Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

The best part of this five-day route is the sharp change of pace. You leave Cusco for the quiet Lares Valley, where mountain villages, llamas, blue lakes, and Quechua-speaking families replace the crowds found on Peru’s famous trails. I especially like the night in Cancha Cancha, a village with no electricity, internet, or cellphone service, and the way the trip ends with the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.

I also like the practical setup: a chef, horseman, guide, meals, two hotel nights, and transport are bundled into the $980 price. Guides such as Manolo, Anthony, Gilbert, Sara, and Jose Abad Cortez have been praised for local insight and steady encouragement. The main caution is altitude. A 4,700-meter pass and long walking days demand a reasonable fitness level, and the early starts are not gentle.

Key points to know before booking

• A quieter route through the Lares Valley: You spend the first three days far from the main Inca Trail crowds, with time in isolated Quechua villages and mountain country.
• Condor Pass reaches 4,700 meters: This is the hardest section, followed by a long descent to Cancha Cancha.
• A real camping experience: You sleep two nights beside high mountain scenery, with tents, hot drinks, cooks, porters, and horses handling the camp work.
• The Short Inca Trail adds ruins and a first view of Machu Picchu: Chachabamba, Wiñay Huayna, and the Sun Gate lead you into the citadel from above.
• Food is a major strength: The cooks prepare full meals in camp, and past menus have included cakes and multi-course dinners.
• Small groups and early starts matter: The maximum group size is 12, but the advertised start time is 4:30 am while the first pickup is listed around 5:30 am, so confirm the exact schedule.

Why the Lares route feels different

Many people come to Peru focused on Machu Picchu. That is understandable, but the approach matters. This trip gives you three days in the Lares Valley before you reach the Inca site, so the journey is not simply transport followed by a famous ruin.

The valley brings you close to mountain farming communities and traditional Quechua life. The route passes villages where llamas and alpacas are part of the everyday scene, not just photo props. Cancha Cancha is the clearest example. It has no drainage system, electricity, computers, internet, or cellphone service, and Quechua remains the local language.

That isolation is a gift if you want a break from screens and crowded viewpoints. It also means you should be ready for simple conditions. Camping here is not a polished resort experience, even though comfortable equipment and hot drinks are provided.

The trip begins early from Cusco, with a drive into the Sacred Valley and a stop at a local market. You then reach the Lares thermal baths at about 8 am. The pools are set at different temperatures and are intended to ease tired muscles and prepare you for the trek. I like this start because it gives you a useful pause before the walking begins, rather than sending you straight onto a steep trail after a long vehicle ride.

After breakfast, you walk uphill for about two hours to Kiswarani. Lunch follows, then another two hours to the first camp beside a blue mountain lake at 3,750 meters. Nine kilometers may not sound severe, but altitude changes the effort. Keep your pace slow and drink regularly.

Day 1: Lares baths, Kiswarani, and a blue lake camp

Day 1 is described as easy, but you still spend roughly four hours walking at high elevation. The climb to Kiswarani is gradual enough for most people with moderate fitness, and the lake setting gives the afternoon a peaceful finish.

The camp is also a chance to look at the night sky. The guide can introduce you to Inca astronomy, which adds meaning to the stars rather than treating them as scenery alone. A hot cup of tea waits when you arrive, and the cooks provide dinner after the tents are ready.

You receive breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. A duffle of up to seven kilograms can be carried by horse, leaving you with a smaller daypack. Ask ahead about the optional sleeping bag, mattress, and trekking poles, since these are not part of the standard package.

Day 2: The hard climb to 4,700-meter Condor Pass

Day 2 is the day to take seriously. A morning cup of coffee or cocoa tea arrives at your tent, but the real wake-up call is the four-hour climb to Condor Pass, at 4,700 meters.

At that height, even a fit person may slow down. The trip describes this day as moderate to challenging, with 16 kilometers of walking and about seven hours on the trail. Your guide should set the pace, but you also need to speak up if you feel unwell. The goal is to cross the pass safely, not to win a race.

At the summit, you have time to look across the high Andes before beginning a three-hour descent. The downhill portion can be hard on knees and ankles, especially after the long climb. Trekking poles are worth considering if you normally use support on steep ground.

The night at Cancha Cancha is the cultural high point of the Lares section. The village is isolated from modern communications, and the absence of phone service changes the mood of the evening. You are there to eat, rest, and listen rather than check messages.

This is also where the support team earns its keep. Guides named in past trips include Manolo, Elias, Rosmel, and Sara. Cooks have included Tiburcio, Augusto, Oscar, Vidal, and their assistants. Horsemen carry supplies and set up camp, allowing you to focus on walking.

Day 3: Down to Huaran and the old streets of Ollantaytambo

The third morning begins among llamas and alpacas, followed by a four-hour descent to Huaran. The distance is about 12 kilometers, and the walking is rated easy compared with the previous day.

Huaran sits at about 2,700 meters, so the drop in altitude should feel welcome after two nights higher in the mountains. From there, private transport takes you toward Salineras and Ollantaytambo. The route description includes time at the salt terraces, though the amount of time there should be confirmed when you receive the final schedule.

Ollantaytambo is one of the strongest stops on this trip because it remains a living town built around Inca foundations. You can walk its old streets and see a water channel that has been used since Inca times. This is not just a quick photo stop before bed. It gives you a sense of how Inca planning still shapes daily life.

That night is in a three-star hotel, a welcome change after camping. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. The move from remote trail to historic town also prepares you for the next stage: the Short Inca Trail.

Day 4: Chachabamba, Wiñay Huayna, and the Sun Gate

Day 4 begins around 6 am with a walk from your Ollantaytambo hotel to the train station. The train follows the Urubamba River for about 90 minutes, taking you from the highlands toward the cloud forest and kilometer 104.

This is where the Short Inca Trail begins. Your first ruin is Chachabamba, followed by roughly four hours of walking toward Wiñay Huayna. A packed lunch and refreshments are supplied, which matters because the day combines transport, archaeological stops, stairs, and a final approach to Machu Picchu.

Wiñay Huyna is one of the most memorable ruins on the route. The terraces and stonework appear before the main citadel, giving you a smaller but powerful introduction to Inca engineering. From there, you continue to the Sun Gate, where Machu Picchu first comes into view.

The final walk into the citadel takes about an hour downhill. Because you arrive in the afternoon, the site may feel quieter than it does during the morning rush. That is a real advantage, though it does not mean you will have the place entirely to yourself.

You then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for dinner and a hotel night. The day is shorter in altitude terms than Day 2, but it can still feel long because of the stairs and the excitement of reaching Machu Picchu.

Day 5: A full Machu Picchu visit

The final morning starts early with breakfast and buses back to Machu Picchu. On a clear day, you may see the sun rise over the citadel, though mountain weather is never something to count on.

Your guide leads a two to three-hour tour through Machu Picchu. This is important. Without a guide, it is easy to admire the stonework without understanding how the buildings, terraces, water channels, and ceremonial spaces fit together.

After the guided portion, you have time to explore independently. Optional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain must be arranged far ahead and are not included. If one of those climbs matters to you, confirm availability before paying for the tour and tell the operator about your ticket.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes is not included. Afterward, the panoramic train and bus take you back toward Cusco, where the TreXperience team meets you and returns you to your hotel. This final transfer is useful because it removes the need to organize several connections after five demanding days.

The people who make the trek work

The walking is the headline, but the support crew shapes the trip. The strongest praise has gone to guides who combine history with patience. Manolo, for example, is noted for explaining Quechua culture and encouraging people with the phrase poco poco, or little by little. Anthony and Gilbert have also been praised for local knowledge and clear English.

That matters on a high-altitude trek. You need a guide who notices when the group is tired and can explain what you are seeing without turning every stop into a lecture. Sara has been praised for giving clear instructions about each day, while Jose Abad Cortez is remembered for making the experience feel easy to follow.

Food is another clear strength. Full breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks are supplied, and the cooks prepare meals in difficult conditions. Past trips have included three-course meals, traditional Peruvian dishes, and even birthday cakes made without a normal kitchen.

Food waste is handled thoughtfully, with uneaten meals given to local people in some cases. That is a small but meaningful sign of care. You should still state dietary needs when booking. Vegetarian meals are available, and specific requirements must be provided in advance.

What the $980 price really covers

At $980 per person, this is not a cheap day trip, but it covers a lot of moving parts. You get hotel pickup, transport throughout the route, four lunches, four dinners, five breakfasts, two nights of camping, two hotel nights, cooks, porters, horse support, guides, and a seven-kilogram duffle allowance.

The price also buys convenience at the moments when independent planning becomes awkward. Machu Picchu access, train travel, buses, a remote camp, and the return to Cusco all require coordination. Having one company handle the chain reduces the chance of missing a connection after a tiring hike.

Check the exact entrance inclusions before you pay. The day-by-day plan says admission tickets are included, while the included list separately excludes optional Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets. Ask specifically what standard Machu Picchu entry, train service, and bus rides are covered.

The package does not include a mattress, sleeping bag, or trekking poles unless you arrange them as optional extras. Those costs may be modest, but they matter when comparing this tour with another five-day trek.

Who should choose this route

I would choose this trip if you want mountain scenery and cultural contact before Machu Picchu, not just the famous ruins. It suits people who prefer a small group, quiet camps, and a guide-led experience with meals and logistics handled.

It can also suit adventurous families with teenagers, provided everyone has moderate fitness and is comfortable with cold, high camps. Solo people may appreciate the safety and support of a guided group, although the exact group size can vary even with a maximum of 12.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, basic camping, steep climbs, or uncertain mountain weather. The 4,700-meter pass is not a minor detail, and the long descent can be just as tiring as the climb. Anyone with knee or ankle trouble should consider trekking poles and discuss the route with a medical professional before booking.

You also need a current passport, and the operator requires each person’s passport name, number, expiry date, and country at booking. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Should you book the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail?

Book it if your ideal Peru trip includes remote villages, high mountain passes, excellent camp cooking, and a quieter route into Machu Picchu. The combination gives you both sides of the experience: three days of solitude in the Lares Valley and two days of ruins, trains, and the famous citadel.

I would not book it simply because it is an alternative to the main Inca Trail. It is still a serious trek, and altitude is the central challenge. Confirm the exact pickup time, standard entrance inclusions, optional mountain tickets, and equipment rentals before paying, especially because the stated meeting time is 4:30 am while the first pickup is described as around 5:30 am.

The cancellation terms are strict: the booking is non-refundable and cannot normally be changed. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants forces cancellation, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund. With those points clear, this is a strong choice for an active person who wants Machu Picchu reached through a quieter and more personal corner of Peru.

FAQ

How long is the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail?

The experience lasts approximately five days, beginning in Cusco and ending with a return transfer to your Cusco hotel.

What is the highest point on the route?

The highest point is Condor Pass at 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, on Day 2.

How many nights are spent camping?

You spend two nights camping in the mountains, including a night beside a blue lake and a night near the isolated village of Cancha Cancha.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, along with snacks during the trek. Vegetarian meals are available if requested at booking.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. Tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are optional and must be booked in advance.

What should I bring for the trek?

You should prepare for high-altitude walking, camping, and changing mountain conditions. Optional items include a mattress, sleeping bag, and trekking poles. A duffle of up to seven kilograms can be carried by horse.

What is the group size?

The maximum group size is 12 people. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and all participants need a current valid passport on the day of travel.