CUSCO’S BEST ADVENTURE: LARES VALLEY + SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU (5 DAYS)
Hey travelers! This combo trek mixes wild Andean landscapes, hot springs, and the iconic Inca Trail—no fancy words, just real adventure. You’ll hike past glaciers, turquoise lakes, and remote villages, then finish strong walking into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Oh, and you visit the ruins TWICE. Let’s break it down.
We grab you at 6 AM from your Cusco hotel. Drive 2.5 hours to Huaran (2,800m), the trailhead. Meet the horsemen and pack mules—these guys are lifesavers. Boots on, let’s go! The first 3 hours are a steady climb to lunch by a river. Pro tip: Save room for the chef’s quinoa soup.
After eating, hike 1 more hour to Cancha Cancha village (3,900m). This place is LEGIT remote—no roads, just mountains. They got electricity in 2019, but life’s still basic. Set up camp, sip coca tea, then visit a local family. Your guide translates Quechua chats about farming potatoes and alpacas. Post-dinner, stare at the stars—Inca constellations included.
Sleep: Tents near a bathroom hut. Don’t worry, it’s cleaner than you’d think.
Stats: 9km, 3.5hrs, moderate.
Wake-up call: hot coca tea in your tent. Breakfast = pancakes + coffee. Today’s the big climb: 4 hours uphill to Pachacutec Pass (4,500m). Thin air, burning legs—but views of glaciers and neon-blue lakes make it worth it. Spot alpaca herds and Andean geese (they’re loud, you’ll hear ‘em).
After the pass, 3 hours downhill to camp near Quiswarani (3,700m). Pass shepherds in ponchos—say “Allillanchu!” (Hello in Quechua). The trail ends at seven waterfalls (yes, seven!). Camp’s ready: hot drinks, popcorn, early bedtime.
Sleep: Tents again. Foam mattresses provided—bring a sleeping bag for extra cozy.
Stats: 12km, 7hrs, challenging AF.
Scenic day alert! Hike 3 hours uphill to Willqaqasa Pass (4,200m). Mountain reflections in glacial lakes? Unreal. See peaks like Colquecruz—don’t drop your camera. Descend 2 hours to Cuncani village. Kids might drag you to their school—bring stickers or pencils to share (they’ll love it).
Van ride to Lares Hot Springs (3,100m). Soak those sore muscles in volcanic pools—1 hour max, then lunch. Say bye to the chef (tip him if he rocked). Drive 2.5 hours to Ollantaytambo. Dinner in town, sleep in a hotel with a real bed. Ahhh.
Sleep: Veronica View Hotel (basic) or Pakaritampu (fancier). Hot showers, folks!
Stats: 15km, 6hrs, moderate.
Up at 5:30 AM! Train from Ollanta at 6:10 AM—pack breakfast (bananas, granola bars). Get off at KM104, start hiking. Checkpoint, cross a bridge, then ruins right away. First 90 minutes: easy climb. Cloud forest = misty, maybe rainy—layer up!
Next section: steeper 90 minutes to a hidden waterfall. Take pics, then push to Wiñay Wayna (2,600m). These ruins are jungle-covered—way cooler than Instagram shows. Lunch here, then hike 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate. Boom—Machu Picchu appears!
Spend 1 hour descending for killer photos. By 3 PM, crowds thin out—golden hour light! Bus down to Aguas Calientes. Dinner in town, then explore or crash.
Sleep: Ferre Hotel (decent beds, Wi-Fi).
Stats: 12km, 6hrs, moderate.
Early bird alert! Bus up at 5:30 AM for sunrise at Machu Picchu. Guided tour (2 hours)—learn about temples, terraces, and llama drama. Free time after: climb to the Guardhouse for that postcard shot.
Bus back to Aguas Calientes by 10 AM. Lunch, souvenir shopping (bargain hard!), or hit the hot springs. Train to Ollanta at 2:55 PM—sit left for canyon views. Private van to Cusco gets you back by 7 PM. High-five your guide.
Optional: Add Huayna Picchu (book early—$75 extra).
GOTCHA NOTES
This trek’s tough but unforgettable. You’ll sweat, ache, and maybe curse the stairs—but Machu Picchu at sunrise? Pure magic. Pack grit, snacks, and a good camera. Let’s go!
**Huayna Picchu Mountain is optional trek 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.
Comfortable foam mattresses for every hiker, camping pillow, transfer airport to hotel (only in Cusco), duffel bags, plastic liner bags, and extra blanket for the tent are included in the trekking price!
To qualify for the student discount on Inca Trail Permits, travelers must meet the following requirements:
Student IDs will not be accepted for the discount under the following conditions:
This information is crucial for travelers seeking to benefit from discounted permits for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
“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.
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.
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.
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—guides, cooks, porters, muleteers—and our equipment make “ITAN Adventure” stand out from the competition. During our hikes, we provide:
“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.
