The Lares Adventure to Machu Picchu offers the perfect combination of traditional adventure travel and cultural immersion. Your experience on our, 5 or 7 day, lodge-to-lodge journey will alternate between an exploration of the astounding natural scenery of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and an intimate look at Andean culture, both in busy towns and in the most-remote of mountain hamlets. Daily expeditions will lead you along seldom-traveled highland trails surrounded by exquisite snow-capped peaks, past roving herds of llamas and alpacas, around impossibly hued turquoise lakes, and through graceful waterfalls. Your destinations will include fascinating archaeological sites, thought-provoking agricultural and commercial Andean cooperatives, and bustling towns and markets showcasing the flavors of the region as well as the wares of its skilled artisans. Most importantly, you will travel to hidden communities unchanged for centuries for a unique up-close visit with the local people. Expert guides tailor the experience with an offer of à la carte activities and daily cultural encounters. At each day’s sunset, settle into deluxe mountain lodges run in partnership with local communities, to prepare for a new day of multi-activity adventure and exploration. Contact Jubilee Travel for more info and to book.

Mountain Lodges of Peru offers a unique take on adventure travel to Machu Picchu. Cultural immersion, lodge-to-lodge journeying, exploration of breathtaking landscapes…all resulting in a transformation of mind, body and spirit. On the Lares Adventure, you design your own adventure! Each day you will have the opportunity to tailor your trip from a choice of varied activities designed to offer both adventure and cultural education. MLP's goal is to provide you with a singular experience that will exceed your expectations and result in a visit to Peru that few have experienced in the same way.

Here is a short video to get a taste of the Lares adventure, and here is an example of a 5-day itinerary but other variations and other options are available.

DAY 1 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | EXPLORING PISAC

Early morning departure from Cusco. Option to visit to the celebrated market at Pisaq or take a moderate hike in the hills and mountains over the Sacred Valley. Later, enjoy exclusive access to the isolated community of Viacha, where you will learn about its unique farming practices. For lunch, delight in a traditional “Pachamanca” meal here, cooked under hot stones. Afternoon excursion to the archaeological complex at Pisaq, a wonderful opportunity to explore the complex free of crowds, with the sun setting behind the peaks. Highlights: Viacha | Pisaq Archeological site

DAY 2 LARES REGION | INCA SITES AND VILLAGES

Go deeper into the heart of the Lares region. A road journey into the mountains will take you through remote archaeological sites. After lunch, choose between visiting a traditional weaver’s villager or a scenic drive and a moderate/strenuous hike amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi. Locals will give you insight into the evolving role of the original Andean people in both the culture and commerce of modern-day Cusco. Highlights: Ancasmarca | Choquecancha | Cuncani hike | Quelquena hike

DAY 3 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | EXPEDITION TO OLLANTAYTAMBO

Morning visit with the community of Huacahuasi to learn more about their heritage and daily life. Then embark on another spectacular hike from our lodge to the adjacent valley leading to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo. Lunch along the route. Another option is to drive back through more towns in the Sacred Valley and visit an ethnographic museum featuring the history of Peru’s rich civilizations of the past. Lunch in the Urubamba countryside on your way to Ollantaytambo to explore this charming town on foot. If you feel like some action before the drive back down to the Sacred Valley, an afternoon bike ride through fields along an old path can be arranged. Highlights: Ollantaytambo old town |Huacahuasi | Local communities

DAY 4 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS | DISCOVERING OLLANTAYTAMBO

Early morning short hike to Inca storage structures high above Ollantaytambo for magnificent views of the town and the temple. After, enjoy a guided tour of the fortress, one of the best examples of Inca architecture and revel in its mystical history…a perfect introduction to the wonder of Machu Picchu. Midday, embark on a scenic train ride along the Urubamba River Valley to Aguas Calientes, a bustling town below the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Highlights: Ollantaytambo old town

DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU | THE SANCTUARY

At dawn, begin your visit to Machu Picchu with a rollicking uphill bus ride. As you enter the Sanctuary, the morning sun rises over the iconic Sun Gate and washes the structures and terraces with resplendent light. Prepare to be awed by the skillful architecture of the many Watchtower, the Temple of the Sun, and the royal Inca residences, among many others. Take a moment to quietly sit and listen to the wind…or to meditate and absorb the mystical energy that envelops you. Let your imagination soar as you contemplate the history of Machu Picchu and its mysterious origins. Optional uphill hike on Huayna Picchu. Lunch in Aguas Calientes. Afternoon/Early evening return to Cusco by train and private coach. Highlights: Machu Picchu | Huayna Picchu.

Contact Jubilee Travel for more info and to book.