Save your changes before leaving this page.

The Smart Route

Create a Route

You can plan a new trip or share your past travels.

Sign in If you don't have an account you can create one below by entering your email address/username. Your account details will be confirmed via email.

The map will be displayed once your route has been saved.

1

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1
1
Add a stop
1

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1
1
Add a stop
Add a day
Just a few more steps and your route will be ready to share!
I certify that I have personally taken this route and that the opinions and statements are mine alone. I also confirm that I own the rights to the photo(s) and grant permission to The Smart Route to use them in the media.
Maximum file size: 5 MB.
Maximum file size: 5 MB.
Your route will be submitted for review and published to the site upon approval.
Your route will remain here in the Route Builder after being saved, allowing you to edit it while browsing the site.

The Smart Route

Find the smart route by viewing itineraries for all types of travel destinations

  • Browse Routes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia/Oceania
    • Caribbean/Central America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
  • Log In / Register
Menu
  • Browse Routes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia/Oceania
    • Caribbean/Central America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
  • Log In / Register

Peru - Machu Picchu and Huascaran National Park

14 Days in Jun
South America

Route Details

Days 1-3: Cusco

Flew into Lima at night on day one and had a really early flight out the next day so we just slept in the airport. Flew to Cusco early on day 2 and spent 2 days there.

  • Plaza de Armas – main square.
  • Cusco Museum
  • Craft Market
  • Cusco public market – amazing. Fresh smoothies, went back there multiple times.

If we couldn’t walk where we were going, we took combis, which are shared taxis. We mostly just walked around at the beginning though to acclimate to the altitude and had a relaxed couple of days. Stayed at El Balcon – really nice.

Days 4-6: Lares Trek

  • Lares Hot Springs
  • Lares Valley
  • Pachacutec Pass

We booked this through Llamapath, they were fantastic. We decided to do this instead of hiking to Machu Picchu. Started at the Lares Hot Springs and went through the small villages in the Lares Valley. The guides set up the tents, made all the food, carried all the stuff. We hiked up to Pachacutec Pass and the trek back down was really neat – went from mountaintops, to rainforest, to valley. On the third day we headed out of the valley and took a bus to Aguas Calientes where we stayed overnight.

Day 7

  • Machu Picchu
  • Sun Gate

Took bus up, didn’t have a guide and explored on our own.

Day 8

On the way out of Aguas Calientes we took the more expensive train, which we thought was worth it. It has the glass panels on the roof so you can get the fantastic views of the mountains. Stayed at The Green House in Huaran.

Day 9

Went back to Cusco to fly to Huaraz, stayed at Albergue Churup, which was one of the best hostels ever. Had lunch at Café Andino, which is a tourist travel spot – you meet other travelers and play games, great food too and close to a laundromat. We would eat and make plans while our laundry was being done.

We explored the area on foot. Hiked up the mountainside and took a combi down. The combi actually ran out of gas on the way down but since we were going downhill we coasted back down! The public market is pretty sketchy here.

Day 10

  • Huascaran National Park
  • Los Lagos LLagunaco
  • Camped at Cebollapampa Campground

Hiked around the lake, took combi up to the campground. We had rented gear in Huaraz and took it with us in the combi. Camped because the hike the next day gets really crowded and we wanted to get an early start.

Day 11

  • Laguna 69 Trek

3 miles and 2,000 elevation gain to get to a stunningly blue lake surrounded by glaciated peaks. The hardest hike I’ve ever done and worth all the effort. Machu Picchu was incredible but this was my favorite part.

Combi back to Huaraz and spent the night.

Day 12

Flew back to Lima

  • Museo Larco – pottery museum. Worth going to, nice collection of erotic pottery!

Day 13

  • Bike tour of the city. Much better way to see the city.

Day 14

Flew back home

I would have skipped Lima if I could do this over. It was during the gray season so that didn’t help. The hikes and the small towns that we went to were way more interesting. The guided trek out of Cusco was well worth it, not something we could have done on our own as it wasn’t a known path. Great trip!
Year traveled: 2013

Photos

  • No images found.

Share this Route

0
0
0
0
0
redredrogue Route Traveler

    Contact This Traveler

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Subject

    Your Message

    Type this: captcha

    © 2017 The Smart Route LLC. All Rights Reserved
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • Contact

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.