Description:
Travel, explore and live without limits!
The hike from Lares to Machu Picchu provides hikers with an unparalleled experience as they trek through the Sacred Valley to the gates of the Inca Citadel. This adventure begins with a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs of the picturesque village of Lares. Along the way, you will cross dazzling glacial lakes, towering mountains and see herds of llamas and alpacas. You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s most remote indigenous communities, who keep alive ancient Inca traditions. Book now for the Andean adventure of a lifetime, filled with breathtaking scenery and rich native Peruvian culture!
Itinerary
The 4-day trek from Lares to Machu Picchu begins with pick-up at your hotel in Cusco.
After an hour's drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we will make a brief stop in the town of Calca to visit the local market and have breakfast. Afterwards, our private transportation will take us two more hours through the picturesque Andean valley to the town of Lares, located at 3,100 meters above sea level. There, you will be greeted by our chef and horseman who will accompany you throughout the hike. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Lares, known for their therapeutic properties that rejuvenate body and mind.
The first day of trekking will begin with a 2-hour flat stretch to the Vilcabamba bridge, where our chef will welcome you with hot tea and a delicious lunch. After lunch, we will continue on the trail for 3 more hours, gradually ascending until we reach our campsite in Huacahuasi, at 3,750 meters above sea level. During the trek, you will have the opportunity to interact with local communities and observe herds of alpacas. The locals will dress in traditional Andean costumes and speak Quechua, offering an authentic experience of life in the Andes.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the majestic village of Huacahuasi, where we will camp, enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night under the starry skies of the Andes.
- Meals: Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time: 5 hours
- Total distance: 11 kilometers
- Lodging: Camping
- Altitude of accommodation: 3,750 meters above sea level.
The second day of the Machu Picchu tour is considered the most challenging. You will wake up with the first light of dawn to enjoy breakfast in front of the imposing mountains that surround it.
The trail begins ascending through broad Andean landscapes, dotted with native flora and herds of alpacas and llamas. These sacred animals of the Inca Empire were once sacrificed in honor of the Inca gods and today remain a crucial part of local life.
After 4 hours of ascent, you will reach the highest point of the trek, the Abra C'asa pass at 4,500 meters above sea level, where you will have spectacular views of the valley and the shimmering Auroraycocha Lagoon at 4,470 meters above sea level. Here you will be able to capture memorable photographs before descending for an hour to the shores of the lagoon to enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
The afternoon hike will consist of a 4-hour descent through cloud forests and Queuña forests, next to another impressive lagoon called Yuracocha. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the settlement of Punta Toro, at 3,100 meters above sea level, where we will camp and enjoy dinner under the shade of the mountains.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time: 9 hours
- Total distance: 15 kilometers
- Lodging: Camping
- Lodging altitude: 3,100 meters above sea level.
The third day of the trek from Lares to Machu Picchu will begin with a healthy breakfast before saying goodbye to our chef and horse handlers.
Today you will walk downhill for an hour to the cozy village of Yanahuara, at 2,780 meters above sea level, where our driver and private transportation will be waiting to take you to the town of Ollantaytambo. There, our guide will accompany you through the bustling local markets and picturesque Inca streets, and take you to lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will guide you to the local train station to board the tourist train to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu. The train ride lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, during which you will enjoy breathtaking scenery of snow-capped mountains, Inca agricultural terraces and remarkable ruins.
Once in Aguas Calientes, our guide will accompany you to your hotel for check-in, then you will enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time: 1 hour
- Total distance: 3 kilometers
- Lodging: Hotel
- Lodging altitude: 2,000 meters above sea level.
After breakfast at your hotel, our guide will meet you at the reception and accompany you to the bus station, where you will take a tourist bus to Machu Picchu.
Inside Machu Picchu, you will enjoy a guided tour exploring its rich history, visiting emblematic sites such as the Temple of the Sun, the Main Plaza and the stepped terraces. You will have free time to explore on your own and capture photographs from the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu.
After the visit, you will meet our guide and take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here you will have time for lunch at one of the local restaurants (optional), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, our guide and private transportation will take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
- Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
- Estimated trekking time: 2 hour guided tour in Machu Picchu
- Total distance: N/A
- Lodging: Night in Cusco
If you wish to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain during this tour, please note that it has an additional cost and requires approximately 2 additional hours of walking. In this case, you will return to Cusco on a later train.
The price includes
- Hotel pick up.
- Tourist transportation.
- Professional English/Spanish speaking guide.
- All camping equipment: Tents for 3 people (with enough space for your belongings).
- Tents for eating and cooking with tables and chairs.
- Horsemen and horses to transport tents, food and cooking equipment: 7 kg per person.
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (all prepared by our chef). breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (all prepared by our chef).
- Vegetarian/vegan and special diets upon request.
- 1 1 night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
- 2 hours guided tour to Machu Picchu.
- Bus ticket: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes.
- Train ticket: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo.
- Oxygen and first aid kit.
The price does not include
- Meals not included in the itinerary.
- Breakfast in Calca on the first day.
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the fourth day.
- Sleeping bag: Can be rented at the agency: $25 USD for the whole trip.
- Trekking poles: Can be rented at the agency: $20 USD for the whole trip.
- Hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain: $70 USD (upon request).
- Optional entrance to hot springs in Aguas Calientes (S/.10 soles).
- Tips / Gratuities for the guide, porters and cook.
Questions about the trip
In order to have a comfortable and safe experience during the tour, we recommend you to bring the following:
🔹 Important documents: Original passport (at least 7 months valid) and valid student card (if applicable).
🔹 Appropriate clothing: Underwear for different temperatures, thermals, gloves, scarf, wool cap, long-sleeved shirts, long and short pants, wide-brimmed hat and waterproof clothing (raincoat, poncho and waterproof pants for rainy season).
🔹 F ootwear: good quality trekking boots, sandals for resting, and special hiking socks.
🔹 Equipment and accessories: Sleeping bag for low temperatures, trekking poles (can be rented), water bottle or canteen, flashlight or headlamp, portable charger, camera or cell phone, small travel towel and toilet paper.
🔹 Personal protection: Sun block, sunglasses, insect repellent and personal medication.
🔹 Others: Cash (in soles and dollars, preferably in small bills) and bathing suit if you wish to enjoy the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes (optional).