Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Huaran 2900m – Cancha Cancha 3900m

Early Morning Pickup and Drive to Huaran

Your adventure from Lares to Machu Picchu starts early at 5:00 am. Your licensed guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. We drive 1.5 hours through the Sacred Valley to Huaran village at 2900 m, tinted by the first rays of sunrise over the Andes.

Once in Huaran, we stop for a fresh gourmet breakfast prepared by our chef. Our horsemen will pack the duffel bags up to 7 kg and all camping equipment. This is the official trailhead for the Lares Trek.

Hike to Cancha Cancha Village

The first segment takes us to the remote village of Cancha Cancha. We ascend for approximately 3 hours across a stunning valley filled with native trees, small farms, and views of snowcapped peaks. The trail climbs steadily with many switchbacks.

We arrive in Cancha Cancha around noon and stop for a replenishing lunch with mountain views.

Cancha Cancha is a traditional Andean community untouched for centuries. There is still no road connecting the village. It was only recently connected to electricity. This visit offers an authentic immersive experience in the Quechua world. Most families still wear traditional clothing and speak Quechua as their first language.

First Campsite and Cultural Immersion

In the afternoon you have the opportunity to share time with locals. A local family will host us and introduce their lifestyle, teaching us about weaving, farming with traditional tools, and daily customs.

Later at nightfall, your guide will share knowledge about the Andean skies. He will point out constellations and stars that defined how Incas read the sky, how they used this information for farming and religious practices, and how this knowledge still prevails today.

This first day is a perfect introduction to the Andean world, its challenging trails, and unique lifestyle.

Day 1 Statistics:

• Main Stops: Huaran village, Cancha Cancha village, cultural visit with local family
• Lowest Altitude: 2900 m / 9514 ft in Huaran
• Highest Altitude: 3900 m / 12800 ft in Cancha Cancha
• Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
• Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner
• Accommodation: Camping with Eureka 4 season tents

Day 2: Cancha Cancha 3900m – Pachacutec Pass 4500m – Quiswarani 3700m

Sunrise at Camp and Ascent to Pachacutec Pass

You will be welcomed to Day 2 with a hot beverage served to your tent. This will be the toughest day, we will reach the highest point of the trek and spend about 7 hours on trail.

After a hearty breakfast, we start the hike to Pachacutec Pass. The first part is challenging, an intense uphill walk over high mountain passes to our ultimate summit at 4500 m.

This path is physically demanding but rewarded with stunning landscapes. The area is surrounded by views of glaciers, turquoise alpine lakes, and fauna such as llamas and alpacas, Cara Cara falcons, Andean geese, and sheep grazing on the puna.

At the top of Pachacutec Pass at 4500 m / 14800 ft, enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of the Vilcanota range and the Lares valley. Your guide will perform a small offering to Pachamama, Mother Earth, following Andean tradition.

Descent Through Seven Waterfalls to Quiswarani

Once we have celebrated our accomplishment and enjoyed the views from the summit, we start descending. It takes about 3 hours to reach Quiswarani, a community at 3700 m / 12139 ft. The trail takes us through isolated backcountry with only wilderness in sight.

The last part of the descent takes us along seven waterfalls that announce we are close to camp. Our team will welcome you with hot beverages and appetizers before your well deserved dinner. Then we settle into our tents to rest after a demanding day.

Day 2 Statistics:

• Accommodation: Camping with Eureka 4 season tents
• Main Stops: Pachacutec Pass 4500m, seven waterfalls, Quiswarani community
• Lowest Altitude: 3700 m / 12139 ft in Quiswarani
• Highest Altitude: 4500 m / 14800 ft at Pachacutec Pass
• Distance: 14 km / 8.5 miles
• Hiking Time: 7 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner

Day 3: Quiswarani 3700m – Willqaqasa Pass 4200m – Cuncani – Lares Hot Springs 3100m – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Most Scenic Day and Willqaqasa Pass

Day 3 is the most scenic day of the whole trip.

We start again with a hot beverage served to your tent, followed by an energizing breakfast.

Our guide leads us on a 3 hour climb to Willqaqasa Pass at 4200 m / 13779 ft. This spot offers privileged views of snowcapped peaks, several lakes acting as mirrors in the landscape, and abundant wildlife. After enjoying the views, we continue over the Andean Puna and some agricultural terraces.

Cuncani Community and School Visit

The next 2 hours take us to Cuncani. In this community we share time with local children, spend time at their small school, and learn about their daily life and education in the high Andes. This is an absolute highlight for most travelers.

After this visit, we meet our private driver who will take us to Lares. The drive is filled with green landscapes, fruit plantations, and abundant native flowers such as begonias and orchids.

Lares Hot Springs and Journey to Aguas Calientes

We use our stop in Lares at 3100 m / 10170 ft to enjoy a hearty lunch, followed by a relaxing soak in the natural hot springs. The hot springs are naturally heated volcanic pools with temperatures from 36C to 44C. Perfect break after 2.5 days on trail.

After the hot springs, we say farewell to our amazing team of horsemen and chef who have supported us.

To continue, our driver takes us 2.5 hours to Ollantaytambo. We have dinner there before boarding the 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. We spend the night in a 3 star hotel, from where we will visit Machu Picchu the next morning.

Day 3 Statistics:

• Main Stops: Willqaqasa Pass 4200m, Cuncani community and school, Lares hot springs, scenic train
• Lowest Altitude: 3100 m / 10170 ft in Lares hot springs
• Highest Altitude: 4200 m / 13779 ft at Willqaqasa Pass
• Distance: 7 km hiking / 4.3 miles plus 2.5 hours’ drive plus train
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner in Ollantaytambo
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 4: Aguas Calientes 2040m – Machu Picchu 2430m – Cusco

Sunrise Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Finally, your time to explore Machu Picchu has arrived.

We start very early at 4:30 am to be among the first to enter the citadel and enjoy sunrise. Your guide will take you on a 2 hour guided tour of Machu Picchu Circuit 2, sharing deep knowledge about temples, plazas, houses, ceremonial sites, and the history of the Inca citadel.

After the guided tour, if you booked in advance, you will have time to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain on your own. These extra hikes are unguided, but a guide can be booked as an add on for $30. Note that permits sell out months in advance.

After exploring the Hidden City of the Incas, we return by bus to Aguas Calientes. You have free time for lunch on your own, souvenir shopping, visiting the local hot springs, or resting.

Return to Cusco

Our return to Cusco starts with the 2:55 pm or 3:20 pm Expedition train to Ollantaytambo. This scenic ride along the Urubamba Canyon offers a final chance to spot Wiñay Wayna perched high on the slopes.

Once in Ollantaytambo, our private driver will be waiting to drive you back to Cusco. We drop you at your hotel around 7:00 pm, wrapping up an adventure of a lifetime.

Day 4 Statistics:

• Main Attraction: Machu Picchu Circuit 2 guided tour
• Lowest Altitude: 2040 m / 6690 ft in Aguas Calientes
• Highest Altitude: 2430 m / 7972 ft at Machu Picchu
• Difficulty: Easy, focused on exploration and sightseeing
• Meals: Breakfast at hotel
• Transport: Bus up and down, Expedition train, private van to Cusco