Duration: 4 Days 3 Nights
Activities: Hiking, Culture, Adventure
Average Group Size: 12 people
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Accommodation: Camping, Hotel
Tour Language: English, Spanish
Hiking Distance: 38 km / 23.6 miles
Starts/Ends: Cusco – Cusco
The route from Lares to Machu Picchu is the best alternative after the Classic Inca Trail if you want to explore less travelled trails. The route starts in the small village of Lares, nestled in the Andes Mountains. From there, you will meander through stunning valleys and lakes before finally arriving at Machu Picchu.
Along the way, you will have the opportunity to see Peru’s native wildlife, such as llamas and alpacas. You will also learn about the traditional culture of the Andean people. The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a fantastic adventure not to be missed.
At 4.30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you by van to the famous thermo-therapeutic pools of Lares. If you are in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley around Urubamba or Pisac, we can pick you up from a hotel, hostel, Airbnb, or any other place. From Cusco, we will travel 1 hour to Calca in the Sacred Valley, where we will tour the market and buy local products. We will then drive another 2 hours to the hot springs of Lares, where you can soak in the therapeutic pools with varying temperatures that are helpful for bones, muscles, and stress relief while enjoying the breathtaking mountain views. Afterwards, your trekking chef will prepare an energizing breakfast for you.
After breakfast, we will drive 30 minutes to Pampacorral and begin a 2 hour hike to the village of Kiswarani, where we will enjoy a freshly made lunch with local ingredients by our talented chefs. We will then hike for 2 hours to our first campsite on the shores of a beautiful Andean lake, passing potato fields, waterfalls and stunning mountain views as we make our way to the Blue Lagoon at 3900 m (12795 ft). Once we arrive at camp, your tents will be set up, and a hot cup of coca tea or coffee will be waiting for you.
During the day, you will enjoy the fantastic views of the Sacred Valley, explore the Lares district, enjoy the hot springs and take a short hike through the beautiful valley. You will also walk through potato farms, visit the village of Kiswarani, interact with the locals, walk alongside llamas and alpacas and enjoy the Kiswarani waterfalls. At the camp, you will have hot water for washing, tea time and star gazing before sleeping in our comfortable tents.
Camp Altitude: 3900 m (12795 ft)
Hiking distance: 10 km/6 miles (10 km/6 miles)
Duration: 4 hours 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Camping under a million stars
Difficulty: Moderate
Start the day with a steaming cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent, then rise early to start packing for the most challenging day of the trek from Lares to Machu Picchu. After breakfast, our chef will offer you a snack and you will begin a 4-hour hike to the highest point on the route: the 4,750-metre Condor Pass. Beautiful lakes filled with Wallatas, often known as Andean geese or “lovebirds”, mountain caracaras, llamas, alpacas, and unobstructed views of the Andes await you along the journey.
Once we reach the summit, you will enjoy a 360° view of the mountains and lakes while your tour guide performs a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains above the Condor Pass; we will bring you a cup of coca tea to reward your efforts. From there, you will have a two-hour hike up the mountain to Acopata, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch.
After lunch, you will have another 2 hours of descent through the stunning scenery to reach the village of Canchacancha (3750 m – 12303 ft), where you can relax in their tents with hot drinks and enjoy the mountain scenery as soon as you arrive. You will be able to interact with the locals as you walk around the village, chase llamas and alpacas, play football with the children, teach a few words in English or learn a few words in Quechua.
Camp altitude: 3750 m / 12303 ft.
Maximum altitude: 4700 m / 15354 ft.
Distance: 16 km
Duration: 7 hours 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Our trekking team will wake you up in your tent with a cup of coffee or coca tea, start packing for the day and enjoy a healthy breakfast with a breathtaking view of the mountains. You will have time to relax and explore the village before descending from the highlands into the Sacred Valley for at least 4 hours of trekking. First, you will visit the homes of the local villagers, learn about their lifestyle and visit the local primary school, where you can donate educational materials such as notebooks, pens and toys. Canchacancha is one of the last villages without electricity or road access, and its inhabitants speak only Inca Quechua.
Today’s trekking route is mainly downhill from the high mountain area, where locals grow organic potatoes and beans, and into the Sacred Valley, where locals grow corn and avocado trees, and the climate is warmer. Along the way, you will experience a variety of habitats, from the cold highlands to the lush soils of the Sacred Valley. The end of the trek is in the village of Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft) in the heart of the Sacred Valley, where we will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch and say goodbye to the chef and muleteers.
After finishing the Lares Trek, we will board our private van to the salt pans of Maras and explore the fantastic salt pools, where the locals have been harvesting salt since Inca times. The last but not least place to visit is Ollantaytambo, the “Last Living Inca Citadel”, the “Native American Capital of the World”, recently named Best Tourist Town by the UNTWO. Ollantaytambo is a unique place where the locals still use the same original Inca buildings, the water still runs through the original canals and you can stroll through the original ancient and narrow streets. You will explore the Inca citadel with your tour guide, dine at a local restaurant and board the Expedition train at 7:00 pm to the town of Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.
Aguas Calientes: 2,000 m / 6,561 ft.
Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles
Duration: 4 hours 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel and then board the first bus to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise over the Inca citadel. You will pass through the Machu Picchu checkpoint and walk to the lookout points before beginning the 2-3 hour guided tour of the citadel.
Your tour guide will show you the highlights of Machu Picchu and enlighten you on the extraordinary history, secrets and engineering wonders of the site. After the guided tour, you can explore more on your own or arrange additional excursions to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (not included and must be booked well in advance). After visiting the Inca citadel, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (on your own) before boarding the Vistadome scenic train back to Ollantaytambo and private vehicle to Cusco. Return to your hotel is scheduled around 19:30.
Maximum altitude: 2430m / 7972 ft.
Duration of excursion: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Difficulty: Easy
US$ 598 – Adults
US$ 558 – Children and students
To book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, it is necessary to make a down payment of 200.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in instalments, or Cusco with any credit card or PayPal with no booking fees at all.
US$ 40 off per person
All travellers under 17 years of age will receive a $40 discount.
If you are 25 or under when you travel, you can get a $40 discount with your student ID. Please notify us by email to give you a code for the discount.
Huayna Picchu Mountain – Tickets must be booked in advance, cost $75 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain – Tickets must be booked in advance, cost $75 per person.
The Lares Trek is an alternative trek to Machu Picchu that will take you 4 to 5 days of adventure. This trek is perfect for travellers who prefer more cultural interaction, visiting uncrowded routes and exploring remote mountains where llamas and alpacas are the locals.
The Lares Trek can be done in 4 days and in 5 days:
It is located on the eastern side of the Andes, near the district of Lares, approximately 150 km – 93 miles from Cusco. The hike starts at the hot springs of Lares (3250 m / 10662 ft), a 3 hour drive from Cusco. The district of Lares belongs to the Cusco province of Calca.
I had the pleasure of being guided by Rosel during my trip to Peru, and I must say, the experience was exceptional. Rosel’s depth of knowledge about the country’s history, culture, and landmarks was truly impressive. Not only was Rosel informative, but his sense of humor and easy-going nature made the tour thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend Rosel as a guide for anyone seeking an insightful, entertaining, and memorable journey through the Cusco region.
We had an amazing experience doing the Inca trail with Rossel. Everything was perfectly organized. He knows a lot about the Inca culture and shared all his knowledge with a lot of passion. He was also very attentive of all the group always willing to help.
We originally trekked to Machu Picchu 4d/3n with Rosel and had such an outstanding experience, we went back and booked a private tour to Humantay with him. He is not only an amazing guide, but a wonderful person! Blessed to call him a friend! His experience, knowledge and history
