Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N

Accommodation

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

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
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes
• Lunch at Machu Picchu on the last 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
• Bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu (down/up/down)
• Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes 
• Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

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 8kg/17lbs per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire a personal mule and muleteer.
• Entry to Machu Picchu
• 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: 4h
• Minimum Altitude: 4000m (13,123 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 our trek. After resting or enjoying a morning cappuccino, we’ll head up the mountain for about an hour by car until we reach the trailhead for our Lares Trek to Machu Picchu journey: Palqaq (4000m / 13,123 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.

Thanks to our close relationship with the community, we’ll have the opportunity to really immerse ourself in the culture, perhaps learning about traditional weaving or farming techniques, or even visiting the local school, if it’s a school day.

The nature of our visit depends a lot on the group and our timing, as we don’t want to interfere too much in the children’s daily lessons. Please note that this is not a chance for you to teach the children, only to visit and observe. Also, the school is closed on the weekend (including Fridays) and during statutory holidays. Be sure to carefully check your trip itinerary to see what day you will be passing through Chaullacocha! 

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: 11 km
• Total Walking Time: 6-7 h
• Minimum Altitude: 3730m (12,238 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4438m (14,560 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3730m
• Approx. night temperature: 2°C (36°F)

Today we conquer three high passes: Quinsacocha, Q’aqahuachana, and the highest point of the entire trek, Ruyaccancha. After a hearty breakfast in the local community, we’ll begin our hike, gradually ascending while skirting the mountainside and leaving behind the magical community of Chaullacocha with its 12 charming lakes. We’ll reach Quinsacocha (4334m / 14,219 ft), named for the three small lakes that dot the area, where we’ll take a break before continuing our ascent to the first pass, Quinsacocha (4380m / 14,370ft).

From here, the trail will undulate as we make our way to the Q’aqahuachana pass (4380m / 14,370ft), a special place offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. For an even better vantage point, we have the option of hiking to the Q’aqahuachana lookout point (4400m / 14,435ft), which takes about 20 minutes round-trip and rewards us with panoramic, 360-degree views. After this magical stop, we’ll continue our climb to Ruyaccancha pass (4438m / 14,561ft), the highest point of the trek.

After reaching Ruyaccancha, we’ll start our descent, passing by picturesque stone-and-adobe houses with thatched roofs, typical of the area, along with temporary enclosures for the alpacas, llamas, and other animals that roam these high altitudes in search of hardy grazing plants like yareta and ichu.

After about 3.5 to 4 hours of hiking, we’ll arrive at Maranpaqui (4,165m / 13,665ft), where we’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch.

Following lunch, we’ll descend further, passing through areas with abundant local vegetation, including queuña trees (Polylepis) and the striking purple kulli t’ika (Brachyotum rostratum), also known as “Inca earrings”. 

Eventually, we’ll reach our cozy campsite at Rayancancha (3731m / 12,239ft), a beautiful valley by a small stream, after about 2 to 2.5 hours of downward hiking.

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

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, 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 2-3 hours on to Ollantaytambo.

In Ollantaytambo we’ll catch a late afternoon train to Aguas Calientes, the final leg of today’s journey. Once in Aguas Calientes, we will check into our accommodations and then enjoy a celebratory dinner. Then it’s off to bed, in preparation for tomorrow’s early start!

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.

After a restful night’s sleep in your comfortable hotel, you will have time for a delicious breakfast at a reasonable hour before we make our way to the bus stop at 7:15 AM. A not-too-early start means you will enjoy your visit that much more!

We will have to wait in line for a bit to board the bus, but we will arrive to this marvellous site in time for an 8 AM entry. This is the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu, with great views, and a window of time between the Classic Inca Trail hikers and the day trippers arriving by train at around 11 AM or 12 noon. 

Once we reach Machu Picchu, your guide will give you a 2 hour walking tour of the historic citadel.  After the tour has completed, we will head to the Tinkuy Restaurant located inside the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge hotel and enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch while you reflect on our visit.

Then we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes (if you are feeling adventurous you can walk, but your bus ticket is included) where there are lots of markets for keen shoppers while you wait for your train.

We return to Cusco in the mid-afternoon by the Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

If you’re feeling adventurous you may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these hikes. For more tips on what to see, check out our Guide to Visiting Machu Picchu.