Trek to Lares

Patacancha to Huacahuasi to Lares, Cusco Dept.

From Ollantaytambo we make a 45 minute drive up the winding road to the small village of Patacancha at 13,000' where we begin our trek to Lares. We stop for lunch at the sacred water of Ipsaycocha, then head over the 14,500' Ipsay pass. Here grows many unusual alpine plants, a rock garden paradise. We descend the valley to just below 14,000' where we camp for the night. The next morning we descend into Huacahuasi Valley, which has an amazing assortment of ericaceous plants. Passing through the small town we continue on down to Lares at 11,000' where we have a soak in the mineral rich hotsprings. Here we find the rare succulent, Echeveria decumbens.