Lares trek to Machu Picchu: a particularly special adventure, the Lares route takes the road less traveled to Machu Picchu.
The Lares trek offers a unique and rare insight into the true Andean lifestyle, as hikers walk through Andean communities and visit family homes to learn about the culture and customs of the locals.
Hikers will also be able to soak in famous natural hot springs, hike alongside waterfalls and visit the salt mines that are an important part of the local economy – and, of course, witness the sacred ruins of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas!
Our Classic Lares trek is the perfect option for those who want to get away from the big crowds, walk through stunning Andean scenery and witness rural Andean life up close. You can choose this trek if you are traveling alone, as a couple or in a group.
The trail is intense, but not as extreme as the others. Along the way, the rivers will roar by your side, and in front of you will appear impressive waterfalls that will surprise you and help you relax in the turbulent waters. In addition, we will observe teardrop-shaped ice of different colors: blue, green and turquoise.
We will stop in different small Andean communities sharing special moments with their inhabitants. You will witness Andean life and the daily activities that take place in these parts of the world, learning about some of their customs and traditions.
After these magical days in the mountains, you will finish your trek with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World: The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Explore this amazing place with your guide as you discover its secrets and feel its amazing energy – don’t miss this epic hike!
REFLECTS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – CALCA – LARES HOT SPRINGS – CUNCANI – WILLKIKASA – QUISWARANI
Visit the thermal baths of Lares and then begin our hike. Rest at the Pacchayoc waterfall before heading to our campsite in the community of Quiswarani, where you will spend the night.
DAY 02: QUISWARANI – QOYALAY LAGOON – ABRA PACHACUTEC – CANCHA CANCHA
Hike to the highest point at Abra Pachacutec before heading to our campsite in Cancha Cancha. Spend time with local families and learn about their customs and traditions.
DAY 03: CANCHA CANCHA – HUARAN – SALT MINES OF MARAS – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
In the morning, hike to Huaran before visiting the salt mines of Maras. Enjoy dinner in Ollantaytambo and finish the day with the train ride to Aguas Calientes for the night.
DAY 04: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Explore the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu and then board the train to Ollantaytambo. Our transportation will take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.
Highlight of the day: Relax in the hot springs and visit local families.
A relaxing start before the adventure
You will be picked up at your hotel at 5 a.m. to begin the long awaited trek from Lares to Machu Picchu. Pick up places will be from any indicated point such as hotel, condo or apartment located in the city of Cusco, Urubamba, Huaran or Pisaq.
It will be a three-hour drive along the wonderful landscape of the Sacred Valley and through the Andes. Once we arrive at the Lares – hot springs site, you will have your first breakfast, accompanied by breathtaking views of the Andes Mountains.
Then you will enjoy the thermal waters that are distributed in different pools, ranging from cold water to the hottest. These thermal baths are composed of volcanic water, so it is considered medicinal, excellent for bones, stress, muscles, headaches, chronic rheumatic diseases and also increases the hydrostatic pressure of the body, thus increasing blood circulation and oxygenation. This increase in temperature helps to dissolve and eliminate toxins from the body.
After enjoying the thermal baths, we will continue with our tour, so we will take the transportation for about 20 minutes approximately to the beginning of the trekking, which is located at a road point that is at 3,30 m.a.s.l / 10,827 feet above sea level.
Here you will meet the muleteers and their mules who will be given your duffle bag to carry to the camp.
Then you will begin your expedition to Machu Picchu with a gradual uphill hike of two hours, until you reach our lunch spot in the first village called Kiswarani. This section of the hike is considered the potato valley area, where people grow a variety of organic potatoes. Your guide will also point out some indigenous medicinal plants that grow along the way, after which we will arrive at our lunch spot, where you can enjoy your first meal prepared by our trekking chef.
After lunch our muleteers (llameros) will perform a ceremony with the llamas, showing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred for the Incas and fundamental for their economy. Our llameros will present these animals and explain the importance and why owning these animals was a sign of privilege.
It is unfortunate that to date these animals have become extinct due to lack of proper care. We hope to continue with this tradition that the Incas inherited from us, which is why we take these services of the llameros, in order to support the protection of the llamas and their community. It is worth noting that llamas are friendly animals, but do not get too close as they may try to kiss you.
You will also have time to explore the village and visit some local houses. There you will learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people.
If there is time left, we will visit the school where the children still speak Quechua, their mother tongue (it is appreciated if you can bring toys, notebooks and school supplies to distribute in that school, maybe you can even teach them some English words).
It will be another two hours of gradual climbing until we reach the camp, where you will be welcomed by our trekking staff who will set up the tents.
We will enjoy some hot drinks while the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear, and finally you will enjoy a lovely dinner prepared on site.
If you want to continue stargazing you can stay up a little longer or if you prefer you can move to your private tent.
Highlights of the day: Witness the beautiful scenery and learn about local customs and traditions.
A day of breathtaking views and local Andean culture
Today you will wake up around 5 am with hot drinks in your private tent. You will have spectacular views of the colorful lake and valley of Kiswarani. You will see that the local people are already awake and will take their llamas and alpacas to graze.
Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your gear. Then we will fill our water bottles, organize snacks and begin your expedition to Machu Picchu. It will be a three to four hour climb to reach the top of the mountain. This pass is called Pachacute or Condor Pass.
We will zigzag to compensate for the steep slope. The views of the area are breathtaking, you will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas and alpacas. We will have an emergency horse to ride in case you get tired and can’t walk anymore. Once you reach the Condor Pass, you will be above the clouds and mountain peaks.
Then you will enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view. In front of you will be the beautiful Pitusiray mountain, which is located at 5,700 m/ 18,700 ft. Then there is the Condor Pass at 4,680 m/ 15,354 ft. Afterwards, we will enjoy a hot beverage service that your porters will bring with you. We will take advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities and then begin our descent.
Then you will begin the one-hour descent to El Mirador, where you will enjoy lunch.
There will be some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you will walk the last three hours downhill. There will be fantastic views of many lakes, llamas and alpacas, before reaching your campsite.
Which is the village of Cancha Cancha, the only village that has no modern technology. Located at (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), where people still practice the original Inca traditions. In this Inca village, 85 percent of the houses are still built with ancient construction methods. Including houses made of stone and thatched roofs.
Unlike any other village in the Lares Valley, this village has no electricity or cars. Here, not only will you enjoy nature, but your porters will also set up their tents. You will have some time to meet with the local children. We provide them with food and school supplies.
We invite our travelers to share this support in the education and health of this native people. You can bring anything you want to give to these Quechua-speaking children that they can use for school or home. When you are finished, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s homes.
Here you will learn about the lifestyle of the locals. You will learn about the traditional hand-woven textiles made from llama and alpaca wool. In the evening you will enjoy hot drinks and delicious dinner.
Highlight of the day: Descend from the cold altitude to the warm Sacred Valley and visit the salt mines of Maras.
Enjoy the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Our porters will wake you up with a hot drink and you will have time to pack your bags and enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, you will have time to explore the village and visit the local elementary school.
Here they still teach the ancient Inca language, Quechua. Once you are ready, you will begin the last stage of your hike through Lares. It will be a four hour hike downhill on this beautiful trail. You will pass more llamas and alpacas.
We will pass by farms where they grow potatoes, beans and many other traditional crops in the traditional Inca style. You will have the opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture. You will learn from people who still farm by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now, we will begin to descend to the warmer area of the Sacred Valley.
You will begin to feel the changes in the microclimate and begin to see crops that are different. Around the Sacred Valley, people grow corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados and other types of fruit. This area has a lot of Inca history and we will end your tour in the Sacred Valley village of Huaran, which is located at 2,700 m / 8,858 ft. Here you will say goodbye to your horses, riders, chef and porters.
From Huaran, we will take private transportation from Tunqui Expeditions and make a short drive down into the valley to visit Salineras de Maras, in the town of Maras. Here, at 11,000 feet above sea level, a saltwater spring gushes and spills down the mountainside. More than 3,000 small evaporation chambers have been created and appear to be tumbling down the mountainside.
These have been in use since pre-Inca times. The salt is said to have healing properties because it is full of natural minerals, some of it even comes out pink. Every local family owns one of these salt pans and makes a living supplying salt to the surrounding villages. There is a small store on site if you wish to take some salt home with you.
After visiting Salineras, we will board our private Tunqui Expeditions for a 45 minute ride. We will drive along the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo.
Ollantaytambo is the only intact Inca village that is still alive. It still has many water channels, Inca houses and walls. Your guide will take you to see this small town until dinner time, which will be at a local restaurant. Then we will take the train at 7:00 p.m. to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu (train schedules may vary, depending on availability).
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will check into your hotel and relax.
Highlight of the day: Visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu for the first time.
Tour the world wonder Machu Picchu
Today is reserved for the glorious Machu Picchu. You will visit this magnificent feat of humanity, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and a World Heritage Site.
After an excellent night’s rest, we will wake up for a quick breakfast while it is still dark outside and set off to avoid the large crowds. This way, you can enjoy the serenity of the place in the warm morning light. The entrance opens at 6:00 a.m. and we want to be among the first visitors of the day.
You will take a guided tour of approximately two hours to see the magnificent architectural feats of the Incas. The guide will lead you through several key points of the citadel, including stops to enjoy the spectacular views of the citadel and hear curious facts about its history and construction. You will undoubtedly feel their deep connection with nature and be amazed at how they sustained an entire city with incredible planning.
If you have bought your tickets in advance, it will be a good time to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. Otherwise. Around noon, we will return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time for lunch at a restaurant of your choice.
Then, we will take a train to Ollantaytambo, which takes about an hour and forty minutes, and board our private Tunqui Expeditions transportation back to Cusco. We will take you to your accommodation so you can rest your legs and later share with your family and friends this amazing experience in the Andes.
At Tunqui Expeditions we specify the included and non-included services for all the itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please check the details to make sure you do not miss anything. Some items may be different for certain programmes, so please read carefully before booking with us.
WHAT IS INCLUIDED?
Permits & Tickets
The Machu Picchu Circuit 2 ticket offers the most complete tour of the citadel and is the most popular. For this reason we recommend that you book well in advance to ensure your entry. (Circuit 2)
High Quality Service & Safety
You’ll meet your guide and group at our office for a pre trek briefing. There you’ll receive your duffle bags, which will be carried by our horses. The meeting is at 17:00 the evening before the trek.
Our official guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploration and pride in sharing our culture and history. On every experience they will keep you safe and comfortable, so you can enjoy your time worry-free!
On the trek you can carry your personal belongings up to a maximum weight of 7kg / 15.4 lb (this weight includes your sleeping bag).
All Tunqui Expeditions guides have received specialised first aid training. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit for basic emergencies (altitude sickness, traveller’s diarrhoea, cuts, abrasions, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the trail as quickly as possible and get you to a clinic for treatment.
We believe that attention to detail is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your rucksack on the road and a rain poncho.
We have a telephone service available 24 hours a day for easy communication with Tunqui Expeditions prior to your trek.
Your comfort is our first priority. Although our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, calling a doctor, hospital or friend can make you feel more secure. For this reason, every Tunqui Expeditions guide carries a satellite phone to call anywhere in the world from anywhere on the mountain.
Accommodation
Like our ancestors, we have a great respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth). Therefore, our tents are adapted to the environment to avoid any negative impact.
You will spend the last night of the trek in a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes, including luggage storage, while you visit Machu Picchu.
*Accommodation is in double, twin and triple rooms.
Meals
Our chef prepares the most amazing dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan or special menus are available at no extra cost), so please let us know on your booking form if you have any special allergies or restrictions and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks and snacks.
We’ll provide you with boiled, filtered and chilled water throughout the trek, from your first lunch to your last breakfast. You will need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle (we recommend a capacity of 2 litres).
Every morning at the campsite you’ll be woken with a cup of hot coca tea. Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you are warm from the inside out before you start your day.
Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you with popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of trekking, you don’t have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up and enjoy a bite to eat!
Before you start your trek, your guide will provide you with a cloth bag containing local fruit, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We’ll refill it every morning so you can enjoy your snacks on the trail.
We’ll provide you with a cloth bag for your snacks – perfect for storing wrappers and keeping the environment clean. Feel free to use it throughout the walk!
Transportation
On days 1,2, and 3, cargo mules will carry all the camping equipment and your baggage allowance (7 kg / 15.4 lb). Muleteers will be responsible for your duffle bag and personal items.
Muleteers and Porters (Tunquis)
During the Salkantay Trek, our muleteers and porters (tunquis) will carry all our camping equipment, from personal tents, clothes and sleeping bags to extra tents for eating and cooking, food, water, tables, chairs and a gas stove. We will include the personal service of a porter to carry your duffel bag and personal belongings.
They will be responsible for transporting all camping equipment and food, setting up and taking down each camp, and assisting the cook with food preparation. By law they can only carry a maximum of 20 kg, a rule we take very seriously.
Extras
We believe that it is the attention to detail that sets us apart from other tour operators. As we wrote above, each walker receives
Taxes and Fees
All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in our price. There are no hidden charges.
The Tunqui Difference
The following list is less tangible, but equally important and part of everything we do and include at Tunqui Expeditions.
He started in the industry as a porter and understands your needs better than anyone. We are committed and promise a better life for every member of Team Tunqui.
This includes better wages that they can live on so they don’t have to beg for tips to make ends meet. This is our job. We provide them with all the equipment they need, including warm down jackets, proper walking boots, rucksacks, hats, headlamps, sleeping bags and mats, and tents for them to sleep in.
We also help their families by supporting their village schools, bringing doctors and dentists to the families and planting trees in their valleys. We are committed to our social projects and the more than 300 porters on our team appreciate this.
While our porters trek to Machu Picchu dozens of times a year, they never enter our famous citadel. We make four trips a year to take our team inside and spend two days touring the important ruins, allowing them to touch and see the history of their ancestors.
Although the numbers are not yet equal, we look forward to the day when we have 50/50 men and women working in the mountains as part of the Tunqui Expeditions team.
We use local products that are biodegradable and organic wherever possible.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
You can hire one from us if you don’t have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable, protecting you from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy-shaped and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after each use and have a maximum use of 30 trips.
Walking sticks (with rubber tips) can be very useful on rough terrain and for ascending and descending. You can hire a set from us if you’d like.
You can climb the famous mountain that you always see in photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s a 45 minute climb and the descent can be scary if you’re afraid of heights. You can do this after your guided tour of Machu Picchu. Permission must be obtained at least two to three months in advance due to high demand. Bear in mind that there may be changes to protect your safety, especially due to weather conditions.
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains surrounding the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider and visually less frightening trails than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket, which we can arrange for you if we have time in advance.
Tipping is the norm on any trip to Machu Picchu. Although we pay our entire team well, a little extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they put in. Typically, group members collect their tips to share with the drivers and cooks.
Landslides, bad weather, changes in itinerary due to safety concerns, illness, pandemics, changes in government policy, political instability, strikes, acts of God, etc.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and worry free as possible. In this section you’ll find the answers to all your questions about travelling with Tunqui Expeditions in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions you may have about our services.
Is it for me?
The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail trek and is better suited for more adventurous trekkers who can handle higher altitudes and longer distances.
Join us on this journey toward a plastic-free Classic Lares Trek, where the beauty of the landscape is matched only by our commitment to environmental stewardship. Together we will pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible adventure through the heart of history.
How many days do I need to acclimatise in Cusco before the Lares trek?
It’s very important to be well acclimatised to the altitude before embarking on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the start of the trek to help you acclimatise and avoid any problems with altitude sickness during the trek.
You may have been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Cusco. If this is the case, we still recommend that you spend a full day in Cusco to rest, recover from the journey and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before starting the trek.
Here are some suggestions for activities to do around Cusco before starting your adventure trek:
Briefing or information meeting
All information meetings and briefings are held at our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 17:00 the night before the tour starts. These meetings last between 30 and 45 minutes. If you can’t make it, you will need to arrange another time by email, phone or in person at the Tunqui Expeditions office.
Trek balance payment (in Cusco)
If you have an outstanding balance, you must pay it 2 days before your trek. Otherwise your reservation will not be confirmed.
If possible, we would appreciate it if you could pay the balance for the trek/tour in cash, either in US dollars or local currency, at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw money from several ATM’s along the Avenida Sol, which offer both US Dollars and Peruvian Soles.
Alternatively, you can pay by credit/debit card or PAYPAL, either online or in person, but please note that a 5% service charge will be applied by our payment gateway (Niubiz) and PAYPAL. We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept bank drafts or traveller’s cheques as payment for the balance.
Duffle bag or canvas bag
You’ll be given a duffel bag or canvas bag during your briefing. Our team of porters will carry it with you throughout the trek and hand it to you at each camp. They measure 60 x 24 x 22 cm (23.6 x 9.45 x 8.66 in).
A maximum of 6 kg / 13.2 lb is allowed for each duffel, including the weight of your sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes and other personal items.
Can I store my luggage in your office?
Of course you can! During the trip your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can arrange this with us on the day of the briefing or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment you don’t need on the trek can be safely stored at your hotel. Almost all hotels offer this service. Don’t leave anything of value with your luggage; put it in the hotel safe and get a detailed receipt (in the unlikely event of theft, many insurance companies require a copy of the receipt detailing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards in a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Collecting guests
Please note:
Returning to Cusco from Machu Picchu
Returning from Machu Picchu requires some logistics, but don’t worry. It is all included in your tour!
Note: Your tour includes a one way bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, so you can choose to use it from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu or from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. If you want a return bus ticket, you’ll have to pay an additional US$ 12.00.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, therefore physical conditions and ages may vary. By agreeing to join a group tour, you accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, everyone will be able to move at their own pace.
There may be occasions when a group wishes to make changes to the tour, but it is up to the guide to decide, in consultation with all participants, whether such changes are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may interrupt some of our tours. Roads may be blocked and railway lines may be occupied. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if this means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Tours may be cancelled in these circumstances. In the event of a change or cancellation, our Operations Department will liaise with you. Your safety is our number one priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost items
Please be careful where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything with you when you leave your transport, accommodation or restaurant. You are responsible for your belongings while you’re on the tour.
BASICS
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
The muleteers and porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal belongings. This should include your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you are bring/renting one). In our case these two items weigh 3.5kg.
RECOMMENDED
“Classic Lares Trek 4 Days” is available any day of the week, from March to January. We do not operate this itinerary in February due to the rainy season and route maintenance. In addition, during this month, our Tunqui Expeditions team – guides, cooks, porters and muleteers – receive training and plan the year to ensure that you, our travelers, enjoy the trekking experience with us to the fullest.
Cost
Group Price: US$ 600.00 per person.
Required Pre-payment : US$ 200.00 per person.
Balance (Cusco): US$ 400.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after briefing).
This small group tour is guaranteed to operate with just 2 people.
Please note that PayPal charges a 5% fee, which we ask the client to cover as it is due to the use of their service. This tax is only for online deposits so you will pay the rest in cash (on the day of the briefing in Cusco) without charge.
Extensions and Offers
There are several extensions that can be included in your Peru Adventure.
Additional Equipment
There are additional items that you can include in this trip. Below is a quick list of prices.
Add-ons and Upgrades
Complementary services and upgrades that you can include in this trip:
Price guarantee
Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. So, before you book, please make sure you have read all our important information about the tour.
Student Discount
Student discounts apply to anyone 17 years of age or younger. To receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of your passport at the time of booking. It must be current and not expire within the dates of travel. Please send it to info@tunquiexpeditions.com.
