The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is the best alternative hike after the Classic Inca Trail if you want to explore lightly trodden paths. The trek starts in the small village of Lares, nestled in the Andes Mountains. From there, you will wind through stunning valleys and lakes before finally reaching Machu Picchu.
Along the way, you will have the chance to see some of Peru’s native wildlife, including llamas and alpacas. You will also get to experience the traditional culture of the Andean people. The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a fantastic adventure that should not be missed!
At 4.30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you by van to the famous Lares thermo-therapeutic pools. Whether you are located in Cusco or the Sacred Valley around Urubamba or Pisac, we can pick you up from a hotel, hostel, Airbnb, or any other spot. From Cusco, we will travel 1 hour to Calca in the Sacred Valley, where we will tour the market and shop for local products. We will then drive for another 2 hours to Lares Hot Springs, where you can jump into the therapeutic pools with varying temperatures that are helpful for bones, muscles and stress relief while enjoying the stunning mountain views. Afterward, your trekking chef will prepare you with an energizing breakfast.
After breakfast, you’ll take a 30-minute drive to Pampacorral and begin a 2-hour hike to Kiswarani Village, where we’ll enjoy a freshly cooked lunch made with local ingredients by our talented chefs. Next, we will hike for 2 hours to our first campsite at the banks of a beautiful Andean lake, passing through potato fields, waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain views as we make our way to Blue Lagoon at 3900 m (12795 ft). Once we arrive at the campsite, your tents will be set up, and a hot cup of coca tea or coffee will be waiting for you.
During the day, you will enjoy the fantastic views of the Sacred Valley, explore the Lares District, enjoy the Hot Springs, and take a short hike along the beautiful valley. You will also hike through potato farms, visit Kiswarani Village, interact with locals, hike along with llamas and Alpacas, and enjoy the Kiswarani Waterfalls. At the campsite, you will have warm water to wash, tea time, and stargaze before sleeping in our comfortable tents.
Begin the day with a steaming cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent, then get up early to begin packing for the most challenging day of the Lares trek to Machu Picchu. After breakfast, you will get snacks from our chef and start a 4-hour hike to the trek’s highest point; the Condor Pass is 4750m (15583 ft). Beautiful lakes teeming with Wallatas, often known as Andean geese or “lovebirds,” mountain caracaras, llamas, alpacas, and unobstructed views of the Andes await you along the journey.
Once we arrive at the summit, you can enjoy a 360° view of the mountains and lakes while your tour guide conducts a spiritual offering ceremony to the holy mountains above Condor Pass; we will bring you a cup of coca-tea to reward your efforts. From there, you’ll have a two-hour trek down the mountain to Acopata, where you can have a delicious lunch.
Following lunch, you’ll have another 2 hours of a downhill journey through the stunning landscape to reach the village of Canchacancha (3750 m – 12303 ft), where you can relax in your tents with hot drinks and take in the scenery of the mountains as soon as you arrive. You’ll be able to engage with the locals as you wander the village, chase after llamas and alpacas, play soccer with the children, teach some English words, or learn some Quechua words.
Our trekking team will wake you up in your tent with a cup of coffee or coca tea, start packing for the day and enjoy a healthy breakfast with a breathtaking view of the mountains. You will have time to relax and explore the village before descending from the highlands into the Sacred Valley for at least 4 hours hike. First, you will visit the local villager’s houses, learn about their lifestyle, and visit the local elementary school, where you can donate educational supplies such as notebooks, pens, and toys. Canchacancha is one of the last villages with no electricity or route access, and the villagers only speak the Inca Quechua language.
Today’s hiking route is mostly downhill from the high mountain area, where locals grow organic potatoes and beans, and hike into the Sacred Valley, where the locals grow corn and avocados, and the weather is warmer. Along the way, you will experience a variety of habitats, from the chilly highlands to the lush soils of the Sacred Valley. The end of the trek is at the village of Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft) in the heart of the Sacred Valley, where we will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch and say goodbye to the chef and arrieros.
After finishing the Lares Trek, you will board our private van to the Salineras of Maras and explore the fantastic salty pools, where the locals have harvested salt since Inca times. The last but not least place to visit is Ollantaytambo, the “Last Living Incan Citadel, ” The “World Capital of the Native American,” named recently as The Best Tourism Village by UNTWO. Ollantaytambo is a unique place where the locals still use the same original Inca buildings, the water is still running in the original channels, and you can walk the original ancient narrow streets. You will explore the Inca citadel with your tour guide, have dinner in a Local restaurant and board the 7:00 pm Expedition train to Aguas Calientes town to spend the night in a 3-star hotel.
You will enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel and then board the first bus to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise above the Inca citadel. You will pass the checkpoint of Machu Picchu and hike to the viewpoints before starting the 2-3 hours guided tour of the citadel.
The tour guide will show you the highlights of Machu Picchu and enlighten you on the site’s extraordinary history, secrets, and engineering marvels. After the guided tour, you can go on your own to explore more or arrange additional hikes to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Montaña Machu Picchu (not included and must be booked far in advance). After visiting the Inca citadel, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (on your own) before boarding the Vistadome Panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo and the private vehicle to Cusco. Return to your hotel is scheduled for around 7:30 pm.
