Lares Trail Family Hike to Machu Picchu 6D/5N

Accommodation

• Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage
• Toilet tent 
• Comfortable foam mattress and camping pillows

Meals

• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Cook and cooking equipment
• All meals on the trail. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. 
• Boiled water to drink on the hike (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle)
• Filtered water provided during the drive on the first day

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of the trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish-speaking professional guide
• Mules & muleteers, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. 
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Emergency riding horse

Additional inclusions

• Pre-trek briefing
• Duffel bags for your personal items (up to 10kg/22lbs per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire a personal mule and muleteer.
• Entry to Lares Hot Springs

• Domestic & international flights
• Tips
• Drinks
• Souvenirs
• Meals not specified
• Hotel accommodations in Cusco before and after the trek

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

• Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 8kg (17 lbs)  per person
• Llamas to carry your own things. Note that this traditional Inca beast of burden can only carry about 8kg (17 lbs) , and will only walk in groups. The cost of hiring llamas includes a small group of 3-4 llamas and a llamero (llama driver)
• Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress

Service Upgrades

• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade
• Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrade

Optional Activities

• Extra Day at Machu Picchu
• If you’d like to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

The 4 day Lares trek to Machu Picchu hike is a high elevation trek. It will be cold at night, with temperatures reaching below zero. In the winter months of May to August, temperatures can reach as low as -5°C (23° F) overnight!

We recommend that you bring the following items with you:

• • • A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
    • Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
    • A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
    • Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
    • A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
    • A headlamp or torch;
    • A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
    • Swimwear and sandals so that you can enjoy the Lares hot springs on the 3rd night;
    • A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.

Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.

• Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
• Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 0-4 years: 75% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group, but will be charged 25% of the per person price based on final group size. For example, a group of 4 adults and one child under 4: adults will be charged the full price per person based on a group size of 4 and the child will be charged 25% of the per person price for a group of 4. Children under 3 will not be considered to occupy a seat on any train or bus, and instead must ride on a parent’s lap. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
• 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Our whole trekking team is native to the area and know the Lares region like the back of their hand! They are some of the warmest, endearing and wonderful people you are ever likely to meet.

Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.

Get to know our team!

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
• On the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days trail you will be visiting remote, high-altitude villages. Conditions are harsh and you should be prepared for extremely cold, rustic conditions.
• This is a great trek for its opportunities to interact with local community members – a genuine and very memorable Andean cultural experience!
• The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days is a great wet season trek! If you want to trek anytime between December and March, read more about our Wet Season Trekking policy.
• One of the great things about this Lares to Machu Picchu trek is the chance to visit a living, breathing traditional Andean community. If you have your heart set on seeing a weaving demonstration or visiting a school, please tell us at booking. We otherwise can’t guarantee that these activities will be possible when you arrive at the village, as the school may not be in session (for instance, if it is a weekend or holiday), and community members may be out working in the fields.

• Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
• Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

• Total Walking Distance: 9km
• Total Walking Time: 5h
• Minimum Altitude: 4080m (13,386 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4350m (14,272 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 4100m (13,451 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: -4°C to -6°C (21°F to 25°F)

We leave Cusco bright and early and travel to Ollantaytambo, a quaint living Inca city full of stone architecture and cobblestone streets. If you missed breakfast at your hotel due to our early start, you’ll have a chance to grab a bite here before we start hiking. After a brief rest or morning cappuccino, we’ll head up the mountain for about an hour by car until we reach the trailhead of Palqaq (4080m / 13,451 ft).

From Palqaq, we will walk for about 3h to the Chaullacocha Pass (4350m /14,272 ft) where we’ll have gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, grazing alpacas, and the lake from which the community gets its name (Chaullacocha means “fish lake” in Quechua!).

Then, we walk down for about another hour, into the community itself (4100m / 13,451 ft) where we’ll have lunch. 

Apus Peru has a special relationship with Chaullacocha as many of our porters come from this village. We have also been supporting community development projects in Chaullacocha since 2007, and it is one of the weaving associations currently supported by Threads of Peru.

After a relatively relaxed day with plenty of time for interaction with local families, we will camp here for the night. 

For an extra special experience, why not consider adding a family homestay? Experience life first-hand in a traditional Andean home. Check out our Chaullacocha homestay add-on for more details.

We encourage you to read about being a Responsible Tourist. You can also ask for our Traveler’s Code of Conduct and read about appropriate gift-giving.

• Total Walking Distance: 8.5km
• Total Walking Time: 6h 
• Minimum Altitude: 3950m (12,959 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4450m (14,600 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 4080m (13,386 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: -4°C to -6°C (21°F to 25°F)

We have a relatively easy day ahead of us today, with a chance to enjoy some spectacular views of the mountains that surround this region, filled with innumerable lakes and ponds that make this part of the trek one of the most beautiful.

After a hearty breakfast, we will gradually ascend to the Pumaorco Pass (4450m / 14,600 ft). From here, we will descend to Q’otahuasi Qocha (4250m / 13,944 ft) where we will have lunch. 

After lunch we will walk around 2 hours towards the community of Chupani, where we will have the opportunity to interact with the children of this community. After our visit, we will ascend for around 1 hour to our campsite a Qopanchapata (4080m / 13,386 ft), where we will spend the night. 

• Total Walking Distance: 7km
• Total Walking Time: 5h
• Minimum Altitude: 3731m (12,241 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4270m (14,010 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3731m (12,241 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 3°C (37°F)

In the morning, after another delicious breakfast prepared by our expert trail chefs, we start our ascent to the Qopancha Q’asa pass (4270m / 14,010 ft). We will hike for about 2 hours until we reach the pass where we will be able to enjoy stunning panoramic views of one of the most impressive mountains in the entire Sacred Valley, Willcawequey. 

From here we will walk down for 1 hour to Maranpaqui (4165m / 13,664 ft), where we will have lunch. After a well-deserved rest, we will continue descending another 1.5 hours until we reach our campsite at Rayancancha (3731m / 12,241 ft), where we will spend the night.

• Total Walking Distance: 6.5km
• Total Walking Time: 3 h
• Minimum Altitude: 3250m (10,663 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3730 m (12,238 ft)

We’ve reached the final day on our family trek in Peru. After some challenging ascents over the past few days, today we have it easy: a gentle descent through a beautiful valley full of vegetation and gorgeous landscapes, including a series of cascading waterfalls, and plenty of local birdlife.

We will walk until we reach the community of Tambohuaylla (3440m / 11,286 ft) where we are sure to see some locals with their dogs. After a brief rest, we continue descending through the valley alongside the Trapiche river until we reach the Lares hot springs. Along this stretch of the hike we will be surrounded by flowers and on sunny days, we may even spot some hummingbirds!

Arriving at Lares, we can relax and unwind as we take a welcome dip in the hot springs, rejuvenating body and soul. We will have lunch here before our driver will pick us up to drive us the 2 hours to Ollantaytambo.

Known as the last “living Inca city,” Ollantaytambo is a true gem with its cobblestone streets, and quaint, colourful vibe. We’ll check into our comfortable hotel, and then you’ll have some time to explore the city a bit and have dinner on your own, before tucking in for the night.

If you have good pace and the weather allows it, we can add 2-3 hours to our day and visit the archaeological site of Huaman Marka.

The design of Ollantaytambo and the majority of its foundations date from the Incan era when it was a strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive Inca fortress which guarded the entry of this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long staircases

You’ll have time this morning to explore the many shops and cafes that line the central plaza, tour around the artisan market or, if you’re feeling adventurous, climb up the fortress ruins. 

After an early lunch on your own, we’ll catch a midday train to Aguas Calientes. This is an approximately 2-hour, picturesque journey through changing landscapes. 

Arriving in Aguas Calientes, we check into our hotel. You’ll have some free time to explore on your own, perhaps checking out the orchid or butterfly sanctuary, if they’re open, or even checking out the city’s namesake hot springs!

In the evening, join your guide for a celebratory dinner as he helps you prepare for tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu – the highlight of your Lares family hike!

Important Notes:

• You must be at the train station 30 minutes prior to the train’s departure or you may be denied boarding.
• You will need to pack a small overnight bag for each person for your time in Aguas Calientes. Your driver will take the rest of your luggage to a safe storage (either in our office or your hotel) in Cusco.

Peru Rail luggage restrictions: Carry-on luggage only (bag or backpack) with a maximum weight of 5kg/11lbs, and measuring no more than 157cm (height + length + width). Any luggage that does not meet these limits cannot be carried aboard the train.

After an early breakfast, we take the bus up to Machu Picchu, aiming to arrive at the site for an 8 AM entry time. Upon arrival at this ancient Incan citadel, your guide will give you a 2h walking tour of the ruins.

Exiting the site, we head over to the nearby Belmond Sanctuary Lodge for a delicious buffet lunch at the Tinkuy Restaurant. After lunch, we then catch the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. 

From there, you will travel back to Ollantaytambo by the Expedition train. We then continue to Cusco by car, where you will be dropped off at your hotel. Total travel time is about 4 hours, and you can expect to arrive at your hotel between 7 and 8 PM.

Feeling adventurous? You can add an extra hike before touring the Machu Picchu citadel. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain offer interesting birds-eye views over the ruins and a bit of extra adventure. But take note – these hikes require an additional permit that must be purchased at the time of booking, as they can sell out months in advance. Talk to your Travel Consultant for more details, or check out this blog.