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This remote and rarely visited
region offers the trekker an insight into the real lives of the
Andean farmer, dressed in their traditional brightly colored
ponchos. You’ll have the opportunity to see thatched stone
houses surrounded by herds of llamas and alpacas. Inside the
houses you’ll see guinea pigs running loose.
The advantage of
this trek is that permits are not required and, in theory, you
could just turn up in Cusco and make a booking 2 or 3 days in
advance. However most companies are combining these treks with a
visit to Machu Picchu and therefore train tickets between
Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes are best bought several weeks
in advance.
Trekking in this area takes you
into the remote and rarely visited Lares Valley with the
spectacular backdrop of the Urubamba Mountains, and has several
snow-capped peaks, the best know of which is Veronica (5,750m.
The Lares Valley lies to the east of the Urubamba range and its
easily accessible from Cusco. The Area offers moderately
strenuous trekking, though small mountain villages, crossing
passes of over 4,000m with spectacular views of the surrounding
snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon.during the
trek you will have opportunity to see how the Quechua-speaking
Indians of the high mountain villages live by farming potatoes
and oca, and herding llamas and alpacas on the inhospitable
flanks of the towering peaks.
The Lares valley is one of the
most picturesque villages in the southern part of Cusco. Lares
Valley is particularly well know for its very high-quality,
brightly coloured weavings and characteristic upturned hats,
many of the popular tourist markets being supplied from here.
The trek itself is rated moderate, similar to the Inca Trail.
There are, however, one pass over 4000m so it is essential that
you are well acclimatized to the altitude. This 4 day, newly
developed itinerary offers an outstanding combination of amazing
mountain scenery in a remote area and visits to authentic
Quechua communities such as Wacawasi, Willog, Patacancha and
reaches Aguas Calientes on the third day. The last day is
devoted to the visit of the impressive Inca citadel of Machu
Picchu.
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