollantaytambo’s maze-like alleys and passageways.
Morning: Cultural: Visit the village of Huilloc and nearby sheepherding community of Marcacocha to participate in a traditional Andean ceremony to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) and her blessings for the health of the community livestock. Drive from Marcacocha to Pumamarka for an all-group tour of the archaeological site and picnic lunch. Active: Hike from Huilloc to Pumamarka. Approximately 3 hours – Moderate.
Afternoon: Cultural: After lunch, take a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo and spend the afternoon exploring this charming Sacred Valley town. Active: Hike from Pumamarka to Ollantaytambo. Approximately 3 hours – Moderate.
Optional All-Group Activity (late afternoon): Visit a locally-sourced Sacred Valley craft brewery (subject to additional cost).
Stay: One night at a hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (9,284’ / 2,830 m).
AGUAS CALIENTES
Begin your day with an optional early morning hike to the Inca storage houses high above the town for an impressive view of the Ollantaytambo fortress and ceremonial site. Afterwards, the entire group will meet at the entrance of the site for a guided tour before embarking on a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Alternately, opt for an all-day hike from train marker KM 104 to the Machu Picchu Sun Gate on the classic Inca Trail (subject to additional cost).
Stay: One night at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel (6,232’ / 1,900m).
MACHU PICCHU
Your journey to Machu Picchu begins with a rollicking morning uphill bus ride, followed by a guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel. After the tour you will have free time to explore on your own or hike up Huayna Picchu (additional cost), the iconic mountain that looms overhead.
After the visit you will have lunch in Aguas Calientes before the return train ride to Ollantaytambo and vehicle transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Stay: One night at El Retablo – bed & breakfast
FLY HOME
On your final day, you will be driven to Cusco airport for your onward flight connections.
PRICE INCLUDES
- All transfers
- Bed & breakfast at El Retablo
- All meals whilst with Mountain Lodges of Peru (from lunch on day 4 to breakfast on 11)
- Beverages including soft drinks and a house selection of beer, wine and spirits at the MLP lodges
- Service of an English speaking guide
- Entrance fees and permits to points of interest and archeological sites (including Machu Picchu)
PRICE EXCLUDES
- International and domestic flights
PLAN YOUR TRIP
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