Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Activity Level : Moderate
Our Lares Trek to Machu Picchu will take you off the beaten path, deep in the Andes, hiking over mountain passes and next to stunning valleys filled with lakes and tiny Qechua towns.
What to Expect
- Moderate to challenging trails, progressively connected to allow proper acclimatization.
- Experiencing the Andean Puna, filled with rolling hills, mountain passes and lakes.
- Campsites and a hotel stay in Aguas Calientes.
- Guided tour in Machu Picchu.
Main Challenges
- Maximum Altitude: Pachacutec Pass (4,500 m / 14,800 ft).
- Long hiking days, 6 to hours.
- Rapidly changing weather: cold mornings and nights, strong sun exposure during the daytime, possibility of rain and strong winds.
- Herding trails: ascending segments, steep descents, boulders, loose gravel and off cambered segments.
Highlights
- Immersion in the rural Andean life.
- Spectacular views form Pachacutec and Willqaqasa mountain passes.
- Hot Springs in Lares.
- Scenic train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
- Guided visit to Machu Picchu, featuring the sunrise over the citadel.
Who Is This Trek For?
If you are looking for an authentic experience in the Andean Puna, with cultural immersion a in contact to the untouched nature. This experience is for you. It is designed for hikers with moderate fitness, comfortable at high altitude and long days hiking.
This tour fits perfect those looking to get to Machu Picchu in a unique way, prioritizing the cultural immersion and the opportunities to spot wildlife.
Itinerary
Day 1 Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha
Welcome to this adventure from Lares to Machu Picchu.
Cusco-Huaran.
5:00 am in Cusco, time to start! Your guide will pick you up from your hotel. Then, the adventure will start with a scenic drive to Huaran, tinted by the first sunrays on the dawn.
Once we get to Huaran, we will stop to enjoy the breakfast and prepare for the first day of hiking. Our horsemen will pick up the duffels and pack the camping gear.
To Cancha Cancha.
The first segment of this adventure will take us to a remote village, called Cancha Cancha. To get there, we will ascend for approximately 3 hours across a staggering valley. Once we reach our destination, we will stop for a replenishing lunch.
Cancha Cancha is a traditional Andean community, that’s has been kept untouched for centuries, there isn’t any roads connecting the town yet. It was just recently, that they were connected to power. So, this visit will provide an opportunity to experience an authentic immersive experience in the Qechua world.
First Campsite.
During the afternoon we will have the opportunity to share with the locals. A local family will host us to introduce us to their lifestyle, teaching us about their customs and practices.
Later, with the nightfall our guide will share with us his knowledge about the skies. He will point out the constellations and stars that defined how Incas read the skies. How they used this information for their farming processes and religious practices, and still prevails to this date.
The first day on the Lares Trek is an introduction to the Andean world, its challenging trails and unique lifestyle.
First Day of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu:
- Level of Difficulty: moderate to challenging trek, suitable for those with a sense of adventure and reasonable fitness.
- Distance Covered: 12 km (7.5 mi).
- Highest Altitude: 3900 m (12800 ft): Cancha Cancha.
Day 2 Cancha Cancha – Quiswarani
You will be welcomed to the second day of this adventure, with a hot beverage served to your tent. This day will probably be the toughest one, we will reach the highest point of the trek and spend about 7 hours in the trails.
Pachacutec Pass.
After fueling up with our tasty breakfast, we will join the hike to Pachacutec Pass. This first part of the trail will be challenging, an intense walk over mountain passes until our ultimate summit.
This path will be physically demanding, but rewarded with stunning landscapes. The area is surrounded by views of glaciers, lakes, fauna like: llamas & alpacas, cara cara falcons, sheep and many others.
Second Campsite: Quiswarani.
Once we have enjoyed our accomplishment and the views from the summit, we will start descending. It will take us about 3 hours to get to Quiswarani, a community sitting at 3700 m (12139 ft). The trail to this community, will take us over isolated areas of the backcountry, with only wilderness in the sight.
The last part of our second segment of the day will take us along 7 waterfalls, letting us know that we are getting close to the campsite for the day. There, our team will welcome us with hot beverages and appetizers, before our deserved dinner. Then we will settle in our tents to rest after a demanding day.
Second Day of the Lares Trek:
- Level of Difficulty: Challenging.
- Lowest Altitude: 3700 m (12139 ft): Quiswarani community.
- Highest Altitude: 4500 m (14800 ft): Pachacutec Pass.
- Distance Covered: Approximately 14km (8.5 mi)
Day 3 Quiswarani – Cuncani – Lares – Ollantaytambo
The third day arrives with the promise of being the most scenic day of the whole trip.
Willqaqasa Pass.
We will start, once again, with a hot beverage served to your tents. Followed by an energizing breakfast.
Then, our guide will lead us on a 3 hour climb to Willqaqasa Pass. This spot has a privileged view, featuring views of the snowcapped peaks, several lakes like mirrors in the landscape and the wildlife. After enjoying the stunning views, we will continue over the Andean Puna and some agricultural sites.
Cucani.
The next 2 hours will take us to Cucani. In this community we will share with local kids, spend some time at their school and learn about their daily life. After this absolute highlight, we will meet with our driver who will take us to Lares.
Our drive there will be filled with green landscapes, fruit plantations and abundant native flowers like begonias or orchids.
Lares Hot Springs.
We will use this stop in Lares to enjoy a hearty lunch, followed by a plunge in the hot springs. This will be a perfect break after 3 days on the trails discovering the Andes.
Shuttle to Ollantaytambo and train to Aguas Calientes.
The time to farewell with our amazing team of horsemen and chef, will arrive after enjoying the hot springs.
To continue with our journey, our driver will take us on 2.5 hours drive to Ollantaytambo, where we will have dinner before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. We will spend the night in Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, from where we will visit the Citadel the following morning.
Third Day of the Lares Trek:
- Lowest Altitude: 3100 meters (10170 ft): Lares Hot Springs.
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate.
- Highest Altitude: 4200 meters (13779 ft): Willqaqasa Pass
Day 4 Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Machu Picchu exploration.
Finally! our time to explore Machu Picchu has arrived.
This day we will start early, again, to get on time to the Citadel to enjoy the sunrise. Our guide will take us on a 2 hour guided tour around Machu Picchu, sharing with us all his knowledge about the buildings, plazas, temples and different rooms.
After, if you booked ahead, there will be time to hike to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain. This will be on your own, but if you want a guide for this extra, you can book it as an add-on.
After our exploration if the Hidden Inca City, we will go back to Aguas Calientes. There, you will have time for lunch (not included), souvenir shopping, visiting the local Hot Springs or just rest.
Back to Cusco.
Our way back to Cusco will start with the 2:55pm or 3:20pm train to Ollantaytambo. This train ride takes us along the Urubamba canyon, where we will have the chance to spot Wiñay Wayna high in the slopes.
Once at Ollantaytambo, our driver will be waiting for us, ready to drive us back. We will drop you at your hotel around 7pm, wrapping up an adventure of a lifetime.
Fourth Day of the Lares Trek:
- Level of difficulty: Easy: focused on exploration & sightseeing
- Lowest altitude: 2040 m (6690 ft): Aguas Calientes
- Highest altitude: 2430 m (7972 ft): Machu Picchu
What’s included?
Included
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Tents for camping nights.
- Hotel stay in Aguas Calientes.
- Meals and Drinks
- All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
- Guided Tours
- Professional bilingual guide(s).
- Entrance Fees
- Camping Equipment
- Additional Activities
- First Aid and Safety
Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Meals in Cities
- Personal Trekking Gear:
- Sleeping bags $15.
- Trekking poles $10.
- Hiking boots and other personal clothing.
- Additional Activities and Entrance Fees:
- Extra hikes such as Huayna Picchu (69$) or Machu Picchu Mountain (69$), which require separate entrance tickets.
- Entrance fees to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes ($4).
- Transportation:
- Any transportation not specified in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides, cooks, and porters.
- Visa Fees.
Packing list
- Clothing
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho.
- Warm jacket (down or similar for cold nights).
- Hiking pants and casual pants for evenings.
- Moisture-wicking T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts.
- Thermal underwear.
- Sun hat and woolen hat for cold nights.
- Gloves, especially for the higher, colder altitudes.
- Footwear
- Sturdy hiking boots (waterproof and broken-in).
- Comfortable shoes or sandals for camp.
- Backpack and Daypack
- Backpack (if not using porter service).
- Lightweight daypack for personal items.
- Hydration and Snacks: minimum 2 liters.
- Health and Personal Items
- Personal medication.
- High SPF sunscreen, lip balm with SPF.
- Insect repellent.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Toilet paper and small shovel (if needed for nature calls).
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap).
- Accessories
- Trekking poles (optional but recommended).
- Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries.
- Camera with extra batteries and memory card.
- Portable power bank.
- Lightweight, quick-dry towel.
- Documents.
Frequently asked questions
Why choose our tour services
Small groups
Join a small group of like-minded travellers that, like you, are eager to safely and confidently experience all the things that make our world worth exploring.
Philosophy & values
We are experts in the field of making dreams come true! With a unique experience in all of Cusco, wherever you want to go, we can take you there
Locally based guides
At Hotel Andenes del Inca, we have experienced tour guides. And they are all locals, which means they know the area you are exploring like the back of their hand.
