The Lares trek is a two- or three-day high-altitude hike in Cusco,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

, starting near the village

Lares Lares ( , ; archaic , singular ''Lar'') were guardian deities in ancient Roman religion. Their origin is uncertain; they may have been hero-ancestors, guardians of the hearth, fields, boundaries, or fruitfulness, or an amalgam of these. Lare ...

, approximately north of Cusco and east of Machu Picchu. The Lares Valley lies in the east of the Urubamba mountain range, traversing part of the

Sacred Valley The Sacred Valley of the Incas ( es, Valle Sagrado de los Incas; qu, Willka Qhichwa), or the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco. It is located in the present-day Peruvian region of Cusco. In ...

. Reaching the start of the trek requires a bus or van trip of approximately five hours from the village of Lares. The trek route transverses typical Peruvian Andean mountain areas. The Lares Valley is home of many traditional weavers and farmers and famous for homemade textiles. The indigenous people of this area speak

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

and Spanish. The Lares trek is one of the main alternatives to the

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (also known as ''Camino Inca'' or ''Camino Inka'') is a hiking trail in Peru that terminates at Machu Picchu. It consists of three overlapping trails: ''Mollepata'', ''Classic'', and ''One Day''. ''Mollepata'' is ...

. It is slightly shorter and higher in altitude than the Inca Trail; it is accessible from Cusco.National Post
/ref> Unlike the Inca Trail, permits are not required to hike the Lares trek. There are a number of different route itineraries and variations available on the Lares trek. It is far quieter than the Inca Trail, as it is not as well known. It is also slightly easier than the Inca Trail, although there are still three high passes to cross, the highest being .

The classic route

The standard Lares trek route is the shortest () and easiest route, and only crosses one high pass. The route takes three days to trek and one day on top to visit Machu Picchu. Trekkers depart Cusco () early on the first day, often around 6am, and drive for several hours to Calca, a small town at altitude. From Calca, trekkers are driven a further three hours north until they arrive at Lares. The hot springs in Lares are popular. From Lares the trek is five hours to the first night's camping spot at Huacahuasi (). Huacahuasi is a traditional weaving village and trekkers often try their hand at weaving here. The second day of trekking is the shortest and steepest as one crosses over the Ipsaycocha Pass (), the highest point on the trail. One may camp beside Ipsaycocha Lake. The final day of trekking is all downhill, passing through several traditional weaving villages. including Patacancha () and Huilloc, before finishing at Ollantaytambo (). From here a train is taken to Aguas Calientes where trekkers stay the night. There are thermal springs in Aguas Calientes. The next day is a short bus journey up to Machu Picchu. There are several additional routes in the area, including some where trekkers can stay with local families instead of camping.

References

External links

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Quechua communities in Lares, Cusco - Peru
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lares Trek Cusco Region Tourist attractions in Cusco Region Hiking trails in Peru