If you want to skip the crowds and still enjoy an epic trek to the World Wonder of Machu Picchu, look no further and venture on this combined Lares Trek & Inca Trail. This 5-day tour will take you through the most stunning scenery while interacting with rural Andean communities and retracing ancient steps on one of the best treks in the world, the Inca Trail. You’ll also experience the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for an unforgettable finish.
Expect to see majestic mountain glaciers, shockingly blue and green lakes, waterfalls, streams, llamas, and alpacas along this gorgeous picturesque route. Spend three days in the Andean heights before dipping into the Inca Trail for the best of both worlds. You’ll connect with nature while visiting incredible archaeological sites before ending your trip in the magical Machu Picchu.
We’ll begin this incredible journey with an early pickup from your hotel and head towards the Sacred Valley. After about an hour and a half, we’ll stop in Calca to visit the local market and buy anything we need. We’ll continue for approximately two and a half hours to the Lares Hot Springs (3,200 m / 10,499 ft), where we’ll enjoy our first energizing breakfast.
Before starting the hike, you’ll relax in the thermal baths, which feature pools of varying sizes and temperatures. These volcanic waters are known for their therapeutic benefits, making them the perfect way to unwind before the trek. Afterward, we’ll head to Quiswarani, the starting point of our hike.
Our first leg begins with a two-hour ascent to the community of Quiswarani, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our cook.
After lunch, we’ll continue our hike to Qoyalay Lagoon (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). The hike will last 2 hours and we will camp around the lagoon.
We’ll wake you early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea. After a hearty breakfast, we begin a four-hour climb to Pacahcutec Pass at 4,750 m / 15,583 ft, the highest point of the trek. Along the way, you’ll pass pristine lakes where wallatas (Andean geese) swim and enjoy spectacular views of the snow-covered peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, and Qolquecruz, all towering above 18,000 ft. At the summit, we’ll serve a refreshing coca tea while your guide performs a traditional offering to honor the sacred mountains.
The hike then continues with a three-hour descent to our next campsite. Keep your eyes open for lagoons, vizcachas (rabbit-like rodents), llamas, alpacas, exotic birds, and more wallatas along the way.
Tonight, we camp in Cancha Cancha (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), the only village in the Lares Valley still fully disconnected from modern technology. The locals speak only Quechua, the language of the Incas. You’ll have the chance to meet residents, visit the local school, and play with the children. Donations of food or school supplies are always appreciated. In the late afternoon, we’ll visit a family home to experience their traditional way of life, watch how they raise guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas, and taste some local dishes. Our chef will prepare a shared dinner before you enjoy a well-earned night’s rest.
As usual, you’ll start the morning with a hot drink and a hearty breakfast to fuel up for the day. Today, we’ll hike the final section of the Lares trek. This 3-hour downhill walk takes you past flocks of sheep, llamas, and alpacas, as well as fields of potatoes, fava beans, and other local crops. It’s a wonderful chance to learn about traditional Andean farming techniques.
During the descent, we’ll enter the warm and fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas, noticing the striking change from the chilly highlands to the lush valley. Here, crops like corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados, and a variety of fruits flourish, showing why the Incas valued this land so highly. We’ll conclude the Lares trek in the charming town of Huaran (2,920 m / 9,580 ft), where you’ll say goodbye to the trekking team and enjoy a fresh lunch prepared with local ingredients.
Next, we’ll travel through the Sacred Valley to visit the Maras Salt Mines at 3,000 m / 9,843 ft. You’ll see nearly 3,000 small salt terraces fed by a nearby mountain spring. This salt has been harvested since pre-Inca times and is still extracted by local families. Its mineral-rich composition gives it a unique pink hue and is known for its beneficial properties. There’s also a small shop where you can purchase some pink salt, perfect for cooking or as a special souvenir.
Afterwards, we’ll continue to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft), a picturesque town considered the last fully inhabited Inca settlement in Peru. Here, you’ll have time to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and rest comfortably in a hotel. Make sure to get there an early night, as the Inca Trail hike will begin early the next morning.
After breakfast, it’s time to head to the station and board the train toward KM 104, the starting point of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You’ll travel alongside the sacred, rushing waters of the Urubamba River, watching the golden sunlight illuminate the towering mountains. Upon arrival at the control point, we’ll complete check-in and prepare for today’s hike.
The first stop is a short distance away at the archaeological site of Chachabamba. We’ll explore the site briefly and learn about its intriguing history before continuing. Next, you’ll enjoy a 3-hour hike following some of the original Inca paths. Along the way, you’ll see waterfalls, unique wildlife, orchids, and lush forest landscapes, all leading to Wiñay Wayna, one of the most important sites along the trail. This advanced archaeological center showcases the Incas’ architectural brilliance and impressive agricultural terraces.
Wiñay Wayna, meaning “forever young” in reference to a local orchid, features terraces and steep steps that you’ll get to climb. Your guide will provide a detailed tour with fascinating insights about the site. After spending time here, we’ll have lunch nearby before setting off on the final portion of the hike. It’s about an hour to reach the famous Inti Punku, or Sun Gate, the official entrance to Machu Picchu (2,720 m / 8,924 ft). From this viewpoint, you’ll see the Lost City of the Incas for the first time and feel its powerful energy as you take in the breathtaking scenery.
From the Sun Gate, it’s another hour downhill to Machu Picchu itself. By then, most crowds will have dispersed, giving you a chance to enjoy the site in relative tranquility. Later, we’ll take a 25-minute bus ride to Aguas Calientes, where you can have dinner at a pleasant restaurant and rest overnight in a comfortable hotel. We recommend going to bed early to make the most of your final day tomorrow.
The most anticipated day has finally arrived! You’ll wake up before dawn to get ahead of the crowds at Machu Picchu. Take the bus from Aguas Calientes to the site entrance at 6:00 am, when it opens, and experience your first breathtaking views of Machu Picchu as the morning sun illuminates its massive stones. This marks the culmination of your Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu adventure.
There’s nothing quite like walking through the Inca citadel at sunrise, almost in silence. While tourists flood the site later in the day, you’ll enjoy the peacefulness of these early hours. Your guide will take you on a 90-minute tour of the most significant areas, revealing the secrets and wonders of this incredible site. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos and soak in the sacred energy of Machu Picchu.
If you have tickets in advance for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, this is the perfect time to hike to their summits and enjoy panoramic views of the citadel. If not, you can visit the Inca Bridge for a unique perspective of this World Wonder. Afterwards, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our private transfer will bring you back to your hotel in Cusco.
After some well-deserved rest, you’ll carry the rhythm and energy of the Andes in your heart for years to come!
