2 day Lares Hot Spring and Machu Picchu Full Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Calca Market – Ancashmarca – Puya de Raimondi – 7 Waterfalls – Lares Hot Springs – ADAL Weaving – Aguas Calientes

Your day starts early with pickup around 4:30 a.m. from your hotel in Cusco (or from the Sacred Valley near Pisac). We drive into the Sacred Valley and stop in Calca to visit the local market. It’s a simple, real moment: locals buying fruit, vegetables, bread, and daily supplies, before we enjoy a tasty box breakfast nearby.

Next, we head uphill to Ancashmarca, a peaceful Inca site with terraces and stone structures surrounded by wide mountain views. Because it’s not crowded, you can really take your time and imagine what life was like here. Your guide will explain the history and why this area mattered to the Incas.

After that, we continue to a high Andean plateau where you can see the rare, giant Puya de Raimondi plants. You’ll do a scenic hike (about 1 hour) with fresh air, open views, and great photo spots.

Later, we reach the community area near Kiswarani, where we start an easy walk to the 7 Waterfalls (Canchipaccha / Qanchis Paccha). This part is calm and beautiful, perfect for photos and enjoying “real Peru” away from the crowds.

In the afternoon, we arrive at the Lares Hot Springs. While you relax in the warm pools and enjoy the mountain setting, our trekking chef prepares a fresh picnic lunch to recharge your energy.

After lunch, we visit the ADAL women’s weaving co-op to learn about traditional weaving and natural dyes. It’s a meaningful stop that supports local artisans directly.

To finish the day, we drive to Ollantaytambo and board the evening train to Aguas Calientes. After arrival, you’ll check in at your 3-star hotel and rest for Machu Picchu the next morning.

• Hiking Distance: 5–7 km / 3.1–4.3 mi total
• Duration: 3–4 hours (easy pace, with stops)
• Highest Altitude: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
• Meals: Box breakfast + chef picnic lunch
• Accommodation: 3-star Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (altitude is the main challenge)

Day 2: Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Panoramic Train Return – Cusco

After breakfast at your hotel, we head to the bus station and ride up to Machu Picchu. We aim for an early visit whenever possible, when the light is softer and the site feels calmer.

Before the guided tour, we take time at the classic viewpoints for those famous photos (weather permitting). Then your guide leads a 2–3 hour visit focused on the most important areas: temples, terraces, water channels, and key viewpoints, so you leave understanding what makes Machu Picchu truly special.

After the guided tour, you’ll have free time depending on your ticket schedule. If you booked an optional hike (Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain) in advance, this is when you would do it.

Then we take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. You’ll have time for lunch on your own, and later you’ll board the panoramic Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, our transport will take you back to Cusco, usually arriving around 7:30 p.m.

• Tour Duration: 2.5 hours guided (plus free time if your schedule allows)
• Machu Picchu Altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
• Meals: Breakfast
• Difficulty: Easy

Important ticket note: Circuit 2 is included by default when available. If Circuit 2 is sold out, we secure the best available option (Circuit 1 or Circuit 3) based on availability.

Quishuarani Waterfall and Machu Picchu tour - Price

We run small-group tours for a smoother, more personal experience. If you want something exclusive, private tours are available, contact us for a customized quote.

Price per person

• US$555 - Adults

Booking and payment

• Deposit: US$555 per person (to reserve your spot). The remaining can be paid online or at our office in Cusco, using any credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer. Contact us to see alternative payment options.

Student Discount

• US$ 30 off

Applies to all travelers under 17 and students under 25 with a valid university ID. To get the discount, the ID must include:

• Student name, photo, and university name.
• Have a valid expiration date (expired IDs will not be accepted)
• ISIC cards are not valid.

The discount is applied automatically for children. For students, you must submit a copy of your student ID when booking; if your ID is rejected, you will be charged the adult rate. Please email us at info@trexperienceperu.com at the time of booking to receive your discount.

2 Day Machu Picchu Tour & Lares Hot Spring - Packing List

You’ll travel with your main luggage, but for this tour you only need a light setup for Day 1 and the hotel night. Pack simple: bring a comfortable daypack for daily essentials.

Good news: you can send a small 5 kg (11 lb) carry-on bag to your hotel in Aguas Calientes by train (request in advance).

Essentials

Original passport

Plastic Rain Coat

Toiletries

Warm down jacket

Peruvian soles cash

Good-quality daypack

Water bottle

Power bank

Lip balm

Sunscreen

Hand sanitizer

Wet wipes and tissues

What to wear?

High-top hiking boots

Sport pants

Hiking crew sock

Comfortable underwear

Thermal base layers

Moisture-wicking shirts

Quick-dry hiking pants/trousers

Fleece

What to put in the Daypack?

Sandals

Long-sleeve T-shirts

Lares Hot Spring and Machu Picchu - Travel Information

Location

This tour moves through three distinct landscapes in just two days, from the fertile Sacred Valley, up to the wide, windswept high Andes of Lares, and then down into the lush Urubamba canyon and cloud-forest edge around Machu Picchu.

• Cusco and the Sacred Valley: High-Andean city start, then a greener river valley corridor with fertile farmland, lively local towns, and classic Sacred Valley scenery.

• High Andes of Lares (Ancasmarca / Puya de Raimondi / Quishuarani 7 Waterfalls / Lares Hot Springs): Remote, open plateaus and rugged ridgelines with crisp mountain air; hillside Inca terraces at Ancashmarca, rare giant Puya plants in high-altitude grasslands. 

  Cold mountain streams feeding the Quishuarani waterfalls, warm mineral pools tucked into a valley basin in Lares, and a small weaving community where natural dyes and traditional textiles are still part of daily life.

• Urubamba Canyon + Machu Picchu: A narrow, green canyon landscape with steep slopes and river sounds that transitions into cloud-forest terrain; Aguas Calientes sits at the bottom of the canyon, while Machu Picchu is perched on a dramatic ridge above the Urubamba River, famous for its terraces, temples, and water channels.

Altitude

Altitude changes a lot on this itinerary, so pacing and hydration matter. You begin in Cusco (3,399 m / 11,152 ft), drop to Calca in the Sacred Valley (2,926 m / 9,600 ft), then reach the highest point of the trip in the high Andes at around 4,200 m / 13,780 ft near the plateau and waterfalls. 

After that, you descend toward the Lares Hot Springs (~3,200–3,250 m / 10,500–10,660 ft), and later head down to Aguas Calientes for the night. Machu Picchu sits much lower at 2,430 m / 7,972 ft, which often feels easier after the high Andes.

Weather

Because you move from the Sacred Valley to high-altitude terrain and then down into the cloud-forest edge near Machu Picchu, conditions can shift in the same day. Expect a cold early start in Cusco, milder weather in Calca, and colder, windier stretches around Ancashmarca, the Puya plateau, and the waterfalls. 

Lares tends to feel cool and fresh, especially later in the afternoon after the hot springs. In Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, the air is usually warmer and more humid, and morning clouds or light rain are possible, so layers and a rain jacket help.

Difficulty

Overall, this tour is easy to moderate, with altitude as the main challenge on Day 1. The hikes are short and scenic (about 5–7 km total, 3–4 hours at an easy pace with stops), focused on views and local places rather than pushing limits. Day 2 is easy, with a guided visit to Machu Picchu (about 2.5 hours).

2 Day Machu Picchu and Lares Tour - Frequently Asked Questions