Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

The best part of this five-day trip is the change of pace: you begin in the quiet Lares Valley, where Quechua is still spoken in isolated villages, then reach Machu Picchu by the Short Inca Trail. I like the hot springs at the start and the peaceful campsite beside a blue mountain lake. I also like the way horses carry up to 7 kilos of your personal gear, leaving you with a lighter daypack.

The catch is altitude. Day 2 climbs to 4,700 meters, and the route includes long uphill and downhill stretches. You need a moderate fitness level, a current passport, and a willingness to sleep in a tent before enjoying hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.

Key points before you book

• A quieter route to Machu Picchu: The Lares Valley sees far fewer people than the classic Inca Trail.
• A serious high pass: Condor Pass reaches 4,700 meters, making Day 2 the physical test of the trip.
• Two different treks in one: You hike remote Andean trails first, then join the Short Inca Trail at Km 104.
• Strong camp support: Cooks, porters, guides, and horsemen handle meals, tents, and shared equipment.
• A cultural focus: Cancha Cancha has no electricity, internet, cellphone service, or modern drainage system.
• Plan for extra costs: Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, a mattress, sleeping bag, and trekking poles are optional extras.

Why the Lares route feels different

Most people who come to Machu Picchu focus on the famous ruins. This route gives you three days in the high Andes before the citadel appears. That matters. You see the mountains as a living home, not only as a backdrop for an ancient site.

The trip begins around 5:30 a.m. from your hotel, although the listed meeting time is 4:30 a.m., so confirm the exact pickup with the operator. Early starts are normal here. They allow you to reach the trail before the heat and leave room for the long transfers between valleys.

The group is limited to 12 people. That is small enough for a guide to monitor your pace and help with altitude, but large enough to provide some company around the evening cooking tent. Solo hikers should find the setup reassuring, since the guide and support crew stay with the group throughout the route.

TreXperience has used guides including Manolo, Anthony, Gilbert, Elias, Sara, Rosmel, Eddy, and Jose Abad Cortez on different departures. Guides have explained local history, Quechua culture, plants, animals, and trail conditions in English. Your assigned guide may differ, but the guide is central to the experience, especially on the steep second day.

Day 1: Lares hot springs and the blue lake camp

Your first stop is a local market in the Sacred Valley. Then you continue to the Lares thermo-medicinal baths, arriving at about 8 a.m. The pools have different temperatures, so you can ease into the trip rather than begin with an immediate hard climb.

The baths are more than a pleasant extra. At this altitude, your body is adjusting to Peru’s high country, and warm water can feel good on tired muscles and joints. Keep your expectations sensible, though. This is a mountain bathing stop, not a spa resort.

After breakfast, you hike uphill for about two hours toward Kiswarani village. Lunch follows, then another two hours on foot to the first camp. The day covers about 9 kilometers and is rated easy, but the altitude can make an easy trail feel less easy than it looks on paper.

The camp sits beside a blue lake at 3,750 meters. Your tent should be ready when you arrive, with hot tea waiting. This is one of the trip’s most appealing moments: you have time to rest, watch the sky darken, and hear about Inca astronomy without the noise of a town nearby.

You sleep in a tent with comfortable camping equipment. A duffle bag of up to 7 kilos is carried by horse, which is a major help. Pack your day’s water, rain layer, warm clothes, camera, and personal medication in your own small backpack.

Day 2: Condor Pass at 4,700 meters

Day 2 is the reason you should take the fitness warning seriously. You receive hot coffee or cocoa tea at your tent, eat breakfast, and begin a four-hour climb to Condor Pass.

At 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, the air is thin. The challenge is not only the distance. Every step uphill costs more effort, and cold or changing weather can make the pass feel tougher. Walk slowly, drink regularly, and tell your guide early if you feel unwell. The guide can adjust the pace, but you need to communicate clearly.

At the top, take time to look around before beginning the three-hour descent. The scenery includes high mountain valleys and wide Andean views. This is the most dramatic day of the trip, but it is also the day most likely to test your knees, lungs, and patience.

The total distance is about 16 kilometers, with seven hours of hiking. The official rating is moderate to challenging. That rating is fair. You do not need to be an elite hiker, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours and handling steep ground.

The night is spent at Cancha Cancha, at 3,750 meters. This village is isolated from modern technology. There is no electricity, internet, cellphone service, computer access, or drainage system, and Quechua is the local language.

For me, this is one of the most meaningful parts of the route. You are not simply passing through scenery. You see a village where daily life remains closely tied to farming, animals, weather, and the mountains. Llamas and alpacas are part of the setting, and the absence of phone service gives the evening a rare quiet.

The tradeoff is comfort. Do not expect a hot shower, charging point, or reliable contact with home. Tell family and friends before departure that you may be unreachable.

Day 3: Down to Huaran and onward to Ollantaytambo

After breakfast, you hike downhill for about four hours. The route ends in Huaran, at roughly 2,700 meters. This change in elevation feels welcome after two nights high in the mountains.

The walk covers about 12 kilometers and is rated easy, but downhill hiking can be hard on ankles and knees. Trekking poles are not included, though they can be rented or purchased with advance guidance from the operator. If your knees are sensitive, poles are worth considering.

From Huaran, private transport takes you toward Salineras and Ollantaytambo. The timing and exact sightseeing sequence should be confirmed, since the day combines a morning hike, driving, and visits in the Sacred Valley.

Ollantaytambo is often called the last living Inca city because its old streets and water channels remain part of the present town. You spend the night in a three-star hotel and eat dinner at a local restaurant. After two nights in a tent, a bed and indoor bathroom will feel like a small luxury.

The switch from remote mountain trails to a historic town is well judged. It gives you a physical break before the Machu Picchu section, while also showing how Inca planning still shapes daily life.

Day 4: The Short Inca Trail from Km 104

Day 4 starts around 6 a.m. You walk to the train station in Ollantaytambo, then ride for about 90 minutes beside the Urubamba River to Km 104 at Chachabamba.

This is where the second trek begins. You first explore Chachabamba, an Inca site in the cloud forest, then hike for about four hours to Wiñay Huayna. A packed lunch and refreshments are provided.

The Short Inca Trail is not a quiet continuation of the Lares route. You can expect more people here, especially around the major ruins and the approach to Machu Picchu. That contrast is useful: Lares gives you solitude and village life, while this section gives you a concentrated taste of the famous Inca road.

Wiñay Huayna is one of the great stops of the day. Terraces, stonework, and steep mountain surroundings make it a powerful introduction to Machu Picchu’s wider setting. Your guide’s explanation matters here, since the site is easier to appreciate when you understand how it fits into the route.

From Wiñay Huayna, you continue toward the Sun Gate. Reaching it in the afternoon gives you your first view of Machu Picchu. The approach is part of the reward. You do not simply arrive by bus and walk through an entrance. You see the citadel from above after several days on foot.

A one-hour downhill walk takes you into Machu Picchu, after which you ride the bus to Aguas Calientes. Dinner and a hotel night are included. Arriving in the afternoon may allow a calmer first look at the site, but conditions depend on the pace of the group, train timing, and crowd levels.

Day 5: Machu Picchu at first light

The final morning begins early. You eat breakfast in Aguas Calientes, then take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. On a clear morning, sunrise over the citadel can be spectacular, but weather in the mountains is never guaranteed.

Your guide leads a two to three-hour tour of Machu Picchu. This is when the historical and architectural details come together: terraces, stone structures, passageways, and the mountain setting you have been approaching since Lares.

After the guided visit, you have time to explore on your own. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain require separate tickets, and those tickets must be reserved well ahead of time. They are not a casual add-on for the morning. If you want one, arrange it before the trek and tell the operator.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes is not included. After lunch, you take the Panoramic train and bus back toward Cusco, where the TreXperience team meets you and returns you to your hotel.

This final transfer makes the trip convenient, but it is also a long day. You will have started early, walked through Machu Picchu, descended to town, and then spent hours traveling. Plan a light evening after arrival.

Food, camps, and the people behind the trek

The support crew is one of the strongest parts of this experience. Chefs such as Oscar, Vidal, Tiburcio, Augusto, and their assistants have prepared multi-course meals in mountain camps, including birthday cakes and breakfast desserts.

That level of cooking is unusual on a trek. Meals have included varied Peruvian dishes, generous portions, snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is not just fuel. It gives the group a shared rhythm at camp and can make a hard day feel manageable.

The package includes four lunches, four dinners, and five breakfasts. Vegetarian meals are available if requested at booking, and you should give the operator all dietary requirements in advance.

Porters and horsemen carry camping supplies and help prepare camp. Names reported for different departures include Gregorio, Toribio, Demetrio, L’andros, and others. You should still pack responsibly and avoid treating the 7-kilo duffle allowance as an invitation to bring everything you own.

Two nights of camping and two hotel nights give the trip a useful balance. You get the remote experience without spending five straight nights outdoors. A sleeping bag, mattress, and trekking poles are optional, so ask what camping equipment is supplied before you pack.

Is $980 a fair price?

At $980 per person, this is not a budget day tour. It covers five days, transport from Cusco and back, trains, buses, guides, cooks, porters, horses, meals, camping equipment, two hotel nights, and the organized route through Machu Picchu.

The value is strongest if you want one booking to handle a complicated trip. Lares transport, mountain logistics, the Km 104 train, Machu Picchu access, Aguas Calientes, and the return journey would be difficult to arrange separately.

Check one important detail before paying: the trip information lists entrance tickets as included in the daily stops, but it also says entrance fees for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are optional. Confirm exactly which Machu Picchu admission and train services are covered for your departure.

The experience is booked about 13 days ahead on average, but do not use that as your planning target. The optional mountain tickets require advance booking, and the trek needs your passport name, number, expiry date, and country at the time of booking.

Who should choose this five-day trek?

I would choose it if you want Machu Picchu with a stronger sense of place than a direct train visit provides. It suits hikers who enjoy small villages, cold mountain nights, long views, local food, and a route that changes character each day.

It also suits solo visitors and families with active teenagers. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and everyone should have moderate physical fitness. The 4,700-meter pass is the dividing line: if altitude or steep descents worry you, a shorter or lower route may be wiser.

I would not choose it if you want a relaxed sightseeing holiday, guaranteed phone service, private hotel rooms every night, or an easy walk to Machu Picchu. This is a real trek with an early start, tent nights, thin air, and one demanding day.

The cancellation policy is strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size forces cancellation, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail?

Book this trip if you want the quietest and most culturally grounded part of the journey first, followed by a classic arrival at Machu Picchu. The hot springs, Cancha Cancha, the high pass, excellent camp cooking, and the blue lake campsite give the first half its character.

Before booking, confirm the exact pickup time, Machu Picchu entrance details, train class, camping equipment, and any extra tickets. If you are ready for the altitude and accept two nights in a tent, $980 buys a well-supported five-day route with far more than a standard Machu Picchu visit.

FAQ

How long is the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail?

The experience lasts approximately five days, including the Lares Trek, the Short Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, hotels, camping, and transport back to Cusco.

What is the highest point on the trek?

The highest point is Condor Pass at 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, on Day 2.

How difficult is the trek?

The first day is rated easy, Day 2 is moderate to challenging, and Day 3 is easy. You should have a moderate level of physical fitness.

Where do I sleep?

You spend two nights camping in the mountains, one night in a three-star hotel in Ollantaytambo, and one night in a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, along with snacks. Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking.

Is a duffle bag provided?

A duffle allowance of up to 7 kilos is provided for personal belongings carried by horse.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. Tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are optional and must be booked as far in advance as possible.

What documents do I need?

You need a current valid passport on the day of travel. Passport name, number, expiry date, and country are required for every participant when booking.