- 4 Day/ 3 Night
- Cusco - Machupicchu
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Cusco (hotel pick-up and drop-off) |
| Highest point | Pachacutec Pass – 4,600 m / 15,092 ft |
| Total hiking distance | Approx. 33 km / 20.5 mile |
| Difficulty | Moderate to challenging |
| Accommodation | 2 nights camping + 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes |
| Highlights | Lares hot springs, Quechua villages, Andean passes, Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu |
| Best season | April to October (dry season) |
| Group size | Min:2 Max: 8 people |
| Price | 720 USD per person |
Day 1: Cusco – Lares Hot Springs – Quishuarani
We pick you up early in the morning from your hotel or apartment in Cusco and drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Lares. Our first stop is the Lares hot springs, in the Wakahuasi Valley, where the Lares River is born.
For the local Quechua people these natural thermal pools are a sacred place, and many believe their mineral-rich waters ease back pain, sore joints and stress. You’ll have time to relax in the warm water and freshen up before starting the hike.
From Lares, we trek uphill to the village of Quishuarani, surrounded by high Andean scenery, grazing llamas and alpacas, and families who still follow their traditional way of life. We spend the night at our campsite in Quishuarani, where our cook prepares a warm dinner.
Day 2: Quishuarani – Pachacutec Pass – Cancha Cancha
We wake up at 5:30 am with a hot drink and start hiking before sunrise, when the air is cool and the mountains are at their most peaceful. Today is the most challenging day of the trek. It’s not Everest, but you’ll definitely feel the altitude as we climb for about 3 hours to the highest point of the route, the Pachacutec Pass at 4,600 m (15,092 ft).
From the top, enjoy sweeping views in every direction, including the snow-capped peak of Mount Pitusiray (5,200 m / 17,060 ft). After a well-earned rest, we descend for about 2 hours to the traditional village of Cancha Cancha, where we set up our second camp. Far from any city lights, this is one of the best places to see the Milky Way and the Andean night sky.
Along the way, your guide will show you native medicinal plants that local Quechua families still use today, part of a healing tradition passed down from their ancestors.
Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Huarán – Maras Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Our team wakes you up in your tent with a hot cup of coca tea, coffee or hot chocolate. After packing your bags, we enjoy a healthy breakfast at 6:30 am, with fresh fruit from the Sacred Valley.
We then hike downhill for about 1.5 hours to the village of Huarán, in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the way, you’ll see the farmlands where local families grow the valley’s famous giant white corn, along with oranges, pears, apples and avocados.
From Huarán, our vehicle takes us through the agricultural towns of the Sacred Valley to Urubamba, about 1 hour away, and then uphill for 30 minutes to the Maras salt mines. Your guide will show you these hundreds of salt pools, used since Inca times and still worked by local families today as one of the community’s main sources of income.
Next, we drive about 40 minutes to Ollantaytambo for a guided tour of its impressive Inca fortress, followed by dinner in town. In the evening, we board the 7:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, where you’ll spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
After an early breakfast at your hotel, we take the 30-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. At the entrance gate, remember to have your original passport ready together with your ticket.
Your guide will lead you through the citadel’s temples, plazas and agricultural terraces, sharing the history and mysteries of the Inca civilization. Following Peru’s official site regulations, guided visits last up to 3 hours.
After the tour, we take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have free time for lunch (on your own). In the afternoon, we board the train to Ollantaytambo, and our transfer takes you back to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 6:30–7:00 pm. This marks the end of your Lares Trek to Machu Picchu.
Included for Lares Trek
