The trail starts in Lares hot spring 03 hours away from Cuzco, Crosses the Huacawasi pass at 4300Mts, descends into and cone des and ends in Yanahuara or Ollantaytambo access to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu.
The trek is not as popular as the overbooked Inca Trail but many find it just as beautiful. This trek (also sometimes called the Lares Trek), is ideal for travelers in search of alternatives taking you through rural communities in the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas.
A trek through dramatic Andean scenery with a rich variety of cultures, centered on the magnificent Lares surrounded by magnificent snowy peaks and many hot springs. You are going to visit highland villages where life goes on much as it did centuries ago and local inhabitants perpetuate the Inca customs of their ancestors: Original clothing and traditional farming, alongside llamas and alpacas helping to produce the best qualities of corn and potatoes around the world, our trip ending with a magnificent sunrise and visit to the famous "lost city".
Your journey through Lares to Machu Picchu starts in your hotel in Cusco at 5.00 am, where a bus will transport you to the village of Calca for 45 min. After a little break the bus ride continues for 2 hours to the hot springs of Lares, where we will enjoy a nice lunch before our hike begins you can take a swim in the hot natural thermal pools with beautiful surroundings of the mountain environment. The hike of the day takes 4 hours uphill until we reach the campsite of Huacawasi, where a delicious dinner is waiting for us.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on open roads, some steep ascending trails.
Walking Time: Approximately 4 hours.
Distance: 8km.
Early in the morning the guide will wake you up with a nice cup tee and breakfast. There after we ascend to the mountain top of Abra Huacawasi (4300 m), where we will have a breathtaking view of the mountain surroundings, the flora and fauna.
From there the Lares trek will take us downhill for 1 hour to the village of Auroruy Cocha, where our chef will prepare a fantastic lunch for us. For the next 4 hours the route continues downhill to the camp of this night in Yanahuara, where we will enjoy a dinner together and get settled for the night.
Walk and Terrain: Walk on open roads, some steep ascending trails
Walking Time: Approximately 10 hours (including picnic lunch in the route) Approximately: 9 hours.
Distance: 13km.
On this day we will hike from our camp early in the morning at 6.30 am after a solid breakfast and good morning tee. First, we have a little hike downhill for 40 minutes. to La Pista Central, where a bus is waiting for us to transport to Ollantaytambo; the bus ride only takes 30 minutes.
In Ollantaytambo we will enjoy a nice lunch and you can walk around the town and its market. It is optional to visit the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, which will give you a great insight of how skilled the Incas were in their constructions and architecture. After visiting Ollantaytambo, we end the Lares trek and continue by train to the village of Machu Picchu called Aguas Calientes. There we will get settled in our hotel and enjoy a nice dinner.
YanWalk and Terrain: Walk on open roads, some steep ascending trails.
Walking Time: Approximately 2 hours.
Distance: 13 km.uara – La Pista Central – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes.
After a very early breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary (30 min). Our trip leader will give an introductory 2 hours guided tour of the ruins, after that we have the option of climbing the steep staircase of Huayna Picchu, a steep and vertically quite challenging hike that takes about 2 hours which affords great views of Machu Picchu. You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)
Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there. Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum, or bathe in the hot springs.
Back to Cusco: You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included) and later board the train to Ollantaytambo where you will meet our transportation and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
*** Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains hike depends on availability; please let us know if you want to add one of these extra hikes at the time of your booking.
About Lares trek and Llama´s path Campsites:
Please note: Campsites may change (be different from this itinerary) depending on booking time and availability, weather conditions or on restrictions undertaken for safety reasons by the Peruvian Government.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 6kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy
Inca Trail Machu Picchu 4 days Inca Trail Machu Picchu 2 days Inca Trail Machu Picchu 1 days Inca Trail + Wayna Picchu 3D Inca Trail + Wayna Picchu 5D Inca Trail + Wayna Picchu 2D Luxury Inca Trail 4 days
Short Inca Trail + Salkantay 6 days Classic Inca Trail + Salkantay 7 days
Salkantay Machu Picchu 5 days Salkantay Machu Picchu 4 days Salkantay Machu Picchu 3 days Salkantay & Humantay lake 2 days
Choquequirao 4 days Choquequirao 5 days Choquequirao Machu Picchu 7 days Choquequirao Machu Picchu 8 days Choquequirao Machu Picchu 9 days
Inca Jungle Machu Picchu 3 days Inca Jungle Machu Picchu 4 days
Lares Machu Picchu 4 days Cachicata Machu Picchu 4 days Sacred Valley Machu Picchu 3 days
Machu Picchu Full Day Humantay Lake Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo Mountain 7 lakes of Ausangate Cusco City Tour Maras, Moray & Salt Mines Pisac & Sacsayhuaman Cusco - South Valley Inti Raymi 2025 Chonta, Condor Viewpoint
Sarah M
December 5, 2025
Percy was a fantastic guide, and the whole hike to Choquequirao was magical. The route was very varied and Percy timed everything perfectly so that we had the best hiking and time to explore the site when we got there. We will be back again!
Arthur S
December 5, 2024
Our hike to Choquequirao was a beautiful experience. Our guide Percy was well informed, kind and very knowledgable. We felt well looked after the entire time (the cups of tea delivered to our tents in the morning were a particular highlight). Even after four days I wasn’t ready to leave.
Miguel A
November 25, 2024
Nos gusto mucho esta agencia de viaje, nos la recomendaron y nos quedamos con una buena experiencia, muy profesionales, todo en tiempo y cumpliendo con lo contratado. Sin duda los recomendamos y volvemos con ellos.
marialaina p
November 23, 2024
We initially tried booking with one of the more popular companies, but they were fully booked. So, we decided to give this smaller company a try—and it turned out to be the best decision! Smaller groups made the experience more intimate, and the guides were incredibly attentive. Here are some examples of why it was a great experience: Percy and Iza, our tour guides, went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and cared for. They paid close attention to our needs, making the entire journey enjoyable and safe. On top of that, the cooks provided by the company were outstanding—creative, skilled, and very considerate. I have a gluten intolerance, and I felt very special because they would make an effort to prepare separate dishes for me. It made me feel truly valued. Despite not exercising much before the Salkantay trek, I was able to complete it thanks to Percy and Iza’s support. They motivated me every step of the way, and I felt safe and cared for throughout. I’m so grateful for their kindness, humor, history about the trek and professionalism. When we go back to Cusco we’re definitely wanting to book here and have Iza/Percy as our guides… if we can . Thanks for making our trip so memorable
Demonstrating our commitment to quality, we hold ISO 9001 certification, ensuring excellence in our services.
With ISO 14001, we prioritize environmental sustainability, reducing our impact on the planet.
We're honored to be recognized with the Traveler's Choice Award in 2024, a testament to our dedication to exceptional travel experiences.
We are an official agency and tour operator, ensuring a unique and high-quality travel experience to the destinations of your choice in Cusco and Peru.