All passengers require the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. 

All passengers MUST bring:
1.   Passport
2.   Vaccination Certificate
3.   Travel Voucher
4.   Travel Insurance Policy

Please note: It is essential that Kumuka has full details of where you will be staying in Cusco on the night before your tour starts (hotel name and telephone number) so that we can pass these on to our local partners in Cusco. Local conditions (climatic, political) occasionally mean that we need to change tour departure times or transfer times at short notice, therefore it is essential that our local partners in Cusco are able to contact you in Cusco. We are unable to issue vouchers for this tour until we have received details of your Cusco accommodation. We strongly suggest that you organise pre-tour in Cusco with Kumuka Worldwide.

The Lares trek to Machu Picchu offers you the opportunity to trek ancient Inca paths and routes but away from the hordes of the classic Inca Trail. Step back in time as you trek through untouched and breathtaking landscapes set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and watch a panorama of Andean villages, lakes and valleys unfold before you, revealing the way of life of the descendants of the Incas which has remained untouched for centuries.            

This tour departs daily February and May – November and can be organized to suit your travel plans. November and February departures in particular can be affected by inclement weather, including snow. Please ensure that you are prepared with suitable clothing and sunglasses.

Please note: Lares is a high altitude trek, and many trekkers find the first day, in particular, to be challenging. This is due to the fact that the trek starts at a fairly high altitude, and continues to ascend further on Day 1. At the outset of the trek, you may find yourself very short of breath, and have to walk very slowly during ascents. If you are at all concerned, please speak to your guide immediately. You should be in good physical shape before undertaking this trek. Please note that you MUST ensure that you spend a minimum of 1.5 - 2 full days in Cusco (or at higher altitude than Cusco) in order to acclimatise for the Lares trek. Without this minimum acclimatisation period, we may not be able to allow you to trek, and no refund will be issued.

Day 2:  Yanacocha - Wakawasi - Mantanay 3900m
After our 6.30am breakfast we leave Yanacocha and will gradually descend for approximately 2 hours until Chaqchapata (3950m). We will be able to observe potato crops, flocks of llamas and alpacas developed in this part of the Andes and the local communities of people who continue living in houses made of stones. Along the slope we can observe the campesinos of Chaqchapata and 30 minutes further on of Wakawasi. We then ascend for approximately 1 and a half hours to our lunch destination by a glacial stream, Champacocha. After our lunch break we ascend for approximately an hour to reach the highest point of our trek, the passage of Auroracasa (4600m) where we will observe the lagoon Auroracocha. From Auroracasa we will descend to walk near two lagoons & traverse one more pass to enter the valley of Queuñas. We can observe a major change in scenery before arriving at our beautiful campsite in Mantanay (3900m) after approximately 2 hours.
Walking distance approx 16km (7-8 hours).

Day 4  Aguas Calientes 2100m – Machupicchu 2400m – Ollantaytambo – Cusco  3400m.
Early breakfast (05.00am) before taking the bus directly to Machupicchu at 06.00am. (Optional for those wishing to walk: leave 04.30am and walk up to Machupicchu arriving approx 06.00am.)
In Machupicchu it is still a 15 minute walk from the drop-off point to the famous views from the South Zone of the farming terraces at the end of the Inca trail. Enjoy the early tour of Machupicchu with your guide who will explain the mysteries of this magical site, showing you the very best of it! Your guide will spend about 2 hours relating stories and explaining temples and special sectors. Your tour of Machupicchu should finish between 10 and 10:30am then you have free time to take your photos before the 10:30 crowds arrive. You will also have the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu (minimum 90 mins - please arrange with your tour guide to get a pass for it), Inca bridge or the Sun Gate. We provide a buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes after the walk down from Machupicchu. If you prefer a box lunch to have in Machupicchu you must sign up for it at the office of our local partners before your trek.

Porters are included. General porters carry tents, food, cooking equipment. We also include personal porters for 6kgs per person. They carry sleeping bags, clothes etc. You need to carry a day pack with water bottle, jacket, camera etc. Foam sleeping mats are provided by the ground handler, weighing 800g and counted as part of the 6kgs carried by personal porters.

Tipping is entirely at your discretion although it is commonplace for trekkers to tip their guides and porters on the Inca Trail. We recommend you carry approximately USD35-40 to cover the tipping tradition.

You will need to carry with you a daypack with your camera, water bottle, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you. Your bag will be waiting for you in your tent at the campsites.

A rice sack to protect your backpack can be provided although these are not water proof so we advise you to use plastic bags to protect your gear. The porters have large ponchos to cover them and the bag.

Please note there are fines if you give an excess of 6 kgs so it is advisable to underpack rather than overpack

The Lares trek is closed in December and January every year, however, we recommend the classic Inca Trail over the Lares trek in December, January, March and April. 

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. It must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR TOUR INCLUDES THE INCA TRAIL, KUMUKA MUST HAVE YOUR FULL NAME, PASSPORT DETAILS AND DATE OF BIRTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SECURE YOUR TREKKING PERMIT. ALL PERMITS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

The Lares Trek can be undertaken by anyone of average fitness, however, it must be stressed that this is a demanding trek at altitude. Whilst you may be accustomed to trekking over 10kms a day in your home country, it is unlikely that these treks that you have previously undertaken have been at significant altitude. It is important not to underestimate the effect that altitude can have on your body, and whilst most travellers experience nothing more than breathlessness for the first few days, and perhaps a mild heachache, occasionally more serious altitude-related complications can occur.

We advise you to spend at least 2-3 days in Cusco prior to the start of your trek in order to acclimatise. Eating lightly for the first day or two, as well as drinking plenty of bottled water and getting some rest upon arrival will all help with acclimatisation. Should you feel ill prior to commencing the Lares Trek we urge you to contact our local agent SAS, as medical facilities on the trail are non-existent and your return to hospital facilities in Cusco may take up to a day.

However, most travellers complete the trek with nothing worse than tired legs, aching feet (which can be helped by a soak in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes) and certainly with a great sense of personal achievement!
Should you have reservations about trekking the Lares Trek but wish to visit Machu Picchu and the surrounding area, we recommend that you take our “2 Day Classic Train” trip.

• We recommend that you do not take unnecessary valuables with you. Wearing jewellery and expensive watches will attract attention.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at your own risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care. Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

We suggest you take a 1.5 litre bottle of water on the first day and then you can refill this on the trek. We boil water each night, which is available after breakfast each morning for your water bottles. We still suggest you take water purification tablets or filters for any unboiled water you take directly from streams or waterfalls etc.

If you are walking in the sun it can be very hot and feel like 26 degrees celcius, but when you enter a forest or are in the shadow of a mountain it can feel like 14 degrees almost immediately. At night on the second night the temperature can drop to -5 degrees if you are really unlucky, although the temperature will likely hover around  freezing point!

One of the main tips for dealing with the varying temperatures is to try and keep your body temp as regular as possible by using layers of clothes.  When you feel cool it is advisable to put on an extra layer before you get cold. If you start to feel hot, then take off a layer before you perspire as this could leave you with a chill later if you don’t take care. The weather from Dec through to early March is usually the wettest on the trail.
Some days it may be drizzly all day or you may have a burst of rain and clear skies for the rest of the day - or it could be wet off and on all day! You need good rain gear for walking as well as something to protect your pack. We have dining tents for all meals so you are protected at this time.

Snow can fall on the pass during winter so you need to be prepared for freezing temperatures. In the event of snow, we may be forced to re-route our trek.

From April 2009 no Peru Rail trains will be running from Aguas Calientes all the way to Cusco. Trains will either run from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes to Poroy. From Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Cusco, a bus transfer service will be provided. Poroy to Cusco is around 20 minutes.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

All our tours begin with a pre-departure meeting when you meet your tour leader, driver and fellow travellers. If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. On the last day of the tour we usually arrive at our final destination in the late afternoon, when the tour ends. If you would like to book accommodation for that night or even stay additional nights, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

UK OFFICE

Hillswood Business Park 3000
Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: +4420 7937 8855 Fax: +442075043782

Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492
Email: sales@kumuka.com.au
www.kumuka.com.au