4 Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 2024

The Andes reward steady legs. This four-day route pairs Lares hot springs and quiet mountain villages with the grand finale at Machu Picchu, giving you both a demanding high-altitude trek and a classic Inca site. I especially like the chance to walk among llamas and alpacas, and the strong local team, including guides such as Soledad, Walter, and Wilian, receives repeated praise for kindness and care. The main drawback is the altitude: Condor Pass reaches 4,750 meters, or 15,583 feet, and the days are long.

You leave Cusco at 5:00 a.m., spend two nights in tents, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, and return to Cusco around 7:30 p.m. on the final day. Meals, transport, camping equipment, trail permits, and Machu Picchu admission are included, which makes the $600 price fair for a four-day trip, though extra charges apply for sleeping bags, trekking poles, and optional mountain hikes.

Key points to know before you book

• Lares hot springs begin the adventure: Soak in pools at different temperatures before the first climb.
• Condor Pass is the physical test: The route rises to 4,750 meters before dropping to Canchacancha.
• Local life is part of the route: You visit Andean communities, see weaving and farming traditions, and walk near llamas and alpacas.
• The food is a major strength: Chefs such as Florencia and German are praised for restaurant-quality meals and special dishes such as pachamanca.
• Machu Picchu comes after the trek: You reach the citadel by train and bus, then receive a two to three-hour guided visit.
• This is a small-group trip: The maximum group size is 10, useful on a demanding route where personal attention matters.

Why the Lares route feels different

The Lares Trek is not simply a cheaper substitute for the Inca Trail. Its appeal is the change of scenery and the contact with highland communities. You spend much of the walking time among lakes, waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, grazing animals, and small villages rather than on a heavily built archaeological road.

That quieter setting comes with a tradeoff. The route is physically serious, and the itinerary does not give you a spare day for bad weather or a slow recovery. You need a moderate level of fitness, and altitude preparation matters more than speed.

I like the way the trip mixes nature with daily Andean life. You may see local clothing, crop production, weaving, and children from mountain communities. These encounters are arranged as part of the route, so you should approach them with respect and avoid treating people as scenery.

The group limit of 10 is another plus. A guide can keep an eye on how you are coping, adjust the pace when possible, and explain what you are seeing without trying to manage a large crowd.

Day 1: Lares hot springs to the first camp

The day begins early in Cusco with a three-hour drive to Lares. That is a long transfer before hiking, but it takes you from the city into the high Andes and gives you access to the hot springs, a pleasant way to start a demanding trip.

At Lares, you can use natural pools with different temperatures. This is not just a photo stop. A soak can help you relax before walking, though you should not mistake the warm water for a replacement for proper acclimatization or hydration.

After breakfast, you hike for about four hours to the first campsite at 3,900 meters. The day totals roughly seven hours, including the drive, stop, and walk. You pass waterfalls and mountain views, visit Kiswarani Village, and walk near llamas and alpacas.

The first camp already sits higher than many European or North American mountain towns. Cold nights are possible, and the supplied tents, chairs, tables, hot drinks, and blankets matter here. The team’s camping care receives strong praise, but you should still pack warm layers, dry socks, gloves, and a reliable rain shell.

This first day is a good introduction to the route’s character. You are not rushing toward a single monument. You are walking through a living mountain region, with water, animals, and small communities shaping the experience.

Day 2: Quishuarani and the climb to Condor Pass

Day two is the hardest part of the trek. You wake in camp with coffee or coca tea, eat breakfast, and begin a four-hour climb toward Condor Pass at 4,750 meters.

At that height, the issue is not just fitness. The thin air can slow anyone down. You should walk at a steady pace, drink often, and tell your guide early if you feel unwell. A guide such as Soledad or Walter may offer encouragement and help set a pace suited to the group, but no guide can remove the effects of altitude.

The reward is a chain of high mountain lakes and wide views toward the tallest peaks of the Sacred Valley. The route includes birds, llamas, alpacas, and striking highland scenery. The lakes are one of the trip’s strongest visual features, especially after the effort of the climb.

After reaching the pass, you descend for about three hours to Canchacancha Village at 3,750 meters. Downhill walking sounds easier, but tired legs and uneven ground can make it demanding. Trekking poles are useful, although they cost an additional $15 if you rent them through the trip.

The itinerary describes time with local children and contact with village life. Keep this interaction polite and brief, and follow your guide’s lead. The value of the stop lies in seeing how people live at altitude, not in turning a community into a staged performance.

The full day takes about seven hours. This is where the trip’s moderate fitness rating deserves your attention. If you already hike regularly, you may find the pace manageable. If you rarely walk uphill, the pass can feel like a major test.

Day 3: From the highlands to the Sacred Valley

After breakfast in your tent, you visit local villagers and learn more about their way of life. Previous groups have encountered weaving demonstrations, traditional clothing, and explanations of farming and crop production. These details give the trek a human focus that a purely scenic hike would miss.

You then walk downhill for about four hours toward the Sacred Valley. Descending from the high country changes the feel of the trip quickly. The air is less severe, the route becomes more forgiving, and the mountain villages give way to a broader valley setting.

A special picnic lunch is planned during the day. Food is one of the most praised parts of the trip. Chefs named Florencia, German, and Alejandro receive particular credit for generous, creative meals, and pachamanca is mentioned as a memorable specialty. For a camping trip, that level of cooking can make a real difference after two hard walking days.

The afternoon packs in several major sights: the Salineras of Maras, Ollantaytambo, and the train to Aguas Calientes. The Salineras are a striking set of salt terraces, while Ollantaytambo offers monumental Inca stonework and a living town setting.

This is also the itinerary’s most compressed day. You hike, eat, sightsee, and catch a train, with about eight hours of activity. The route is efficient, but you will not have unlimited time at each stop. If you prefer slow visits and long pauses, this schedule may feel rushed.

From Ollantaytambo, you take the Expedition Train to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. You sleep in a hotel that night, a welcome change after the camps. Hotel details are not specified, so confirm the standard and location when booking if that matters to you.

Day 4: Sunrise at Machu Picchu

You eat an early breakfast at the hotel and take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. The plan is to reach the viewpoints for sunrise above the citadel, though sunrise visibility always depends on cloud and weather.

At the checkpoint, your guide leads you through the archaeological site for two to three hours. The guided visit covers major sights, Inca engineering, history, and the unusual features of the citadel. This is important because Machu Picchu can look like a collection of dramatic walls if you do not understand how the terraces, stonework, water systems, and buildings fit together.

The guided portion is long enough to give the site shape and meaning, but some people will want more time alone. After the tour, you can continue exploring independently, subject to the current site rules and the route on your ticket.

Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are not included. Each requires an additional $50 entrance fee, and they must be booked well ahead of time. Do not assume you can decide on the morning. If you want one of these hikes, arrange it before the trip and confirm that it fits your assigned Machu Picchu entry.

After the visit, you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Lunch is on your own, followed by the Expedition Train to Ollantaytambo and a private vehicle back to Cusco. The scheduled return is around 7:30 p.m., so this is a very full final day.

The timing makes sense if you want to return to Cusco without adding another hotel night. It is less appealing if you are exhausted after the trek and would rather linger in Aguas Calientes. Plan your evening lightly.

Guides, cooks, and porters make the difference

The strongest part of this experience is the human support. Guides named Soledad, Walter, and Wilian are repeatedly praised for encouragement, humor, cultural explanations, and attention to individual needs.

That personal care matters most on day two. A guide who notices how you are coping can help you settle into a safer pace and keep morale up when the pass feels far away. The descriptions of Soledad supporting slower hikers and Wilian checking on people throughout the route suggest the kind of practical care you want on a high-altitude trek.

The cooks are also central to the experience. Meals are included for three lunches, four breakfasts, and three dinners. The cooking team has been praised for food that goes well beyond basic camp fare, including special Andean cooking and hot drinks at cold camps.

Porters, horsemen, and muleteers carry equipment and supplies. Names such as Segundino and Raymundo are associated with careful transport and hospitality. Their work allows you to hike with less weight, although you should ask exactly what personal luggage limit applies before departure, since that detail is not provided here.

The company is described as a young operation that employs people from local villages. That can give the trip a useful connection to the region, but a newer company may still be refining campsites and local activities. The team itself has indicated plans for better campsites and more introductions to local life, so ask what has changed for the 2024 departure.

What the $600 price really covers

At $600 per person, the price is reasonable for a four-day package that includes private-van transfers, the Consetur bus, Expedition Train tickets, Lares Trail entry, Machu Picchu entry, a guide, a chef, camping gear, two nights of camping, one hotel night, and most meals.

Buying these pieces separately would take time and could cost more, especially once you add transport between Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu. The value is strongest if you want one organized plan rather than arranging each transfer yourself.

The price does not cover everything. Budget extra for:

• Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, $50
• Sleeping bag, $20
• Air mattress, $20
• Trekking poles, $15
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Tips for the guides, cooks, porters, and other staff

The included camping equipment covers tents, chairs, tables, and related supplies, but personal comfort items may cost extra. If you sleep cold, bringing or renting a good sleeping bag is not a minor detail at 3,900 meters.

Who should book this trek

I would recommend this trip to you if you want Machu Picchu combined with a less crowded mountain route, local contact, high lakes, and a real physical challenge. It suits hikers who can handle several hours of uphill and downhill walking and who are willing to accept early starts and basic camps.

Families with strong older children may enjoy the animals, villages, and hot springs, but the altitude and long days still require careful judgment. The tour is not presented as easy, and the 4,750-meter pass should be taken seriously.

You should think twice if your main goal is a relaxed Machu Picchu holiday. Day two is demanding, day three is tightly scheduled, and the final return to Cusco is late. You also need to accept a strict cancellation policy: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, except that a full refund or alternative may be offered if the minimum group size is not met.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The start time is 5:00 a.m., service animals are allowed, and the maximum group size is 10. The trip requires moderate physical fitness and is near public transportation, though the organized itinerary uses private and included transport for the main route.

Should you book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu?

Book it if you want a high-altitude trek with strong staff support, excellent camp cooking, and a fuller connection to Andean communities than a direct trip to Machu Picchu provides. The hot springs, high lakes, llamas, village visits, and train finale create a varied four days.

Skip it if you want a gentle schedule, guaranteed quiet time at each sight, or a low-altitude walk. The Condor Pass climb is the key question. If you can prepare for the altitude and accept cold camping, the $600 package offers a lot for the money, with the people guiding and feeding you likely to be as memorable as the scenery.

FAQ

How long is the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu?

The experience lasts approximately four days. Walking and touring days run for about seven to eight hours, with the final day ending back in Cusco around 7:30 p.m.

What is the highest point on the trek?

The highest point is Condor Pass at 4,750 meters, or 15,583 feet. This climb takes about four hours from the Quishuarani area.

Where do you sleep during the trip?

You spend two nights camping and one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Camping equipment such as tents, chairs, and tables is included.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes four breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the final day is not included.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. Either optional mountain hike requires an additional $50 entrance fee and must be booked well in advance.

What should I budget for beyond the $600 price?

You should budget for optional mountain entry, a sleeping bag at $20, an air mattress at $20, trekking poles at $15, lunch in Aguas Calientes, and gratuities for the trek team.