There are a number of alternative treks around Machu Picchu and Cusco; all excellent in their own ways, so why would you chose the Weavers Way, more commonly known as Lares?

The Inca Trail is full; or you’ve already done it
Probably the main reason people chose an alternative trek in the Cusco area. Only 500 people per day can start the Inca Trail and that includes all guides and porters. In the high season around May to September places go fast and many visitors to Peru and Machu Picchu find that they are not able to do the Inca Trail, but would still like to do a beautiful high Andean trek. Lares is therefore a good option.

machu picchu tours – Machu Picchu is the most visited site in Peru, and one of the top tourist destinations in all of South America. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Historic Sanctuary and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

To Get Away from the Crowds
The Lares area is still much less visited than the busy Sacred Valley and Inca Trail. Lares is not just one trek but the name of a series of mountains and river valleys around the town of Lares. You can therefore choose the trek that suits you. The most popular route starts in Lares town, and goes over the mountains to Patacancha and then down to Ollantaytambo to catch the train to Machu Picchu.

For a more authentic experience, though, you could take the route up to Cancha Cancha and finish in Lares town. On the Cancha Cancha route you can easily spend 4 days seeing only a few locals. It is generally a surprise to arrive in Lares town at the end of the trek and meet your first tourist!

For Gorgeous Mountain Scenery
The Cancha Cancha trek starts in greenery and gradually ascends to the high Andes, past turquoise lakes, snow capped peaks and large open valleys. When the sun shines down it is just breathtaking.

For any Lares trek you will have to cross passes of around 4, 000m (13, 120 feet)affording spectacular views of mountains such as the snow covered Pumahuanja at 5, 318 (17, 443 feet). The Lares area is characterized by wide, glacial valleys and Andean paramo, or moorland.

Lower down in the valleys and as you descend to the lower elevations near the Sacred Valley there is more greenery. People here make a living from growing potatoes, corn and quinoa or keeping alpacas and llamas, much as they have for generations.

Despite its proximity to the busy city of Cusco and the tourist Mecca of Machu Picchu, the Lares area still features a very traditional way of life. Enter the valleys and step back in time.

On your trek you are likely to meet children perched on the mountain sides tending their llamas. At the end of the day they will herd the animals up and take them down to the corrals for the night. Other chores include looking for firewood to cook the evening meal, or weaving small belts and scarves. You might meet locals on the trail carrying goods on horseback; the only form of transport in this area.

People speak the local language of Quechua and women wear a distinctive king of round red hat. Houses are as they would have been 100 years ago; stone built with a thatch on top. If you want to really see how people live in the Andes then one of the Lares treks is an excellent choice.

Hot Springs
Where possible, every trek should of course end with a soak in natural hot springs, surrounded by mountains and with pools of different temperatures to suit all tastes. Locals regularly come to the hot springs in the afternoon but because of the distance from Cusco, at night there will be very few other people there. Finish your trek at Lares hot springs. They are not so easy to get to, and even harder to leave.

To Travel Responsibly
Part of travelling responsibly means having close contact with local communities; with people who then benefit from your visit. In the Lares area you will have ample opportunity to interact with local people, share experiences and learn about each others’ lives. Locals produce fine hand-crafted weavings you can buy directly from the weaver.

Importantly, any decent agent or operator for the Lares area will contribute something to the local communities there. Check their credentials before you book.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/inca-trail-to-machu-picchu-alternatives-the-lares-trek-weavers-way-4482166.html

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San Francisco is all about life. This city has got it all and is well depicted by the words of Herb Caen, columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, “One day if I do go to heaven…I’ll look around and say, ‘It ain’t bad, but it ain’t San Francisco.’” This is San Francisco for you. The city has its roots in its rich traditional culture and with that it is finding its future with the gigantic growth in terms of business & commerce and other such areas.

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While in San Francisco you will never think of what to do. With so much attractions like the Alcatraz, the Golden Gate bridge, Almo Square. Te Bay Bridge, beautiful beaches, fisherman’ wharf and the never ending nightlife and events in the city will keep you well occupied throughout the day. If that’s not all, you can stroll through the famous union square doing nothing. Union Square is the central shopping, hotel and theatre district in San Francisco, California. Its name is derived from the one-block park situated between Post, Geary, Powell and Stockton Streets, but its importance as the largest collection of large department stores, swank boutiques, tourist trinket shops and salons in the Western United States continues to make Union Square a major visitor draw and downtown San Francisco a vital, cosmopolitan place. Grand hotels and small inns, and repertory, off-Broadway and single-act theaters contribute to the area’s dynamic, 24-hour character.

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Well if you cannot afford vacations in Disneyland, we have some ways, which might bring Disneyland vacation in your budget. Firstly, you can reduce your cost by choosing to drive to Disneyland instead of taking the plane even if it takes you to drive 8 or 9 hours because it would allow you to save a lot. Secondly, you can choose from different packages of Disneyland according to your budget. The all-inclusive would have been much more enjoyable as it removes all restriction of money but other packages are also very enjoyable and economical.

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If you want to get Disneyland discounted tickets then you must go there in off-season because they offer great discounts in off-season, moreover when you would go to Disneyland in off-season the place would be much less crowded which would provide more opportunities for you to enjoy. You can also aid your Disneyland vacation by getting a Disneyland visa card for your shopping. When you use Disneyland Visa card for your shopping you would get points to spend at Disneyland. I would advise you to stay in one of the onsite resorts, it may be expensive but the discount you get on other tickets by staying there saves a lot of money. Another way of getting cheap Disneyland tickets is to browse through internet and you would get many people selling their unused or unwanted Disneyland passes or tickets. These people would give away those passes for almost free which can be very helpful for you.

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Whether you are a seasoned traveler or this is your first trip abroad, you should always be concerned about airport security and facilities as you travel. It may not seem like a priority, but you may end up staying for a while in airports as you travel around. Layovers and delays are always part of a trip. Well you need not worry about Peru's international airport in Lima, which has recently been declared the best in South America for the third consecutive year by Skytrax Research at the 2011 World Airport Awards held in Copenhagen. The Jorge Chavez airport is the gateway to Peru and is indeed very efficient, easy to navigate, with friendly services and plenty of opportunities for shopping and eating to keep you entertained as you wait for your next flight.

April is a particularly interesting month to be traveling in Peru, as the celebrations of Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter generally overtake the entire country and are truly a sight to behold. Make sure to make your reservations in advance as this time of year is generally busy. Hotel Peru. However, you are guaranteed to get a unique experience and real insights into the Peruvian culture. Processions, fairs, and other festivities characterize this period. Make sure to be in Peru on April 28th-30th to attend the 12th Peru Gift Show, an international handmade gift and home accessories held yearly, which includes hundreds of companies from Peru and abroad.

This year, Peru is celebrating the centennial of the re-discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It is the perfect time to visit this newly appointed World Wonder and catch a glimpse of the Incas' extraordinary might and technological skills. Even the world-recognized magazine National Geographic invites you to explore the citadel, which is featured on the cover of its April issue.

This guide to 3 reasons to discover Peru was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Peru tours.