“Experience great andean hiking”
Tour Highlights
Lares Trek, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco
- Departs any day
- Tour starts and ends in Cusco
- Cusco and Machu Picchu town accommodation
- All tickets included
- Free airport pick up and luggage storage
Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu 7 Days
“When permits for the Classic Inca Trail sell out, the Lares Trek is a perfect option to hike to Machu Picchu…” BOOK NOW
Starting point : Cusco, Peru
Ending point : Cusco, Peru
Duration : 7 days
Activities : Archaeological Tours, Cultural Immersion, Camping, Ecological Exploration, Andean Trekking
Airfares : Not included, available upon request
Highlights : Lares hot springs, authentic Quechua villages, Ipsaycocha glacial lake, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu citadel
Trip Code : 7LAR
Price includes all credit card transaction fees and taxes
Discover the authentic heart of the Andes on this 7-day Lares Valley Trek. This cultural immersion journey takes you through remote Quechua villages rarely visited by tourists.
Cross the spectacular 4,500-meter Pachacutec Pass with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. Interact with traditional weaving communities maintaining ancient customs unchanged for centuries.
Experience Cusco acclimatization, therapeutic Lares hot springs, and a comprehensive Machu Picchu visit. The perfect balance of adventure, culture, and history.
Lares Valley Trek Itinerary
7 Days
(B)=Breakfast ; (L)=Lunch ; (D)=Dinner
Day 1 : Cusco – Arrival and City Introduction
Arrival – Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport
Your Andean adventure begins in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,150 ft), the ancient Inca capital and gateway to the Sacred Valley. Our driver greets you with a personalized welcome sign at arrivals.
Scenic Transfer to Hotel
Drive past the magnificent Plaza de Armas for your first glimpse of this UNESCO World Heritage city. The plaza features the imposing Cusco Cathedral and La Compañía de Jesús church, both built atop Inca foundations.
Evening – Rest and Acclimatization
- Altitude adjustment: Avoid strenuous activity, drink 3-4 liters of water
- Coca tea (mate de coca): Local remedy for altitude symptoms
- Gentle exploration: Stroll cobblestone streets, browse alpaca textile shops
Overnight: Hotel in Cusco (3,400 m)
Day 2 : Cusco – Free Day for Acclimatization (B)
Morning – Leisurely Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before a full free day continuing your altitude acclimatization. This day is absolutely crucial for the upcoming high-altitude trek.
Optional Activities – Explore at Your Pace
- San Pedro Market: Exotic fruits, medicinal herbs, fresh bread, handicrafts
- Qoricancha Temple of the Sun: Gold-covered Inca walls beneath Santo Domingo Church
- Cristo Blanco: Panoramic city views from the white Christ statue
- Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Tambomachay: Nearby Inca sites (entrance tickets extra)
Important: Walk slowly, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol to maximize acclimatization.
Overnight: Hotel in Cusco (3,400 m) | Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 : Cusco – Lares – Huacahuasi (B)(L)(D)
6:00 AM – Departure from Cusco
Drive northwest through the Sacred Valley toward Calca (2,926 m). The scenic journey passes eucalyptus groves and traditional adobe villages with ever-changing Andean landscapes.
Mountain Pass – 4,300 Meters
From Calca, the road climbs dramatically over a spectacular high pass with breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks. Descend the eastern slope to the village of Lares.
10:00 AM – Lares Hot Springs
- Thermal pools: 2 hours soaking in mineral-rich waters (38-44°C / 100-111°F)
- Three temperature pools: Set in meadows surrounded by towering mountains
- Perfect preparation: Relaxing muscles before trekking begins
Afternoon – Begin Trekking
After a picnic lunch by the springs, hike up the Trapiche River valley following ancient pathways. Climb gradually through potato and quinoa fields toward Huacahuasi village.
Huacahuasi Village (3,800 m / 12,467 ft)
Arrive at this authentic Andean community with traditional thatched-roof stone houses. Meet local villagers who may sell handwoven textiles. Dinner under brilliant star-filled skies.
Overnight: Camping at Huacahuasi (3,800 m) | Trek: 8 km, 4 hours | Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 : Huacahuasi – Patacancha (B)(L)(D)
Early Morning – Challenging Day Begins
After breakfast with hot coffee or coca tea, begin the most challenging and rewarding day of the Lares Trek. The trail climbs steadily through treeless landscapes of wildflowers and ichu grasslands.
3-4 Hours – Ascending to Ipsayccasa Pass
- Alpaca and llama herds: Tended by traditionally-dressed Quechua shepherds
- Thinning air: Slow, measured pace with frequent rest stops
- Apacheta (stone cairn): Add a rock for good luck at the summit
Summit – Ipsayccasa Pass (4,500 m / 14,760 ft)
Breathtaking 360-degree panoramas of snow-capped peaks including sacred Mount Veronica (5,750 m / 18,864 ft). Pitusiray and Sawasiray mountains flank the Sacred Valley below. Pause for lunch and photographs.
Afternoon – Descent to Patacancha
Descend past turquoise Ipsaycocha Lake (4,200 m), a glacial lake hosting Andean geese and puna ibis. Continue through the heartland of the Quechua “Huayruros” people.
Patacancha Weaving Village (3,700 m / 12,136 ft)
One of Peru’s most renowned textile communities. Visit local homes to observe backstrap loom weaving using natural plant dyes. Purchase authentic alpaca textiles directly from artisans.
Overnight: Camping at Patacancha (3,700 m) | Trek: 14 km, 7 hours | Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 : Patacancha – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (B)(L)(D)
Morning – Final Trekking Day
Descend gradually through the valley toward Pallata village, passing Quechua communities and terraced fields still farmed using pre-Columbian techniques.
Pumamarca Archaeological Site
After 3 hours, reach this early-Inca site (“Puma Town”) featuring well-preserved agricultural terraces, ceremonial platforms, and storage buildings (qollqas). Your guide explains its strategic importance.
Ollantaytambo – Living Inca Town (2,792 m)
- Best-preserved Inca settlement: Residents still inhabit 500-year-old buildings
- Original water channels: Flow through cobblestone streets
- Temple of the Sun: Massive rose-colored granite blocks from across the valley
- Historic significance: Site of rare Inca victory over Spanish conquistadors in 1537
Afternoon – Scenic Train Journey
Board the train along the Urubamba River through the dramatic canyon. Watch ecosystems shift from high Andes to subtropical cloud forest. Arrive Aguas Calientes around 7:00 PM.
Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) | Trek: 10 km, 4 hours | Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 : Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco (B)
5:30 AM – First Bus to Machu Picchu
Board the first bus for the thrilling 25-minute zigzag climb to Machu Picchu (2,430 m). Arrive as morning mist clings to ancient terraces with far fewer crowds than later.
2-Hour Guided Tour – Lost City of the Incas
- Temple of the Sun: Trapezoidal window aligned to June solstice sunrise
- Room of Three Windows: Overlooking the central plaza
- Intihuatana: “Hitching Post of the Sun” ritual stone with astronomical significance
- Royal quarters: Sophisticated water management systems
- Agricultural terraces: Fed the city’s inhabitants
Learn how this 15th-century estate was built without metal tools, wheels, or draft animals. Granite blocks fitted so precisely that not even a knife blade fits between them.
Free Time – Independent Exploration
- Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain: Aerial views (extra permits required, book in advance)
- Inca Bridge: Carved into a cliff face
- Contemplation: Sit and absorb this architectural marvel
Afternoon – Return to Cusco
Descend by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Board the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, then transfer to Cusco. Arrive around 8:00 PM.
Overnight: Hotel in Cusco (3,400 m) | Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 : Cusco – Departure (B)
Morning – Final Cusco Hours
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast savoring memories of your Lares Valley adventure. Depending on flight time, you may have hours for last-minute activities.
Optional Last-Minute Activities
- Souvenir shopping: Plaza de Armas and San Blas artisan neighborhood
- Museo de Arte Precolombino: Pre-Columbian art collection
- Cafe relaxation: People-watching in the historic center
Airport Transfer
Our driver collects you for transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport for your Lima flight and international connections.
Optional Extensions
- Amazon rainforest: Manu or Puerto Maldonado
- Lake Titicaca: Floating reed islands of Uros
- Colca Canyon: Arequipa and condor watching
Services conclude at airport. ¡Hasta luego! | Meals: Breakfast
Lares Valley Trek Package Inclusions
- Airport transfers in/out Cusco (arrival and departure)
- 3 nights accommodation in Cusco (Day 1, Day 2, and Day 6)
- 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town)
- Complete Lares Trek package (2 nights camping, 3 trekking days)
- Weight allowance: 8 kilograms per trekker (carried by horses)
- Transportation to Lares Valley trailhead from Cusco
- Professional English/Spanish-speaking licensed trekking guide
- Personal sleeping pad (double foam mattress)
- High-quality camping tents (2 persons per tent)
- Portable toilet tent (environmental protection)
- Experienced camp cook and complete cooking equipment
- Pack horses to carry tents, toilet, food, and cooking equipment
- Entrance to Lares thermal hot springs
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit Two or Three)
- Guided 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu citadel
- Round-trip bus ticket Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Expedition class train tickets Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo
- Private transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco
- All meals as specified in itinerary (6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners)
- Vegetarian meal options available at no extra charge
- First aid kit and emergency equipment
- Free luggage storage in Cusco during trek
Excluded in tour cost
- International round-trip airfare to and from Peru
- Domestic flights Lima-Cusco-Lima (approximately $220 USD, subject to change)
- Personal trekking gear (boots, backpack, rain jacket, trekking poles)
- Sleeping bag rated to -10°C / 14°F (rental available: $25)
- Single tent supplement ($25 USD)
- Tips and gratuities for guide, cook, and horsemen
- Travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage (REQUIRED)
- Additional meals not specified in itinerary
- Optional activities and entrance fees in Cusco
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Note: Pack horses carry all heavy camping equipment; you hike carrying only your personal daypack with water, snacks, camera, and rain gear. If bringing photography equipment or heavy accessories, request an additional horse ($95 USD) to carry up to 15kg extra gear. This allows you to trek unencumbered and fully enjoy the experience. Our professional cooks prepare all meals at camp.