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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, an experience that merges the best of both worlds, will have you enthralled in a whirlwind of adventure and culture. As opposed to the famous Inca Trail, the Lares Trek will take you off the beaten path to offer you an exploration of the life and culture of the Peruvian people.

With fewer tourists along its trail, the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu will give you the breathing space you need to really soak up the resplendent vistas of the Andean landscapes. You’ll also get to experience the magical healing powers of the Lares Hot Springs along the way. Nestled amid the rugged terrain, these natural springs provide a therapeutic interlude, allowing trekkers to rejuvenate both body and spirit amidst the breathtaking surroundings.

The Lares Trek, an exploration of Andean cultural life, is a truly immersive experience. You’ll meet the indigenous people of Peru, learn all about Peru’s ancient weaving traditions, imbibe in the visually enticing and colorful mosaic of Peru’s national dress, and see how the indigenous people of the Andes live in the uplands of Peru.

With stone-built houses surrounded by sprawling agricultural terraces, speckled with alpacas, llamas, and sheep grazing on the green, the Lares Trek will plunge you into the depths of Peruvian indigenous life and take you on an interesting journey as you make your way to the famed Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The synergy of cultural immersion, natural wonders, and historical significance makes the Lares Trek a transformative adventure, inviting you to discover the heart and soul of Peru while traversing this lesser-known path to one of the world’s most iconic destinations.

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

4 days / 3 nights
From: $600 $540 Per Person

For treks and tours, the deposit is $200 + $10 service fee = $210 per person. The remaining balance must be settled before the tour.

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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Tour Info

Destination:Machu Picchu, Lares
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Difficulty:Moderate
Total Distance:35 km / 22 miles
Group Size: 2 – 8 Persons
Price:$600.00p/p$540.00p/p
Payment Terms:Advance of US$ 210 through PayPal and Balance on Arrival
Price Includes:
  • Tour briefing, the night before you set off
  • All transportation provided including pick up and drop off at your hotel
  • Professional guides
  • Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more)
  • All transportation included
  • Our chef, porters, horsemen, and mules to carry food and equipment
  • Hearty and wholesome meals to fuel you on your hiking tours (vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals available)
  • Drinking water
  • Daily snacks
  • Dining tent with tables and chairs
  • Equipment (Eureka Timberline tents)
  • Entrance fee to the Lares Hot Spring
  • Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
  • Train tickets
  • Bus tickets
  • 1 night at a 3 star hotel in Machu Picchu town, also known as Aguas Calientes
  • Satellite phones, first aid kit, and oxygen tank
Not Included:
  • Rentals (can be hired from us)
  • Sleeping bags
  • Inflatable air mattresses
  • Walking Sticks
  • Final day’s lunch in Machu Picchu town, also known as Aguas Calientes

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco, Calca, Lares Hot Springs, Kiswarani

A 5:00 am pickup from your hotel and a 1 hour drive through the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley, will take you to Calca for an exploration of the local market. There you’ll see all varieties of fresh, organic, home-grown produce, sold by the Peruvians of Calca.

From there, another 2 hour drive will take us to the incredible natural phenomenon that is the Lares Hot Springs. Here you’ll get to take a dip in the Hot Springs of Lares. Relax in the lap of nature’s luxurious pools, as their warm waters, touted as possessing healing properties, rid you of any aches and pains and soothe your body, mind, and soul.

You’ll then enjoy a delicious breakfast followed by a 30 minute drive to the trailhead of the Lares Trek, Sacred Valley. Here, you’ll get the chance to visit a Peruvian family and learn all about their lifestyle, cultural traditions, and the cultivation of potato in the great Andean highlands.

A 1 hour trek from the Sacred Valley will take us to your lunch spot where you’ll dine on a scrumptious meal prepared by our local chef using only the finest and freshest produce that Peru has to offer.

A further 2 hour hike will take you to your campsite, all set up on the banks of a beautiful lagoon. As night closes in, you’ll get to exchange stories about the day’s hike over a cup of tea followed by a much deserved dinner.

- Difficulty:Easy
- Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
- Altitude:3,550 m / 11,646 ft. above sea level
- 3,800 m / 12,467 ft. above sea level
- Time: 4 hours
- Weather:Cold and windy
- Meals:Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation:Camping

Day 2: Kiswarani, Condor Pass, Cancha Cancha Village

You’ll wake up in the morning to a steaming hot cup of tea followed by a nutritious breakfast. After getting in a good meal, we’ll set off on a hike which will take you through some of the most gorgeous landscapes of the Lares Trek. You’ll chance upon vivid and vibrant lakes that will beguile your senses as you traverse across the road less traveled into the Kiswarani and Cancha Cancha Valleys.

A 4 hour hike from these remarkable sites will take you to the Condor Pass which lies at an elevation of 4,700 m / 15,255 ft. above sea level, the highest point along the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. If you feel the onset of any Altitude Sickness symptoms, don’t hesitate to let our expert guides know and they’ll take good care of you. With an oxygen tank and warm coca tea at the ready, our expert guides are well equipped for every trek to ensure you are taken along the hike under the safest and most secure conditions possible.

From the Condor Pass, you’ll be able to soak up the sweeping vistas of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, and Chicón, snow frosted mountain peaks nestled in the Peruvian uplands. Andean geese soaring above the plain, lovebirds splashing in Peru’s crystal clear waters, llamas, alpacas, and sheep grazing on the green, are not uncommon sights even in these high altitudes.

A 3 hour descent will take us to Cancha Cancha, your campsite for the night, where you’ll get to enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by a much deserved siesta.

We’ll then visit the home of a Peruvian family and learn all about the culture and traditions handed down by the Incas that have molded their way of life. After an evening of experiential learning , we’ll end the day with a warm cup of tea followed by a delicious dinner, as you watch the sun set over the Andean plains.

- Difficulty:Moderate
- Distance:15 km / 9 miles
- Altitude:3,800 m / 12,467 ft. above sea level
- 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. above sea level
- Time: 7 hours
- Weather:Cold and windy
- Meals:Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation:Camping

Day 3: Cancha Cancha, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes)

After a hot cup of tea and a hearty breakfast, we’ll set off for a visit to one of Peru’s elementary schools. In the face of immense difficulties in accessing supplies in this remote and rural community, the children and the school would greatly appreciate any donations you would like to make for the benefit of their education. Every little bit of help goes a long way.

A gradual 4 hour downhill trek will take us to the Sacred Valley where you’ll get to see the four furry and woolen camelids of the Andean highlands, diverse topography with the Urubamba River running through the Valley’s landscape, and potato and corn plantations of local farmers.

Upon arriving in Huaran, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley, you’ll get to see how Huaran’s hamlet of around 649 Peruvian inhabitants grow traditional crops like quinoa and kiwicha.

After a delicious lunch in Huaran, you’ll then say adios to our chef, porters, and horsemen who took care of you throughout the course of your Lares Trek as we near the tail end of the 4 day hike. Our team makes sure our treks are nothing short of spectacular, so if you wish to tip them you may do so at this time.

One of the most diverse treks in terms of activities, we’ll then hop into a van for a 50 minute drive to the Maras Salt Mines. Here, you’ll get to see the checkered earthy pink and beige shades of the salt mines and learn all about the process of salt extraction. With exclusive mining rights over the salt pans reposed in the local inhabitants, you can purchase some of the Maras salt from the locals as a souvenir.

Afterward, we’ll hop back into the van and drive down to Chicheria, a local bar now recognized as a cultural legacy by the Peruvian government for its famous Chicha de jora, a corn beer derived from pre-modern Inca culture, now forming part of Peru’s gastronomical identity. If you’re not much of a beer drinker, you could also opt for a Frutillada, a delightfully sweet wild strawberry drink.

After the delicious pitstop at Chicheria, we’ll drive down to the Inca built town of Ollantaytambo, bookended by the majestic Urubamba River and vast snow-capped mountains.

After a delectable dinner at a local Peruvian restaurant, you’ll take a 1 hour 50 minute train ride from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town or Aguas Calientes.

We’ll then take you to your hotel for the night where you can get a good night’s rest, to rejuvenate your body and mind for the fourth and final day of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu.

- Difficulty:Easy
- Distance:12 km / 7.5 miles
- Altitude:3,750 m / 12,305 ft. above sea level
- 2,700 m / 8,858 ft. above sea level
- Time:4 hours
- Weather:Cold and warm
- Meals:Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Accommodation:Hotel

Day 4: Citadel of Machu Picchu

Your last day of the Lares Trek will be an awe-inspiring exploration of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. You’ll start the day with a wholesome breakfast and checkout from the hotel. With all your bags and hiking gear packed to go, we’ll hop on the first bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am. After an uphill drive, we’ll get there just in time to witness Machu Picchu’s spectacular sunrise.

During the 2-3 hour tour of Machu Picchu, our guide will enlighten you on the wisdom of the Incas, the history of the ruins that lay before you, and the city scape built by these industrious indigenous peoples of the past. Get ready to be mesmerized by the architectural and engineering genius of the Inca in an age of little to no technological development.

After taking a few insta-worthy pictures of your Machu Picchu tour, you’ll get to navigate through the urban area independently, roam its streets, and gain experiential insight into Peruvian life.

You’ll then hop on a bus to Machu Picchu town, also known as Aguas Calientes, where you’ll reunite with our guide who can take you to a restaurant nearby for lunch (not included in the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu tour package).

We’ll then call it a day and hop on a 2 hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo, where your driver will be awaiting your arrival to take you back safely to your hotel in Cusco.

- Difficulty:Easy
- Altitude:2,000 m / 6,561 ft. above sea level
- 2,400 m / 7,874 ft. above sea level
- Time: 2 – 3 hours
- Weather:Warm and humid
- Meals:Breakfast

Packing List

Day Pack

  • Backpack for hiking (25L to 30L)
  • Water (we provide water with every meal)
  • Sun hat
  • Rain gear
  • Fleece
  • Camera
  • Music (phone)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste

Official Papers

  • Valid and Original Passport (same passport used for booking your trek)
  • Travel insurance (we strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for your trip)

Duffle Clothing

- 3-4Wicking t-shirts
- 3-4Hiking pants
- 4 setsUndergarments
- 4 pairsHiking socks
- 1Fleece
- 1Warm down jacket (for the chilly night air)
- 1Rain jacket and pants
- 1Sun hat
- 1Woolen hat
- 1Headlamp (essential)
- 1 pairWaterproof gloves
- 1Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
- 1Large towel (we’ll be providing a small towel)
- 1Sleeping bag (we recommend down bags for 14°F (-10°C), at least)
- Large plastic bags (to help organize and keep clean)
- Power banks (no outlet to plug in battery chargers while trekking)

Footwear

  • Sturdy hiking boots (waterproof, lightweight, broken-in with aggressive tread)
  • Comfortable shoes (walking shoes, sandals or other comfortable footwear to wear on campsites)
  • Flipflops

Travel Accessories

  • Reusable water bottle
  • Flashlight
  • Watch with alarm or travel clock
  • Toilet paper
  • Sunglasses and retainer strap
  • Sunblock and lip balm
  • Toiletry kit
  • Small washcloth
  • Earplugs
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Insect repellent and appropriate clothing for mosquitoes
  • Several ziploc bags

Extra Money For

  • Drink
  • Tip or gratitude
  • Souvenirs

Reviews

Important Info

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu Map

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu
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