PRIVATE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS

The Classic 4 Days Lares Hike starts with a pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 6:00 am. We will head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing by the town of Calca, and visit the archaeological Inca site of Humanmarca. It is a pre-Inca citadel with spectacular terraces, temples and Inca streets. We then continue our journey through the Lares Valley, and have a delicious breakfast with a stunning view of the Andes Mountains. We will visit the hot springs of Lares, where we will have time to enjoy the numerous pools that are made up of different temperatures ranging from cold to very hot. The volcanic water is considered to be very good for your health. We will have lunch, and then finally start the first part of our hike, which will take about three hours. Our local guide will share his knowledge about the different local customs of the Andean communities. We will learn more about textile, livestock, agriculture and the cultivation of the many variety of organic potatoes and medicinal plants. We will follow the hiking route, passing pretty farmlands and alpacas along the way. We will then arrive at our campsite of Huaca Wasi (3770m/ 12,370ft) and visit the local community closeby to learn more about their traditions and lifestyle. If there is time, we will also visit the local school. The children there still speak Quechua as their maternal language. You are welcome to bring toys, note books or school material for the children to share. You may even be able to teach them a few words in English. In the evening, we will have a dinner, freshly prepared by our chef.

Very early in the morning, our staff will wake you up with a hot cup of coca tea. After breakfast we continue walking for 3 hours until reaching Huacarpunku where we can see a waterfall with impressive views. There are beautiful landscapes with lakes, waterfalls, llamas and alpacas. We will start our descent to the lunch point, passing by two lagoons (3,600m/ 11,800 ft). We will take a moment to rest, enjoying a fantastic view of the valley and farm houses that were built with original, ancient stones. We then continue our trail to our campsite in Yanahuara (3,400m/ 11,150ft), where our tents will be waiting for us.

Early in the morning, we will have a nutricious breakfast and continue our hike downhill along a beautiful path. We will get the chance to learn more about the process of making the traditional Inca drink called “Chicha Morada“, which is made from purple corn, along with lemon and spices. You are welcomed to try this delicious drink! As we continue our hike, the vegetation changes from the sparse grasses and high mountains to lush cloud forest, being home to fruit trees, a wide variety of flora, and corn, quinoa, and avocado fields. We ascent to the Yanahuara lookout where we will have an impressive view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will then descend to our lunch point and enjoy a delicious meal freshly prepared by our chef. Here we say goodbye to our team and then take our transportation to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, we take the train at 12:58 pm to Aguas Calientes, the village at the bottom of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. We will have dinner at a local restaurant and stay the night at our hotel in Aguas Calientes.

On this day we will wake up very early this morning for our visit to famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a jewel of the Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different quarters, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the US researcher Hiram Bingham. We will have a guided tour to see and learn about the Machu Picchu site, a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour, you will have free time to take photos and discover this magical place by yourself.

For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will do so at your designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group: 9am to 11am).

In the afternoon, we will return to Aguas Calientes and take the train to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 14:55 pm. On the way back, we can enjoy the incredible landscape of the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival at the train station, we will take our final return bus back to Cusco.

ACCOMMODATION

• 2 nights in a tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent for greater comfort.
• Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes at a Standard Hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hotel with Wi-Fi, take-away breakfast, and a private bathroom with hot water included. You can also upgrade to a higher quality hotel.

MEALS

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (4x breakfast, 3x lunch and 3x dinner).
• Professional cook and cooking equipment.
• Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to freshly prepare your meals.
• Dinner on day 3 and breakfast on day 4 at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
• Our meals can be accommodated for any dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have certain preferences, so we can plan ahead.
• A hot cup of coca tea every morning during the trek.
• Boiled water provided for drinking water at the campsites (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle).

TRANSPORTATION

• Transport from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of the trek (day 1)
• Transport to Ollantaytambo and train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (day 3)
• Shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu (day 4)
• Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (day 4)
• Transportation from Ollantaytambo back to your hotel in Cusco (day 4)

LOCAL GUIDES & EQUIPMENT

• English/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 12.
  All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit with them, as well as an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies.
• Sleeping bag included.

BRIEFING & TICKETS

• Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be between 5:00-7:30 pm at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
• Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
• Ticket to Hot Springs of Lares
• Entrance ticket of Lares trek

MEALS

• Dinner and lunch on the last day.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. You can choose to add one of them to your trekking itinerary for $60.00 per person. Please let us know in advance, so we can check the availability.
• Entrance to the Aguas Calientes hot springs.

OTHER

• Trekking poles (additional $20.00 per person).
• Tips for your guide, cook and porters.
• National or international flights.
• Travel Insurance.
• Other activities not mentioned in this itinerary.

• Aguas Calientes Hotel Upgrade: Please let us know in advance, so we can arrange everything for you.
• Optional visit of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: $60.00 per person. Let us know at the time of booking as it requires a separate permit.
• Trekking poles (additional $20.00 per person).

The Lares trek is considered a walk of moderate difficulty. It is not a technical walk, but the altitude can affect some people. Ascents and descents are more gradual compared to other treks, which is why the real challenges are the high altitude and the weather. Weather in the Andes Mountains is always unpredictable, especially at high altitude. You can expect cold, windy and even wet weather (especially if you are hiking during the rainy season).

Lares features some high altitude campsites, so you must be properly acclimatized in order to avoid altitude sickness. 

The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experiencee is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving to Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.

Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to eat healthy food, drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves, drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.

The Classic Lares hike is one of the few treks we can operate all year round. There are basically two seasons in the Andes: wet season and dry season. Dry season runs from about May through September. The days are typically clear and sunny, and the trails dry. Despite the cold nighttime temperatures that also accompany dry season, this is an optimal time for hiking. However, dry season is also peak tourism season around Cusco, which is why some hikers choose the wet season for the Lares Trek, which runs from December through March. The temperatures warm up slightly and the chance of rain increases dramatically. You can expect rain showers pretty much every day, sometimes heavy.

The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain are additional add-ons that you can choose to purchase besides the Machu Picchu visit that is already included in this trek. You can visit one of these mountains after your Machu Picchu visit to see the Inca Citadel from the top.

Please send us an email asking about availability. Then, if available, you can select which mountain you would like to climb when you make your reservation online. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are an additional 60 USD.

What is Huayna Picchu Mountain?

Huayna Picchu Mountain is home to the Temple of the Moon and is the famous mountain peak seen behind the ruins in all the classic photos of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is an approximately 45 minute climb with more ruins at the top and offers an incredible view of the Machu Picchu ruins. The visit to Huayna Picchu takes approximately 2 hours. Huayna Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.

What is Machu Picchu Mountain?

Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional hike within Machu Picchu that offers a much higher view of the ruins and overlooks the entire valley. Machu Picchu Mountain is an additional 60 USD.

Congratulations, adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure. The day before your departuer at 6:00 pm, please stop by our office at

392 Triunfo St. Office 218, Cusco

to receive a briefing. Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify last questions you may have.

We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes with rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.

We have a lot of vegetarian travellers and our cooks have some great options for them to enjoy their meals. We can cater for or all other types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.

Prior hiking experience is recommended but not required. Our guides are trained to assist hikers of all fitness levels and all trekking experience levels so you will never be left behind. Most important of all is to acclimate yourself to the altitude before your trek.

Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge.

The minimum group size for private tours is 2 people and the maximum group size is 15 people. There will be an assistant guide for groups over 12.

Please feel free to read our Terms & Conditions and let us know in case you have any questions regarding our cancellation policy.