The Lares Trek provides a fantastic alternative trail to Machu Picchu! This 4-day itinerary passes through fascinating Quechua highland communities and provides majestic views of snow-capped mountains. You will also see herds of llamas and alpacas throughout the trek.
On the penultimate day we catch the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night before visiting the famous ruins of Machu Picchu.
Is this tour right for you?
The Lares trek is ideal for those seeking a moderate difficulty trek that immerses oneself into the local Quechua culture.
Summary
DURATION
4 days
LOCATION
Peru
START & ENDS
Cusco, Cusco
DIFFICULTY
Easy Moderate Challenge Hard
Highlights
Itinerary
- DAY 1
- day 2
- day 3
MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO
FOOD
Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION
None
ACTIVITY
Tour of Machu Picchu
ELEVATION
Aguas Calientes (2,050m) to Machu Picchu (2,400m), back to Cusco (3,250m)
Waking up early we’ll take the first bus up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens. We’ll have a 2 hour guided tour of the Inca site during which you’ll learn about the Incas and visit all the most critical areas of the citadel. After your tour, you’ll have extra time to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (assuming you have booked permits). In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will carry on by bus back to Cusco.
Dates & Prices
Below are our open group dates for the Lares Trek. Single supplements apply.
Please note: January and February are the rainy season and we therefore don't operate treks during this period.
If the dates below don't suit, please get in touch as we can open a new group on any day as long as you have at least 2 people in your party.
What's Included
Included
Not Included
FAQ
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Do I need a visa for Peru?
What immunisations should I get?
What currency is used in Peru?
Are vegetarian, vegan and other special dietary needs available?
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Got a question?
Our expert travel consultants can help you plan the perfect adventure!
Email: [email protected]
Pre-departure briefing
The evening before departure we ask guests to visit the offices of Inkayni Peru Tours in Cusco for a pre-departure briefing. You will be sent details for this briefing once your trip is booked.
Packing List
Clothing
- 1 x hiking shirt + 1 x long-sleeve hiking shirt
- 1 x hiking shorts and 1 x hiking trousers
- Mid-weight fleece jacket
- Hard shell rain jacket
- Light insulating down or synthetic jacket / gilet
- Light, but warm gloves
Headwear
- Sun hat + Sunglasses
- Beanie for the nights
Footwear
- Mid-weight hiking boots / hiking trainers
- 3 x hiking socks
- Trainers for camp
Bags
- 20-25L daypack
- 45-55L Backpack (carried by mules, needs to be no heavier than 7kg). Only pack what is necessary for the 4 days of the trip. The rest of your luggage can be left in a storeroom at your hotel/hostel in Cusco or our office.
- Plastic bags to protect sleeping bag and other gear from rain
Other Essentials
- Original passport (you need this to enter Machu Picchu)
- Four season sleeping bag
- Hiking Poles
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Snacks
- Water bottle / hydration bladder
- Water treatment tablets
- Camera
- Sun cream
Rental Gear
There are a number of good rental gear shops in Cusco where one can rent / buy most items listed above. Sleeping bags and hiking poles can be rented from our local partner.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. We recommend World Nomads as they provide comprehensive cover for adventurous activities and are very affordable. Get a quote below.
Accommodation
Night 1 and 2: Great quality camping tents for 2 trekkers sharing.
Night 3: Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu Hotel or similar 3 star hotel.
Reviews
Best Adventure Yet
Thanks Mountain IQ and Altezza for arranging our climb. It is by far the best adventure holiday I have ever experienced, the toughest too! Our guides and the entire support were truly amazing – I don’t think I would have made it without their support and encouragement! Thanks again!
Tip top trekking experience
Visiting the Annapurna Sanctuary has been one of the highlights of my life. I was very nervous joining this trek as I was a solo female and had never trekked at altitude. The team at Mountain IQ were fantastic at answering all my questions and putting my concerns to rest. Once in Nepal, Upendra and the Himalayan Leisure team were just amazing. Our guide, Dorchi, was an absolute hoot and very caring. The whole experience from beginning to end was awesome. Thanks again!
Simply magnificent!
We joined this trek with short notice. Upendra was very responsive and accommodating to our needs. The tour from pick up to drop off was professional and fun. Would highly recommend joining this tour!
An once in a lifetime experience!
This was by far the most amazing adventure we’ve ever had. We can’t thank the team at Himalayan Leisure and at Mountain IQ enough for arranging such an incredible trek for myself and my girlfriend. From the very get go, the support from Mountain IQ and Upendra was top notch. All our questions were answered quickly and in detail. Once we arrived in Kathmandu we were warmly welcomed. The pre-trek briefing was excellent and we immediately liked our guide Dawa, and felt confident putting our safety in his hands. The trek itself is truly amazing – the views throughout were spectacular. The high pass was a big challenge but the whole group managed it without too much strain. We can’t wait to return to Nepal to complete the EBC trek via Gokyo and will definitely be going with HL again!
Epic experience with Dawa and his team
Just a quick note to say thank you to Himalayan Leisure for an amazing trekking experience to EBC. We felt well looked after throughout and really enjoyed the company of our guide Dawa. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
A superb trekking experience
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Himalayan Leisure on this trek in the Langtang region. The Langtang is a lot quieter than the popular trails to Everest. If you are looking to get off the beaten path then I highly recommend this trek and HL!
Superb Tour!
This tour company is excellent. From the time they met us at Cusco airport, their interaction with us was first class. They were able to accommodate the tour changes we requested. Our guide, Percy, was excellent, very knowledgeable and took the time to explain and answer questions. I highly recommend Inkayni. I would advise anyone who wants to see Cusco and Choquequirao to select this tour company.
A great experience all round!
If you go to Peru and want to visit Machu Picchu I highly recommend this tour. My friends and I went with Jonathan from Inkayni and we loved it! We did a lot of activities and Jonathan was very attentive and available, with insightful explanations about the places we visited and the Peruvian culture. A great experience all round!
Amazing experience!
Touring around Cusco, Salkantay and Machu Picchu with Franco was more like touring around with a friend than someone I had just met! He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. I learned a ton, saw beautiful sights and had great conversation.
Elbrus Normal Route
Absolutely PRO experience! RMH are on top of everything. From organisation before the trip, responses to questions before, during and after, to organisation, security, food, lodging and guiding – they are amazing. Going to Russia to do this is not without insecurity. We felt we were in safe hands throughout the trip. I would highly recommend Vitaly and is team to anyone who desires to climb Elbrus.
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BOOKING TERMS
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LOCAL TOUR OPERATOR
Inkayni Peru Tours
This tour is operated by Inkayni Peru Tours, a fantastic local operator based in Cusco, Peru. The company is run by Edgar, Alex, and Percy, spiritual brothers and natives of the town of Chinchero in the Sacred Valley. Together they are united by their ambition of offering personalised services of great quality, aiming to make every experience unique and unforgettable. With Inkayni Peru Tours you can expect a professional tour to the highest standard!