This unique 4-day adventure combines the cultural richness of the Lares Valley with the legendary Inca Trail, offering the perfect balance between Andean tradition and iconic Inca history. Begin your journey hiking through remote highland communities, where you’ll interact with Quechua families, witness traditional lifestyles, and enjoy stunning mountain scenery. On the final stretch, connect with the classic Inca Trail to enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate – just as the ancient Incas did. A perfect choice for those seeking a less-crowded, culturally immersive route to the Lost City of the Incas.
Cusco Hotel
Moderate
This unique 4-day adventure combines the cultural richness of the Lares Valley with the legendary Inca Trail, offering the perfect balance between Andean tradition and iconic Inca history. Begin your journey hiking through remote highland communities, where you’ll interact with Quechua families, witness traditional lifestyles, and enjoy stunning mountain scenery. On the final stretch, connect with the classic Inca Trail to enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate – just as the ancient Incas did. A perfect choice for those seeking a less-crowded, culturally immersive route to the Lost City of the Incas.
Early in the morning at 5:30 AM, we will pick you up from your hotel and head toward the Sacred Valley. We’ll stop at a viewpoint to take panoramic photos and receive a brief explanation from our guide. We continue to the town of Calca, where we’ll visit the local market. Then we drive for about two more hours to the village of Lares (3,100 m / 10,170 ft), the starting point of our trek. Here, we will meet the team (chef and muleteer) who will accompany us. Before starting the hike, we’ll enjoy a relaxing soak in the Lares thermal baths (temperature between 28°C–34°C).
After the hot springs, we begin hiking on flat terrain for about 2 hours until reaching Vilcabamba Bridge, where our team will be waiting with lunch. After a short rest, we continue walking for 3 more hours to the village of Wacahuasi (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). Along the way, we’ll meet local children in traditional dress—an enriching opportunity to interact and support the community. Wacahuasi is our first campsite, where temperatures can drop to -5°C. After setting up camp and exploring the area, we enjoy tea time and a cultural talk before dinner and rest.
After breakfast, we start hiking at 6:00 AM uphill for 3 hours until reaching Sacsallaully Pass (4,646 m / 15,242 ft). This point offers impressive views of valleys, glaciers, and Aruraycocha Lake. You may spot native birds like caracaras and ducks, and Andean animals like llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. We then descend to the lakes Aruraycocha and Yuraccoha, surrounded by native queuña forest. Lunch is served beside one of the lakes.
Continuing for two more hours, we descend to Mantanay (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), experiencing a noticeable change in scenery. The trail continues downhill through a picturesque queuña forest with great opportunities for photos. We reach the welcoming village of Yanahuara (2,780 m / 9,120 ft), near the Sacred Valley, where we will spend the second night camping.
After breakfast at 5:30 AM, we travel to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the train at 6:40 AM. After about 1 hour, we arrive at Km 104 (2,200 m / 7,217 ft), the starting point of the Inca Trail. After crossing the Urubamba River, we check in at the control point and visit the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Choquesuysuy.
We begin a 3-hour ascent through lush cloud forest until we reach Wiñay Wayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), a spectacular Inca agricultural site. After a guided visit and a box lunch, we continue for 2 hours along a scenic trail with stone steps and tambos (resting places) until we reach Inti Punku (Sun Gate), where we enjoy our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. From here, we descend for 30 minutes to the site and then take the bus to Aguas Calientes (2,160 m / 7,086 ft), where we’ll enjoy dinner and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
After an early breakfast, we take the bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided 2-hour tour through its most important temples and structures. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore on your own, hike to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge, or climb Huayna Picchu (optional, $25 USD).
At the scheduled time, we descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, we board the train to Ollantaytambo and then take our private transport back to Cusco. Estimated arrival time: 8:00 PM. Transfer to your hotel. End of services.
The “Lares Trek & Inca Trail 4 Days” was an incredible experience combining stunning landscapes and rich cultural encounters. The Lares Trek offered beautiful scenery and a chance to connect with traditional Andean communities before joining the classic Inca Trail. The hikes were challenging but rewarding, and the blend of nature and history made every step worthwhile. Our guides were friendly and very knowledgeable, making sure we felt supported the entire way. I highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting an authentic trek with a cultural twist.
