Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

Quiet mountains, big rewards. This five-day route pairs the peaceful Lares Trek with the Short Inca Trail, giving you remote Andean villages, high mountain lakes, and a dramatic arrival at Machu Picchu. I especially like the hot springs at Lares and the chance to sleep beside a blue mountain lake far from the busiest trekking routes.

The main thing to consider is altitude. Day two reaches 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, and the trek includes long climbs and descents. If you want a softer holiday with leisurely mornings, this is not it. If you have moderate fitness and want culture, quiet trails, and excellent camp cooking, the $980 price offers a strong all-in-one package.

Five details that shape the experience

• A rare mix of routes: You hike the quieter Lares route, then enter the Inca Trail at kilometer 104 for the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
• 4,700-meter Condor Pass: The highest point is a serious altitude test, even though the itinerary labels the full trek moderate to challenging.
• Two nights beside the mountains: Camping equipment, cooks, porters, and horse support keep the wilderness experience comfortable.
• A small maximum group of 12: This allows more personal attention than a large departure.
• Remarkable food in remote camps: Guides and cooks such as Manolo, Oscar, Beto, Vidal, and Tiburcio have earned praise for generous, varied meals and even birthday cakes.
• A late afternoon arrival at Machu Picchu: You reach the citadel after walking in from the Sun Gate, then return for a full guided visit the next morning.

Why choose Lares instead of a busier trail?

The Lares Trek is the cultural and quiet half of this journey. Instead of spending all your trekking days on the heavily used classic Inca Trail, you walk through the Lares Valley, where small villages, alpacas, llamas, farming communities, lakes, and mountain passes form the setting.

That change matters. You get fewer ancient stone ruins during the first three days, but you gain a closer look at rural Andean life. Cancha Cancha, your second campsite, has no electricity, internet, drainage system, computers, or cellphone service. Quechua is the only language spoken there. This is not staged remoteness. It is a real pause from modern life.

The Short Inca Trail then supplies the famous ruins and stonework. You visit Chachabamba and Wiñay Huayna before walking to the Sun Gate. The result is a good compromise: quiet countryside first, Machu Picchu drama at the end.

Day one: Lares hot springs and a blue mountain lake

Your morning begins very early, with pickup around 5:30 am, although the stated meeting time is 4:30 am. Confirm the exact pickup hour with TreXperience before bed, because early transport in Cusco is part of the practical challenge.

The drive heads toward the Sacred Valley, with a stop at a local market before continuing to the Lares thermo-medicinal baths. You arrive at about 8:00 am. The pools sit at different temperatures, and the warm water is intended to help tired muscles, bones, stress, and headaches. I like this start because it gives you a useful warm-up before the trail, not just another photo stop.

After breakfast, you hike uphill for about two hours toward Kiswarani village. Lunch follows, then another two hours brings you to camp beside a blue lake at roughly 3,750 meters. The total distance is about 9 kilometers, or 5.5 miles.

The first day is rated easy, but altitude changes that word. The walking time is moderate, and the trail is not described as highly technical, yet you are already sleeping high in the Andes. Take the pace slowly. Poco poco, or little by little, is the right attitude.

At camp, your tent and a hot drink should be ready. The setting is well suited to stargazing and learning about Inca astronomy. You receive breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner, and the night is spent camping with the mountain team.

Day two: the 4,700-meter test at Condor Pass

This is the day that decides if the trek feels manageable or demanding. You wake with coffee or cocoa tea brought to your tent, eat breakfast, and begin a four-hour climb toward Condor Pass.

At 4,700 meters, the air is thin. Even a fit person may need frequent pauses, and the itinerary calls this section moderate to challenging. You should be honest about your fitness and your response to altitude before booking. The elevation, not simply the distance, is the key issue.

At the pass, take time to look around before starting the three-hour descent. The total distance is about 16 kilometers, or 9.9 miles. You finish at Cancha Cancha, a village at approximately 3,750 meters.

Cancha Cancha is one of the most distinctive parts of the route. There is no cellphone service or internet connection, and Quechua remains the local language. You can expect a quiet evening rather than entertainment. After dinner, the best plan is an early night in your tent.

The scenery is a major reward for the hard climb. The route passes mountain valleys and high country, with llamas and alpacas around village life. Several people who have taken this route found the combination of scenery and contact with isolated communities more meaningful than a trip focused only on ruins.

Day three: descending to Huaran and sleeping in Ollantaytambo

Day three feels easier after the high pass. You start with tea or coffee, then walk downhill for about four hours through the valley. The distance is 12 kilometers, or 7.4 miles, and the difficulty is listed as easy.

The trek ends at Huaran, at about 2,700 meters. From there, private transport takes you toward Salienras and Ollantaytambo. The route description gives Ollantaytambo special attention, and rightly so. Its old streets and Inca-era water channel remain part of daily life, making this more than a quick overnight town.

You dine at a local restaurant and sleep in a three-star hotel. This change from tent to bed is welcome. It also breaks up the physical demands before the next walking day.

The package includes a Pachamanca cooking demonstration. Pachamanca is a traditional Andean method of cooking food in an earth oven, though the exact format and timing should be confirmed with the operator. It adds a food and culture element to a trip that already puts strong emphasis on local life.

Day four: Chachabamba, Wiñay Huayna, and the Sun Gate

You leave your Ollantaytambo hotel at about 6:00 am and walk to the station for a train ride of roughly 90 minutes along the Urubamba River. The train takes you from the highlands to kilometer 104 at Chachabamba, in the cloud forest.

This is where the Short Inca Trail begins. Your first stop is Chachabamba, an Inca site that gives you an early look at the stonework and ceremonial remains associated with the route. From there, you hike for about four hours toward Wiñay Huayna, whose name means the place that never gets old.

A packed lunch and refreshments are provided. That matters because this is a long, active day with no need to carry a full supply of food. The trail includes many stairs, and anyone with ankle or knee problems should think carefully before booking.

The final prize is the Sun Gate. You walk through it for your first view of Machu Picchu, then descend for about an hour to the citadel. The itinerary aims to bring you into Machu Picchu in the afternoon, when the site may feel quieter than at the busiest morning hours.

You then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for dinner and a hotel night. The day combines train logistics, ruins, stairs, a packed lunch, and the first sight of Machu Picchu. It is a full day, but the gradual build toward the Sun Gate gives it a strong sense of purpose.

One detail deserves clarification before you pay: the itinerary lists four hours for this day, but that refers to the hike, not the full period including the early hotel departure, train, site visits, descent, bus, and dinner.

Day five: a full Machu Picchu visit

The final morning starts early. You eat breakfast at the Aguas Calientes hotel, then take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. In clear weather, you may see sunrise over the citadel.

Your guide leads a two to three-hour tour of Machu Picchu, explaining the main buildings and the site’s role in the Inca world. After the guided portion, you have time to explore independently or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, also called Montaña.

Those optional mountain tickets are not included and must be booked as far ahead as possible. If you already have one, tell TreXperience. Do not assume you can decide at the last minute.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes is not included. Your guide explains how to take the bus back down, after which you take a panoramic train and bus toward Cusco. The TreXperience team meets you when you leave the train and returns you to your hotel.

This final day is more than a quick photo stop. The first afternoon gives you an initial view, while the next morning provides the longer guided visit. That two-stage arrival is one of the best features of the program.

What the $980 price really covers

At $980 per person, this is not a budget hike, but it includes much more than trail guiding. You receive pickup, transport throughout the route, camping equipment, two nights of camping, two hotel nights, meals, guides, chefs, porters, and a horseman team.

A duffle bag of up to 7 kilos is carried by horse. That lets you keep your daypack lighter, though you still need to carry personal essentials while walking. The package includes breakfast on all five days, four lunches, and four dinners.

The value improves if you want a managed trip rather than a do-it-yourself trek. Transport between remote trailheads, camps, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Cusco can be awkward to arrange independently. Here, the operator connects each section.

The cooking is a genuine strength. Meals have included multiple courses, traditional Peruvian flavors, plentiful portions, and varied menus. Cooks have prepared birthday cakes in the mountains, and one team even made cake for breakfast. That level of food is unusual on a high-altitude camping route.

You should still check exactly what is included in your confirmation, especially the Machu Picchu entrance category and train details. The supplied information says admission tickets are included for the listed stops, but optional Huayna Picchu or Montaña tickets cost extra.

The people who make camp work

The guide can shape the entire experience, particularly on day two. Named guides connected with this route include Manolo, Anthony, Gilbert, Elias, Jason, Miguel, Rosmel, Eddy, Sara, and José Abad Cortez.

Manolo has been praised for strong English, encouragement on difficult climbs, and clear explanations of Quechua culture and local history. Anthony and Gilbert have also been singled out for local insight and for helping solo hikers feel safe. Sara is known for explaining each day clearly and maintaining a comfortable pace.

The support crew matters just as much. Cooks Oscar, Beto, Vidal, Tiburcio, Augusto, and others have been praised for making fresh, filling food in tents at high altitude. Horsemen such as Gregorio, Toribio, Demetrio, and L’andros carry equipment and prepare camps.

You should understand that this comfort depends on hard work from the support team. A fair-minded trekker treats porters, cooks, and horsemen with respect, follows the baggage limit, and brings a reasonable tip budget if tipping is customary for your group.

The maximum group size is 12. That is small enough for a personal feel, though the exact guide and crew assigned to your departure can vary.

Fitness, altitude, and packing advice

You need moderate physical fitness. The route includes a 16-kilometer day, a four-hour climb to 4,700 meters, a three-hour descent, and many Inca stairs on the Short Inca Trail.

The first two nights are at about 3,750 meters, so altitude is not a minor detail. Build in time in Cusco to adjust if your wider Peru schedule allows, and tell the operator about dietary needs when booking. Vegetarian meals are available with advance notice.

TreXperience supplies camping equipment, but a mattress, sleeping bag, and trekking poles are optional extras. Ask about the current rental choices. Warm layers, rain protection, sturdy shoes, sun protection, and a small daypack are sensible basics, but the supplied details do not specify a packing list.

You must provide each person’s passport name, number, expiry date, and country at booking. Bring the same valid passport on the trip. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Who should book this five-day route?

I would recommend it to you if you want Machu Picchu but prefer a quieter start than the classic Inca Trail. It suits people who care about Quechua communities, mountain scenery, local food, and a small-group setting.

It also works well for solo hikers and families with active teenagers, provided everyone understands the altitude and long days. The guides’ encouragement and the horse support can make a major difference when the trail gets tough.

I would hesitate if you have knee or ankle problems, dislike steep descents, or want a relaxed sightseeing schedule. I would also hesitate if sleeping without electricity or cellphone service sounds stressful rather than refreshing.

The experience is recommended by all listed customers and carries a five-star rating from 47 reviews. That is a strong record, but it does not remove the need to prepare for 4,700 meters.

Is the Ultimate Lares Trek worth booking?

Book it if you want variety. In five days, you get hot springs, remote villages, a high pass, mountain camping, Ollantaytambo, the Short Inca Trail, and two visits to Machu Picchu.

The best reason to choose it is the balance between quiet Andean life and Peru’s most famous archaeological site. The biggest warning is the altitude, especially on day two. At $980, the trip makes sense if you value included transport, meals, camping support, hotels, and expert guiding.

Confirm your pickup time, Machu Picchu ticket details, optional mountain tickets, rental gear, and passport information before departure. If you are ready for early mornings and a real mountain challenge, this is a thoughtful route with excellent food and a strong cultural focus.

FAQ

How long is the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail experience?

The experience lasts approximately five days.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins in Cusco, with pickup from your hotel. The stated early start is around 4:30 am, while the first morning description says pickup is around 5:30 am, so confirm the exact time in advance.

What is the highest point on the trek?

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

How difficult is the trek?

The first day is rated easy, the second day moderate to challenging, and the third day easy. You should have a moderate level of physical fitness.

How many nights are spent camping?

You spend two nights camping in the mountains.

How many hotel nights are included?

Two hotel nights are included, one in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes. The hotels are listed as three-star accommodations.

Is food included?

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

Is a duffle bag included?

Yes. A duffle bag of up to 7 kilos for personal belongings is carried by horse.

Are Huayna Picchu and Montaña tickets included?

No. Tickets for Huayna Picchu or Montaña are optional and must be booked separately as far in advance as possible.

What documents are required?

You must provide each participant’s passport name, number, expiry date, and country at booking. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.