Group tour – Standard hotel
FromUS$555per person
- Expedition or Voyager train
- Standard hotel (double or matrimonial room)
Trekking & Hiking
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Sacred ValleyMachu Picchu
- Duration
- 4 days
- Physical level
- Moderate
- Max. altitude
- 4,450 m
- Group size
- Small group (semi-private or private)
- Accommodation
- 2 nights camping, 1 night in a 3-star hotel
- From
- US$555
Hot springs, Andean communities and an Inca path to Machu Picchu
The Lares Trek in 4 days: the Calca market and Lares hot springs, two nights camping among weaving communities, the Ipsaykassa pass (4,450 m), Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo, a night in Aguas Calientes and a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Camping, meals, entrances, trains and hotel included.
The Lares Trek in 4 days and 3 nights is an authentic experience rooted in tradition, immersed in the rich history of the communities it passes through. You hike an ancient Inca path across the Andean highlands that has stayed much the same for five centuries, meet people in their traditional clothes, see small Andean villages and walk close to free-roaming alpacas and llamas.
From the first day it captivates you with the peaceful Lares hot springs, in a valley full of plants and wildlife, where nature becomes the best refuge from the stress and routine of everyday life.
Who is it for
It is open to anyone in good health for the challenge of the trail: on your own to meet new people, as a couple, with friends or as a family for a memorable experience together.
The trek at a glance
Day 1: Calca market, Lares hot springs (3,260 m) and about 4 hours of hiking to Wacawasi. Day 2: 3 hours uphill to the Ipsaykassa pass (4,450 m), the highest point, and lunch at Ipsaycocha lake. Day 3: Pumamarca, the old Inca trail to Ollantaytambo and the train to Aguas Calientes. Day 4: Machu Picchu. Accommodation: 2 nights camping and 1 night in a 3-star hotel. Small groups, semi-private or private.
- The Lares hot springs, on the first day
- Weaving communities, alpacas and llamas along an ancient Inca path
- The Ipsaykassa pass (4,450 m) and Ipsaycocha lake
- Pumamarca, Ollantaytambo and a guided tour of Machu Picchu
Lares Trek 4 days route map
← Swipe →© OpenStreetMap
01
Cusco – Calca – Lares – Wacawasi
The Calca market, the Lares hot springs and the first hike to Wacawasi.
Overnight: Wacawasi (camping)Lunch, dinner9 km · 4 h
Lares Trek 4 days itinerary
Wacawasi (camping)
Lunch, dinner9 km · 4 h3,880 mDay 1: Cusco – Calca – Lares – Wacawasi
We pick you up at your hotel at 06:00 and drive about 3 hours through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lares, stopping first in Calca to visit its local market. Around 09:00 we continue to Lares (3,260 m / 10,695 ft), the starting point of the trek, where you have free time to relax in the hot springs and then a delicious lunch. Around 13:00 we start hiking: about 4 hours to Wacawasi. The path is quite steep for the first 30 minutes and then flattens out; we cross a small river and reach Wacawasi, where you learn a little about its history and may see people in traditional clothes, with ponchos and hats. From the village, about 30–40 minutes uphill to our first camp (3,880 m / 12,730 ft).
Patacancha (camping)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner13 km · 6–7 h4,450 mDay 2: Wacawasi – Ipsaykassa – Patacancha
After breakfast, around 08:00, a 3-hour uphill hike through the puna to the Ipsaykassa pass, at 4,450 m (14,600 ft), the highest point of the trek. Free time to enjoy the place and take the best photos of the day. The area is full of Andean animals — alpacas, llamas and sheep — and traditional huts. We have lunch at Ipsaycocha lake, 30 minutes from the pass, and continue to Patacancha for our second night camping.
Aguas Calientes (3-star hotel)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner8 km · 4 h3,407 mDay 3: Patacancha – Pallata – Pumamarca – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Breakfast and, around 08:00, a 40-minute drive to Pallata. From there, 45 minutes uphill to the Pumamarca archaeological site, with a professional guided tour. Then 3 hours on the old Inca trail, past agricultural terraces, and the path along the Patacancha River down to Ollantaytambo. Lunch and free time to explore: visit the main square or take a 1-hour walk to the Inca storehouses (qolqas). Here we say goodbye to our support team. Dinner at a local restaurant and, around 19:00, the train (Voyager service) to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night at a hotel.
Sacred Valley
Breakfast2,430 mDay 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel at 06:30; we meet our professional guide and take the 25-minute bus up to Machu Picchu. From 07:00 to 09:30, the guided tour of the most important sites (the schedule depends on Machu Picchu entrance availability): the Temple of the Sun, the Main Square, the Intihuatana or sun-clock stone and the Temple of the Condor, among many other attractions. Then free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own and take lots of photos. When you are ready, bus back to Aguas Calientes and free time for lunch. At 16:22, train (Voyager service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, arriving at 18:10, and our van to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 20:00.
Customize this journey
Change the pace, upgrade hotels, add days — this itinerary is yours to shape.
What's included
Included
- Transfer on arrival, in private transport from the airport to your hotel
- Detailed briefing the day before with your guide, who explains the whole tour and answers your questions
- Private transport Cusco – Lares
- Entrance to the Lares hot springs
- Professional guide specialised in the Inca Trail, in Spanish, English or Portuguese
- A second professional guide for groups of more than 9 hikers
- Radios for the main guide and the head chef, for logistics, safety and support
- Oxygen tank to deal instantly with any altitude problem, and a first-aid kit (if you are on medical treatment, bring your medication)
- Small groups, semi-private or private
- Four-season tents: 4-person tents for 2 hikers and 2-person tents for 1 hiker
- Inflatable mats, waterproof and insulated
- Dining tent with chairs, tables, tablecloths, crockery and cutlery
- Sustainable kitchen with biodegradable cleaning products
- Herbal tea brought to your tent every morning before breakfast
- Tea time every day before dinner: herbal infusions, coffee, tea, bread, butter and jam
- Meals: day 1 lunch and dinner; day 2 and day 3 breakfast, lunch and dinner; day 4 breakfast. Lunch at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes on day 4 can be added when you book
- A daily snack in a small cloth bag: fruit, an energy bar or crackers, and sweets
- Buffet or semi-buffet lunches and dinners with Peruvian and fusion dishes, soft drinks and desserts
- Any diet (vegetarian, vegan and others) at no extra cost — tell us when you book
- Specialised cooks and assistant, trained in food hygiene
- Minimal disposable plastic: almost 100% reusable materials
- Warm water every day for washing before meals
- Boiled drinking water from day 3 (before that, buy it or bring your reusable bottle)
- Train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
- 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, up and down
- Train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
- Private transport from Ollantaytambo station to your hotel in Cusco
- Departure transfer from your hotel to the airport, on a day agreed in advance
- On request: fleece sheets for the camping nights, duffel bags and waterproof ponchos on loan
Not included
- Flights (international or domestic)
- Sleeping bag: essential, rated to -18 °C — we rent them for US$25
- Huayna Picchu ticket (separate booking, extra cost, well in advance)
- Travel insurance (very important, e.g. for medical emergencies)
- Personal expenses (crafts, clothing, drinks…) and tips, which are voluntary
- Breakfast on day 1 (ask your hotel for an early breakfast before pick-up)
Lares Trek 4 days prices
Before you go
Weather
The weather in Cusco changes a lot. The trek is high and one of our cooler routes: bring waterproof and warm clothing, lighter clothes for sunny days and good trekking footwear.
Backpacks
A backpack and a small backpack for the day, with water bottle, snacks, camera or phone, sunblock and poncho.
Clothing
Warm clothes, a beanie, gloves and a scarf, light clothes for days 3 and 4, a waterproof jacket and trousers or raincoat, a hat, hiking shoes, flip-flops or sandals and swimwear for the hot springs.
Protection
Sunblock, sunglasses, mosquito repellent (40% DEET or more), coca leaves and your personal medication.
Useful items
Torch with batteries, towel, toiletries, a plastic bag and extra cash for souvenirs and snacks.
Lares Trek 4 days FAQs
G
Yes. The Lares valley is part of the Inca trail network regulated by the government, so you can only visit it with a formal company like Vacations in Peru. We are one of the few companies that run the service ourselves, without subcontracting.
It is moderately difficult and not technical, although the altitude can affect some people. As a high-altitude trek, it is also one of our cooler routes, so bring warm, cosy clothes.
The first and second nights in comfortable camps, a different and unique experience; the third night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, with all amenities.
The weather in Cusco is very changeable. Although there are two main seasons, be ready for different conditions: bring waterproof and warm clothing, lighter clothes for sunny days and good trekking footwear.
The dry season (April to October) brings sunny, pleasant days with little rain and is the favourite of many travellers. In the rainy season (November to March) it rains more often, but nature is more vivid and there are fewer people.
We plan a gradual ascent, starting in the lower Sacred Valley. Our guides carry oxygen, monitor how you feel and adjust the pace whenever needed.
What our travelers say
- ★★★★★
“Fast, honest answers on WhatsApp before we booked and real support during the trip. When a train was delayed, everything was rearranged before we even noticed.”
Laura & James P., United KingdomPeru Essentials in Style - ★★★★★
“Walking the Inca Trail had been on my list for twenty years. The team handled the permits, the porters were incredible and arriving through the Sun Gate was pure emotion.”
Michael K., AustraliaClassic Inca TrailGoogle - ★★★★★
“Travelling with three kids could have been stressful, but the pace was just right. The llama trek and the chocolate workshop were the highlights for our children.”
The Harrison family, United StatesFamily Adventure in the AndesTripadvisor - ★★★★★
“The perfect honeymoon. The Hiram Bingham train, a private sunrise at Machu Picchu and three nights in the Amazon — Giovanni designed something that felt completely ours.”
Emma T., United KingdomRomantic Peru HoneymoonGoogle - ★★★★★
“Our guide on the Salkantay trek knew every plant, every story and exactly when we needed a break. Crossing the pass at sunrise is a memory we will keep forever.”
David & Claire R., CanadaSalkantay Trek to Machu PicchuTripadvisor - ★★★★★
“Every single detail was taken care of, from the airport pick-up in Lima to a quiet table overlooking the Sacred Valley. We never once had to think about logistics — we just enjoyed Peru.”
Sarah M., United StatesPeru Essentials in Style
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