Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days: An Authentic Andean Adventure

Name: Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days: An Authentic Andean Adventure
Brand: Machu Picchu Team
SKU: TOUR-29381
Price: 450 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (2725 reviews)

Trek through remote Quechua communities, cross the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m), relax in the Lares hot springs and arrive early at Machu Picchu. Camping, meals, hotel, train and Machu Picchu ticket included. From USD 560.

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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days

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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days: An Authentic Andean Adventure

Route Map View Itinerary Map

5.0 Based on 2,725 Reviews

•

4 DAYS

Tour Overview

A Cultural Trek Far From the Crowds

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: Quechua Villages, High Passes and Hot Springs

The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is an alternative route that combines remote Andean landscapes and living Quechua communities with a guided visit to Machu Picchu, far from the crowded trails.

In 4 days you meet families who still weave by hand and herd llamas and alpacas, cross the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m) and the Cuncani Pass (4,200 m), relax in the Lares hot springs and arrive at Machu Picchu around 6:00 AM. Camping, meals, the trekking team, a hotel night, the train and your Machu Picchu ticket are included.

Duration4 days / 3 nights

DistanceAbout 35 km

Highest point4,700 m

GroupAbout 6 travelers

Quechua Communities

Traditional weaving, llamas and alpacas.

Pachacutec Pass

The highest point of the trek, at 4,700 m.

Lares Hot Springs

A well-earned soak after the passes.

Machu Picchu at 6:00 AM

A 2.5-hour guided tour.

Read the full Lares Trek to Machu Picchu description

On Day 1 we hike from Huaran to the community of Canchacancha. Day 2 is the hardest: we cross the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m) and camp in Quiswarani. On Day 3 we cross the Cuncani Pass, relax in the Lares hot springs and take the train to Aguas Calientes.

On Day 4 we arrive at Machu Picchu around 6:00 AM for a 2.5-hour guided tour, then return to Cusco by train.

Other treks to Machu Picchu: the Salkantay Trek 4 Days and the Inca Trail 4 Days. Short on time? Try the Huchuy Qosqo Trek Full Day.

Private Lares Trek

Enjoy the Lares Trek at your own pace with a private tour for you, your family or friends: flexible departure times, a personalized itinerary and a private guide. Send us your preferred date and group size for a custom quote.

Special Price for Returning Customers

Have you traveled with Machu Picchu Team before? Contact us before booking to receive a special returning-customer rate for the Lares Trek, subject to verification of your previous booking.

Availability & Booking

How to Book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu departs throughout the year, subject to Machu Picchu ticket and train availability. Tickets sell out fast, so we recommend booking at least 3 months in advance.

Click BOOK NOW and choose your date.

Enter your details exactly as on your passport.

Pay securely and receive your confirmation.

Join the pre-trek briefing in Cusco.

DeparturesAll year

Book ahead3 months

Group sizeAbout 6 travelers

PrivateOn request

Questions? 💬 WhatsApp +51 974 217 700 · 📧 info@machupicchuteam.com

Highlights

Why You’ll Love the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Nine reasons to choose the Lares route with Machu Picchu Team.

✓Living Quechua Culture
Remote communities far from the crowded trails.
✓Traditional Weaving
Families who still weave by hand.
✓Llamas and Alpacas
Herds grazing in the high Andes.
✓Pachacutec Pass
4,700 m, the highest point of the trek.
✓Cuncani Pass and Lagoons
Colorful lagoons and valley views.
✓Lares Hot Springs
Relax after crossing the passes.
✓Machu Picchu at 6:00 AM
A 2.5-hour guided tour.
✓Hotel in Aguas Calientes
A real bed before Machu Picchu.
✓Small Groups
About 6 travelers.

BOOK ONLINE

FROM

USD 560 per person (Children)

Duration 4 DAYS

Starts in Cusco at your hotel

Group size 06

Physical level Easy

Trip style Hiking

Distance 35 KILOMETERS

Meals 3 B, 3 L, 3 D

5.0 Excellent · 2,725 reviews

"Une superbe expérience ! L’équipe est au top, une superbe ambiance un tracé magnifiqu..."

Bouhet M 28/09/2026

"Just finished 4 days with Yuri & Jose, they were both amazing, super helpful and attent..."

BoardingPass605159 28/09/2026

"Great experience, an unforgettable adventure all thanks to Eduardo and Marx. Big thank ..."

Kristina K 27/09/2026

"Eduardo is the best guide! Really tailored our experience around our pace and flexibili..."

Zak L 27/09/2026

"This experience was amazing. The guys are really nice and the landscapes seems like AI...."

Jose Alejandro Navarro 27/09/2026

"I had such a great time on this guided tour! Everything was really well organised, and ..."

Mihai 26/09/2026

"Incredible, a very polite and attentive person, he knows a lot about the mountain, a to..."

Renato C 26/09/2026

"Nothing to say about the trek itself. The landscapes are magnificent and the organizati..."

lara j 25/09/2026

"The trek is magnificent, the landscapes are breathtaking, and the organization is decen..."

nuno29 25/09/2026

"We did the 2-day trail and were very satisfied with our guides Miguel and Alice. The wa..."

Thomas L 25/09/2026

Trek through remote Quechua communities, cross the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m), relax in the Lares hot springs and arrive early at Machu Picchu. Camping, meals, hotel, train and Machu Picchu ticket included. From USD 560.

A Cultural Trek Far From the Crowds

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: Quechua Villages, High Passes and Hot Springs

Duration4 days / 3 nights

DistanceAbout 35 km

Highest point4,700 m

GroupAbout 6 travelers

Quechua Communities

Traditional weaving, llamas and alpacas.

Pachacutec Pass

The highest point of the trek, at 4,700 m.

Lares Hot Springs

A well-earned soak after the passes.

Machu Picchu at 6:00 AM

A 2.5-hour guided tour.

Read the full Lares Trek to Machu Picchu description

On Day 4 we arrive at Machu Picchu around 6:00 AM for a 2.5-hour guided tour, then return to Cusco by train.

Other treks to Machu Picchu: the Salkantay Trek 4 Days and the Inca Trail 4 Days. Short on time? Try the Huchuy Qosqo Trek Full Day.

Private Lares Trek

Special Price for Returning Customers

Have you traveled with Machu Picchu Team before? Contact us before booking to receive a special returning-customer rate for the Lares Trek, subject to verification of your previous booking.

Availability & Booking

How to Book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu departs throughout the year, subject to Machu Picchu ticket and train availability. Tickets sell out fast, so we recommend booking at least 3 months in advance.

Click BOOK NOW and choose your date.

Enter your details exactly as on your passport.

Pay securely and receive your confirmation.

Join the pre-trek briefing in Cusco.

DeparturesAll year

Book ahead3 months

Group sizeAbout 6 travelers

PrivateOn request

Questions? 💬 WhatsApp +51 974 217 700 · 📧 info@machupicchuteam.com

Highlights

Why You’ll Love the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Nine reasons to choose the Lares route with Machu Picchu Team.

✓Living Quechua Culture
Remote communities far from the crowded trails.
✓Traditional Weaving
Families who still weave by hand.
✓Llamas and Alpacas
Herds grazing in the high Andes.
✓Pachacutec Pass
4,700 m, the highest point of the trek.
✓Cuncani Pass and Lagoons
Colorful lagoons and valley views.
✓Lares Hot Springs
Relax after crossing the passes.
✓Machu Picchu at 6:00 AM
A 2.5-hour guided tour.
✓Hotel in Aguas Calientes
A real bed before Machu Picchu.
✓Small Groups
About 6 travelers.

Trip itinerary

Cusco → Calca → Huaran → Canchacancha (3,700 m)

Your Lares Trek to Machu Picchu starts with hotel pickup in Cusco and a drive through the Sacred Valley to Calca and Huaran.

We hike about 3 hours to our lunch spot and 2 more hours to the community of Canchacancha, where you can meet local families. Tea time, dinner and camp around 5:00 PM.

DifficultyModerate

HikingAbout 5 hours

Camp altitude3,700 m

MealsLunch, dinner

Good to know: Have breakfast before pickup: Day 1 starts with lunch.

Included Today

✓Hotel pickup and transport
✓Guide and trekking team
✓Lunch and dinner
✓Camping equipment

Night 1: Camping in Canchacancha

Tents, inflatable mats and a dining tent. Bring your own sleeping bag.

Canchacancha → Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m) → Coyalayo → Quiswarani (3,700 m)

After a hot drink at 5:00 AM and breakfast, we start hiking around 6:30 AM: about 4 hours uphill to the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m), where we make a traditional offering to the mountains.

We descend about 1 hour to Coyalayo for lunch and hike 1.5 hours more to our camp in Quiswarani, passing waterfalls and local communities.

DifficultyChallenging

Highest point4,700 m

HikingAbout 6.5 hours

MealsB, L, D

Good to know: The hardest day of the trek: take it slowly and drink plenty of water.

Included Today

✓Breakfast, lunch and dinner
✓Trekking snacks
✓Camping equipment

Night 2: Camping in Quiswarani

At about 3,700 m.

Quiswarani → Cuncani Pass (4,200 m) → Cuncani → Lares Hot Springs → Ollantaytambo → Train → Aguas Calientes

After coca tea at 5:00 AM and breakfast, we hike about 2 hours to the Cuncani Pass (4,200 m), with views of colored lagoons and chances to see chinchillas, Andean foxes, llamas and alpacas.

We descend 2 hours to Cuncani for lunch and drive to the Lares hot springs to relax. Then a 2.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo and the train to Aguas Calientes.

DifficultyModerate

Highest point4,200 m

HikingAbout 4 hours

MealsB, L, D

Good to know: Bring a swimsuit and towel for the hot springs.

Included Today

✓Breakfast, lunch and dinner
✓Lares hot springs
✓Transport to Ollantaytambo
✓Train to Aguas Calientes

Night 3: Hotel in Aguas Calientes

A real bed before Machu Picchu.

Aguas Calientes → Bus → Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes → Train → Cusco

After an early breakfast, a 25-minute bus takes us to Machu Picchu, arriving around 6:00 AM for a 2.5-hour guided tour, with free time afterwards.

We return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and take the afternoon train through the Sacred Valley, with transport to your hotel in Cusco.

DifficultyEasy

Guided tour2.5 hours

ArrivalAbout 6:00 AM

MealsBreakfast, lunch

Good to know: Bring your original passport: it is required to enter Machu Picchu.

Included Today

✓Machu Picchu ticket
✓Bus
✓Guided tour
✓Train and transport to Cusco

End of the Tour

At your hotel in Cusco.

What is included

Pre-Trek Briefing

At our office in Cusco.

Transport

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, and all transport on the route, including Cuncani – Lares hot springs – Ollantaytambo.

Professional English-Speaking Guide

Plus a cooking and support team.

2 Nights Camping

Canchacancha and Quiswarani, with tents, inflatable mats, dining and kitchen tents, tables and chairs.

1 Night Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Before your Machu Picchu visit.

Meals

4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners, plus snacks and hot drinks. Vegetarian and vegan on request.

Lares Hot Springs

Visit on Day 3.

Machu Picchu

Entrance ticket, bus and a 2.5-hour guided tour.

Train

Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes and the return train to Cusco.

Safety Equipment

First aid kit, emergency oxygen and communication equipment.

Free Luggage Storage

At our office in Cusco.

Sleeping Bag

Bring your own.

Breakfast on Day 1

Have breakfast before pickup.

Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain

Optional tickets, booked in advance.

Travel Insurance

Strongly recommended.

Tips and Extra Drinks

Optional.

Lares Trek Packing List: What to Bring

On the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu temperatures change quickly between the passes and the valleys: dressing in layers is the key.

Clothing and Footwear

✓Well-broken-in hiking boots and camp sandals
✓Warm jacket and a fleece
✓Long-sleeved shirt and 1–2 T-shirts
✓Long hiking pants
✓Waterproof jacket or poncho
✓Warm hat, gloves and a scarf
✓Sun hat and 2–3 pairs of hiking socks

Gear

✓Sleeping bag
✓Small daypack
✓Headlamp
✓Refillable water bottle
✓Sunglasses and small towel
✓Swimsuit for the hot springs

Personal Items

✓Original passport (and student ID, if applicable)
✓High-SPF sunscreen and insect repellent
✓Toothbrush, toothpaste and toilet paper
✓Personal medication
✓Cash in soles

Prices and options

Official Rates & Pricing Plans

* All rates are in USD per person

Book online

Passenger Type	Price per person
Adults	$590 USD
Students	$570 USD
Children	$560 USD

2026 & 2027 prices: the rates above are valid for bookings with travel dates in 2026 and 2027.

What’s Included in Your Lares Trek to Machu Picchu Price?

One price for the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, a cultural route through remote Quechua communities, and Machu Picchu: camping, meals, the trekking team, a hotel night in Aguas Calientes, your Machu Picchu ticket and the train back are all included.

Days 1 to 3

On the Trail

Hotel pickup in Cusco and all transport on the route
Professional English-speaking guide, trekking team and cook
2 nights camping in Canchacancha and Quiswarani, with tents, inflatable mats and a dining tent
All meals on the trail, snacks, hot drinks and hot water for washing
Visit to the Lares hot springs on Day 3
Train from Ollantaytambo and hotel night in Aguas Calientes
First aid kit, emergency oxygen and communication equipment

Day 4

Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco

Early bus up to Machu Picchu, arriving around 6:00 am
Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a 2.5-hour guided tour
Free time to explore, and bus down to Aguas Calientes
Afternoon train back through the Sacred Valley
Transport to your hotel in Cusco

Living Andean culture: meet Quechua-speaking communities who still weave by hand and herd llamas and alpacas, far from the crowded trails.

High passes: about 35 km in total, crossing the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m) on Day 2, the hardest day, and the Cuncani Pass (4,200 m). Spend at least 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize.

Book early: Machu Picchu tickets sell out fast, so book at least 3 months ahead. Bring your own sleeping bag, a swimsuit for the hot springs and warm layers. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available on request.

Group Size

Small groups of about 6 travelers, with extra guides for larger groups.

Book solo, as a couple or with friends: you’ll join an international group who booked the same departure. Private departures are available on request.

Student & Child Price

Available to travelers who:

are children, or
are 25 years old or younger with a valid, original university student ID.

When you book, send us a clear photo of both sides of your student ID by email or WhatsApp. Bring the original card on your trip: copies or digital versions may not be accepted.

Check the full student price requirements →

Departures

We depart throughout the year, subject to Machu Picchu ticket and train availability.

A pre-trek briefing takes place at our office in Cusco, and you can store your luggage there for free during the trek.

Travel information

Booking Guide

How to Book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Book online or by WhatsApp or email, at least 3 months in advance.

Option 1

Book Online

Choose your date and pay securely by card.

Option 2

By WhatsApp or email, for private departures or questions.

Book in 4 Easy Steps

Choose your date

Click Book Now and select your departure.

Enter traveler details

Exactly as on your passport, plus diet and medical information.

Pay securely

And receive your receipt by email.

Get your confirmation

With the briefing details in Cusco.

Lares Trek Booking Policy

1. Machu Picchu Tickets

Tickets sell out fast: book at least 3 months in advance, with your name exactly as on your passport.

2. Student and Child Price

Students 25 or younger with a valid, original university ID, and children. Send a photo of both sides of your ID when booking.

3. Acclimatization

Spend at least 2 days in Cusco before the trek. Day 2 crosses the Pachacutec Pass at 4,700 m.

4. Group or Private

Join a small international group of about 6 travelers, or request a private departure.

5. Cancellations and Changes

Contact us by email or WhatsApp. Machu Picchu tickets, trains and other non-refundable services are deducted from any refund.

FAQs

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How difficult is the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu?

Moderate, with one challenging day: about 35 km in total, crossing the Pachacutec Pass (4,700 m) on Day 2 and the Cuncani Pass (4,200 m) on Day 3.

2. Is the Lares Trek less crowded than the Inca Trail?

Yes. It is a cultural route through remote communities, and no Inca Trail permit is needed.

3. Where do we sleep?

2 nights camping in Canchacancha and Quiswarani, and 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.

4. Are the hot springs included?

Yes, we visit the Lares hot springs on Day 3. Bring a swimsuit.

5. Do I need a sleeping bag?

Yes, please bring your own sleeping bag.

6. How far in advance should I book?

At least 3 months, as Machu Picchu tickets sell out fast.

Why choose Machupicchu Team

The Machu Picchu Team Difference

Why Book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Machu Picchu Team?

Authentic Cultural Route

Real Quechua communities, not a tourist show.

Small Groups

About 6 travelers, with extra guides for larger groups.

Our Own Team

Guides and cooks from Cusco, no middlemen.

Responsible Travel

Supporting the local communities on the route.

Everything Included

Camping, meals, hotel, train and Machu Picchu ticket.

Important Notice Machu Picchu tickets sell out fast! We highly recommend booking at least 3 months in advance to secure your preferred dates.

Talk to a Local Expert

Hi, I'm Maria! I've hiked the Inca Trail over 50 times. Let me help you craft the perfect itinerary for your adventure.

Chat with Maria

We're here to help!

Have questions about this tour? Our local travel experts are ready to assist you.

WhatsApp +51 974 217 700

Email info@machupicchuteam.com

Send an inquiry

Just finished 4 days with Yuri & Jose, they were both amazing, super helpful and attentive. Thank you to the kitchen staff as well! Definitely a challenge, but in the end it all worth it!

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Bouhet M

Level Moderated

Group Max: 16 People

Departures Daily Departures

From US $ 180 per person

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Price from

$ 560 USD per person (Children)