SACRED VALLEY & LARES ADVENTURE 7 day Program ITINERARY The Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure to Machu Picchu…a journey through the ancient history, living culture and magnificent landscape of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Expert guides will tailor your individual experience with a choice of adventure activities and cultural encounters. Then, as breathtaking sunsets paint the Andean sky, you will settle into deluxe mountain lodges to prepare for the next day. DAY 1 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | TREASURES OF THE SACRED VALLEY Begin your adventure with a journey from the urban setting of Cusco into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, full of lush green fields and surrounded by striking mountain peaks. Explore the beautiful archeological site of Chinchero, where colonial buildings rest atop Inca foundations. Enjoy an astonishing hike through authentic Inca trails from Chinchero to the town of Urquillos. Also, you can go back in time and study the natural Inca salt mines of Maras and the astonishing circular terraces of Moray, believed to be an Inca laboratory dedicated to the study of foreign plant species. Group Activity: In the morning the whole group visits the archeological site of Chinchero. Activity Menu (morning to noon): Cultural activity: Guided tour of Moray Inca Agricultural site and the Salt Mines of Maras. OR Hike: Chinchero to Urquillos / Duration 3 hrs. / Easy to moderate. Meals: Lunch and Dinner. Overnight: Lamay Lodge (el. 9,705’ – 2,958m.), located in the town of Lamay, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
DAY 3 VALLEY | INCA SITES AND VILLAGES Now that you have gotten a glimpse into this rich Andean tapestry, today you will have the opportunity to go even deeper with an exploration into the heart of the Lares Valley. A scenic drive into the mountains along the celebrated “Inca Weaver’s Trail” allows you to visit the unique and uncrowded archeological site of Ancasmarca to the hub-town of Lares. After lunch, you can choose between visiting the traditional and ancient weavers’ village of Choquecancha, or opt for hiking amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where you will spend the night. This lodge, which is run in joint venture with the local community and aims to protect the cultural heritage and the environment, provides an interesting insight into the evolving role of the original Andean people in both the culture and commerce of modern-day Cusco. Group Activity (morning to noon): In the morning, explore the town of Lamay briefly and visit the archeological site of Ancasmarca. Activity Menu (afternoon, after the group visit): Cultural activity: Visit the town of Choquecancha, meet with local weavers and experience an encounter with members of community. OR Hike: From Quelqena to Huacahuasi / Duration 2-2.5 hrs. / Easy to moderate / Mountain pass at an elevation of 12,595´- 3,839 m. OR Hike: From Cuncani to Huacahuasi / Duration 3.5-4 hrs. / Moderate / Mountain pass at an elevation of 13,838´- 4,219m. Note: Guests that opt for the cultural activity will have lunch at the local community of Choquecancha. Guests that opt for the hikes will have lunch en route. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Overnight: Huacahuasi (el. 12,585’ - 3,835m.), located in the local community of Huacahuasi, in the Lares Region.