Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail 5D

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tour combines a cultural hike in the mountains with the short version of the Classic Inca Trail, visiting the ice glaciers, piercingly blue glacial lakes and stunning waterfalls, train ride to the Inca trail and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sungate. Come and join us on this natural and cultural expedition to the legendary city of Machu Picchu

Highlights of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail

* Complimentary airport Pick up and drop off
* Visit the hot springs of Lares and Aguas Calientes
* PACHAMANCA cooking ( Underground barbecue)
* Arrive at Machu Picchu twice
* 2 nights camping, 2 nights 3-star hotel
* Support Social project in the places we visit

Price Per person: 790.USD Book Now

Book your tour with only an initial payment of a 200.USD deposit, the remaining balance can be paid online with any credit card, on installments, or in Cusco at our office upon arrival. 

Discount: 30$ per person
For students under 25 years old with valid ID: The ID must have: Name of university, full name and photo of the student, and an expiration date no later than December 31 of the year of travel.

Day by day summary of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail

Day 1: Cusco – Lares Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Falls – Blue Lagoon (9 km, 4 hrs), Pick you up from your hotel around 4:30 and drive for 3 hours to Lares thermo-medicinal baths. The water is great for your bones, muscles, stress, and headaches. After breakfast, you’ll start the 4-hour hike to the campsite at the Blue Lagoon (3850 m/ 1230 ft). Along the trail, you’ll see traditional Andean houses, waterfalls, and hike with llamas and alpacas.

Day 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Community (16 km, 9hrs), Wake you up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa tea and prepare for the longest and most challenging day, You’ll start climbing for 4 hours to  Condor Pass (4700 m / 15354 ft) – the highest point of the trek, then another 2 hours down to the Campsite located at Canchacancha Village (3750 m / 12 303 ft). Along the way is possible to see lakes, snowcapped mountains, he’s of Llamas, alpacas, and birds.

Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Ollantaytambo (12 km, 4 hrs), After Breakfast, you’ll visit the Local houses and experience their way of life and interact with villagers to later start descending for 4 hours into the Sacred Valley for a special lunch. After enjoying a PACHAMANCA barbecue, you’ll drive to the Salineras where locals get Salt since Inca Times, then drive to Ollantaytambo (Last Living Incan City) to explore the beautiful Inca Streets. Spent the night in a hotel and dinner is a Local Restaurant.

Day 4: Ollantaytambo – Km104 – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (15km, 8hrs), Breakfast in the hotel and take the first trains to Km104 to start the Inca Trail, the hike take about 7 hours following the ancient Inca Trail, You’ll see several archeological sites such as Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Intipata, and arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon through the Sungate. Spend the Night in a hotel and dinner at Indio Feliz restaurant.

Day 5: Machu Picchu (The Lost City of the Incas) – 3 hours, On the final day you’ll enjoy breakfast at the hotel, take the first buses up to Machu Picchu and explore with your tour guide. The guided tour begins with a hike to the Inca bridge, visit the terraces, temples, palaces, and most important places in Machu Picchu. After the guided tour, you can explore by yourself or hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Different from the citadel).  Vistadoem train back to Cusco and finish the tour around 7.30 pm in your hotel.

Included in the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail

Complimentary airport Transfer (upon your arrival on any date)
Pick up from your hotel  on the day of the tour
Licensed Local Tour guide ( 2 guides for groups more than 8 people)
All Transportation Included from hotel to hotel (Door to door service)
Round trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu
Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Entrance fee to all the places we visit
2 Nights of Camping in the Mountain
2 Nights 3-star hotel with private bathroom, hot shower, wifi
Eureka 4 Person Tents for Camping
Sleeping foam Mattress
Duffle bag for your personal stuff up to 7 kilos
Gourmet meals During the hike prepared by Local chef
Chef, Porters, horsemen,
Cargo Mules to carry food Equipment and your personal stuff.
Emergency horse in case someone in the group needs
First-aid kit, satellite phone, oxygen tank
Rain Ponchos, Pillows, dining tent, chairs, tables
Vitsadome Panoramic Train on the way back to Cusco

Not Included in the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail

Sleeping Bag, Air Mattress, Trekking Poles (Can be rented)
Huayna Picchu Mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain (different form Machu Picchu citadel)
Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes
Travel Insurance
Tips (Optional)

DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES THERMAL BATHS – KISWARANI FALLS – BLUE LAKE

TreXperience team will pick you up from your hotel at around 4:30 am (depending on your location) and drive you through the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the famous Lares thermo-medicinal baths – arriving at approximately 8:00 am. We’ll jump straight into the medicinal pools – all of which are set at different temperatures. The water is great for your bones, muscles, stress, and headaches and therefore this is the perfect way to prepare for your TreXperience! After soaking our bodies we will enjoy breakfast in a beautiful location surrounded by the majestic Andean mountains. After breakfast, we have time to enjoy nature and take in your beautiful surroundings. Today’s route is relatively easy with a 2-hour trek uphill until we reach Kiswarani village. Our chef will be waiting with a delicious lunch that has been freshly prepared using natural, organic, local produce. It’s then another 2-hour walk to our campsite, located on the bank of a beautiful blue lake at (3750 m/ 1230 ft). Along the trail, we will pass picturesque landscapes adorned with traditional Andean houses made of adobe bricks and thatched roofs. Here local villages survive by farming potatoes and raising llamas, alpacas, and sheep. We will pass beautiful streams and a waterfall which is the source of the Amazon river – the largest in the world. On reaching our campsite your tents and a hot cup of tea will be waiting for you. This is a perfect place to relax, stargaze, and learn about Inca astronomy. 

Campsite Altitude: 3850m/ 1230ft
Distance: 9 km/5.5 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 2: QUISWARANI – CONDOR PASS – CANCHACANCHA COMMUNITY

We will wake you up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa tea. This is our longest and most challenging day and after breakfast, it is a 4-hour hike uphill to Condor Pass (4700 m / 15354 ft) – the highest point of this journey. Along the way, we will enjoy beautiful lakes where Wallatas (Andean geese or ‘love birds’) swim in the crystal clear waters and pass the imposing Andean mountains of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, Qolquecruz, all of which are over 18,000 ft. At the summit of Condor Pass, we will serve you a well-deserved cup of hot tea and you can take some time to rest while your tour guide performs a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains. It is then over a 3-hour descent through the breathtaking scenery. You will be able to see lagoons, exotic birds, llamas, alpacas, vizcachas (which look a lot like rabbits) and wallatas along the way. Our campsite is located at Cancha Cancha (3750 m / 12 303 ft) –  the only village in the Lares Valley that is completely isolated from any modern technology. This includes no drainage system, electricity, computers, internet connection or cellphone service. Here they speak only Quechua – the ancient language spoken by the Incas. You will have the afternoon free in Cancha Cancha meet and interact with the local people, visit a local school and help teach and play games with the children. The villagers will welcome any donations of food, school supplies or anything else you would like to give to help support the health and education of this isolated community. Late in the afternoon, your guide will take you to visit one of the families’ homes. Here you can experience first hand their traditional lifestyles passed down from the Incas, sample traditional food and see how they raise guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas. By the evening our chef will have prepared dinner for us to enjoy together before a well-earned night’s rest.

Campsite Altitude: 3750 m / 12303 ft
Highest altitude: 4700 m / 15354 ft
Distance: 16 km/ 9.9 miles
Duration: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

 DAY 3: CANCHACANCHA – HUARAN – OLLANTAYTAMBO

Starting the day with a beautiful view of the mountains and a delicious breakfast we then prepare for our final descent from the highlands into the sacred valley. First, we will say goodbye to the last remaining village still practicing Inca traditions, and isolated from all modern technologies, before we begin our 4-hour trek downhill. Along the way, you can observe different types of ecosystems – from the colder highlands, where only potatoes are grown, to the fertile soils of the sacred valley, where maize is the main produce. Our TreXperience concludes in a small town called Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft), and from here a private bus will drive us to Ollantaytambo; “Last Living Incan City”. Or as it is sometimes known; “World Capital of the Native American”. We will take some time to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has been in use since Inca time. We will have dinner in a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo and spend the night in a hotel.

Campsite Altitude: 2700m / 8856 ft
Highest altitude: 3,750 m / 12,303 ft
Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104 – AGUAS CALIENTES 

After an early breakfast in your hotel, we will take the train for 1 hour 30 minutes along the Urubamba river from Ollantaytambo (in the highlands) to km 104 at Chachabamba (in the cloud forest). We will head straight to the checkpoint at Chachabamba to start your TreXperience!  Please note, you will need your original passport in order to pass through the checkpoint. Our first stop is a beautiful Inca ruin also called Chachabamba. We will then hike along an ancient Inca trail, that was abandoned in the 16th century and leads to Machu Picchu.  The first section of the trail is a gradual uphill hike for 4 hours until we arrive at Wiñay Huayna (the place that never gets old). At this point, we will take some time to explore this stunning archaeological site and enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes. A packed lunch and refreshments will be provided. Once fed and energized we will continue our hike to the Sun Gate to catch your first glimpse of the Lost City of the Incas – a truly unforgettable sight. From the Sun Gate, its a one hour downhill walk to the city, with breathtaking views along the way.  We will arrive at Macchu Picchu in the afternoon and will, therefore, have the unique opportunity of experiencing the city almost empty. This is the perfect photo-taking opportunity! We will then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

Campsite Altitude: 2000m / 6561ft
Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
Distance: 15km / 8 miles
Duration: 8 hours
Meals: Lunch, snacks, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 5:  MACHU PICCHU (LOST CITY OF THE INCAS)

On our final day, we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of your TreXperience; visiting Machu Picchu – the Lost City of the Incas. We will go straight to the line to wait for the first bus going up to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am. Arriving as the sky brightens, we will walk up with incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day, you can watch the spectacular sun rise over Machu Picchu. This is truly an unforgettable sight. Your guide will take you on a 2 to 3-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own or climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the train and bus back to Cusco. The TreXperience Team will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel.

Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
Distance: 6km / 3 miles
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Difficulty: Easy

ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR THE lARES tREK TO MACHU PICCHU:

• Valid, original Passport (a copy will not be accepted)
• Valid, Student Card (if you booked as a student)
• Hiking boots (light, comfortable and broken in)
• A good quality daypack (light, small and comfortable)
• Water storage for at least 2 liters; either a camel bag or water bottle(s)

FOR YOUR DAYPACKS:

Below is a list of items that we highly recommend you keep with you at all times in your personal backpack during the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. Remember you will be carrying this with you everyday of the trek so we recommend you bring a good quality daypack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger backpacks can not be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates.

• Hat and sunglasses
• Rain gear
• Warm layers (fleece / long-sleeved tops)
• Sun cream, bug spray
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Band-aids, moleskin
• Camera, extra batteries
• Head Torch
• Extra snacks, power bars, chocolate
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips (small change is useful for paying to use the villagers’ toilets on the first day)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS:

During The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu you will provide you with a duffel bag in which you can pack any items that you won’t need to keep with you during the day. Our porters will carry this bag for you throughout the trek. Please note this bag should weigh a maximum of 7 kg including the weight of your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). When rented from us these two items weigh approximately 3.5 kg. During the Inca Trek, you will travel through different temperatures as you climb/descend, it can also be cold at night when at the campsite. Therefore layers work best!

• Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
• Air mattress (can be rented from us)
• Some light, comfortable shoes for the camp
• Warm jacket, hat, and gloves
• 2-3 t-shirts (wicking t-shirts are best)
• 1-2 hiking pants/trousers
• 4 sets of undergarments
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket for the coldest nights
• Quick-dry towel
• Soap
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Face moisturizer
• Powerpack/battery charger
• Plastic bags to keep wet or muddy clothes separate