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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Take the quieter route to Machu Picchu, visiting remote Quechua villages and crossing Andean passes

The Lares Trek suits those craving a more personal Andean hiking experience on the way to Machu Picchu, offering a culture-rich and quieter alternative to the Inca Trail (and no Inca Trail permit required!). After time to acclimatise and explore Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, we follow quiet paths through high mountain landscapes and Quechua-speaking villages supported by an experienced crew. Nights are spent camping in remote valleys, giving a real sense of scale and isolation, and we end with a soak in natural hot springs, before exploring one of the Seven New Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu tickets can sell out, book early to avoid disappointment!

Key Information

Trip Code: TPA
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Peru

What's Included

All accommodation: 5 Classic nights (hotels), 2 Simple nights (full-service camping)
All breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private bus and train) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers
Kitbag to keep and inflatable sleeping mat to use while camping

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. A sleeping bag can be hired from $20.

3 days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Approximately six to eight hours walking per day
Three walking days with full porterage throughout the trek

Terrain:

High altitude; good paths, lots of steps
Altitude maximum: 15,256ft (4,650m); average 11,483ft (3,500m)

Day 4: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Day 5: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Day 6: 15 km / 9.3 miles

Highlights

Walk the remote Lares Trek, following a quieter highland route to Machu Picchu without needing to secure an Inca Trail permit

Camp point-to-point through high Andean passes and small Quechua-speaking villages

Spend time with an Andean community in the Sacred Valley, including bracelet weaving and a pachamanca lunch

Complete the trek in Lares village and unwind in the natural hot springs

Explore Machu Picchu on a guided visit that brings clarity and context to the site

Itinerary

First Destination: Cuzco
Next Destination: Cuzco

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:San Agustin Urubamba Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Cancha Cancha campsite (altitude: 12,695ft/3,870m)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Quishuarani campsite (altitude: 12,470ft/3,800m)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Accommodation:Samapaq Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cuzco
Next Destination: Cuzco

Begin your adventure in Cuzco, once the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast Inca empire. After Spanish conquistadors invaded, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of Spanish and Inca styles.

Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Peruvian welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Cuzco? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

We keep today deliberately flexible to help with acclimatisation at altitude. Those staying in Cuzco join our tour leader for an orientation walk through the historic centre, introducing key landmarks and giving useful context for the days ahead.

Alternatively, there is the option to join a full-day hike to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, a quieter alternative to Vinicunca with broad views across multicoloured ridgelines. Travellers choosing this hike will not take part in the orientation walk.

The remainder of the day is free to rest, explore independently or enjoy a long lunch in one of the city’s cafes.

Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Travel by private vehicle into the Sacred Valley (departing around 8am), following the Urubamba River through a landscape shaped by agriculture for centuries. Terraced hillsides and maize fields still define the valley floor.

Midway through the journey, we spend time with an Andean community, learning about traditional weaving techniques and making our own bracelets under local guidance. Lunch is a pachamanca, cooked using hot stones in the earth – a method that predates the Incas.

In the afternoon, we visit the Maras salt ponds, where thousands of shallow pools have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times. We then continue to our hotel in the valley, arriving mid to late afternoon.

Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:San Agustin Urubamba Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer from the Sacred Valley to Huaran village, the start point of the Lares Trek. From here, we begin our hike into the quieter highlands north of Cusco.

The trail climbs steadily to Cancha Cancha campsite, passing grazing land and small settlements. We have time to explore the local community, where Quechua remains the first language for most residents, before settling in for the night.

Our support team prepares dinner at camp, with the surrounding peaks catching the last of the evening light.

Accommodation:Cancha Cancha campsite (altitude: 12,695ft/3,870m)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Set off early, climbing gradually towards the highest point of the trek at 15,175ft (4,625m). Along the way, the landscape opens up to reveal a high-altitude lake and a small waterfall, with snow-covered peaks lining the horizon.

From the pass, we begin a long descent through scattered villages, where traditional dress is still part of everyday life. The trail leads us to Quishuarani campsite, where we arrive in the afternoon and enjoy a well-earned dinner.

Accommodation:Quishuarani campsite (altitude: 12,470ft/3,800m)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our final walking day takes us over Huillquicasa Pass (13,945ft/4,250m). The route passes small settlements and open grazing land, with frequent sightings of llamas and alpacas. With luck, we may also spot the Andean cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird.

After descending to Cuncani, we transfer by vehicle to Lares village, where there is time to relax in the hot springs – a welcome reward after several days on the trail.

Later, we continue (2hr 30min) by road to Ollantaytambo. Arriving in the early evening, we have time to raise a toast to our trek with chicha, an ancient corn beer, in a local bar.

Accommodation:Samapaq Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

An early start sees us board the 6.30am tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (1hr 30min). From here, a shuttle bus takes us up to Machu Picchu.

We spend around two to three hours exploring the site, following the designated circuit with our guide, who explains how the Incas engineered the city and why it was abandoned within a century of its construction.

After returning to Aguas Calientes, there is free time to explore the town or visit the market before our afternoon train journey back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min), followed by a private transfer to Cuzco (2hr 30min).

Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Inkarri Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve trekked through the Lares Valley, soaked in Andean hot springs and explored Machu Picchu, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative about our range of extension options, including Lake Titicaca, the Amazon Rainforest or additional time in Cuzco.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us – one team, one seamless journey

Call us: 020 3733 5948

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Accommodation

Hotels and camping

The three-star hotels selected on our Andean trips feature an excellent blend of quality and comfort, with easy walking access to city and town attractions. The Lares Trek is offered on a full-service camping basis with full porterage, meaning our camp staff put up and take down the tents for you, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day and enjoy your time on the trek.

Upgrade your room on Day 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Cuzco: Inkarri Hotel (nights 1-2 and 7)

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Just a short walk from the Plaza de Armas, Inkarri occupies a restored colonial house with peaceful internal patios. Simple, comfortable rooms provide a restful base between explorations of the former Inca capital.

Sacred Valley: San Agustin Urubamba Hotel (night 3)

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Set in the heart of the Sacred Valley, the San Agustin Urubamba is a converted colonial-style hacienda surrounded by landscaped gardens. Rooms are simple and comfortable, providing a calm pause between Cusco and the high Andes. The on-site restaurant focuses on regional Peruvian dishes, and the hotel’s grounds offer space to relax and acclimatise while enjoying views across the Urubamba Valley.

Lares Trek: Camping (nights 4-5)

We sleep and dine in good-quality four-season tents. We also have a toilet tent set up both in camp and during lunch stops. Boiled and filtered drinking water is provided to guests in the mornings, at lunch and dinner times so we can refill our water bottles. While on the trek, a bowl of warm water for washing is provided each morning and evening. On the Inca Trail, we stay in official campsites where additional bathroom facilities are available.

Ollantaytambo: Samapaq Hotel (night 6)

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

A short walk from Ollantaytambo’s Inca ruins and cobbled streets, Samapaq Hotel is a small, family-run property with views towards the surrounding mountains. Rooms are bright and well kept, and the courtyard garden is a pleasant spot to unwind after a day exploring the town. Its location makes it an easy base for wandering Ollantaytambo in the early evening or before our onward journey.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Amazon Rainforest Add-on Tour (from Cuzco)

Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Cuzco, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife, plus countless plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to navigate dense forests.

Have a look at the detailed itinerary, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Peru

Amazon Rainforest Add-on Tour (from Cuzco)

Wildlife Holidays

Post-trip Extensions

Exclusive Add-ons

Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour

Journey across the spectacular altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable freshwater lake in the world at 12,467ft (3,800m). Explore the waters by boat and visit the indigenous Uros community who live on floating reed islands and produce fine textiles.

Have a look at the detailed itinerary, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Peru

Lake Titicaca Add-on Tour

Culture

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: Though strenuous in parts, this trek is possible for anyone with good health and fitness, though we would not recommend this trip to someone with no previous walking experience. There are three days of point-to-point walking with full porterage.

Maximum altitude: 15,175ft (4,625m)
Maximum sleeping altitude: 12,695ft (3,870m)

If you are not a regular walker, you should put in physical preparation beforehand. The trek is not suitable for those with bad knees due to the number of steep and uneven steps. The use of trekking poles will reduce strain on the knees.

Walking hours stated within the itinerary are given as approximates only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and vary depending on the group’s pace.

Delays: Protest action/strikes are not uncommon in Peru; while these are generally peaceful, they can involve roadblocks and cause disruption to travel. Occasionally, your leader may have to adapt your itinerary in response to this.

Machu Picchu ticket availability: Access to Machu Picchu is strictly limited, and we purchase the requisite Machu Picchu ticket on your behalf. Tickets are issued on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis; to avoid stockpiling; individual traveller passport details are required at the time of booking, so we can only apply for these once you book with us. For these reasons, we highly recommend you book your trip as far in advance as possible.

Therefore, while a specific departure date may show as ‘Guaranteed’ on our website, Machu Picchu remains subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee the tickets will be available on any given date. Machu Picchu tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, at a cost of US$55.

In the event tickets are sold out for the departure you are looking at, we will discuss alternative options such as a different travel date, alternative circuits or a refund of any monies paid. We highly recommend you do not book any non-refundable flights until your place and tickets are secured.

Booking your flights through us means we take care of all of this for you, giving you full peace of mind over your travel arrangements. For more details on booking flights with us, see our flights page.

Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.

Start hotel: Inkarri Hotel, Collacalle 204, Cusco 08003
Phone: +51 84 242 692
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There is a welcome briefing around 6pm this evening.
Airport: Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ)

Getting to the start hotel

Our Cuzco hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Collecting baggage in Lima
If you are flying via Lima, you need to collect your baggage in Lima, even if your bag has been checked all the way through to Cuzco. After collecting the bag, you are required to clear customs, and you should then drop it off at the bag drop for the onward flight. If you do not pick up your bag, there is a chance it may not reach Cuzco for the start of the trek. This is a requirement of Lima airport and applies to your return flight.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start hotel and from the end hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, recommended vaccinations are polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A.

Also note, zika virus, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available. We therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend you obtain a yellow fever vaccination.

Dengue and chikungunya are also known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.

Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/peru
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavours and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are: ceviche, seafood or fish marinated in lime juice; lomo saltado, a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry; and various hearty soups, including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.

Drinking water is included throughout the trip as the tap water in Peru is not safe to drink; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek; elsewhere your leader buys large water containers from which you can refill your bottle.

Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffets, usually including bread/toast, preserves, cereal, sometimes eggs or cooked dishes, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that wheat-free or gluten-free products are available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food.

During the hike, hearty breakfasts are served and good-quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided. They usually consist of soup to start, a main course with meat/fish and some carbohydrates, followed by a dessert. Between meals, snacks are also provided. Tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.

The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions. Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes. April to November is the dry season, which is characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses.

Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (20C/68F on average) but nights are lower (7C/44F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, with rapid and unexpected changes.

Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest and experience large amounts of precipitation all year as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August.

Peru is affected by El Niño, a weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation, resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.