Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

The best part of this five-day trip is the change of pace. You leave Cusco for a quiet Andean route where llamas, mountain lakes, and Quechua villages matter more than souvenir stalls. Then you finish through the Short Inca Trail, reaching Machu Picchu by way of Wiñay Huayna and the Sun Gate. The contrast is superb.

I especially like the remote Cancha Cancha overnight, where there is no electricity, internet, or cellphone service, and the excellent camp cooking, which has included birthday cakes and three-course meals. The main catch is altitude: a 4,700-meter pass and long uphill day demand good fitness and sensible acclimatization.

Key points to know before booking

• A quieter route first: The Lares Valley offers mountain scenery and traditional villages with far fewer people than the classic Inca Trail.
• The hardest day is Day 2: You climb to Condor Pass at 4,700 meters, then descend for several hours.
• A memorable high-altitude camp: You sleep beside a blue lake at 3,750 meters and later in isolated Cancha Cancha.
• Machu Picchu arrives in two stages: You reach the citadel on Day 4, then return early on Day 5 for the main guided visit.
• Strong camp support: Guides, chefs, porters, and horsemen handle meals, tents, and up to 7 kilos of your personal gear.
• Plan optional mountain tickets early: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain require separate tickets booked well ahead.

Why the Lares route is worth your time

Most people come to Peru with Machu Picchu fixed in their sights. This trip gives you something extra before the famous ruins: three days in a less-used part of the Andes, followed by the Short Inca Trail.

Lares feels more rural and personal than a standard Machu Picchu transfer. You pass through high valleys, meet people from Quechua-speaking communities, and see llamas and alpacas near the camps. The scenery includes snowy peaks and clear lakes, but the human side is just as important. Cancha Cancha is described as completely cut off from modern technology, with no power, drainage system, internet, or cellphone service.

That isolation is both the point and the practical warning. You will not have a quick online distraction or an easy way to contact home. Pack for cold nights, accept the simple conditions, and you will get one of the most genuine parts of the trip.

The group limit is 12 people, which helps keep the trek manageable. The team includes a guide, cooks, porters, and horsemen. Guides named in the tour material include Manolo, Anthony, Gilbert, Elias, Sara, Jason, Miguel, Rosmel, Eddy, and Jose Abad Cortez. Your assigned guide will depend on the departure, but the strongest part of the operation is clearly the personal support. Manolo, in particular, is noted for steady encouragement and clear explanations of Quechua culture and Inca history.

Day 1: Lares hot springs to the lake camp

Your morning begins very early, with pickup listed around 4:30 to 5:30 am. The drive takes you toward the Sacred Valley and a local market before reaching the Lares thermal baths at about 8 am.

The baths are a smart opening to a demanding trip. Several pools sit at different temperatures, and the warm water is intended to ease muscles, bones, stress, and headaches. You then eat breakfast and begin the first walk.

Day 1 covers about 9 kilometers in four hours. The trail climbs for roughly two hours to Kiswarani, where lunch is served, then continues for another two hours to camp. At 3,750 meters, the altitude is already serious, but the day is rated easy compared with what follows.

Your campsite sits beside a blue lake. Tents, hot tea, dinner, and a chance to look at the stars are part of the evening. The guide may also explain Inca astronomy, a fitting subject in a place with little artificial light.

This is a good first day because it eases you into the route. Still, do not mistake the easy rating for a low-altitude stroll. If you are coming straight from a lower elevation, walk slowly, drink often, and keep your expectations modest.

Day 2: Condor Pass at 4,700 meters

Day 2 is the physical test. You receive hot coffee or cocoa tea at your tent, eat breakfast, and start a four-hour climb to Condor Pass. At 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, this is the highest point of the trip.

The reward is a broad view of the Andean high country. Take your time at the summit, but remember that the day is not finished. The descent takes about three hours, and the full distance is approximately 16 kilometers.

You finish at Cancha Cancha, a village at 3,750 meters. Its lack of modern services is one of the trip’s most distinctive features. People here speak Quechua, the language associated with the Inca world, and the village remains separate from the usual tourist circuit.

The tour rates this day moderate to challenging, and that seems fair. The altitude is the key issue, not just the distance. A person with average fitness may manage the route, but altitude can affect anyone. Keep your pace conservative. The guides are used to supporting people through difficult sections, and the trip’s small size helps.

The camp staff also deserve attention here. The chef prepares dinner after a long day, while the horseman and porters arrange the camp and carry equipment. You carry your day pack, while up to 7 kilos of personal belongings can go in the provided duffle bag.

Day 3: Descend to Huaran and sleep in Ollantaytambo

The third morning begins in a village surrounded by llamas and alpacas. The hike is mostly downhill, covering about 12 kilometers in four hours. You finish in Huaran at 2,700 meters, a welcome drop after two nights at high altitude.

From Huaran, private transport takes you toward Salineras and Ollantaytambo. The schedule names a visit to Ollantaytambo, often called the last living Inca city, where old streets and an Inca-era water channel remain part of daily life.

This section changes the mood. You trade tents and mountain silence for a hotel, a restaurant dinner, and stone streets. Two nights of the trip are in three-star hotels, one in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes. That is a useful comfort break, especially after the pass.

The itinerary suggests Salineras during the transfer, but the exact amount of time available can depend on the day’s pace and transport schedule. Ask your guide how long you will have at each stop.

Day 4: The Short Inca Trail through Chachabamba and Wiñay Huayna

Day 4 is where the two routes meet. After breakfast in Ollantaytambo, you walk to the train station and ride for about 90 minutes beside the Urubamba River. You leave the train at kilometer 104, near Chachabamba in the cloud forest.

The trail begins at the Chachabamba ruins. From there, you hike for about four hours toward Wiñay Huayna, one of the most striking Inca sites on this route. A packed lunch and refreshments are provided, so you do not need to stop for a restaurant meal.

The final goal is the Sun Gate. From here, you get your first view of Machu Picchu before walking downhill for about an hour to the citadel. Arriving in the afternoon can be a clever move, since the site may feel quieter than during the busiest morning period.

You then take a bus down to Aguas Calientes, eat dinner, and sleep at a hotel. This is a long day, but it is not the same physical challenge as the Lares section. The altitude is lower, though the trail has many stone steps. If your knees or ankles are sensitive, take that seriously and use trekking poles if you choose to bring or rent them.

Day 5: A full Machu Picchu visit

The final morning starts early. Buses take you back up to Machu Picchu, with the chance of seeing sunrise if the weather is clear. The guide leads a two to three-hour tour of the citadel, explaining the major structures and the site’s purpose.

After the guided visit, you have time to explore independently or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. These climbs are optional and require separate tickets. They should be arranged as far ahead as possible, and you should tell the operator if you already have one.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes is not included. Afterward, the return trip uses a panoramic train and bus back toward Cusco, where the TreXperience team meets you and takes you to your hotel.

The return is a long travel day, but the transport is organized. That matters after five days of walking, especially if you do not want to arrange separate trains, buses, and transfers yourself.

Food, camping, and the people who make it work

Food is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip. The cooks prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, with four lunches and four dinners included. The camp meals are not just basic fuel. The menu has included varied Peruvian dishes, hearty portions, and even cakes made without a conventional oven.

That level of cooking is a real asset at altitude. You need calories, and a hot meal can lift the whole group after a wet or tiring afternoon. Vegetarian meals are available, but you need to state dietary requirements when booking.

Camping equipment is included for two nights. Sleeping bags, mattresses, and trekking poles are optional extras, so confirm what you already own and what you need before departure. Comfortable equipment is provided, but high-altitude nights can still feel cold.

The horsemen and porters are just as important as the guides. They carry camping supplies, prepare the tents, and keep the daily routine moving. The tour includes a duffle bag allowance of 7 kilos, which means you should pack carefully and keep your main luggage elsewhere.

What the $980 price means

At $980 per person, this is not a cheap day excursion, but it covers five days of complex logistics. The price includes hotel pickup, transport throughout the trek, two hotel nights, two camping nights, guides, chefs, porters, horse support, meals, camping equipment, the cooking demonstration, and the return transfer to Cusco.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to arrange the Lares transport, campsite supplies, train tickets, Machu Picchu access, buses, hotels, and guides separately. You are paying for coordination as much as for the hiking itself.

Read the inclusions carefully before paying. The optional tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are not included. The information also lists admission tickets as included in the daily activities, so confirm exactly which Machu Picchu and trail permits your booking covers. Passport name, number, expiry date, and country are required for every person, and you must carry a valid passport on the trip.

The cancellation rule 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.

Who should book this five-day trek?

You should book it if you want Machu Picchu plus a quieter mountain experience, and if you like the idea of meeting local communities rather than spending all five days on a heavily used route.

It suits people with moderate fitness who can handle several hours of walking, steep climbs, high altitude, and stone steps. Families with teenagers can manage it, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Solo hikers may appreciate the small group and the close support of the guide and camp crew.

You should think twice if you dislike early starts, simple camps, cold nights, or uncertain mountain weather. The 4,700-meter pass is not a minor detail. Allow time in Cusco to adjust before the trek, and do not treat the itinerary as a relaxed sightseeing tour.

FAQ

How long is the Lares Trek and Inca Trail experience?

The trip lasts approximately five days, beginning in Cusco and ending with return transport to your Cusco hotel.

What is the highest point of the trek?

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

How many nights are spent camping?

You camp for two nights in the mountains. The other two nights are in three-star hotels, one in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners, and snacks during the trekking days. Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking.

Can I bring a larger bag?

A duffle bag of up to 7 kilos is provided for personal belongings carried by horse. You should ask the operator how your remaining luggage will be handled.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. These are optional climbs with separate tickets, and the tickets should be booked as far in advance as possible.

What time does the tour start?

The meeting time is listed as 4:30 am, while the first hotel pickup is described as around 5:30 am. Confirm your exact pickup time before departure.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want the big Machu Picchu moment but also care about quiet valleys, Quechua communities, high mountain camps, and excellent trail food. The Lares route gives the journey real texture, while the Short Inca Trail supplies the famous ruins at the end.

Skip it if you want an easy Peru holiday. This is a serious mountain trip with an early start, a 4,700-meter pass, and strict cancellation terms. For fit hikers who prepare well, the combination of remote Lares scenery, warm camp support, and a two-stage Machu Picchu arrival offers very good value at $980.