hiking route in Peru's Sacred Valley that starts near the village of Huaran, travels through the Lares Valley, and ends in the town of Ollantaytambo, this trek is known for its stunning Andean landscapes, local communities, and the opportunity to visit the renowned Lares hot springs.
Fast View of Full Itinerary
Highlights: When you hike into the Lares Valley, you can enjoy the colorful and typical dress of the communities. There are also spectacular high alpine lakes and wildlife.
Location: Calca and Urubamba provinces.
Duration: The traditional trek is 6days/5 nights. If you want a shorter hike, try one of the Lares options with Machu Picchu, or for a longer trek, the 4 day/3nights full Lares trek with Machu Picchu.
Level: Moderate to challenging.
Adventure Rating: This trek can be quite popular in high season but still has very few tourists.
Departure Dates: Any day with two people. We offer affordably-priced tours for 2 people so that you can depart whenever is best for you. This trek can be done in both the dry and rainy seasons.
Acclimatization: Minimum 2 days at altitude recommended.
Combos & Upgrades: Combine with one of our tours for a best experience in Cusco,and get free Comfort Camping or Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Trekker’s Dream: If you want to form your own tour group, please see Trekker’s Dream .That can be also advertised on this page. Maximum group size: 12.
You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco early morning and travel with private transportation to the village of Huaran in the Sacred Valley, the starting point of our hike. We pass through pretty farmland while following a small river up through the mountain. After walking about 4 hours, we arrive in the Cancha Cancha community (3800 meters/ 12464 feet), which has stone houses with thatched roofs. After passing the village, we set up the first camp, surrounded by the Andes.
Today we continue our climb, observing herds of llamas. We reach two brilliant glacial lakes, Suirococha and Yuraccocha, where you will see several bird species, such as Andean Ibis and Andean geese. From the lakes, the trail climbs steeply for about 3 hours to the first pass, Pachakutec (4460 meters/ 14628 feet), from where you will appreciate views of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray (5750 meters/ 18860 feet) and Chicon (5500 meters/18040 feet). The path continues for an hour along a narrow, barren land before descending, offering views of nice lakes and rich birdlife. We follow several waterfalls to get to Quisuarani village (3700 meters/ 12136 feet), our second campsite.
From Quisurani, we climb again through a nice valley, arriving at a lagoon from where we start a steep zig-zag climb. We will then reach the second pass, known as Abra Huillquijasa (4200 meters/ 13776 feet), which is about 4 hours’ from Quisuarani village. Hiking down, we will pause for lunch beside beautiful blue lakes, before continuing to the village of Cuncani (3750 meters/ 12300 feet), which takes approximately one hour. From Cuncani, we descend about 3 hours to Lares hot springs, where we take a well-deserved shower and camp. (Lares 3100 m)
Feeling refreshed, we begin a gentle hike up through a pleasant valley, accompanied by the sound of the river. After approximately 3 hours, we will arrive at the small village of Huacawasi (3700m), a weaving community. The people are often out in their fields weaving while they watch their animals, and we can see how they work. The village lies nestled beneath the towering snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Passing the village, we continue climbing for about 2 hours, observing the alpaca herders and nice waterfalls. After lunch, we continue ascending to Ipsayqocha pass (over 4000m), after which we descend to Ipsayqocha lagoon, our next campsite.
After an early breakfast, we will continue descending to Patacancha, and then follow the river until the district of Ollantaytambo. On the way, you will pass through the Willoq community, passing some archaeological sites and many corn plantations (during the right season). Late in the afternoon, you’ll take the train to Machu Picchu Town, where you will receive accommodation in a hotel.
Today is the day to visit the wonder of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The guided tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours, as we explore this fascinating citadel. Before the return trip to Cusco.
OPTIONAL: If you would like to hike Huayna Picchu, you have to let us know and pay the extra fee. There are 2 times to get in: at 7am and 10am, and each time has a limit of 200 entries. Also, try to fit in a visit to the Temple of the Moon or Uyna Huayna Picchu while visiting Huayna Picchu. Normally, during high season, those people who climb Huayna Picchu spend an extra day so they can spend a good amount of time exploring this classic mountain. If you don’t get to do Huayna Picchu, other options are:
We highly recommend walking down from Machu Picchu to get a feeling for the vegetation and also the audacity of the site’s builders. It’s a 1.5 hour walk back to the village of Aguas Calientes. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train (leaves either at 2.30pm or 6pm) and are met by a driver at Ollantaytambo, who will transfer you directly back to your hotel. You will arrive in Cusco approximately 4 hours after your train’s departure from Aguas Calientes.
| N° people | 2 Person | 3 People | 4-5 People | 6-7 people | 8+more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price/Person | $ 1270 | $ 1170 | $ 1090 | $ 970 | $ 870 |
Complete the form to book the tour
When to book a trek: trek permits are not required for this trek. Departure dates depend on availability of the group.
Group size – Minimum: 2 people. Typical group size: 7 – 8 people. Maximum 12 people
