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Cusco · Peru
4 Days / 3 Night Lares Trek to Machu Picchu
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From $636.71 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
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Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
This four day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu includes 2.5 days hiking in the alpine visiting local villages along the way. The beauty of the mountains is parallel to the generosity of the people you will meet on this marvelous cultural tour great for families. While all treks in the Andes are challenging, this hike moves a bit slower than others making it a favorite of our youngest hikers.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- 4 day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu includes 2.5 days hiking in the alpine
- Hiking to Kiswarani village, Condor Pass
- Explore the Cancha Cancha Village
- To visit the Salineras salt pans, in the town of Maras
- Visit local villages and learn about the local culture
- Relax at the hot springs of pure volcanic water
- Enjoy the mesmerizing views from above the clouds from Condor Pass
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Cusco
We will pick you up from your hotel at 5 a.m. to begin the famous Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. It will be a three-hour drive along the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley and through the Andes.
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Once we arrive at the Lares Hot Springs site, you will have your first breakfast accompanied by views of the Andes Mountains.
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Hot Springs. Then, you will enjoy the hot springs, that is divided up between various pools ranging from freezing to hot water. They are all composed of pure volcanic water, which is medicinal and considered to be good for your bones, stress, muscles, and headaches.
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After soaking in the pools for a while, you will drive 20 min to the trailhead. Punta Carreteraat 3,300m / 10,827 ft above sea level. Here you will meet up with your horses and riders and give them your duffle bags to be taken to the campsite.
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Hiking. After, you will begin your expedition to Machu Picchu with a two-hour gradual uphill hike until we reach our lunch spot at the first village called Kiswarani. This section of the hike is considered the potato valley area, where people farm many varieties of organic potatoes. Your guide will also point out some indigenous medicinal plants growing along the way.
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Then, we will arrive at our lunch spot, where you will enjoy your first delicious meal prepared by our trekking chef.
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Local Flavor. After lunch, our horsemen (llameros) will do a ceremony with llamas showcasing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred to the Incas and fundamental to their economy. Our llameros will introduce you to these animals and discuss their importance and why owning one was a sign of privilege. Today they are disappearing, constantly breaded with smaller animals. We hope to continue the tradition of the Incas and give some llamas work. We do this to support the community that helps protect them. Llamas are pleasant to walk with and are friendly animals. Just don´t get too close, they might try to kiss you. You will also have time to explore the village and visit some local homes, where you will learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people. If there is time, we will visit the schoolhouse where the kids still speak Quecha, their native language. You may also bring toys, notebooks, or school supplies to distribute. Perhaps you may even teach them a few words in English.
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Hiking. It will be another two hours, gradually uphill hiking until we arrive at the campsite. There you will be welcomed by our trekking staff, who will have your tents set up. Trekking Distance: 10 km/ 6.21371 miles Camp Elevation: 3,850 meters / 1,2631 ft Weather: Cold
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We’ll enjoy some hot drinks, as the sky darkens and the stars start appearing. Finally, you will enjoy a lovely dinner prepared on-site. Overnight in the tent.
Day 2
Cusco
Today you will be woken up around 5 a.m., with our service of hot drinks. You will have spectacular views of the colorful lake and the valley of Kiswarani. You will see the local people will already be up and about, taking their llamas and alpacas out to graze. Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your gear.
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Hiking. Then we’ll fill up our water bottles, organize snacks, and you will begin your expedition to Machu Picchu. It will be a three or four-hour climb to get to the summit of the mountain. This pass is called Pachacute, or Condor Pass. We’ll zigzag our way up to compensate for the steep uphill. The views of the area are stunning. You will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. We will have an emergency horse to ride in case you are tired. Once you arrive at the Condor Pass, you will be above the clouds, above the mountain peaks, and the surrounding 360-degree views are astounding. In front of you will be the beautiful mountain of Pitusiray, which is at 5,700 m/ 18,700 ft high, and the Condor pass is at 4,680 m/ 15,354 ft high. Afterward, we will enjoy a hot drink service that your porters will carry with them. We will take advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities and start our descent.
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You will begin the one hour, downhill, descent towards El Mirador (Vista Point), where you will enjoy lunch. There will be some llamas grazing nearby.
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Hiking. After lunch, you will hike the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas, and alpacas, before arriving at your campsite, the village of Cancha Cancha, which is the only village that does not have modern technology. Located at (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), where people still practice original Inca traditions. In this Incan village, 85 percent of the houses are still built by ancient construction methods, made of stone and grass-thatched roofs. Unlike any other village in the Lares Valley, this village has no electricity or cars. Here, you will not only enjoy the wilderness, but your porters will also set up your tents. You will have some time to meet with the local children. We provide them with food and school supplies, so we invite our travelers to share this support in the education and the health of this native village. You can bring anything you would like to give to these Quechuan-speaking children that you think they could use for school or home. When you are done, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s houses, where you will learn about the lifestyle of the locals. You will see how they raise their guinea pigs, and learn about the traditional hand-woven textiles made of llama and alpaca wool. Walking Distance: 14 km/8 miles Elevation Gain: 830 meters / 2,723 ft Camp Elevation: 3,750 meters / 12,303 ft Weather: Cold
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In the evening you will enjoy hot drinks and dinner.
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Overnight in the camp at the village of Cancha Cancha.
Day 3
Cusco
Our porters will wake you up with a hot drink, and you will have some time to pack your bags and enjoy breakfast.
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Local Flavor. After breakfast, you’ll have time to explore the village and visit the local elementary school, where the ancient Inca language, Quechua, is still taught.
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Hiking. It will be four hours of walking downhill along this lovely path, where you will pass by more llamas and alpacas. We’ll pass by farms where they grow potatoes, fava beans, and many other traditional crops in traditional Incan style. You will have the chance to learn about Peruvian agriculture from people who still farm by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now, we will start to descend to the warmer area of the Sacred Valley. You will start to feel the changes of the micro-climate and start seeing crops that are different from in the high mountains. Around the Sacred Valley, people farm corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados, and other types of fruit. This area has a lot of Inca history, and you will end your tour at the little Sacred Valley village of Huaran that sits at 2,700 m / 8,858 ft. Here you will say goodbye to your horses, horse riders, chef, and porters.
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Hiking. From Huaran, we will catch a van and make the short drive into the valley to visit the Salineras salt pans, in the town of Maras. Here, at 11,000 feet above sea level, a saltwater spring gushes forth and spills down the side of the mountain. Over 3,000 small evaporation chambers have been created and look as if they are tumbling down the mountainside. These have been in use since pre-Incan times. The salt is said to have healing properties because it´s filled with natural minerals, some of it even comes out pink. Local families each own one of these pans and make their living supplying salt to the towns around the area. There is a small shop on-site if you care to take some salt home with you. Walking Distance: 9 km /6.2 miles Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft Weather: Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon. Watch out for mosquitoes this day.
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Sightseeing at Ollantaytambo. After visiting Salineras, we will climb aboard the van for a 45-minute drive that skirts along the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is the only living, intact Inca village. It still has many Inca water channels, houses, and walls.
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Your guide will take you around to view this small town until it is time for dinner, which will be at a local restaurant.
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We’ll then catch the 7 p.m. train for Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu (train times may vary, depending on availability).
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Upon your arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will check-in to your hotel and relax. Accommodations: inti punku (or similar)
Day 4
Cusco
You will wake up early to catch one of the first buses (around 5:30 a.m.) for the 30-minute ride up to Machu Picchu.
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Archaeological Exploration at Machu Picchu. You will see the Sunrise over the ruins. Your guide will take you for an informative two-hour tour.
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Hiking at Huayna Picchu. Afterward, you will have time to explore on your own and hike Huayna Picchu if you choose to (this is a separate entrance ticket and costs $75 per person).
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In the afternoon, you’ll catch a two-hour train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus back to Cusco, where we will transfer you to your hotel.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Professional Guides Briefing Porters & Horsemen Emergency Horse Transportation Equipment We use Eureka Timberline 4 person tents that are shared by only two people First Aid Every trekker receives a small pillow to sleep with, a foam mat for insulation, a day pack cover to protect their things while hiking and a rain poncho Satellite Phones
Not Included
Rentals: Sleeping Bag: $20 Inflatable Air Mattress: $15 Walking Sticks (Pair): $15 Huayna Picchu trekking
What to Bring
Since you are hiking in the Alpine, this is one of our coldest treks. Please be prepared with lots of warm layers.
Meeting & Pickup
You will be picked up at 5 a.m. from your hotel. Pick up locations can be from any hotel, condo, or apartment located in the cities of Cusco, Urubamba, Huaran, or Pisaq.
Planning Notes
Minimum age: 5 Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
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