Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

Machu Picchu is the finale, but the character of this trip is set earlier, on the quiet Lares route. You cross high Andean country, camp beside a blue lake, and pass through Cancha Cancha, a remote Quechua-speaking village, before joining the Short Inca Trail.

I like the contrast between the routes: Lares offers village life and open mountain quiet, while the Inca Trail adds stone ruins and the classic arrival through the Sun Gate. I also like that a cook, horseman, and guide support the trek, with meals and camp set up along the way.

The main consideration is the altitude and effort. Day 2 climbs to 4,700 meters, and you need to be comfortable hiking for several hours; the later Inca Trail day also brings a long stretch of steps. This is not a gentle walk to Machu Picchu.

• Warm up at the Lares baths: Begin with a dip in thermal pools before the first hike.
• Climb to Condor Pass: Reach 4,700 meters on the trek’s hardest day, then descend to isolated Cancha Cancha.
• Meet the highland communities: Pass villages where Quechua is spoken and modern services are limited.
• Travel light on the trail: A horse carries a duffel of up to 7 kilos, while the crew handles camp and cooking.
• Enter Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate: Hike the Short Inca Trail from Km 104, then return for a guided visit the next morning.
• Plan for two kinds of trekking: The Lares route is remote and quiet; the Inca Trail section can be busy.

Lares first, Inca Trail second

This five-day trip is a smart choice if you want more than a quick visit to Machu Picchu. Its first three days are about the Andes beyond the famous ruins: high passes, lakes, animals, and small communities. The last two days bring you onto the Short Inca Trail and into Machu Picchu.

That change of pace is the appeal. Lares is less traveled than the classic Inca Trail, so you get more stillness and a closer look at rural life. The Inca Trail section, by contrast, brings stone sites and the memorable approach to the citadel through the Sun Gate. Expect more people there than on the Lares route.

The group is capped at 12, which can make it easier to hear your guide and keep a shared pace. Guides vary by departure. Past groups have hiked with guides including Manolo, Sara, Anthony, and Gilbert, but you should not assume you will be assigned one of them.

Day 1: Hot springs, Kiswarani, and a lakeside camp

The day starts early, with hotel pickup listed around 5:30 am and a meeting time of 4:30 am. Those times do not match, so confirm your exact pickup before the trek. The drive heads toward the Sacred Valley, with a stop at a local market before reaching the Lares thermal baths at about 8 am.

The pools sit at different temperatures, making this a pleasant way to loosen up before walking. After breakfast, you hike uphill for about two hours to Kiswarani, where lunch is served, then continue another two hours to camp beside a blue lake at 3,750 meters.

The day covers about 9 kilometers and is rated easy. Still, you are camping at altitude, so take the first day at a measured pace and drink water. Tents and hot tea are ready at camp, with time to rest and, if conditions allow, stargaze and hear about Inca astronomy.

Day 2: The hard climb to Condor Pass

Day 2 is the physical test. After a hot drink in your tent and breakfast, you climb for roughly four hours to Condor Pass, at 4,700 meters. The altitude is the key challenge: even hikers who are fit at home can feel slower and more breathless up here.

At the summit, there is time to take in the mountain scenery before the long descent. The route covers about 16 kilometers in seven hours and ends at Cancha Cancha, at 3,750 meters. This village is described as isolated from electricity, internet, computers, drainage, and mobile service. Quechua is the language spoken there.

That remoteness is a real part of the trip, not just a pretty backdrop. You are walking through a place where daily life remains closely tied to the land, and where modern conveniences are scarce. Be respectful when passing through and follow your guide’s advice about local interactions.

The day is rated moderate to challenging. You do not need to race the group; the guide sets the pace, and support staff carry gear and prepare camp. But you should be ready for a sustained uphill climb followed by a substantial downhill walk.

Day 3: Leave the highlands for Ollantaytambo

After breakfast in Cancha Cancha, you descend for about four hours to Huaran, at 2,700 meters. The walk covers roughly 12 kilometers and is rated easy, a welcome change after the pass. The route ends in the Sacred Valley, where private transport takes you onward to Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is more than a place to sleep before the train. Its old streets and water channels are part of a living town, and the water system has been in use since Inca times. You have time to explore before dinner at a local restaurant and a hotel night.

This transition matters. After two nights in tents, a bed and a shower make the evening feel restorative. It also brings you closer to the next day’s trailhead without asking you to rush straight from a remote camp to Machu Picchu.

Day 4: From Km 104 to the Sun Gate

The day begins around 6 am, with a walk to the train station and a 90-minute ride along the Urubamba River. You leave the train at Km 104, in the cloud forest, and start hiking toward Machu Picchu.

The first stop is Chachabamba, an Inca site you explore before continuing toward Wiñay Huayna. The hike to Wiñay Huayna takes about four hours, and a packed lunch and refreshments are provided. From there, you continue to the Sun Gate for your first view of Machu Picchu.

The arrival is one of the trip’s strongest moments. You approach on foot rather than stepping straight off a bus, and the view opens from above. The schedule puts your arrival in the afternoon, when the group aims to experience the site with fewer people around. Crowds and conditions can vary, so treat that as a possibility, not a promise.

From the Sun Gate, it is about an hour downhill to the citadel, followed by a bus to Aguas Calientes. Dinner and a hotel night are included. The route is listed as four hours of hiking, though the day also includes the train, site stops, and descent, so expect a full day.

Day 5: A guided visit to Machu Picchu

You get up early for the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. On a clear morning, sunrise may spread over the citadel, but weather decides whether you see it. Your guide then leads a two- to three-hour visit, explaining the site before leaving you time to explore on your own.

Optional climbs up Huayna Picchu or Montaña require separate tickets, which should be booked well ahead. These are not included in the price. If one matters to you, tell the company when booking and confirm availability rather than assuming you can add it at the last minute.

After the visit, you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch, which is not included, then return by panoramic train and bus to Cusco. A TreXperience team member meets you at the train and takes you back to your hotel.

Food, camp support, and what you carry

The trek includes two nights of mountain camping and two hotel nights, one in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes. Camping equipment is described as comfortable, and the crew includes guides, porters, horse handlers, and experienced cooks. A horse carries a personal duffel of up to 7 kilos, so pack essentials you need during the day separately.

Food is one of the tour’s most praised features. Meals are described as generous and varied, with cooks preparing full meals in camp. Past groups have singled out chefs such as Oscar, Augusto, Tiburcio, and Vidal, but staff assignments change. One memorable example: a chef made a birthday cake in the mountains, a reminder of how much care the crew can put into the details.

The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, plus snacks as listed for the trekking days. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when booking, and you should also provide any other dietary requirements then. A Pachamanca cooking demonstration is included, adding a food tradition to the trip rather than just keeping you fueled.

A sleeping bag, mattress, and trekking poles are optional extras, not included. Ask the operator for guidance on what to bring or rent. The tour provides transport throughout the trek and hotel pickup, so you do not have to piece together the route between Cusco, the trail, and Machu Picchu yourself.

Is $980 a fair price?

At $980 per person, this is not a budget hike. But the cost covers five days of transport, a guide and support crew, horse-carried gear, two camping nights, two hotel nights, and most meals. You are also paying for the logistics of combining the Lares route with the Short Inca Trail, then returning to Cusco.

The value is strongest if you want a supported trek rather than arranging each leg independently. The cooks and camp crew take a real load off your shoulders, and the horses carry the duffel limit. The hotel nights also give you a break between camping and the Machu Picchu visit.

Check the exact entry arrangements before paying, especially if you want Huayna Picchu or Montaña. The optional mountain tickets are not included and need advance planning. The standard visit to Machu Picchu is part of the itinerary, while the optional climbs are separate.

Who should choose this trek?

Choose it if you want a mix of mountain walking, community encounters, and Inca sites, and if quiet matters as much as the famous destination. It suits people with moderate fitness who can handle a long, high-altitude day and are content to camp for two nights. It can also work for adventurous families with teens, provided everyone is ready for the climb and altitude.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed sightseeing holiday, dislike camping, or have trouble with steep uphill walking and stairs. The trek reaches 4,700 meters, and the Short Inca Trail includes plenty of steps. The reviews include solo women who felt safe and well supported, but no trip can promise a particular guide or group dynamic.

The trip averages about 13 days advance booking. A current passport is required, and you must provide passport details for every person at booking. The stated cancellation policy is strict: cancellations and amendments are non-refundable. If bad weather or a minimum-group issue causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a refund.

Should you book it?

I would choose this trip for its two-part character: remote Lares villages first, then the stone path and Sun Gate approach to Machu Picchu. The mountain crew, generous meals, and hotel breaks make a demanding route more manageable, while the small group cap helps keep the trek personal.

Book it if you are prepared for altitude, camping, and an early start, and if you want the journey to include Andean life as well as the famous ruins. Before paying, confirm your pickup time, ask about gear, and secure any optional mountain tickets. If your main goal is an easy Machu Picchu visit, this five-day trek asks more of you than you need to give.

FAQ

How long is the trek?

The experience lasts approximately five days. It includes three days on the Lares route and the Sacred Valley, followed by the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.

How high does the route go?

The highest point is Condor Pass at 4,700 meters. The first two nights of camping are at about 3,750 meters.

How many nights are spent camping?

You spend two nights camping in the mountains, followed by hotel nights in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners. Lunch on the final day in Aguas Calientes is not included.

Are Huayna Picchu or Montaña tickets included?

No. Optional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Montaña are not included and should be booked in advance.

What should I know about the start time?

The meeting time is listed as 4:30 am, while hotel pickup is described as around 5:30 am. Confirm your exact pickup time with TreXperience before the trek.

What information do I need to provide when booking?

You must provide each participant’s passport name, number, expiry date, and country. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel, and you should advise the operator of dietary requirements when booking.