Lares Trek | Luxury trek to Machu Picchu

Lares Trek – Authentic & Cultural trek to Machu Picchu

per person

Few people know that the classic Inca Trail trek is only one of myriad ancient routes to Machu Picchu. For those keen to avoid the crowds of the classic trail (and also the necessity of sleeping in a tent!), the Lares Trek is an excellent alternative. Following the ancient Inca weaver’s route through the remote Lares Valley, this trail boasts sparkling Andean lakes, fabulous mountain scenery and cultural encounters with isolated indigenous communities.

Highlights of Lares Trek:

*Walk the little-known Lares Trek, an off the beaten path Inca trail trek that will take you away from the crowds.

*Visit the towns of the Sacred Valley, both large and small, and gain a real insight into the rich tapestry of the Andean indigenous communities.

*Explore rarely-visited Inca ruins, as an introduction to your visit to Machu Picchu on the final day.

*Sleep in luxury mountain lodges, enjoying fabulous views of the Sacred Valley from hot tubs!

*Enjoy a guided tour of majestic Machu Picchu, sure to be a real highlight of your time in Peru.

Itinerary Overview:

Click through to “Tour Plan” to see the full itinerary for Lares Trek lodge to lodge to Machu Picchu

DAY 1 SACRED VALLEY | ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF PISAC

Start your Lares Trek in the charming town of Pisac, at the heart of the Sacred Valley. In the morning, you will have two choices. You can explore Pisac’s famous market, before heading to the “living museum” of Awanacancha. Alternatively, you can put on your hiking boots for a morning ramble in the mountains!

After a traditional “Pachamanca” (earth baked) lunch, the whole group will visit the impressive Pisac ruins, set in the mountain high above the town. You will spend the night in the luxurious Lamay Lodge.

DAY 2 LARES TREK | LIVING HISTORY ON THE INCA WEAVERS’ TRAIL

Head deep into the Lares Valley to explore the rarely-visited Ancasmarca Inca site, situated in a stunning mountain-top location. Next, you can choose between exploring the traditional Inca weavers’ village of Choquecancha, or heading out on a moderate hike past sparkling Andean lakes to Huacahausi, where you will spend the night. Your luxurious mountain lodge at Huacahausi features fabulous views of the Sacred Valley, and a personal hot tub in each room!

DAY 3 LARES TREK | HIKING THE QAPAQ ÑAN

You’ll be spoiled for choice today! Options include a challenging, but rewarding full-day hike; an easy-going half-day hike through a beautiful canyon; a cultural excursion to an ethnographic museum in the Sacred Valley; and an exciting half-day mountain bIke excursion.

The group will reunite in the fascinating Inca town of Ollantaytambo, and spend the night in the Sacred Valley.

DAY 4 SACRED VALLEY | OLLANTAYTAMBO, A CITY LOST IN TIME

Today, you’ll explore the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, one of the most authentically Inca settlements still existent in the Sacred Valley. Early birds can opt for a hike up to the mountaintop ruins of Pinkuylluna, before rejoining the rest of the group for a guided tour of Ollantaytambo’s famous terraced “fortress”.

After lunch, you’ll enjoy panoramic views from your luxury train as you travel to the Machu Picchu “gateway” town of Aguas Calientes. Get an early night at your hotel here, as you’ll be up with the dawn tomorrow!

DAY 5 MACHU PICCHU | WONDER OF THE WORLD

The final day of your Lares trek begins early in the morning, with a bus ride up to Machu Picchu in time to watch the sun rise over the majestic Inca citadel. Enjoy a guided tour of the key sites of Machu Picchu, before spending some time exploring at your own pace. The more intrepid can choose to climb up Huayna Picchu, the iconic mountain that guards the city. Travel back to Cusco in the late afternoon full of lifelong memories of your fabulous journey through the Lares Valley!

Important Information:

We recommend you book this tour at least 3 weeks in advance.
Please note that due to restrictions upon the number of hikers allowed on the Inca trail per day, the reservation system requires the full passport details of each visitor, and full payment in advance. For this reason, to guarantee your place on the 2 day Inca trail, you will need to provide a scanned copy of your passport and a non-refundable deposit. You will also need to inform us of any change to your passport number, or your Entrance ticket will be invalid. We will fully confirm your reservation with us only once we have bought your entrance ticket and can therefore guarantee your place.
Please also note that you will need to carry your original passport with you whilst hiking the trail.

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Travel voucher & contact details:

You will receive an electronic voucher via e-mail once your booking is confirmed.

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Cusco Tours

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Luxury Lares trek to Machu Picchu

Day One: SACRED VALLEY | ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF PISAC

Your Andean adventure begins in Pisac, where you can choose to spend the morning discovering the traditional cultures of the Sacred Valley, or exploring its magnificent natural landscapes. Culture fans can visit Pisaq’s famous market, before heading to the village of Awanacancha. Here, you can browse for hand-woven textiles, and visit the town's herds of llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Travellers itching to explore the Sacred Valley can opt for a morning hike of approximately three hours. This trek is a great warm-up for the rest of the trail, and the spectacular views that reward your efforts are a mere taste of what’s to come! In the afternoon, you will visit the fabulous Pisac ruins, considered to be one of Peru's finest Incan sites. With an exquisite temple complex, and surrounded by vast agricultural terraces, the Pisac ruins will take your breath away. You will spend the night in the luxurious Lamay Mountain Lodge, which is set in a beautiful location presided over by the apus (mountain gods) of the Sacred Valley. Hike duration: 2.5 – 3hrs. Difficulty: Moderate. Maximum altitude: 4328m.

Day Two: LARES VALLEY | LIVING HISTORY ON THE INCA WEAVERS’ TRAIL

Today, you will venture deep into the heart of the Lares Valley to the remote Ancasmarca Inca site. This rarely-visited site consists of a large number of circular dwellings that spill dramatically over the mountainside; the views are well worth the hike to the top! After lunch, you will have two choices for the afternoon: you can either visit to the ancient village of Choquecancha, or you can pull on your hiking boots and head out into the mountains. The remote weavers’ village of Choquecancha proudly upholds its Inca legacy. The Quechua-speaking inhabitants live in houses built on top of original Inca structures, and are famous for their traditional methods of weaving. Intrepid hikers can choose between an easygoing 2.5 hour route and a moderate 4 hour route. You will walk past crystal clear Andean lakes and among moutains, enjoying the unspoilt natural beauty of the rarely-visited Lares Valley. The whole group will spend the night at Huacahausi Lodge. This luxurious mountain lodge features a personal hot tub in each room, as well as a communal outdoor jacuzzi! Hike duration: 2 – 2.5hrs. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Maximum altitude: 3839m. OR Hike duration: 3.5 – 4hrs. Difficulty: Moderate. Maximum altitude: 4219m

Day Three : LARES VALLEY | HIKING THE QAPAQ ÑAN

You’ll have a number of choices for today: an all-day hike to Ollantaytambo; a more easygoing half-day hike; a visit to an ethnographic museum in the Sacred Valley; or an exciting half-day excursion to the Sacred Valley by mountain bike. The full-day hiking option will take you along an authentic Inca trail (Qapaq Ñan) up to the Huchuycassa mountain pass. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views surrounded by swirling clouds, followed by a two hour descent to Ollantaytambo. More easy-going hikers can choose a shorter hike from Lares Pass. The route will take you along a beautiful canyon where you can see ancient Inca tombs. You will finish your hike in Totora, and transfer to Ollantaytambo. Those interested in Peru’s rich tapestry of cultures can visit an ethnographic museum in the Sacred Valley, then spend the afternoon exploring the ancient Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Alternatively, you can enjoy a mountain bike excursion in the Sacred Valley (please note that this activity will incur an additional cost). The whole group will reunite in Ollantaytambo in the late afternoon, in time to settle into your luxury Sacred Valley hotel. Hike duration: 3hrs. Difficulty: Moderate. OR Hike duration: 7hrs. Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. Maximum altitude: 4464m.

Day Four:SACRED VALLEY | OLLANTAYTAMBO, A CITY LOST IN TIME

Spend the morning exploring the fascinating town of Ollantaytambo. Walk through original Inca streets, and marvel at the engineering that has allowed the ancient walls to remain intact despite invasion, earthquake and the pass of the centuries. Early birds can opt to begin the day with an early morning hike to Pinkuylluna, an Inca storage site built high on the mountainside. The ruins themselves are in excellent condition, but the real treat here is the views; from high above the town, you can properly appreciate how Ollantaytambo has maintained the original Inca layout. After breakfast, the whole group will enjoy a guided tour of the main Ollantayambo archaeological site. This breathtaking ruin was once an important Inca ceremonial centre, but it is best known as “the fortress”, as it was from this stronghold that Manco Inca Yupanqui managed to (temporarily) fight off the Spanish. After lunch, you will board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. This beautiful old-fashioned train is a real treat in itself: you can enjoy spectacular views of the magnificent landscape of the Sacred Valley through the panoramic windows. Settle into your hotel and have an early night, ahead of your visit to Machu Picchu tomorrow!

Day Five :MACHU PICCHU | WONDER OF THE WORLD

Start the day bright and early with a bus ride up to the majestic Inca city of Machu Picchu in time for sunrise! Enjoy the awe-inspiring sight of the morning sun rising over the Sun Gate, and slowly lighting up the beautiful ruins of the ancient citadel. Reaching the end of your journey and finally arriving at this bucket list site is sure to be an emotional moment! Set in an extraordinarily beautiful location surrounded by cloud-capped, forested mountains, Machu Picchu is the best known archaeological site in South America, if not the world. Discover the city with your expert guide, before spending some free time exploring the citadel at your own pace, pondering many unsolved mysteries of this wonder of the world, and take advantage of the many photo opportunities offered by this breathtaking site. Those wishing to get a different perspective on the awesome site may opt to climb Huayna Picchu, the “rhino horn” mountain that presides over the city. Your guide will accompany you on this challenging hike, pointing out to you the mysterious Inca ruins along the route. Travel back to Cusco in the afternoon, with your head and camera full of lifelong memories, both of the majestic Machu Picchu and the spectacular Lares Valley! Huayna Picchu hike duration: 2 – 2.5hrs. Difficulty: Moderate. Maximum altitude: 2720m.