LARES TREK TO MACHUPICCHU

TOUR FIVE DAYS

LARES TREK TO MACHUPICCHU CHARACTERICTICS

Explore the authenticity of the Peruvian Andes with Lares Trek, an odyssey that will immerse you in spectacular landscapes and the cultural richness of local communities. This ancestral path will lead you through remote valleys, surrounded by imposing mountains and colorful textiles that narrate centuries-old stories.

As you walk along less-traveled trails, you will have the opportunity to interact with indigenous communities, discovering their traditions, crafts, and hospitality. Lares Trek is not only a physical adventure but also an emotional journey that will connect you with the very essence of the Andes.

The highlight of this trek is undoubtedly the arrival at Machu Picchu. After days of exploration, you will reach the Inca citadel through the Sun Gate, enjoying a unique and thrilling view. Prepare for an enriching experience that will take you through the best-kept secrets of the Andes and leave you with unforgettable memories of a land full of history and magic. Lares Trek is much more than a hike; it is a journey to the heart of Andean culture!

Price

LARES TREK TO MACHUPICCHU
FIVE DAYS
$895.00
Booking

Lares is another excellent location to enjoy the beautiful Peruvian nature. With this tour, you will have the opportunity to hike to the medicinal hot springs of Lares and take the time to photograph the wonderful landscapes around you. In addition to enjoying these volcanic origin waters that will help you release stress or fatigue, you will reach the beautiful historical heritage of Machu Picchu.

This tour combines natural and historical elements that will undoubtedly make your journey unforgettable. The Inca Trail, Lares, and Machu Picchu, each place with a unique beauty to offer you. Specific features of this Lares and Inca Trail tour:

Tour Location: Located in the district of Lares, province of Calca, and the province of Urubamba – Cusco.

Tour Type: This tour combines our Lares trek (2.5 days) with the Short Inca Trail, which will allow you to spend time under the stars while camping and walk through the Sun Gate to enjoy your first encounter with Machu Picchu.

Good for: All hikers, including families with younger children.

Difficulty: Moderate but challenging.

Considerations: Emergency horse available, and the Inca Trail requires a permit.

This tour is therefore another great alternative to reach the Inca Trail and of course, to explore and enjoy the wonder that is Machu Picchu. So, if you decide on Lares and this 5 days and 4 nights tour, check out the full itinerary below to see how your journey will be organized. Similarly, you can check everything that is included, what you need to bring on your part, the time when you can book and travel.

Once you make your reservation, you will be in the best hands, as our team is 100% professional, and we are one of the most reliable and certified hiking companies in Peru.

**Day 1: Famous Hot Springs – Kiswarani Waterfall Camp**

You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 a.m. to start the Lares to Machu Picchu trek. Pick-up locations include any designated point such as hotels, condominiums, or apartments located in the cities of Cusco, Urubamba, Huaran, or Pisaq. It will be a three-hour journey along the wonderful landscape of the Sacred Valley and through the Andes. Once we arrive at the Lares site – hot springs, you will have your first breakfast accompanied by stunning views of the Andes mountain range. Then, you will enjoy the hot springs distributed in different pools ranging from cold to hot water. These hot springs are composed of volcanic water, so they are considered medicinal, good for bones, stress, muscles, headaches, chronic rheumatic diseases, and they also increase the body’s hydrostatic pressure, thus increasing blood circulation and oxygenation. This increase in temperature helps dissolve and eliminate toxins from the body.

After enjoying the hot springs, we will continue with our journey, so we will take transportation for about 20 minutes to the start of the trekking, located at the road tip at 3,300 meters above sea level, 10,827 feet above sea level. Here you will find the muleteers and their mules, to whom we will deliver the canvas bags to be transported to the camp. Then, you will begin your expedition to Machu Picchu with a gradual two-hour uphill hike until we reach our lunch spot in the first village called Kiswarani. This section of the hike is considered the potato valley area, where people grow a variety of organic potatoes. Your guide will also point out some indigenous medicinal plants growing along the way. Later, we will reach our lunch spot, where you can enjoy your first delicious meal prepared by our trekking chef.

After lunch, our muleteers (llameros) will perform a ceremony with the llamas, showcasing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred to the Incas and essential to their economy. Our llameros will present these animals and explain the importance and why owning these animals was a sign of privilege. It is regrettable that to date these animals are becoming extinct due to lack of proper attention. We hope to continue this tradition that the Incas have left us, so we take these llama services to support the protection of llamas and their community. It is worth noting that llamas are friendly animals for hiking, but do not get too close as they might try to kiss you.

You will also have time to explore the village and visit some local houses where you will learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people. If there is time, we will visit the school where the children still speak Quechua, their native language. It would be appreciated if you could bring toys, notebooks, or school supplies to distribute at this educational center, perhaps even teach them some English words. There will be another two hours of gradual ascent until we reach the camp, where you will be greeted by our trekking staff who will set up your tents. We will enjoy some hot drinks as the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear, and finally, you will enjoy a lovely dinner prepared on-site. If you want to continue stargazing, you can stay awake for a while longer, or if you prefer, you can retire to your tent.

**Walking Distance:** 10 km / 6.21371 miles

**Camp Elevation:** 3,850 meters / 1,2631 feet

**Climate:** Cold

**Day 2: Kiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Village**

Today you will be awakened around 5 a.m. with our hot drinks service, and you will have spectacular views of the colorful lake and Kiswarani valley. You will see that the local people are already up, taking their llamas and alpacas out to graze. Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your gear, and then, after filling our water bottles and organizing snacks, we will start our expedition to Machu Picchu. It will be a three- to four-hour uphill climb to reach the top of the mountain. This pass is called Pachacuteq or Condor Pass, and we will ascend in zigzags to compensate for the steep uphill. The views of the area are breathtaking; you will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. We will have an emergency horse to ride in case you get tired. Once you reach Condor Pass, you will be above the clouds, above the peaks of the mountains, and the surrounding 360-degree views are stunning. In front of you will be the beautiful Pitusiray mountain, which stands at 5,700 m / 18,700 ft high, and Condor Pass is at 4,680 m / 15,354 ft high. After enjoying some hot drinks and taking advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities, we will begin our descent.

You will start the one-hour downhill descent to the Mirador (Viewpoint), where you will enjoy lunch and see some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you will walk the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas, and alpacas before reaching your camp in the village of Cancha Cancha, which is the only village that does not have modern technology and is located at 3,750 m / 12,303 ft, where people still practice the original Inca traditions. In this Inca village, 85 percent of the houses are still built using ancient construction methods such as stone and thatched roofs, unlike any other village in the Lares Valley. This village does not have electricity or cars. Here, you will not only enjoy the wilderness but also meet with local children to whom we will provide food and school supplies, so we invite our travelers to share this support for education and health in this native village. You can bring anything you would like to give to these Quechua-speaking children that you think they could use for school or home. When you’re done, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s houses where you will learn about the locals’ lifestyle, see how they raise their guinea pigs, and learn about traditional handwoven textiles made from llama and alpaca wool. In the evening, you will enjoy hot drinks and dinner.

**Walking Distance:** 14 km / 8 miles

**Elevation Gain:** 830 meters / 2723 feet

**Camp Elevation:** 3750 meters / 12303 feet

**Climate:** Cold

 

**Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Maras Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo**

Our staff will wake you up with a hot drink, and you will have time to pack and enjoy breakfast. Then, you will have time to explore the village and visit the local elementary school, where the ancient Inca language, Quechua, is still taught. Once you are ready, you will begin the last stage of your Lares trek, which will be a four-hour downhill hike along this beautiful trail, passing through more llama and alpaca hamlets.

We will pass by farms where they grow potatoes, beans, and many other crops in the traditional Inca style. You will have the opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture from people who still farm by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now we will begin to descend to the warmer area of the Sacred Valley; you will start to feel the changes in the microclimate and begin to see crops that are different from those in the high mountains. Around the Sacred Valley, people grow corn, quinoa, kiwicha, peaches, avocados, and other types of fruit; this area has a lot of Inca history. You will end your hike in the small village of Huaran in the Sacred Valley, which is at 2,700 meters above sea level. / 8,858 feet, where you will bid farewell to your muleteers, chef, and porters.

From Huaran, we will take our private transportation and make a short journey to the valley to visit the Salt Mines in the town of Maras, where at 11,000 feet above sea level, a spring of saltwater springs and spills down the mountainside, creating more than 3,000 small evaporation chambers that appear to cascade down the mountainside; these have been in use since pre-Inca times. It is said that salt has healing properties because it is full of natural minerals, some even come out pink. Local families own each of these areas and make a living supplying salt to the surrounding villages. There is a small shop on-site if you wish to take some salt home.

After visiting the Salt Mines, we will board our private transportation for a 45-minute journey bordering the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, where we will head to our hotel for the night.

**Walking Distance:** 9 km / 6.2 miles

**Elevation at Aguas Calientes:** 2000m / 6562 feet

**Climate:** Cold

**Hotel:** Ollantaytambo included

**Day 4: Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu**

On this day, you will be picked up for your Inca Trail hike from your hotel at 5:30 a.m. Then, we will go to the station to board the 6:10 a.m. train from Ollantaytambo to km 104 – Chachabamba. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world, with its extraordinary views of the Urubamba River, snow-capped peaks, and corn fields. As we descend, you will notice the changes in the microclimate, from the mountains and cornfields to the green valleys of the jungle with ferns, bromeliads, and orchids, and the change in temperature to a warmer zone. This train journey will last approximately one hour and 45 minutes to km 104 – Chachabamba, where you will disembark to meet our trekking chef and support staff (porters), and you can also enjoy breakfast before starting your hike. Be sure to bring your original passport as this is the first checkpoint along the Inca Trail.

After breakfast, you will have a brief time to prepare before starting the hike. Shortly afterward, we will explore the first Inca site of Chachabamba; this place was the ancient entrance checkpoint to the Inca Trail. Your guide will inform you about the history of this archaeological complex, followed by a three-hour uphill climb to the most famous Inca site along the trail, Wiñaywayna. You will have stunning views of the Machu Picchu valley and the Urubamba River along the way, as well as the native flora and fauna of the area, such as waterfalls and spectacular views of Machu Picchu mountain. This trail itself has some flat areas, as well as some short uphill and downhill walks, and there are steps arranged in sections that may be narrow in some areas but not dangerous.

Once you reach the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna, you will have time for a tour with your guide, where you can explore the Inca site, temples, waterfalls, gardens, warehouses, watchtowers, and agricultural terraces. This tour is followed by lunchtime, where your trekking chef and support staff (porters) will be ready with cold drinks and delicious fresh food prepared by our cook and served buffet-style. After lunch, you will have time for a short nap. Next will be a gradual one-hour uphill and downhill hike to reach the Sun Gate, where you will have spectacular views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and the surrounding valleys. The Incas used the Sun Gate to observe the sunrise from Machu Picchu during the summer solstice. From here, it is another one-hour hike to the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

**RECOMMENDATIONS**

– Valid student ID (if booked as a student)
– Immigration card (issued at the airport upon entering Peru)
– Backpack (the smaller, the better)
– Water storage: It is recommended to have a water reservoir such as Camelbak, but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
– Comfortable trekking boots (lightweight with good soles)

**FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAG**

Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This should include your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). From us, these two items weigh 3.5 kg.

– 2-3 t-shirts
– 2-3 pairs of trekking pants
– 1 comfortable set for Machu Picchu day
– 5 sets of underwear
– 4 pairs of trekking socks
– 1 thick and soft scarf
– 1 warm jacket: it gets very cold at night
– 1 rain jacket and pants
– 1 sun hat
– 1 wool cap
– 1 wool hat
– Headlamp: essential
– Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
– Comfortable camping shoes
– Hiking boots
– Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
– Quick-dry towel. We provide small towels; you may enjoy something a bit larger.
– Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water every day for cleaning; having some soap could make you feel fresher.
– Battery charger: there’s no place to plug it in during the trek!
– Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean and dirty separate.
– Sleeping bag: down bags are recommended for -10°C at least

**TOILETRY ITEMS**

– Sunscreen
– Facial moisturizer
– Insect repellent
– Hand sanitizer
– Wet wipes
– Toothbrush and toothpaste
– Toilet paper
– Personal medication
– First aid kit: band-aids, moleskin, etc.

**INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS**

Daypacks can be any size for trekking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Within Machu Picchu, bags larger than 25 liters will not be allowed entry. If larger, you’ll need to store it outside the citadel gates.

– Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You’re responsible for your first morning’s water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
– Sun hat
– Rain gear
– Wool
– Camera
– Music
– Hand sanitizer
– Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste.
– Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, and tips
– Earplugs

**INCLUDES**

**Professional Guides**

All our guides are graduates from universities and institutes in Cusco. They all grew up in the Cusco region and are committed to teaching others about their heritage. Our guides are fun and professional, ensuring your well-being and leaving you amazed.

**Permits**

As this tour enters the Inca Trail on day 4, you need us to obtain a government permit. As soon as we receive your details and a deposit, we will purchase your permits (availability pending, please check our Inca Trail Availability link). These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They cannot be changed once confirmed. Updating your passport number is the only permitted change. The permit includes entry to Machu Picchu.

**Porters and Arrieros**

We include support staff (porters), who are responsible for carrying your duffel bag containing your personal items. There is no additional fee for this. The night before, we will hand over your duffel bag for you to fill with items you’ll need for the night and the following days. You won’t have access to your duffel bag until you reach your overnight camp.

**Hotel**

This hike includes a one-night hotel stay in Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. We include Inti Punku or something similar and one night in Ollantaytambo at Tunupa or Sol hotel: the hotel name will appear on your confirmed invoice. Upgrades are always possible.

**Transportation**

You’ll have transportation included for this hike. You’ll be picked up directly from your hotel around 4:30 a.m. (unless staying in Ollantaytambo, earlier) and taken to the start of the trek to begin your hike. Hikes will end on the third day and head to Ollantaytambo. Once you finish your hike, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll spend the night in a hotel. Your round-trip train to and from Aguas Calientes and back to Ollantaytambo will be the Expedition Class Train. Your return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo can be upgraded to the Vistadome Class Train for $75 per person. Once you arrive at the train station, our transportation will take you back to your hotel in Cusco. Your round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is also included.

**Food**

We’ll ensure you enjoy culinary delights on the way to Machu Picchu. Lunch will be served around the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, and dinner will be at the best restaurant in Aguas Calientes town, called Indio Feliz. Breakfast will be enjoyed at your hotel the following morning. Lunch on the last day is not included.

**Water**

We’ll provide you with a water bottle for your morning hike and another bottle during lunch. We recommend you bring more on your own as you should stay well hydrated to feel good in the mountains.

**Emergency Horse**

Horses are not allowed on the Inca Trail, so you’ll only have this available during the 2 days of hiking in Lares.

**First Aid**

Every Alpaca Expeditions guide has received first aid training from a doctor. We conduct mandatory training every February, and all Alpaca guides attend. When guiding, they’ll have with them a first aid kit for basic medical situations (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scratches, etc.) and oxygen. They’ll take good care of you.

If something unexpected happens and you feel you can no longer complete the hike, they’ll figure out the safest and quickest way to get off the trail and to a clinic for treatment.

**Satellite Phones**

Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and our team. While all our guides are prepared and trained to deal with most issues clients have on the mountain. With just one phone call to any doctor, hospital, or friend helps everyone feel secure that they are safe. Radios, which all our guides have, are limited in their range, so Alpaca Expeditions has added satellite phones to each hike. Each guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us anywhere in the world. And our clients can also use them for non-emergency cases. While they are not cheap to use, they are available in case you need to check on the puppy you left at home with grandma.

**Extras**

We believe it’s the attention to small details that sets us apart from other tour companies. Each hiker receives a small sleeping pillow, a foam mattress for insulation, a backpack cover to protect their belongings while walking, and a rain poncho. We’ll work hard to create your best vacation.

**NOT INCLUDED**

**Rentals:** Each hiker needs a camping sleeping bag. Air inflatable mattresses and trekking poles (with rubber tips) are optional but recommended. If you don’t want to bring any of the above, they are all available for rent.

– Sleeping Bag: $25.00
– Air inflatable mattress: $20.00
– Trekking poles (pair): $20

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**Huayna Picchu:** Huayna Picchu is the mountain next to Machu Picchu. It’s a 45-minute hike to the top. Going back down is quite steep, if you’re afraid of heights. This is done after your Machu Picchu tour. The cost is $75. Arrangements need to be made at least 3 or 4 months in advance, due to popularity. Please understand that weather is out of our control.

**Price – Group Tour**

$895.00 USD per person

A group tour means it’s open for other hikers to join you. This means your group will have different walking abilities and fitness levels. All our guides are experts in keeping the hike moving and happy, no matter how fast you walk.

**ACCOMMODATION**

**SOL Hotel**

All rooms include private bathroom, hot showers, and wifi. Prices are based on a shared room (double, twin, or triple available) and single rooms are available for a US $30 supplement (all single travelers are given a single room). Other hotels are available upon request and at different prices.

**Student Discount:** $25 off per person

Student discounts apply to anyone holding a valid UNIVERSITY STUDENT ID CARD at the time of the hike or anyone 17 years old or younger. For those using a University Student ID Card for under 17 years old, we need to see a copy of their card or passport at the time of booking to receive the discount.

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