a trekking route in Peru where you hike through the Lares Valley, a region known for its stunning Andean landscapes, traditional villages, and natural hot springs, eventually reaching the town of Ollantaytambo, a significant Inca archaeological site with impressive ruins, serving as a gateway to Machu Picchu;
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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 4 days/3 nights. If you want a shorter hike, try Uchuyqosqo options with Machu Picchu, or for a longer trek, the 6 day/5nights 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 Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Trekker’s Dream: If you want to form your own tour group, please see Trekker’s Dream. Your group can be also advertised on this page. Maximum group size: 12.
To start this tour, we pick you up from your hotel to ride 3.5 hours to the town of Lares, passing different and colorful villages surrounded by the massive snow-capped peaks of the Andes. We then arrive at the Lares hot springs, where you can enjoy the baths. After lunch, you will hike approximately 5 hours up the valley, hearing the natural singing of the river, until you get to the Huacahuasi community, our first campsite.
We day begins with a gradual hike, during which we observe nice waterfalls of the Andes. We’ll appreciate lamas, alpacas and other animals herded by little boys and girls dressed in colorful clothes. We continue climbing until we reach Ipsayqocha pass (over 4000m), after which we descend to Ipsayqocha lagoon. Here, we will have lunch, observing the fauna of the surrounding areas of the lagoon. Then we continue descending to Patakancha, another colorfully-dressed community, where we will make our second camp.
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. After the tour, you will have time to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain independently (to hike any of this mountains you must buy separate tickets months in advance) before the return trip to Cusco you will have the last lunch in one of the best restaurants of Aguas calientes.
RECOMMENDATION.- to end with the hot springs is more relaxing than start whit it we suggest to start the hike in Ollantaytambo the opposite way
| N° people | 2 Person | 3 People | 4-5 People | 6-7 people | 8+more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price/Person | $ 1190 | $ 1090 | $ 999 | $ 870 | $ 790 |
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
