Lares Trail to Machu Picchu (4 Days-3 Nights)
“The Lares Trail is a route of the soul, a path that whispers stories not of battles, but of authentic Andean life. It is a journey that begins in the warm embrace of the hot springs, ascends silently to the summit where the wind freezes your breath, and descends to valleys where ancestral weaving is a living philosophy. It is the route of the communities, a crystalline mirror reflecting the nobility of simple life, culminating in the green and eternal magic of the citadel of Machu Picchu.”
Duration
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ITINERARY
Day 1 :Cusco-Lares-Huacawasi (o Cuncani)
Day 1 (Thermal Adventure): Depart very early from Cusco. Transfer to the Lares Hot Springs for a relaxing soak. Afterwards, a short transfer and hike to the campsite.
Day 2:Huacawasi - Paso Ipsaycocha - Patacancha
Day 2 (The Puna Challenge): The longest and highest day. Ascend to the Ipsaycocha Pass (or similar, depending on the route). The views are breathtaking, including lagoons. Descend to a more sheltered valley.
Day 3: Patacancha - Pumamarka - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Day 3 (Culture and Train): Travel through villages where you can observe and perhaps interact with weavers and local residents. Transfer by bus/van to Ollantaytambo, where you will board the train to Aguas Calientes. Overnight in a hostel.
Day 4: guas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 4 (Climax): Early ascent to Machu Picchu (by bus or on foot), guided tour, and free time. In the afternoon, train back to Ollantaytambo/Poroy and final bus transfer to Cusco.
INCLUDES
✅Transportation: All ground transportation (Cusco to the start of the trek, from the end of the trek to Ollantaytambo, and the final transfer from the train station to Cusco).
✅ Train: Round-trip train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
✅ Entrance Fees: Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (Base Circuit).
✅ Accommodation: High-altitude tents (Days 1 and 2) and one night in a basic hostel in Aguas Calientes (Day 3).
✅ Camping Equipment: Sleeping mats, dining tent, kitchen tent.
✅ Personnel: Professional guide, cook, and muleteers (with mules) for your equipment and personal luggage (usually 5-7 kg per person).
✅ Meals: All meals during the trek (Lunch/Dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast/Lunch on Day 4).
DOES NOT INCLUDE
❌Bus ticket to Machu Picchu: The bus from Aguas Calientes to the citadel (approx. $24 USD round trip).
❌ Sleeping bag: Rented separately (required for the cold at the high campsites).
❌Entrance to the hot springs: The entrance fee to the Lares hot springs.
❌ Optional entrance fees: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
❌Tips: For all support staff (guide, cook, muleteers).
❌ Trekking poles: Rented for an additional fee.
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RECOMMENDATION
📄Prepare for Extreme Cold: Unlike the Salkantay Trek, where you descend to warmer areas, the Lares Trek is known for its very cold nights at campsites. A sleeping bag rated to -10°C or lower is essential.
📄 Pack a Swimsuit: Don’t skip the Lares Hot Springs! They’re the starting point and a great way to relax your muscles before the trek.
📄Cultural Immersion: This is the main advantage of the Lares Trek. Bring some small gifts or school supplies if you’d like to interact with or thank the children in the communities you pass through, but always be respectful and discreet.
📄 Personal First-Aid Kit: Bring headache medication, pain relievers, and any personal remedies for altitude sickness, as the Ipsaycocha Pass is very high.
📄Take Advantage of the Train: The final leg by train gives you a break before Machu Picchu, unlike other routes that require hiking to the very end. Enjoy the scenery!
Data and Information
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Gallery
“Behind every image there is a conversation that taught us something, a scent that reminded us of childhood, and a sunset that made us feel insignificant and, at the same time, part of something immense. The true treasure is not the souvenirs, but the collection of memories that the passenger takes with them, now a narrator of their own adventure.”
“They say we travel three times: when we dream it, when we live it, and when we remember it. For the traveler who observes this gallery, the third time is the sweetest. Here lie the fragments of a time when the horizon was the only goal, and each unknown face became a brief but precious chapter in the infinite book of human adventure.”
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