Lares Trek to Machu Picchu – 3 Days / 2 Nights
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a 3-day adventure packed with jaw-dropping views! Think icy glaciers, bright blue lakes, wild waterfalls, and tons of llamas and alpacas. You’ll hike through remote villages where locals still live like their ancestors, then finish strong at Machu Picchu. Heads up: the 3-day trek skips the Lares Hot Springs (only on the 4-day version), but trust me, you won’t feel like you missed out.
Places You’ll See: Pisac ruins, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, hidden Lares Valley communities, Machu Picchu.
Group Size: Up to 8 folks.
Max Altitude: 4,700 meters (15,400 ft) – yeah, it’s high!
Transport: Van, bus, train.
Difficulty: Tough but doable (good fitness needed).
Service Type: Group.
Adventure starts early! We’ll pick you up at 5:00 AM from your Cusco hotel and drive 2 hours to Huaran. Here, you’ll meet the horsemen and horses that’ll carry your gear. Time to gear up, lace those boots, and start hiking! The first 3 hours are a steady climb to Cancha Cancha village. Lunch is by a river—refuel with a tasty meal cooked by your trek chef.
Cancha Cancha (3,900m/12,800ft) is crazy remote. No roads here, and they just got electricity in 2019! After setting up camp and sipping tea, visit a local family with your guide. You’ll chat (via translation) about their traditional farming life. Post-dinner, stargaze with your guide—they’ll point out Inca constellations used for farming.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea Time, Dinner
Sleep: Tents (bathroom hut nearby).
Hike: 9km / 5.6 miles (~3.5 hours).
Difficulty: Moderate.
Eat a big breakfast—today’s the hardest day! Hike 7 hours northeast, starting with a steep climb to Pachacutec Pass (4,500m/14,800ft). The grind is real, but views of glaciers, turquoise lakes, and alpaca herds keep you going. Spot Caracara falcons overhead!
After celebrating at the pass, descend 3 hours to Quiswarani village (3,700m/12,139ft). Along the way, meet shepherds in colorful clothes herding llamas—they’ll greet you in Quechua (your guide translates). Pass seven epic waterfalls before reaching camp.
From Quiswarani, drive 2 hours to Ollantaytambo, then catch a train to Aguas Calientes. Crash at a cozy hotel (hello, real beds!).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea Time, Dinner
Sleep: Hotel Ferre Machu Picchu (3-star, hot showers, Wi-Fi!).
Hike: 12km / 7.5 miles (~7 hours).
Difficulty: Challenging.
Rise early! Grab breakfast, then hop the first bus (5:30 AM) to Machu Picchu for sunrise—it’s magical. Your guide gives a 2-hour tour, explaining the agricultural, residential, and religious sectors. Pro tip: Snap pics of the classic postcard view!
After exploring, bus back to Aguas Calientes. Lunch is on your own (try the local trout!). If time allows, shop for souvenirs or hit the hot springs.
Catch the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo (2:55 PM or 3:20 PM). The ride follows the Urubamba River—look up for glimpses of Wiñay Wayna ruins! A driver meets you at the station for the 2-hour ride back to Cusco. Arrive by 7:00 PM.
Note:
UPGRADES:
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.
The best Lares Hike Machu Picchu is available on any date that is best suited to you as long as we have a minimum of 2 participants!
***Price based on number of people due to the fact that this trek is not in as high of demand as the 4 day Lares Trek, thus it usually has a smaller group of 2 to 4 persons. Â Â
***We provide large Eureka 4 person tents for each 2 trekkers. Â
*** This price includes the extra pack horse which will carry your belongings up to 7kgs, Â we will provide you a duffel bag in which you can put your things in.
**Huayna Picchu is an 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.Â
GOOD TO KNOW:
This trek’s tough, but the bragging rights (and photos!) are forever. Let’s go
