The Lares Trek crosses the mountains north of the Sacred Valley, through the Quechua farming and herding communities of the Lares Valley, and ends with a train ride and a guided visit of Machu Picchu. It is about 40 km over three walking days, with one high pass, the Sicllakasa (4,830 m / 15,846 ft), and it needs no Inca Trail permit. On day 1…
The Lares Trek crosses the mountains north of the Sacred Valley, through the Quechua farming and herding communities of the Lares Valley, and ends with a train ride and a guided visit of Machu Picchu. It is about 40 km over three walking days, with one high pass, the Sicllakasa (4,830 m / 15,846 ft), and it needs no Inca Trail permit.
On day 1 we start in the Pumahuanca valley, above Urubamba, and climb to our camp at Puyoc. On day 2 we cross the Sicllakasa pass, stop for lunch by Yanacocha lake and descend to Cuncani. On day 3 a short walk takes us down to Lares, where you relax in the hot springs before we drive to Ollantaytambo and take the train to Aguas Calientes. Day 4 is the guided visit of Machu Picchu and the return to Cusco.
Pack horses carry the camping equipment and up to 7 kg of your luggage, and our cook prepares all meals on the trail. The Machu Picchu ticket, the hot springs, the train, the bus to the citadel and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes are included. Southern Peru Explorers is a local operator based in Cusco, running treks since 2009.
The Lares Trek is for travelers who want mountain scenery and village life on the way to Machu Picchu, on quiet trails and without the Inca Trail permit. Comparing routes? See the treks to Machu Picchu compared , or the…
The Lares Trek is for travelers who want mountain scenery and village life on the way to Machu Picchu, on quiet trails and without the Inca Trail permit.
Comparing routes? See the treks to Machu Picchu compared, or the Salkantay Trek 5 Days if you want a longer trek.
Daily trail breakdown, key milestones, altitudes, and campsites.
We pick you up early at your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley and drive to the Pumahuanca valley, above Urubamba, where the trek begins. While the horsemen load the pack horses with the tents, food and your duffel bag, your guide explains the route.
The trail climbs gradually through farmland and small hamlets, then into high grassland where llamas and alpacas graze. Your guide tells you about the farming year, the native potatoes and the textiles of the communities you pass. We arrive at the Puyoc camp in the afternoon, with time to rest before dinner.
Facts and figures
This is the hardest day. After breakfast we climb slowly to the Sicllakasa pass, at 4,830 m (15,846 ft), the highest point of the trek, with views of snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Take your time: at this altitude a slow, steady pace works best.
From the pass we descend past Yanacocha, the "black lake", where we stop for lunch, and continue down the valley among herds of alpacas to Cuncani, a Quechua community of farmers and herders. Our camp is near the village.
Facts and figures
A short walk of about 2 hours 30 minutes takes us down from Cuncani through fields and small farms to Lares, at about 3,150 m. On the way you may meet women weaving and selling their textiles. In Lares you relax in the hot springs, a set of outdoor pools of warm mineral water, and we have lunch.
In the afternoon our vehicle takes us to Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley, where we board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. The train ride takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Night in a hotel.
Facts and figures
After breakfast at the hotel we take the bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of the citadel: its temples, terraces and houses, and how the Incas built and used them. If you booked Huayna Picchu, you climb it at your ticket time.
Then the bus takes you back to Aguas Calientes, where you have time for lunch (not included) before the train to Ollantaytambo and the transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Facts and figures
Complete transparency for all equipment, meals, transport, and admissions.
Recommended gear and apparel checklist from our mountain guides.
The horses carry up to 7 kg of your personal luggage, so pack light; you will also enjoy the climb to the Sicllakasa pass (4,830 m) more with a light daypack.
13 photos from this tour.
2 nights camping (Puyoc and Cuncani) and 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free and other diets, and food allergies, are catered for if you tell us when you book.
Booking information for this tour.
For each traveler we need the details exactly as they appear in the passport: full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth. Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets are issued with these details, so any error can mean extra charges or being refused entry. Please also send us the name of your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for the pick-up.
To confirm your Lares Trek, pay through our secure link: Contact us to confirm availability and request a payment link. As soon as we receive the payment we book your Machu Picchu ticket, train, bus and hotel. Machu Picchu tickets and trains are limited, so early booking is recommended.
After the payment you receive an email with the schedule, the packing list and the final instructions. Our team in Cusco is available before, during and after the trek.
Answers to the most common questions regarding trail preparation and logistics.
It is moderate. The trail is not technical, but the altitude makes it tiring: day 2 crosses the Sicllakasa pass at 4,830 m (15,846 ft). The walking days are about 6 hours 30 minutes, 6 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes. With 2 or 3 days of acclimatization in Cusco and a reasonable level of fitness, most people do it well.
On our route the highest point is the Sicllakasa pass, 4,830 m (15,846 ft). The camps are at Puyoc (4,300 m) and Cuncani (3,800 m), and Lares is at about 3,150 m. Our Lares Trek FAQ has the full altitude profile and the other Lares routes.
No. The Lares Trek is outside the Machu Picchu sanctuary and needs no Inca Trail permit. You only need the Machu Picchu entrance ticket for day 4, which is included, like the Lares hot springs entrance.
Yes. We stop at the Lares hot springs on day 3, after the walk down from Cuncani, and the entrance is included. Bring a swimsuit and a small towel.
The dry season, from May to September, has the most stable weather; April and October are good shoulder months. From November to March it rains more, and landslides can affect the road to Lares. Nights at the camps are cold all year and often below freezing from June to August.
The Inca Trail follows an Inca road past Inca sites into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, but it needs a permit booked months ahead. The Lares Trek needs no permit, has fewer hikers and more contact with village life, crosses a higher pass and reaches Machu Picchu by train. See the Machu Picchu treks compared.
Pack horses carry the tents, the kitchen, the food and up to 7 kg of your personal luggage in a duffel bag. You carry only a daypack with water, snacks, a jacket and your camera.
Two nights in four-season tents, at Puyoc and at Cuncani, and the third night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, before the visit of Machu Picchu.
Yes, if they are in reasonable shape and acclimatize first. Walk, climb stairs or hike in the weeks before the trip, and spend 2 or 3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before the trek.
Tell your guide at once. Our guides are trained in first aid and carry a medical kit and oxygen. Rest, drink water and walk slowly; if the symptoms get worse, the best treatment is to go down.
Yes, as an optional extra of USD 75 per person, subject to availability. Tickets are limited, so book it at the same time as the trek.
Choose your start date
Numbers = Machu Picchu tickets left on day 4, the day you visit Machu Picchu. Dates without a number: we check tickets for you.
No payment now: we confirm availability and price first.
Compare this tour with similar ones: duration, altitude, difficulty and price.
| Tour | Duration | Distance | Max altitude | Difficulty | Group | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salkantay Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 74 km | 4,630 m | Moderate / Challenging | – | $420 |
| Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: 4 DaysThis tour | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 40 km | 4,830 m | Moderate | Minimum 2 travelers | $650 |
| Inca Jungle Trail 3 Days to Machu Picchu | 3 Days / 2 Nights | 10 km | 4,300 m | Easy to Moderate | Max 12 travelers | $390 |
| Inca Jungle Trek 4 Days to Machu Picchu | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 28 km | 4,300 m | Easy to Moderate | Max 12 travelers | $420 |
| Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek: 7 Days | 7 Days / 6 Nights | 97 km | 4,000 m | Moderate/Challenging | Minimum 2 travelers | $1,350 |
Travel guides from our team in Cusco to help you prepare.
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