Itinerary
Cusco – Calca – Lares Hot Springs – Wacawasi
Wacawasi – Epsaycocha
After breakfast we observe the local artists´ ability and knowledge in producing fine wool weavings from alpaca wool, considered some of the best in all of Peru; the weavers create wearable goods, carpets, ponchos and other articles. We then begin our hike to the Pass of the Condor at , from where we have a sensational view of La Veronica, a glacier of meters height. After a slow 1-hour descent to Lake Epsaycocha, we set up camp for the last time.
Epsaycocha – Patacancha – Wylloq – Pumamarka – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Our descent leads us to Patacancha, an Andean community known for its weavings and weavers; from here we continue to Willoc where we rest and have lunch; from here it takes us 2 hours to reach Pumamarka with its Inca terraces, and finally we arrive in Ollantaytambo. Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, next to the Urubamba River, this Inca people is considered to be one of the better preserved living museums due to its still living population. Later we continue on to Aguas Calientes where we overnight in a hotel.
Machu Picchu – Cusco
We leave early, after breakfast, to reach Machu Picchu, and then the first bus up from Aguas Calientes to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. During a private, 3-hour guided tour throughout the Citadel, we visit all the important sites and documents. After the tour you will have time to walk around and explore this Wonder of the World. In the afternoon we return to Cusco by train and you will be transferred to your hotel from the train station.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Transport: Cusco – Lares / Aguas Calientes – Cusco. Includes bus transfer from Cusco to the start of the trek and train/bus transfer back to your hotel in Cusco.
- Entrance to Machu Picchu. A standard, one-time entry ticket to the main citadel.
- Train tickets. Tourist class train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Hostel en Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu. One night of accommodation in a standard hostel in Aguas Calientes.
- Professional guide. A licensed, bilingual guide for the entire duration of the trek and the tour of Machu Picchu.
- Cook. A dedicated cook who prepares all the included meals during the camping portion of the trek.
- Camping equipment. Includes shared two-person tents, sleeping mattress, and all common equipment like dining and kitchen tents.
- Horses for the equipment, horseman. Pack animals and their handlers will carry the main camping gear, food, and your personal duffel bag (up to a specified weight).
- All the meals. Includes meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 4.
- First aid kit. A basic first aid kit is carried by the guide for emergencies.
- Sleeping bag. You must bring your own or you can rent one from the company.
- Breakfast on first morning, lunch on the last day. You are responsible for these meals before the trek begins and after it ends.
- Horses for personal transport (Optional). An extra horse to ride can be rented if you are concerned about the hike, but it must be arranged in advance.
- Not included Huayna Picchu mountain (Optional). The entrance ticket for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain is a separate purchase and must be booked far in advance.
Prices
EXTRAS & UPGRADES
- Sleeping Bag – $20 USD per person per trek (Clean, warm, and rated for cold Andean nights. Essential if you don’t own your own — temperatures at high-altitude campsites on the Lares route drop significantly after dark. Thoroughly cleaned after every use)
- Air Mattress – $20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest insulated mattresses that provide comfort and insulation from the cold ground. Included in some packages — confirm at the time of booking)
- Walking / Trekking Poles – $15–$20 USD per pair per trek (Professional adjustable poles recommended for the steep ascent to the Huacawasi Pass at 4,300 m / 14,107 ft and the long descents through the valley. Note: poles are NOT permitted inside Machu Picchu Citadel)
- Personal Tent – Single Occupancy Upgrade – $40 USD per person per trek (Standard tents sleep 2 people. Request a single-occupancy tent at the time of booking for extra privacy and personal space throughout the 3 nights on the trail)
- Lares Hot Springs Entry – $5 USD per person (The famous natural thermal pools of Lares are the perfect start to Day 1 of the trek, allowing you to soak and prepare your muscles before the hike begins. A separate entrance fee is payable on-site in cash)
- Pisac Inca Ruins Guided Visit – $20 USD per person (Add a guided visit to one of the most impressive Inca cities of the Sacred Valley on Day 1, before or after the hot springs stop. The Cusco Partial Tourist Ticket is required for entry — see below)
- Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket – Partial III – $19 USD per person (~70 soles — Required to enter the Pisac and Ollantaytambo archaeological sites along the route. Valid for 2 days. Purchase in advance or at the gate)
- Ollantaytambo Ruins Visit – Included as optional (On Day 3, after completing the trek and arriving in Ollantaytambo before the train, your guide can arrange a visit to the imposing Inca fortress. Tourist ticket required — see above)
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – $75 USD per person (An iconic steep climb within Machu Picchu Citadel offering breathtaking aerial views of the ruins. Tickets are strictly limited — please request at the time of booking, 2–3 months in advance)
- Machu Picchu Mountain – $75 USD per person (A longer, less crowded alternative to Huayna Picchu, offering panoramic views of the full citadel and surrounding cloud forest. Please request at the time of booking)
- Vistadome Train Upgrade – $60–$70 USD per person (Upgrade your return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo from the standard Expedition service to the scenic Vistadome, with panoramic glass-ceiling windows, wider seats, and an onboard entertainment show. Please request at the time of booking)
- Additional Night in Aguas Calientes – from $60 USD per person (Extend your stay in Aguas Calientes to visit a second Machu Picchu circuit, relax in the town’s thermal baths, or explore the local Machu Picchu Museum. Subject to hotel availability)
- Textile Weaving Workshop with Local Community – $15 USD per person (An intimate, hands-on session with Quechua women from the Andean communities along the Lares Valley, learning traditional dyeing and weaving techniques that have been passed down for centuries. Please request at the time of booking)
Pricing & Availability – Lares Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days
The Lares Trek 4 Days / 3 Nights is available on any date that suits you, year-round, with a minimum of 2 trekkers required for a guaranteed departure. A non-refundable deposit of $211 USD per person is required at the time of booking to secure your Machu Picchu entrance tickets and train tickets. Book at least 2–3 months in advance to secure your preferred Machu Picchu circuit and train schedule, especially during high season (May–September). A pre-departure briefing takes place at our Cusco office at 6:00 PM the evening before departure. Pickup from your hotel is at 5:00 AM on Day 1.
GROUP SERVICE
- $627 USD per person (includes 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes)
- $597 USD per person (without hotel — accommodation arranged independently)
- Personal pack horse included (carries up to 7 kg / 15 lbs of your gear in a provided duffel bag)
- Emergency horse included at no extra cost
- Discount of $30 USD per person for groups of 5 or more persons
PRIVATE SERVICE
- $897 USD per person – 2 to 3 persons
- $797 USD per person – 4 to 6 persons
- $697 USD per person – 7 to 8 persons
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- $40 USD per person (for solo travelers requiring a private room in the Aguas Calientes hotel)
DISCOUNTS
- Students (18–25 years old): $20–$30 USD discount. A valid ISIC card or university ID is required at the time of booking. Information required: university name, student name, photo, and expiration date. A copy must be sent at booking and the original carried during the trek for the Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint.
- Under 18 years old (11–17): $30 USD discount. Please send a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
- Under 11 years old (2–11): $40 USD discount. Please send a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
- Children under 2 years old: Free of charge. Please send a copy of their passport at the time of booking.
Important Notes: The Lares Trek is widely regarded as the most culturally immersive of all the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, passing through remote Quechua communities where traditional Andean life — including ancestral weaving, herding, and farming — continues unchanged. Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, no government permit is required for this route, making it somewhat more flexible to book. However, Machu Picchu entrance tickets must still be purchased well in advance. The highest point of the trek is the Huacawasi Pass at approximately 4,300 m / 14,107 ft. A minimum of 2 days of acclimatization in Cusco before departure is strongly recommended. There is no mobile phone reception for much of the trail — your guide carries a first aid kit and emergency oxygen. Tips for guides, cooks, and muleteers are optional but warmly appreciated — a guideline of $6–$8 USD per person per day for the full support team is customary.
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