The Lares Trek Adventure: Hiking in Peru June 2 - 11, 2019

Many alumni who enjoyed the W&L Outing Club as students have inquired about more active adventures though our travel program. We're excited to introduce a new kind of adventure through the W&L Traveller that will offer a more physically invigorating though nonetheless comfortably accommodated travel experience each year. Leading the trip will be James Dick, director of the Outing Club for the past 16 years. Our inaugural program will be a journey to Peru, with an itinerary that combines visits to Cusco and Machu Picchu with five days of lodge-to-lodge hiking in the Andes. This tour embraces the rich history, living culture, and the magnificent Andean landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. With expert local guides, we'll explore majestic archaeological sites while hiking remote and uncrowded trails abounding in natural beauty. We'll also pause to visit small Andean communities to discover local traditions of weaving and agrarian customs firmly rooted here since Incan times.

Our guides will tailor each day's experience to suit your physical abilities and desires. Daily activities offer natural and cultural encounters that range from easy, moderate, or challenging hiking options to cooking lessons, mountain biking, or visiting an ancient weavers' village. And at the conclusion of each day, you'll settle into a lovely mountain lodge with a welcoming Jacuzzi, spacious room, comfortable bed, private bathroom, balcony, and gourmet dinner awaiting you.

Our journey culminates with a descent from Cusco through the Andean Mountains by train to the enchanting site of Machu Picchu. Here, comfortably lodged in the town below, we'll be able to explore the serene sanctity of this Lost City of the Incas. We'll explore the archaeological park, walk to the Gate of the Sun, and, as the spirits move us, climb the dramatic peak of Huayna Picchu. On our return, we'll visit the center of the Incan universe, Cusco, and explore the bohemian quarter of San Blas with its cobblestone streets and Incan walls.

We've taken care of the planning and logistics, including expert leadership, so you can enjoy a unique lodge-to-lodge adventure to remote hiking routes, archeological sites, and authentic cultural encounters.