Physical Level

Moderate

Trip Style

Hiking

Max Altitude

3,500 meters

Group Size

min 2 persons

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS TREK

Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 4-Day Adventure

This combo trek mixes epic mountain vibes with classic Inca vibes—glaciers, turquoise lakes, traditional villages, and the iconic Inca Trail. You’ll hike past alpacas, chat with locals, and walk ancient paths to Machu Picchu… twice! No fancy words, just real talk: this trip’s tough but worth every step.

Trip Details

Group Size: Max 8 people
Max Altitude: 4,700m (15,420ft)—yeah, it’s high!
Service Type: Group or private
Transport: Van, bus, train
Difficulty: Challenging (steep climbs, altitude)
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Itinerary

DAY 1:

Cusco → Huaran → Cancha Cancha

Wake up early—pickup’s at 6:00 AM from your hotel. Drive 2 hours to Huaran (2,800m/9,186ft), meet the horsemen and pack mules. Start hiking! The first 3 hours are a steady uphill to Cancha Cancha village (3,900m/12,800ft). Lunch by the river, then keep walking.

Pro tip: Cancha Cancha is super remote. No roads here—just trails. They got electricity in 2019! After setting up camp, visit a local family. Your guide translates Quechua (Inca language) so you can ask about their farming life. At night, check out the stars—your guide points out Inca constellations like the “Llama” they used for planting crops.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
Sleep: Tents (toilet building nearby)
Hike: 9km / 5.6 miles (~3.5 hours)
Difficulty: Moderate (altitude hits some folks)

DAY 2:

Cancha Cancha → Quiswarani → Ollantaytambo

Big day! After breakfast, tackle a steep 4-hour climb to Pachacutec Pass (4,500m/14,800ft). Views? Think icy peaks, blue lakes, and falcons flying overhead. Descend 3 hours past waterfalls and llama herds to Quiswarani village (3,700m/12,139ft).

Cool detail: Look for seven waterfalls near camp—locals say they’re sacred. Then, drive 2 hours to Ollantaytambo. If you’re at Veronica View Hotel, hit the heated pool or sauna before dinner. Trust me, your legs will thank you.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
Sleep: Veronica View Hotel (basic but cozy)
Hike: 12km / 7.5 miles (~7 hours)
Difficulty: Challenging (that pass is no joke)

DAY 3:

Ollantaytambo → KM 104 → Sun Gate → Machu Picchu

Up at 5:30 AM! Train leaves Ollantaytambo at 6:10 AM. Grab breakfast on board (buy it or pack from the hotel). Get off at KM 104 (2,000m/6,560ft)—start hiking! Cross a footbridge, check your passport, and explore the first Inca ruins.

The trail’s a mix of gentle climbs and steep stairs. After 2.5 hours, you’ll hit a jungle waterfall—perfect photo spot. Then, hike to Wiñay Wayna (2,600m/8,500ft), an Inca site half-covered in vines. Lunch here, then walk 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate.

First glimpse of Machu Picchu: It’s smaller than you’d expect, but magical. Take pics, then hike down to the citadel. Pro tip: Afternoon light = fewer crowds! Bus to Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel, and celebrate with dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Sleep: Ferre Machu Picchu Hotel (3-star, hot showers!)
Hike: ~12km / 7.5 miles (~6–7 hours)
Difficulty: Moderate (watch for mud in the jungle)

DAY 4:

Machu Picchu (Round 2!) → Cusco

Early bird alert! Take the first bus (5:30 AM) to Machu Picchu for sunrise. Your guide gives a 2-hour tour—Temple of the Sun, Inca terraces, all the highlights. After, explore solo or climb to the Guardian’s Hut for postcard pics.

Bus back to Aguas Calientes by noon. Lunch, shopping, or hit the hot springs (extra $). Train to Ollantaytambo leaves at 2:55 PM or 3:20 PM. Look for Wiñay Wayna ruins from the window! Private van takes you to Cusco—arrive by 7:00 PM.

Meal: Breakfast
Difficulty: Easy (you’re just soaking it all in)

Altitude sickness is real—drink coca tea!
Weather’s unpredictable—pack rain gear.
Wiñay Wayna’s name means “Forever Young” in Quechua. Ask your guide why!

No fluff, just facts. This trek’s a physical challenge, but you’ll see stuff most tourists never do. Ready?

Inclusions

Airport pickup
All transport: vans, trains, buses
English/Spanish/Quechua guide
Camping gear (tents, pillows, mattresses)
Meals listed (chef-prepared!)
2 hotel nights (Veronica View & Ferre Machu Picchu)
Machu Picchu entrance + Inca Trail permits
Horses for gear (7kg personal bag on Lares section)

Sleeping bag ( $20) or ai r ma tt ress ($ 20)
Trekking poles ($15/pair)
Lunch Day 4
Tips for guides/horsemen
Optional:
- Vistadome train upgrade ($67)
- Huayna Picchu hike ($75—book early!)

About ISIC Card

Valid Student ID for Classic Inca Trail Hike and Machu Picchu

To qualify for the student discount on Inca Trail Permits, travelers must meet the following requirements:

Age Limit: Students must be 25 years old or younger at the time of entering the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Those over 25 years old cannot enter as a student.
ID Requirements: The student ID must include:
- The name of the university
- The student’s name and photo
- A valid expiration date
ISIC CARD: This card type is no longer valid anymore

Invalid Student IDs for the Inca Trail Discount

Student IDs will not be accepted for the discount under the following conditions:

The traveler is older than 25
The ID is expired
The ID does not have an expiration date
ISIC cards are not valid for obtaining the student discount for Inca Trail permits.

This information is crucial for travelers seeking to benefit from discounted permits for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.

Why to Choose

Why choose “ITAN Adventure”?

“ITAN Adventure” is a 100% Peruvian-owned tour operator based in Cusco, with extensive experience in hiking, adventure tours, and customized travel packages. As a completely local company, we’re dedicated to providing travelers with authentic, high-quality experiences.

Our vision as a local company is to deliver personalized travel and hiking journeys, managed exclusively by experienced local professionals, with a strong focus on HIGH-QUALITY and PERSONALIZED SERVICE.

We are proud of our reputation as a travel agency that upholds RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE practices benefiting both the environment and local communities.

We treat our team like family and ensure they receive fair wages. We are incredibly proud of each member of our team! Their dedication makes it possible for us to provide the top-notch service that our many travelers appreciate.

At “ITAN Adventure,” we understand that our reputation and the feedback from our travelers are essential for gaining the trust of future adventurers. You can check out honest reviews from our guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google to see why we’re a reliable choice for creating your Peruvian adventure.

Small Group Travel

To ensure a more personalized experience at “ITAN Adventure,” we keep our group sizes to a maximum of 8 travelers. This approach allows us to offer a tailored experience, unlike companies that operate with larger groups.

About Our Tour Guides

Our guides are our pride. They’re highly knowledgeable and professional, fluent in English, and deeply passionate about Inca culture and history. Each guide is committed to ongoing personal and professional development, allowing them to share accurate insights and fascinating theories about Andean heritage. They are friendly, athletic, and well-educated, with backgrounds in Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History, or Anthropology.

Our Inca Trail Porters

Hiking with “ITAN Adventure” ensures a fulfilling experience. Our porters are here to make your journey comfortable and memorable. They carry your equipment, prepare meals, set up camps, and attend to your needs so you can relax and enjoy the adventure. Along the way, you’ll connect with local people, explore stunning sites, and discover historic Inca villages.

We provide our porters with essential equipment at no cost: jackets, sun hats, warm hats, shirts, pants, hiking boots, comfortable bags, canteens, back support belts, sleeping bags, mattresses, and travel insurance. Our porters come from remote communities, and by hiring them, we help improve their economic conditions and support their children’s education. We treat our porters like family!

Our Team and Equipment

Our team—guides, cooks, porters, muleteers—and our equipment make “ITAN Adventure” stand out from the competition. During our hikes, we provide:

Our Tents: We use 4-season EUREKA Timberline tents, designed for four but used by two for extra comfort and storage. They include a small vestibule for boots and poles.
Foam Mats: Insulate you from the ground for added warmth.
Air Mattresses: Available to rent for $20 USD.
Kitchen and Dining Tents: Serve as a common area during meals, perfect for relaxing and socializing.
Tables and Chairs: Set up in the dining area, adapted for varying weather.
Travel Bags: Provided the night before the trek.
Additional Items: We offer pillows, rain covers for backpacks, survival shirts, and portable toilets during the trek.

Our Commitment to Social Responsibility

“ITAN Adventure” is committed to giving back to isolated communities. We support social projects and prioritize hiring local staff.

We are proud to support local communities not only by providing employment but also by offering assistance to their families. This holistic approach benefits our employees from the Peruvian Andes and their loved ones, strengthening our connection to the local heritage.

Pricing

PRICE

*** The Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu which is included in this trek is almost always available year round except it is closed in February for maintenance.

$717 USD per person without hotels (Hotel has to be booked by yourself)
$797 USD per person 1 nights 2* and 1 night 3* hotels

Personal porter included!

*** This price includes the pack horse who will carry your belongings up to 7 kilograms. We will provide you a duffel bag, to put your belongings in.
***We provide large Eureka 4 person tents for each 2 trekkers.
***Private service is $100 USD extra per person

DISCOUNTS:

18 to 25 years old: $30 USD. Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card is required at booking for government approval for discount.
Under 18 years old: $30 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
Under 11 years old: $40 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

EXTRAS

Sleeping Bag: $20 USD per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
Air Mattress: $20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
Walking Poles: $15 USD per pair per trek (Professional poles that can be extended)
Personal Tent: $30 USD – (Tent is for single trekkers only)
Additional Night in Aguas Calientes – From: $60 USD (depending on availability)
Vistadome Train Upgrade: $67 USD per person (Return only)
Huayna Picchu Mountain : $75 USD per person (Please request when you book your trek)
Single Supplement: $40 USD 3* for single travelers Ferre´ Hotel

**Huayna Picchu Mountain is optional treks within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour.

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