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Upper Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure to Machu Picchu

Experience an authentic slice of Peruvian life – cultural immersion – with a 5 or 7-day adventure tour by Mountain Lodges Peru (MLP). Guests can choose daily activities as they wind through the Upper Sacred Valley of the Incas and the lesser-known Lares Valley, along remote highland trails with breathtaking views. Snowy peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, the occasional condor soaring on the thermals. Unlike the traditional Inca Trail, the route passes through seldom-visited Inca archaeological sites, and tiny Andean communities known for their colourful traditional dress, weaving communities, and roving herds of alpacas and llamas. Brilliant local guides will introduce you to their culture, daily life and traditions; a rare insight into communities largely untouched by the modern world. And at the end of each day deluxe mountain lodges are comfortable bases, with hot showers and great food – no roughing it here!

NEW: The Upper Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure is now available as two new distinct itineraries – Explorer and Pioneer. The Explorer programme caters to more budget-conscious travellers, ensuring affordability without compromising on quality. The programmes feature different partner hotels in the towns of Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes and different train services, but both include stays at the same MLP lodges in Lamay and Huacahuasi, providing a consistently high-quality experience throughout the journey. Logistics have been fine-tuned in the Pioneer programme to ensure convenience and accessibility; attractions are strategically located closer to the hotels so clients  maximize their time exploring.

Mountain Lodges of Peru’s strong sustainability ethic includes their own Yanapana NGO, which focuses on empowering and supporting women in local communities.

MLP operates several other cultural and trekking programmes in the Cusco region with a duration of up to 10 days; Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek, Black Diamond Trek, Archeoastronomy Journey and the Grand Andean Adventure all include a visit to Machu Picchu.

In Cusco MLP operate two small hotels, XO Art House and Andenes.

Senderos Soul

Ayni = Reciprocity. Joint ventures with local communities are famously complex and energy consuming, which is why they are so rare. In Huacahuasi MLP and the local community achieved an equitable and award winning partnership …training, fair salaries, with a share of profits for the community who still ‘own’ the land (which they know was never theirs to sell in the first place). Mountain Lodges of Peru guide guests to the hidden cultural and archaeological gems of this fascinating region. This is flexible lodge-based multi activity, cultural immersion, and carefully curated adventure all wrapped into one!

- Simon, Senderos

Key Facts

Upper Sacred Valley & Lares Adventure Trek (5 days, 4 nights)

Night 1: Lamay Lodge, Lamay, 2963 m

No. of rooms: 12

Category of room: Double or twin room with private terraces

Night 2: Huacahuasi Lodge, 3840 m

No. of rooms: 12

Category of room: Double or twin room with private terraces and hot tubs!

Night 3: Ollantaytambo: Del Pilar or similar (Explorer),  Las Qolqas or similar (Pioneer)

Night 4: Aguas Calientes: El Mapi or similar (Explorer), Machu Picchu Pueblo or similar (Pioneer)

The 7 Day, 6 Night programme includes an extra night at Lamay and Huacahuasi Lodges.

Facilities: Lamay and Huacahuasi Lodges have sitting/reading rooms with log fires, outdoor hot tubs and outdoor seating areas and gardens.

Internet: Available free at all lodges

Min age: 8 yrs

Excursion details: 1 guide per 8 pax max

Dates of operation: March-December.

Rates from: 2024: Low season US$1,900 per person in double room (Explorer 5 Day Programme), US$2,300 per person in double room (Pioneer 5 Day Programme), dates 1st Nov – 14th Dec. 2024. High season US$2,600 per person in double room (Explorer 5 Day Programme),d US$3,100 per person in double room (Pioneer 5 Day Programme, dates 1st Apr – 31st Oct and 15th – 31st Dec. 2024.).

*For full rates see details below under Gallery and Resources.

Rates include: Transfers to and from Cusco, lodging, transportation, entry to all sites, services of a bilingual guide (tours are led in English) and most meals (only a few are excluded). See Downloads for full details.

Minimum stay: 5 days / 4 nights, which includes the most iconic Inca sites of the Sacred Valley and the best activities in the Lares region.

Senderos recommends: For the most comprehensive experience, we recommend the 7-day trip, and for the ultimate combination consider adding the Salkantay Lodge to Lodge Trek (see link above, and the Grand Andean Adventure description in the Sacred Valley & Lares section of our online Resources).

Affiliations / Awards: LATA, ATTA Travel & Leisure (World’s Best Awards 2021)

Responsible Tourism TO DO Award (Germany)

National Geographic Traveler’s “Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Award (US)

Travel & Leisure (US) readers nominated Mountain Lodges of Peru as one of the top 10 tour operators in the world.

Sustainability

  • MLP is run by Peruvians, who are passionate about the mountains and their Andean neighbors. They consistently create strategies for social/economic advancement and environmental sustainability in local communities.
  • In 2006 MLP sponsored the creation of Yanapana Peru, a non-profit organisation, whose purpose is to reduce extreme poverty in the Andean Highlands by improving quality of life through sustainable community development.
  • This led to a joint venture with the people of Huacahuasi to build a lodge in their remote hamlet, and give them hospitality training to run the lodge, which features in MLP’s Upper Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure programme. They are now looking to expand this innovative business model in other local communities. A key strategy is to empower, train, and employ as many locals as possible to become modern-day travel industry professionals.

Read more here about Our Purpose

 

Need to know:

  • Both itineraries include the breathtaking Inca sites of Pisac, with its remarkable stone structures; Ollantaytambo, where the rebel Inca leader Manco Inca defeated the Spanish in battle, and Unesco-listed Machu Picchu, the crowning glory of the Incas and the archaeological wonder of South America.
  • Multi-activity adventures; guests choose their own itinerary.
  • Between Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo, the Explorer programme includes the Expedition train while the Pioneer programme includes on the Vistadome train.
  • Small groups led by expert, bilingual local guides.
  • A reasonable level of fitness is needed for daily activities but there is flexibility. Altitudes vary from 2100 to 4600 metres.
  • Can be combined with the mini-Inca Trail to arrive at Machu Picchu by foot
  • NEW: Lamay Lodge can now be booked as a standalone 3 day/2 night package including Cusco return transfers and activities. See our Resources (Sacred Valley and Lares section) for details.

Perfect for:

An off-the beaten-track cultural immersion – mutil activity adventure in stunning surroundings, with a visit to one of the world’s cultural highlights. Family friendly!

Getting there

The trek begins and ends in Cusco. MLP recommends hotels in Cusco.

Aeroplane

By Air

Nearest airport: Cusco.

Weather

Generally there are 2 seasons in this region:

Rainy: November to March. In rains almost every day for a couple of hours, but there are also several sunny days. Day temperatures range from 17-22 degrees C. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

Dry: March to October. June and July are the coldest months. Day temperatures range from 20-25 degrees C. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

Most treks operate March-December.

FIND OUT MORE

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