Ultimate Lares Trek & Inca Trail 5 days

The best thing about this five-day trip is the contrast: you begin on the quiet Lares Trek, where blue lakes, llamas, alpacas, and remote Quechua villages replace the crowds, then finish on the Short Inca Trail with your first view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. I especially like the hot springs at Lares and the two nights of mountain camping beside high Andean scenery. The trade-off is real: the second day reaches 4,700 meters and requires good fitness.

I also like the way the trip handles the hard parts. Horses carry up to 7 kilos of your personal gear, cooks prepare full meals in camp, and you sleep in hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes rather than camping every night. Just remember that optional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain cost extra and must be arranged well ahead of time.

Key points to know before booking

• 4,700-meter Condor Pass: The second day is the physical test, with four hours uphill followed by a long descent.
• A quieter route into the Andes: Lares brings you past isolated villages where Quechua remains the only spoken language in Cancha Cancha.
• Two different Machu Picchu approaches: You enter through the Sun Gate on Day 4, then return for a guided citadel visit on Day 5.
• Camping with practical support: A horse team carries your duffle, while cooks, porters, and guides prepare the camp and meals.
• Small groups: The maximum group size is 12, and some departures may be much smaller.
• A strong food program: Past cooks named Oscar, Vidal, Tiburcio, Augusto, and others have prepared multi-course meals, birthday cakes, and fresh desserts in the mountains.

Why the Lares route makes this trip different

The famous Inca Trail is about stone paths, ruins, and a direct historic route to Machu Picchu. Lares gives you something else first: quiet mountain valleys and a closer look at present-day Andean life.

That distinction matters. You spend the first three days away from the main tourist flow, passing farms, grazing animals, high lakes, and small settlements. In Cancha Cancha, the itinerary describes a village without electricity, internet, drainage, or cellphone service. Quechua is the local language there. This is not a polished cultural show. It is a chance to see how isolated communities still live in the highlands.

I would choose this route if you care as much about people and scenery as ruins. You should not choose it simply because it sounds easier than the classic Inca Trail. The second day is demanding, and altitude can affect even fit hikers.

The trip costs $980 per person. That is a considerable outlay, but it covers five days of transport, guides, cooks, porters, horses, meals, camping gear, two hotel nights, and the train and bus connections needed for Machu Picchu. For a guided high-altitude trek with this much support, the price offers solid value, especially if you want one booking to handle the moving parts.

Day 1: Lares hot springs and the blue lake camp

Your pickup is scheduled very early, around 5:30 am, with the meeting time listed as 4:30 am. Confirm the exact pickup arrangement before bed, since those times do not match perfectly.

The morning drive heads toward the Sacred Valley. You stop at a local market before continuing to the Lares thermo-medicinal baths, arriving at about 8:00 am. The pools have different temperatures, so you can ease into the day rather than starting with a cold, stiff hike. The water is presented as helpful for sore muscles, bones, stress, and headaches. I would treat the baths as a pleasant warm-up, not a medical treatment.

After breakfast, the walking begins. The first uphill section takes about two hours to reach Kiswarani village. Lunch follows, then another two hours on foot to the camp beside a blue lake at 3,750 meters.

The distance is about 9 kilometers, or 5.5 miles, with roughly four hours of trekking. It is rated easy, though altitude can make an easy day feel different from one at sea level. Your tent, hot tea, and dinner should be ready when you arrive, giving you time to rest, look at the stars, and hear about Inca astronomy.

This is a smart first day. You get scenery and altitude exposure without immediately facing the highest pass. Still, do not rush the first climb. Walk slowly, drink water, and save energy for the following morning.

Day 2: Condor Pass at 4,700 meters

Day 2 is the heart of the trek and the day you need to respect most. A hot drink arrives at your tent before breakfast, then you begin a four-hour climb to Condor Pass at 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet.

That altitude is high enough to challenge strong hikers. The trail distance is about 16 kilometers, or 9.9 miles, and the full walking time is listed as seven hours. The climb is followed by a three-hour descent, so the day tests your lungs on the way up and your knees on the way down.

At the pass, stop and look around. This is the high point of the route, with broad Andean views and a sense of space that is hard to find on a busier trail. The scenery is the reward, but the pass is not a place to prove anything. If you feel unwell, tell your guide immediately and follow the guide’s advice.

You spend the night at Cancha Cancha, back at about 3,750 meters. The lack of modern technology here is part of the experience, but it also means no reliable phone service or internet. Tell family or friends before leaving Cusco that you may be out of contact.

The day is rated moderate to challenging. That rating is useful, but altitude affects people differently. The tour requires moderate physical fitness, and I would prepare with regular uphill walking, long weekend hikes, and some stair work. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven ground.

Day 3: Down to Huaran and onward to Ollantaytambo

The third day feels easier after the pass. You wake in a village surrounded by llamas and alpacas, then walk downhill for about four hours to Huaran at 2,700 meters.

The distance is about 12 kilometers, or 7.4 miles. The day is rated easy, but a long descent can still bother ankles, knees, and toes. Trekking poles are optional, yet they may be worth renting or bringing if downhill walking is hard for you.

At Huaran, private transport takes you toward Salineras and Ollantaytambo. The route description includes time in Ollantaytambo, often called the Last Living Incan City. Its old streets and Inca water channel are a fine bridge between the remote trek and the major archaeological sites ahead.

You sleep in a three-star hotel in Ollantaytambo. That hot shower and real bed arrive at exactly the right moment. Dinner is included at a local restaurant, along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trekking portion.

The overnight stop also helps with pacing. Instead of forcing you directly from the mountains to Machu Picchu, the trip gives you a night to recover before the next long walking day.

Day 4: Chachabamba, Wiñay Huayna, and the Sun Gate

Day 4 shifts from remote Lares to the Short Inca Trail. You leave your Ollantaytambo hotel around 6:00 am, walk to the station, and take a train for about 90 minutes along the Urubamba River.

You get off at Kilometer 104 in the cloud forest. This is where the Inca Trail section begins, at the Chachabamba archaeological site. After time to explore the ruins, you walk for about four hours toward Wiñay Huayna, whose name means a place that never gets old.

The route includes a packed lunch and refreshments. The walking is not mainly about extreme altitude now. It is about stone steps, uneven surfaces, and a steady climb through changing vegetation. If you have ankle or knee trouble, take this section seriously. The stairs can be tiring even when your breathing feels better than it did at Condor Pass.

The great moment comes at the Sun Gate. From here, you get your first view of Machu Picchu, then walk downhill for about an hour into the citadel area. Arriving in the afternoon may give you a calmer first look than the crowded morning period, though conditions can vary.

You do not have a full guided visit of the ruins on this day. Instead, you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, eat dinner, and sleep in a hotel. This overnight arrangement is another good feature. You are not expected to finish the trail, tour the entire site, and immediately catch a train out.

Day 5: A proper morning at Machu Picchu

The final day starts early. You eat breakfast at your Aguas Calientes hotel, then take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu.

On a clear morning, you may see sunrise over the citadel. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, so do not treat sunrise as guaranteed. Even without perfect light, the early start helps you enter before the day reaches its busiest stretch.

Your guide leads a two to three-hour tour of Machu Picchu. This is where the experience gains its historic focus. After the guided portion, you have time to explore independently or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you have arranged the separate ticket.

Those mountain tickets are not included and should be booked as far in advance as possible. You need to provide your passport details at booking, and you must carry the same current, valid passport on the trip.

Afterward, you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Lunch is not included, so budget for it. The return journey uses a panoramic train and bus back to Cusco, where the TreXperience team meets you and takes you to your hotel.

It is a long finish, but the transport is handled for you. That matters after five days of walking.

Camps, meals, horses, and the people who make it work

The camp setup is more comfortable than carrying your own expedition. You have two nights of camping with equipment, and a duffle bag of up to 7 kilos is carried by horse. You may rent or request a mattress, sleeping bag, and trekking poles, but these are optional extras, so ask about current prices before departure.

The food is one of the strongest parts of this trip. The crew includes experienced chefs, assistants, porters, and horsemen. Past departures have included cooks such as Oscar, Vidal, Tiburcio, Augusto, and Beto, with guides including Manolo, Elias, Sara, Jose Abad Cortez, Anthony, Gilbert, Rosmel, Eddy, and William Elvis.

Do not assume you will have the same guide or cook. Names can change by departure. What you can expect is a support system built around hot drinks, prepared camps, and full meals.

The cooking goes well beyond basic trail food. Dishes have included varied multi-course meals, hearty breakfasts, and even a birthday cake prepared in camp without a conventional oven. A Pachamanca cooking demonstration is included too, offering a look at a traditional Andean method of cooking food with heated stones.

You should provide dietary needs when booking. Vegetarian meals are available if requested in advance. The listed package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, plus snacks during the walking days.

Guides, group size, and the feel of the walk

The group limit is 12 people, which is small enough for a guide to keep track of the pace and morale. One past departure had only two hikers, but you should not count on a private trip.

Good guiding matters here because the route combines altitude, rural communities, and two different trail systems. Guides such as Manolo, Anthony, Gilbert, Sara, and Jose Abad have been praised for clear English, local knowledge, encouragement, and strong explanations of Quechua culture and Inca history.

I particularly value the poco poco approach described by one guide: little by little. That is the right rhythm for high mountains. A guide who watches the slowest person, explains what is ahead, and does not turn the day into a race can make a major difference.

The route also gives you contact with people who still farm and live in remote valleys. Be respectful when taking photographs, follow your guide’s advice, and remember that these villages are homes, not scenery arranged for tourists.

Who should book this five-day trek?

This trip suits you if you want Machu Picchu but do not want your entire Peru experience to revolve around the busiest trail. It is a strong choice for solo hikers, couples, and adventurous families with older children or teens who can manage long walking days.

It also suits anyone who cares about food and support. You are not carrying all your camping equipment, and you do not need to plan every train, bus, hotel, and meal yourself.

I would hesitate if you dislike early starts, high altitude, basic mountain camping, or steep descents. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and the stated fitness requirement is moderate. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Book only after checking the exact permit arrangements and optional mountain tickets. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, except when the operator cancels because of poor weather or insufficient numbers. In those cases, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail?

I would book this tour if your ideal Peru trip combines quiet mountain villages, serious scenery, and a well-organized Machu Picchu finish. The Lares section gives you a more personal connection to the highlands, while the Short Inca Trail supplies the classic ruins and Sun Gate arrival.

The main question is not the price. It is whether you are ready for Condor Pass. If you are willing to train, accept the early mornings, and prepare for two nights in a tent, the $980 package is a sensible way to experience several sides of the Cusco region in one trip.

FAQ

How long is the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail?

The experience lasts approximately five days, including the Lares Trek, the Short Inca Trail, two nights of camping, two hotel nights, and the return journey to Cusco.

What is the highest point on the route?

The highest point is Condor Pass at 4,700 meters, or 15,354 feet, reached on Day 2.

How difficult is the trek?

The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. Day 1 is rated easy, Day 2 moderate to challenging, and Day 3 easy. The Short Inca Trail includes several stairs and can be tiring for anyone with ankle or knee problems.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners, along with snacks during the trek. Lunch in Aguas Calientes on Day 5 is not included.

Is camping equipment included?

Two nights of camping with comfortable equipment are included. A mattress, sleeping bag, and trekking poles are optional and are not included in the standard package.

How much luggage can be carried by horse?

A duffle bag of up to 7 kilos for personal belongings can be carried by horse.

Are vegetarian meals available?

Yes. Vegetarian meals are available, but you need to request them when booking. You should also provide any other dietary requirements at that time.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain included?

No. Entrance tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are optional and must be booked as far in advance as possible.

What documents are needed for the trip?

You must provide your passport name, number, expiry date, and country when booking. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.