The Most Picturesque Hike to Machu Picchu: The Lares Trek

According to guides in Cusco, the Lares Trek is the most picturesque hike that the region offers- more beautiful even than the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and more unspoiled. As it begins in the Lares Valley, you’ll pass tiny Andean towns where you’ll see local Quechua-speaking weavers and farmers going about their daily routine in traditional dress. As the trek continues, you’ll ascend to a high Andean pass from where you’ll enjoy expansive views of glacial peaks and fertile valleys, and the excursion ends with a visit to the legendary Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in the high-altitude jungle, so in four short days you’ll experience vastly different ecosystems.

You’ll want to allot a few days to acclimate in Cusco before attempting the trek, as exertion and altitude sickness are a dangerous combination. To begin, you’ll first take a bus ride through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to the small Andean town of Lares, three hours from Cusco. Shortly beyond the town, at a place called La Pascana, the trek will begin. The first day is the easiest; you’ll follow the river, walking along a dirt road past some very small Andean towns and settlements. (Many travelers bring fruit or small gifts like pencils or crayons for local kids, who are boisterous and fond of greeting foreigners.) We’ll reach the first campsite, Quishuarani, in about three hours.

The porters and cooks travel ahead, giving them the opportunity to set up the mess tent, begin lunch preparations, and set up a private toilet away from the campsite. Finally, the cook will prepare a hot, replenishing meal complete with soup, a main, and afternoon snacks. Camping is a lot easier with this kind of help- the cooks are priceless for the hot coffee alone! You’ll have other help along the trail as well: mules carry the cooking and camping equipment, and an emergency horse will be on hand should someone fall ill due to the altitude.

It will be an early night, as darkness falls quickly and the neck day starts early at 5:30am. On the second day, you’ll ascend Sicllaccasa Mountain to the highest point of the journey, Pachacutec Pass (4,450 meters above sea level). This is a strenuous section of the hike, as the path is quite steep. The spectacular views are worth the effort, however, and after reaching the pass, the hike will become much easier, as we descend for two hours to the valley floor. During this part of the hike, you’ll admire the pristine, high-altitude Pachacutec Lake and the glacial peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, and Chicon. We’ll have dinner and set up camp in the little village of Cancha Cancha (3,800 meters above sea level). After eating, we’ll follow the river further into the valley. All in all, you’ll have walked 7 hours on this day, making it the longest one during the trek, but will have passed through a zone with diverse flora and fauna.

On the third day, it’s another downhill walk, with level parts. You’ll find the walk relaxing, and it will take 5 hours to reach our lunch site, Huaran Village, and from there we’ll continue to the town of Ollantaytambo, board a train to the vibrant little town of Aguas Calientes. We’ll spend the night in a local hostel, so you’ll enjoy a hot shower and a soft bed! You’ll have the evening free after dinner, so if you’ve got the energy for it, you can visit the Aguas Calientes hot springs and soothe the muscles a bit.

Day four is the big one, when we take the bus up to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu Citadel. You’ll want to catch the first bus at 5:30am, so it’s another early morning. The guide will take you through the huge site, sharing its fascinating history and explaining the significance of its different parts. There’s a special enchantment to the ruins, not just due to their size and beauty, but also to the location- the surrounding greenery of the high-altitude jungle and the views of surrounding Andean peaks above and the Urubamba river valley below make the scene seem rarefied. This is why Machu Picchu has the reputation for being one of those rare travel destinations that doesn’t disappoint.

You’ll have free time after the guided portion of your visit so that you can hike Huayna Picchu or up to the Guard’s House and Sun Gate to enjoy views overlooking Machu Picchu. You’ll also be able to explore the site independently, taking all the photos you need to remember the momentous trip.

After your visit to the ruins of Machu Picchu, we’ll catch a bus back down to Aguas Calientes so that you can have time to have lunch of your own accord before we need to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. There, our tourist-class bus will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.

You can contact Pirwa Travel Service at pirwatravel@gmail.com for more information about this and other alternative treks to Machu Picchu. We hope to hear from you!