Experience the authentic Andes on the 4-day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. Hike along ancient trails surrounded by mountains, lakes, valleys, and traditional Andean communities, offering a closer look at the local culture and landscapes of Cusco. The route combines nature, culture, and adventure before continuing to Machu Picchu, making it an excellent alternative for travelers looking for a more authentic and less crowded experience.
We’ll start early, picking you up around 4:30 a.m. from your hotel. A one-hour drive will take us to Calca, where we’ll explore its lively market, chat with friendly vendors, and select fresh produce to fuel our hike.
From Calca, we continue uphill to the less-visited Inca site of Ancashmarca. You’ll enjoy a short guided walk among ancient storehouses and terraces as your guide explains how this hilltop complex controlled trade throughout the valley. An additional scenic drive takes us to a high-altitude plateau dotted with Puya raimondii, spectacular bromeliads that live for up to a century and only once, before dying, release giant flower spikes. They are a rare sight and an excellent spot for photos.
Descending towards Lares, we arrive at the famous Lares Hot Springs. Soak in its pools, ranging from warm to very hot, while gazing at snow-capped peaks. Meanwhile, our on-trail chef prepares a delicious breakfast. After a shower, we visit ADAL, a women-run weaving cooperative where master artisans demonstrate natural dyeing techniques and backstrap loom weaving. It’s the perfect place to buy ethically made textiles and directly support the community.
A short drive takes us to Pampacorral, the trailhead. The afternoon hike begins gently, following tranquil valleys between potato fields and herds of alpacas. After about two hours, we stop in the village of Quiswarani for lunch featuring fresh market ingredients. Refreshed, we tackle another two-hour climb past the seven waterfalls of Quiswarani to our first campsite by Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon), at 3,900 m / 12,795 ft. Your tent, a coca tea or hot coffee, and a peaceful Andean lake surrounded by grazing llamas will be waiting for you. With luck, a blanket of stars will crown the night.
Start your day with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent and prepare for the most demanding part of the Lares Trek. After breakfast, we’ll have some snacks prepared by the chef and begin a 4-hour hike to the highest point of the trek: Condor Pass, located at 4,750 m (15,583 ft). Along the way, you’ll encounter beautiful lagoons teeming with Andean geese, also known as “lovebirds,” as well as mountain caracaras, llamas, alpacas, and unobstructed views of the Andes.
Once at the summit, you’ll enjoy a 360° view of the surrounding mountains and lakes as your guide leads a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred peaks above Condor Pass. We’ll serve you a comforting cup of coca tea to celebrate your effort. From there, we’ll continue with a two-hour descent to Acopata, where a well-deserved lunch awaits.
After lunch, we’ll continue descending for another two hours through breathtaking scenery until we reach the village of Canchacancha (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). There you’ll have time to relax, enjoy a drink, and unwind in your tent while taking in the surrounding mountain landscape.
You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the local community, stroll through the village, chase llamas and alpacas, play soccer with the children, exchange a few words of English, or learn some Quechua.
After crossing the highest mountain passes, we’ll get ready for the day and enjoy a healthy breakfast with incredible views. You’ll have some more time to relax and explore the village before beginning a 4-hour descent into the Sacred Valley. Along the way, we’ll visit local homes and the community’s primary school, where you can donate school supplies such as notebooks, pens, or toys. Canchacancha is one of the last villages without electricity or road access, so Quechua remains the primary language.
From there, the trail is mostly downhill, leading from the cool high mountains, where potatoes and beans are grown, to the warmer, greener Sacred Valley, where locals cultivate corn and avocados. The Lares Trail ends in Huaran (2,700 m / 8,856 ft), where we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch and say goodbye to our chef and the muleteer team.
After lunch, a private van will take us to the Maras Salt Mines to explore their impressive salt pans, still worked by local families using traditional Inca techniques. Our last stop before the train is Ollantaytambo, known as the “Last Living Inca Town” and recently recognized as one of the World Tourism Organization’s Best Tourist Towns. We’ll explore its ancient streets, along with the original canals and narrow Inca-era passageways, many of which are still in use.
We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant and then board the 7:00 p.m. Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, where a comfortable 3-star hotel awaits you.
The day begins early with breakfast at the hotel before heading to the bus station for the ascent to Machu Picchu. Our goal is to arrive at first light and, weather permitting, witness the morning mist rising over the citadel, creating an even more magical atmosphere.
Before the guided tour, we’ll stop at classic viewpoints to appreciate the scale and surroundings of the site. Then, during a 2-3 hour guided tour, your guide will lead you through the main areas of Machu Picchu along Circuit 2, sharing its history, architectural details, and the legends behind its most iconic corners.
After the tour, if you have time, you can venture on one of the additional hikes such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (separate tickets required). Each hike takes approximately 2-3 hours round trip. Back in Aguas Calientes, you can have lunch at your leisure before boarding the Vistadome scenic train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transport will take you back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel around 7:30 p.m.
