Over 5 days and 4 nights you’ll soak in Lares hot springs, hike past blue lakes and
waterfalls, share moments with local Quechua communities, and then join the Short Inca
Trail to walk through Wiñay Wayna and Inti Punku before exploring Machu Picchu in depth.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 | Cusco – Lares Thermal Baths – Kiswarani (17 km, ~7 h)
TreXperience will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 04:30 and drive through
the Sacred Valley toward the famous Lares thermo-medicinal baths,
arriving at approximately 08:00. Enjoy time soaking in pools of different temperatures,
perfect for relaxing your muscles and mind before the trek begins. Breakfast will be
served with views of the surrounding Andean mountains.
After breakfast, start a 4-hour hike to the village of
Cuncani, where your chef will have a well-deserved lunch ready. In the
afternoon, hike another 3 hours through Andean lakes, waterfalls, and
stunning mountain scenery until you reach the village of
Kiswarani, where local families farm potatoes and raise llamas and
alpacas.
On arrival at camp, your tents and a hot cup of tea will be waiting for you. As night
falls, this is a perfect spot to stargaze and learn about Inca astronomy.
- Campsite altitude: 3,850 m / 12,361 ft
- Distance: 17 km / 10 mi
- Duration: ~7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 2 | Kiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha (16 km, ~7 h)
Wake up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea. Today is the longest and
most challenging day. After breakfast, begin a 4-hour climb to
Condor Pass (4,700 m / 15,354 ft), the highest point of the trek. Along
the way, you’ll pass beautiful lakes where Wallatas (Andean geese) swim and enjoy views
of towering peaks such as Pitusiray, Sawasiray, and Qolquecruz, all over 18,000 ft.
At the summit of Condor Pass, warm up with a hot drink and watch your guide perform a
traditional offering ceremony to the Apus (sacred mountains). Then
descend for about 3 hours through breathtaking scenery, passing
lagoons, llamas, alpacas, vizcachas, and more birdlife until you reach the village of
Cancha Cancha (3,750 m / 12,303 ft).
This is the only village in the Lares Valley still completely isolated from modern
technology—no internet, cell service, or drainage system—and Quechua is the main
language. You’ll have time to interact with locals, visit the school, and later visit a
family home to see traditional lifestyles, taste local food, and learn how they raise
guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas.
- Campsite altitude: 3,750 m / 12,303 ft
- Highest altitude: 4,700 m / 15,354 ft
- Distance: 16 km / 9.9 mi
- Duration: ~7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Day 3 | Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Salineras – Ollantaytambo (12 km, ~4 h)
Start the day with a beautiful mountain view and a nourishing breakfast. Today you’ll
descend from the highlands into the fertile Sacred Valley. Say goodbye to the community
of Cancha Cancha, one of the last villages still practicing many Inca traditions.
Hike for about 4 hours downhill, moving through different ecosystems—
from cold potato fields to lower, warmer lands where maize thrives. Your trek concludes
in the town of Huaran (2,700 m / 8,856 ft). From here, a private bus
will take you to the Salineras (salt mines), then continue to
Ollantaytambo, the Last Living Inca City.
Walk through its narrow streets and see water channels that have been in use since Inca
times. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
- Ending altitude (Huaran / Valley): ~2,700 m / 8,856 ft
- Highest altitude: 3,750 m / 12,303 ft
- Distance: 12 km / 7.4 mi
- Duration: ~4 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel in Ollantaytambo
- Difficulty: Easy
Day 4 | Ollantaytambo – Short Inca Trail – Machu Picchu View – Aguas Calientes (15 km, ~8 h)
After an early breakfast at your hotel, take a scenic train ride (~1.5 hours) along the
Urubamba River from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 at
Chachabamba, where you begin the Short Inca Trail. Show your original
passport at the checkpoint to start your trek.
Visit the Inca site of Chachabamba and then follow the original Inca
Trail for about 4 hours uphill until you reach
Wiñay Wayna (“Forever Young”). Explore this stunning ruin clinging to
the mountainside and enjoy spectacular views over the valley. A packed lunch and
refreshments will be provided.
Once rested, continue toward the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to catch your
first unforgettable glimpse of Machu Picchu. From the Sun Gate, walk
about one hour downhill along a panoramic trail to reach the upper terraces of Machu
Picchu in the late afternoon, when the site is quieter—ideal for photos.
You’ll then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have dinner, and
spend the night in a hotel.
- Town altitude (Aguas Calientes): 2,000 m / 6,561 ft
- Highest altitude: ~2,700 m / 8,858 ft
- Distance: 15 km / 8 mi
- Duration: ~8 hours
- Meals: Lunch, snacks, dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 5 | Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Return to Cusco
On your final day, get up very early and enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Take one of the
first buses up to Machu Picchu (around 05:30) to arrive before the
big crowds. On clear days, you can watch a spectacular sunrise over the citadel.
Your guide will lead a 2–3-hour comprehensive tour, starting with a
short hike to the Inca Bridge, then visiting terraces, temples,
palaces, and the most important sectors of Machu Picchu. After the guided tour, you’ll
have time to continue exploring on your own or, if tickets are reserved, climb
Huayna Picchu or
Machu Picchu Mountain
(optional and different from the citadel).
When you are ready, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and
in the afternoon board the panoramic train and connecting bus back to Cusco. You will
arrive at your hotel around 19:30, where your Lares & Short Inca Trail TreXperience
ends.
- Guided tour duration: 3–4 hours
- Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
- Difficulty: Easy (optional extra hikes are strenuous)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lares Trek?
The Lares Trek is a beautiful alternative route to Machu Picchu,
popular with travelers who want more cultural interaction and fewer crowds. It passes
through remote Andean villages where Quechua is still spoken and llamas and alpacas
are part of daily life.
What is the Short Inca Trail?
The Short Inca Trail is a 1-day section (Km 104) of the
Classic 4-day Inca Trail. It
allows you to hike past Inca sites like Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna and arrive at Machu
Picchu through the Sun Gate, visiting the citadel twice (afternoon and the following
morning).
What is the Lares Trek & Short Inca Trail combo?
The Lares Trek & Short Inca Trail 5 days follows the same
highland route as the traditional
4-day Lares Trek, but instead
of going straight by train to Machu Picchu, you hike the
Short Inca Trail at the
end and arrive at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate.
When is the best time to hike this trek?
The Lares region has similar weather to Cusco, the Inca Trail, and Salkantay: days
around 10–21°C (50–70°F) and cold nights that can drop below 0°C (32°F). There are
only two seasons: dry season (April–November) and
rainy season (December–March). The Lares Trek runs year-round, but
the Short Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance.
The
best time to visit Machu Picchu and hike this combo is generally from April to
November, during the dry season.
How difficult is the Lares & Short Inca Trail trek?
It is rated moderate to challenging due to altitude (up to 4,700 m /
15,354 ft) and some long uphill and downhill days. However, you have mules and porters
carrying your main gear, so you hike only with a daypack. Reasonable fitness and some
hiking experience are recommended.
What Covid-19 safety measures are in place?
We follow current local regulations, including temperature checks when required, mask
use in public areas according to health guidelines, avoiding printed materials, and
promoting 100% online payments with no booking fees. Flexible booking policies are
available during the COVID-19 period.
