The Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a 4-day tour that takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in Peru. You'll start in the quaint town of Lares, nestled in the Andes Mountains, and trek through lush valleys and towering mountains, culminating in a visit to the world-famous Inca site of Machu Picchu.
Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 day Tour
The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And, with our Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, you'll enjoy all of the best of the area. From stunning views, luxurious accommodations, Inca massage sessions, Andean Shaman ceremony, and the best of Peruvian Cuisine, you'll have an unforgettable experience.
Tour Highlights:
- Luxury camping with glamping tents, airbeds, hot showers
- Massage therapist & Andean Shaman ceremonies
- Pachamama barbecue and cooking lessons
- Explore remote villages and pristine lakes
- Discover Machu Pucchu with a private tour guide
Lares luxury Trek at a Glance:
Day 1: Cusco - Lares Thermal bath - Kiswarani Village - Blue Lake
Pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 am and travel for 3 hours to the thermal baths in Lares; you will have the time to enjoy the natural hot springs. You will hike for 4 hours to the first campsite near Blue Lake at 3800 m (12467 ft).
Day 2: Blue lake - Condor Pass - Cancha Cancha Village
You will wake up with a hot cup of coffee or tea in your tent. After breakfast, you will begin the 4-hour ascent to Condor Pass, the route's highest point. You will have time to enjoy the breathtaking views with a snack. Following that, you will descend for 2 hours to Acpata for lunch and then another hour to Cancha Cancha campsite (3600 m - 11811 ft).
Day 3: Cancha Cancha Village - Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Pueblo
After breakfast, you will visit a local's house to interact, learn about their lifestyle, and participate in their activities. Next, you will descend for 4 hours into the Sacred Valley, where our chef will prepare a special Pachamanca barbecue. You will board the train to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4: Machu Picchu Citadel - Return to Cusco
You will board the early bus to Machu Picchu and explore the best of Machu Picchu with a private tour guide. Lunch is at the Machu Picchu Belmond hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will board the exclusive Vistadome Panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo and a private van back to Cusco.
Included:
- Pre-departure briefing at your hotel
- Pickup at your hotel for the tour
- Professional tour guide
- Expert chefs, muleteers, porters
- Massage therapist for 2 nights of camping
- Andean shaman ceremony and Coca leaf reading
- 2 nights of Luxury Camping
- 1 night hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
- One-way Expédition Train
- One-way Panoramic Vistadome train
- Hot Showers, portable toilets, and towels
- Cots for camping (queen- twin size)
- Blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows
- Trekking poles, rain gear
- Duffle bag with a capacity of up to 20 kg
- Entrance ticket to Lares Hot springs and Machu Picchu
- Cargo mules will transport trekking personnel.
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and hot beverages
- Pisco, wine, and champagne (Best of Peru)
- Satellite phones, first-aid kit, and oxygen bottle
- 1 meal at the Mahcu Picchu hotel
- All taxes and booking costs
Not included:
- Tip for guides, chefs, porters
- Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain
- Travel Insurance.
Full Itinerary of the luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 1: Cusco - Lares Thermal bath - Kiswarani Village - Blue Lake
Your tour guide will pick you up at 5:am from your hotel in Cusco (we can pick you up from hotels, hostels, Airbnb, or any location in Cusco city and Sacred Valley). We will travel for 1 hour to the Sacred Valley to Calca, where you will visit the Local Market and buy some goods like Coca Leafs, bread, rice, and sugar that later can be donated to the locals in Lares. Next, you will continue for 2 hours to the Lares district; you will have time to enjoy the Hot Springs, which range in temperature from cold to boiling. They are all made with pure volcanic water, which benefits bones, muscles, and headaches.
Breakfast is served near the hot springs, and we will travel by car to Punta Carretera (3300 m - 10826 ft) to begin the Lares Trek. The first part starts with a gentle 2-hour hike to our lunch spot at Kiswarani, the first Andean Village (3600 m - 11811 ft). Our local chef prepares lunch using fresh local products, 3-course meals, hot and cold drinks.
After lunch, you will hike for 2 more hours to Blue Lake (3800 m - 2467 ft). Along the way, you will pass through organic potato farming lands, fish farms, and herds of Llamas and Alpacas that play an important role in the local economy.
Once you arrive at the campsite, your tents will be ready. You can prepare your bed, shower, and get ready for a relaxing massage. Later at night, you will have tea and dinner before sleeping.
- Hiking distance: 10 km
- Campsite: 3800 m
- Accommodation: Glamping
- Drinks: Wine, Pisco, Beer, Sodas
Day 2: Blue lake - Condor Pass - Cancha Cancha Village
Our trekking team will wake you up early with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or Coca tea, and you will start packing for the day. Breakfast is served with a beautiful view of the mountains and the lake while the arrieros prepare the bags.
After a delicious breakfast, you will start with a gentle hike around the lake and slowly zigzag up for 4 hours to Condor Pass (4700 m - 15354 ft). Along the way, you will enjoy fantastic views of lakes, mountain birds called caracaras, llamas, and alpacas. Upon arrival at the top, you will participate in a Pachamama ceremony led by an Andean Shaman and enjoy some snacks with drinks.
From the top, you will start descending for 2 hours to Acopata (3750 m - 12303 ft), where our chef will be waiting is freshly prepared meals and drinks. After lunch, you will continue for 1 more hour to our campsite at Cancha Cancha Village (3600 m 11811 ft ). This small village is isolated in the Andes Mountains, 4 hours from the closest route; you can visit the local school and interact with the locals. We recommend our guests donate educational materials such as books, pencils, colors, dental care, and even warm clothes for children.
In the afternoon, you will have time to prepare your bed, shower, and be ready for a relaxing massage session after the long day hike. Hot and cold drinks will be ready anytime during the campsite.
- Hiking distance: 16 km
- Campsite: 3600 m
- Accommodation: Glamping
- Drinks: Wine, Pisco, Beer, Sodas
Day 3: Cancha Cancha Village - Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Pueblo
After breakfast, you will visit a local home to learn about their lifestyle and participate in their activities using their tools, such as potato farming. You can also practice the Quechua Language, the ancient language spoken by the Incas.
Next, you will descend for 4 hours into the Sacred Valley until Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft). On the way, you will travel through fields of potatoes and beans in the highlands, Corn, quinoa, and avocados in the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival to Huaran, you will participate in a Pachamanca Barbecue, where food is buried underground and cooked with the aid of hot stones.
After lunch, you will say goodbye to the chef, porters, and arrieros and board our private van to travel along the Sacred Valley until Ollantaytambo, where we explore the town and take the afternoon expedition train to Aguas Calientes town (Machu Picchu Pueblo). In Aguas Calientes, you will check in at the hotel and have dinner at Indio Feliz Restaurant.
- Hiking distance: 12 km
- Aguas Calientes: 2000 m
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel
- Dinner: Indio Feliz
Day 4: Machu Picchu Citadel - Return to Cusco
You will enjoy breakfast in your hotel and board the bus to Machu Picchu citadel. You will have a 3 hours guided tour by your exclusive tour guide, who will show you the best of the ancient citadel. After the guided tour, you will have some free time on your own to visit the citadel or take an extra hike to Huayna Picchu or Montaña Machu Picchu ( to take the extra hikes, you need to purchase the tickets in advance - 75 USD). Lunch will be at Machu Pichcu Belmond hotel with your tour guide.
After Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, explore the town, and board the Panoramic Vistadome Trains to Ollantaytambo, where our team will be waiting and transfer you in a private van back to Cusco. The expected arrival time is 7:00 pm back to your hotel.
- Guided tour: 3 hours
- Machu Picchu: 2400 m
- Meals: Lunch in Machu Picchu
Luxury Lares Trek packing list
During the Lares Trek, you will be out in the mountains, and you must take everything you need. We will provide you with a duffle bag for up to 20 kilos of your belongings; horses carry this bag during the trek. You will also need a small comfortable backpack to carry all your daily essentials.
Make sure you have good hiking shoes, poles, and hiking pants for this trek—trekking poles you can bring your own or request from us at no cost.
What to put in the backpack?
You will need a small, comfortable backpack for hiking during the Lares Trek. You are responsible for carrying this backpack with essentials for the day.
- Original Passport
- Student ID (if you booked as a student)
- 2 liters of water
- Snacks
- Warm clothes, gloves, hat
- Rain gear
- Sunscreen
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes
- Extra money
The weather can be unpredictable on the trek, so it is important to be prepared for both warm and cold weather.
What to put in the duffle bags?
During the safety briefing, we will provide you with a duffle bag where you can put all the necessary equipment for the 4 days tour. You can put up to 20 kilos. However, we recommend keeping it as light as possible for easy transportation.
- Warm jackets, scarf, and bennie for the cold nights
- Light shoes for the campsite
- Sandals, flip flops
- Hiking socks
- Light socks for nighttime.
- Underwear
- Hiking pants
- Leggings for ladies
- Nighttime sweatpants
- T-shirts
- Tissues or wet wipes
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Bathing suit.
- Bring or rent hiking poles.
- Your favorite to read in your free time
Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days Tour
Prices are in USD, based on your group size.
| Number of Trekkers | Price per person |
| 1 | US$ 3800 |
| 2 | US$ 2400 |
| 3 | US$ 2200 |
| 4 | US$ 2000 |
| 5 | US$ 1900 |
| 6 | US$ 1800 |
| 7 | US$ 1720 |
| 8+ | US$ 1620 |
To book the Luxury Lares Trek, you need to make an initial payment of US$ 400 per person; the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or at our office in Cusco.
Student Discount:
All travelers under 17 will have a US$ 40 discount. If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get a US$ 40 discount with a valid student ID. Would you please advise by email to give you a code for the discount?
Valid Student ID for the Luxury Lares Trek:
To get the student discount, travelers should have a Valid ID with the following:
- 25 years or less at the time of entering Machu Picchu. Older than 25 can not enter as a student
- The ID must have the Name of the university, name, and photo of the student
- The ID must have a valid expiration date
Invalid Student IDs:
Student IDs are not eligible for a discount when:
- Traveler is older than 25
- Expired ID
- Student Id without expiration date
- ISIC cards are not valid.
Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu FAQs
The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a popular alternative trek to Machu Picchu. The trek takes you through the stunning Andean mountains and valleys, past traditional villages and Inca sites, and finally, into the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The trek can sometimes be challenging, but the rewards are more than worth it. The first thing you need to do when planning your trek is to choose a reputable tour company like TreXperience. Below you will find the most common questions.
What is the Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu?
The Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a 4-day trek that takes you through the stunning Andes Mountains to the lost city of Machu Picchu. This trek is perfect for those who want to experience the beauty of Peru in a luxurious setting. You will stay in comfortable glamping tents for 2 nights and have access to private portable bathrooms, showers, and a private massage therapist and Andean Shaman.
During the day, you will hike through picturesque valleys and mountain passes and visit ancient Inca sites. The Luxury Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience you will cherish forever.
How long is the trek?
The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu average length is 4 days, although we can add extra days to explore the area more thoroughly. You can add 1 more day and explore the Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail. You can customize this tour to your preferences. Contact us to request a personalized itinerary and special quote.
How difficult is the trek?
While the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is considered a moderate hike, there are some challenging sections, particularly on the second and third days when hikers reach higher altitudes. However, most people find that the incredible views and sense of accomplishment make any difficulties worthwhile.
What kind of equipment do I need?
Hikers should bring all the usual backpacking gear, including hiking boots. Packing light rain gear and warm clothing for the evenings and early mornings, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent, is also recommended. Finally, don’t forget to bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy levels up!
What are the benefits of the Luxury vs. standard Lares Trek?
The Luxury Lares Trek is an amazing way to see Machu Picchu in style and comfort. Here are some of the benefits of choosing this trekking option:
- You will enjoy the stunning scenery with a private trekking team
- You will have the chance to try the best of Peruvian cuisine
- Luxury Camping equipment (Glamping tents, Cots, blankets)
- Hot showers, private porta potties
- Inca massage sessions for 2 nights of Camping
- Pachamama and Coca leaf reading ceremony
- Lunch in Machu Picchu hotel
When is the best time to go on the Luxury Lares Trek?
The best time to go on the Luxury Lares Trek is from April to October. The weather is dry and sunny, with mild temperatures during these months.
November to march is the rainy season in Peru. However, this is the only trek available all year round, and we have 4-season equipment.
How do I book a spot on the Luxury Lares Trek?
If you like this itinerary, you can book this tour on any BOOK NOW button. However, if you want a customized tour, our team will work with you to customize an itinerary that meets your needs and interests. We'll also take care of all the logistics, from permits and equipment to food and lodging. You can focus on enjoying the incredible scenery and culture of the Andes.
Difference between Lares Trek and Inca Trail
A few key differences exist between the Lares Trek and the Inca Trail.
- Lares Trek is a shorter and easier trek; you can visit local villages and interact with children. You will be able to find beautiful Andean lakes where Llamas and Alpacas grass.
- Inca Trail is a longer and harder trek of 4-5 days. This is a porter-only trek where you can encounter beautiful natural spaces and ancient Inca sites.
Difference between Lares Trek and Salkantay Trek
When it comes to choosing a trek to Machu Picchu, there are a lot of factors to consider. But one of the most important decisions is choosing between the Lares Trek and the Salkantay Trek. Both treks have unique benefits, so choosing the one that’s right for you is important.
- The Lares Trek is shorter than the Salkantay Trek but could be challenging. This is because the Lares Trek takes place at a higher altitude, which can be tough for some people to handle. But if you’re up for a challenge, the Lares Trek is an amazing experience. You’ll get to see some of the most beautiful scenery on this trek, and you’ll also get to meet some of the local people who live in this remote region of Peru.
- The Salkantay Trek is longer than the Lares Trek and more challenging. However, this trek takes place at a lower altitude after the third day, so it’s easier for most people to handle.