Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

This is no runner-up. The Lares Trek is just as worthy of a spot on your Bucket List as any other famous trails to Machu Picchu that you might have heard of.

Get off the beaten path and taste what life was like in Machu Picchu on this more cultural route to the ancient Inca settlement.

Incredible ruins, azure lagoons and alpacas galore await you on your hike along the Lares Trek to one of the most celebrated new wonders of the world.

Honestly, if you’d rather a busier, bustling route to Machu Picchu, Lares might not be for you. But if you want to escape into the wild, challenge yourself and experience Peruvian local life in its most authentic form at the same time, look no further.

Surrounded by peaks more than 5,000m high and with few tourists around, Lares will truly humble you on your journey to Machu Picchu. It’s just magical up there.

Read our article on the Lares Trek vs Inca Trail here.

Day 1

TRAVEL FROM UK TO LIMA, PERU

We will depart from London and travel to Lima, Peru. Once we arrive in Lima, we are transferred to the hotel Girasoles and you will have time to rest or explore the city at your leisure.

Day 2

Free day in Lima

Explore the ancient streets of Plaza Major, visit old museums or even look around the curiosities in Casa di Aliaga, South America’s oldest house. From meeting street vendors to sampling delicious Peruvian dishes, there’s plenty to experience in Lima.

Day 3

FLY TO CUSCO AND CITY TOUR

Transfer to Cusco and spend the day relaxing and acclimatising. A guided tour around Cusco is provided in the afternoon. On this tour, we will discover Sacsayhuaman where huge stone ramparts surround a grass amphitheatre and Tambo Machay water temple which features intricately carved water channels thought to have been used for ritual cleansing and water worship. Back in Cusco we stop at the Plaza de Armas to see its impressive cathedral and Qoricancha Temple, which was once home to life sized gold statues. Time permitting, we will visit one of the town’s bustling markets and experience a taste of Peruvian life.

Day 4

EXPLORING CUSCO

Today we have a free day in Cusco to explore the old plazas and historic sites.

Day 5

TREK CUSCO TO IPSAYCOCHA LAKE

Today we will start the 4 day Trek to Machu Picchu, leaving from Cusco, trekking though Patacancha to reach Ipsaycocha Lake.

Day 6

HUACAHUASI TO LARES HOT SPRINGS

Today we trek from Huacahuasi to Lares, After breakfast, you begin to descend for about three hours until you reach the community of Huacahuasi. Today, the scenery will be dramatically different from yesterday: fields of potato, barley, quinoa and corn are abundant here. Many of the houses that we see in the small village of Huacahuasi are built from stone and have thatched roofs. The people of this village produce beautiful colourful textiles. In the morning, we will learn about the weaving techniques and be able to admire some of their high quality ponchos, chullos (wool hats) and other garments. A further walk of 2 to 3 hours will take you to the hot springs near the colonial village of Lares at 3400m, where we will set up camp.

Day 7

LARES – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTESI

Today’s trek takes us from Lares, through Ollantaytambo, to Aguas Calientesi.

Day 8

MACHU PICCHU SUMMIT!

Machu Picchu summit! The whole day will be spent exploring Machu Picchu, including a guided tour of the citadel and exploring the monument. At the end of the day we will travel back to Cusco.

Day 9

EXPLORING CUSCO OR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN EXCURSION

A chance to explore Cusco or just a rest day! Those that have booked the Rainbow mountain excursion will head out early.

Day 10

DEPART LIMA

Today we depart Lima and travel back to UK.

Day 11

ARRIVE IN THE UK

We land in the UK and head home.

Trip Dates

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Reviews

Here’s what some of our awesome customers had to say:

“I’ve just come back from doing the Lares trek in Peru. This was a trip that just kept giving and my mind is still catching up from everything I experienced.

This trip had everything and feel privileged with the experience that bucket list company arranged.I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of booking a trip, they are well organised and the experiences are once in a lifetime, pictures just dont do it justification, seeing it with your own eyes is a thousand times better.

Massive thanks to Keith and his staff for sorting it all out!”

Oliver Wilson

“I just got back from Peru after doing the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu (and Rainbow Mountain) and have had the greatest experience. From the chaos of landing and being woken up by an earthquake in Lima to meeting awesome kids in schools and on the trek, there was a grin stuck to my face at every turn. A camera simply does not do justice to the sights you will see during the excellently varied itinerary.

If you happen to be on the fence about booking a trip with The Bucket List Company, get off now and do it. You will not regret it, trust me. Many thanks to Keith and crew and the group I was lucky enough to be in.

Warning: the depression upon return is real!”

Dan Bauer Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

“I still can’t quite find the right word to describe my experience with The Bucket List Company. Had the most incredible time, met some amazing people, and experienced things I never thought I would. I’d recommend both Peru, Machu Picchu and The Bucket List Company to anyone – you honestly will not be disappointed. Thank you so much for a life changing 10 days.”

Matt Hemmings Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

“Rocking up to the airport ready to meet the other “bucket listers” who signed up to the same adventure; I felt nervous of what was ahead and who would I be spending the next 10 days with.

My nerves were put at rest instantly. I now have 10 new awesome friends!

We were welcomed by Keith at the airport and from then on in, everything was wonderfully organised. So much so that Keith even helped us find a TV to watch the Arsenal game during the trek when were in the middle of Lares. Totally going above and beyond!

The knowledge and passion to travel really shone through and made the entire experience a true dream. The Bucket List Company are smaller than other companies in this market; however don’t let that put you off, this is a strength!

They are a super knowledgeable company, led by people who have a real passion for what they do. It was all about my bucket list of activities and ticking them off – this was their main objective. They were also happy to tweak plans to fit others needs; this level of flexibility (including the payment plans/options) is not so welcoming in larger companies.

I would encourage everyone to jump onto the adventures The Bucket List Company offer – go on do it now!

I am already signing up to my next adventure with the Bucket List Company!”

Michelle Newton Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

“I’ve just arrived back after a trip with The Bucket List Company to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Everything went very smoothly and we were well looked after. The hotel accomodation and travel were both good.

The trek itself was really well organised, and the quality of the food provided by Chef Freddie was first class. The extra tours on the trip were well worth it. We always felt part of the group and the experience was worth every penny. Thanks Keith!”

Kenneth Bease Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu

“Thanks to The Bucket List Company, we’ve been paying a just £160 each a month for our upcoming adventure trip to Peru.

We don’t even notice the money disappearing from our accounts, and for the first time ever, we have actually looked forward to getting an invoice because it means our dream trip of trekking the Inca Trail is one less month away.”

Martin and Jacki Norbury Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu

FAQs

Which route should I take to Machu Picchu?

If you’ve been considering taking a trip to Machu Picchu then you probably already know there’s more than one way to get to it. Salkantay, Lares or the Inca Trail?

To find out more information about the different routes CLICK HERE and read our full article, ‘Which Route To Machu Picchu?’.

How much does it cost to reach Machu Picchu?

Essentially, your Machu Picchu trip cost is going to depend on a few different factors, from how much you want to do and which route you want to take to where you want to stay.

In our article, ‘How Much Does It Cost To Reach Machu Picchu?’, we break things down for you. CLICK HERE to find out more!

Should I book the Lares or Salkantay Trek?

It’s a tough choice! Each way has different qualities and highlights that are worth considering when deciding which trek to Machu Picchu to choose.

To help you decide we wrote an article laying out the similarities and differences between the two routes to help you work out which trip is right for you. CLICK HERE to find out more!

Should I book the Lares Trek or Inca Trail?

It’s a tough choice! Each way has different qualities and highlights that are worth considering when deciding which trek to Machu Picchu to choose.

To help you decide we wrote an article laying out the similarities and differences between the two routes to help you work out which trip is right for you. CLICK HERE to find out more!

What are some top tips for trekking to Machu Picchu?

Trekking to Machu Picchu is no simple stroll in the park. Whilst it’s far from the most strenuous trek we offer, the hike still takes a few long days of mountain walking at altitude.

To help you get the best out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we’ve written an article with our ‘Top Tips for Trekking to Machu Picchu’.

I’m thinking about booking the rainbow mountain add-on…

Think no more, book it!! Rainbow Mountain’s mineralogical composition results in, well, a rainbow-striped effect along the ridge, and it’s quite the sight to behold.

To read our full article, ‘Guide to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru’, CLICK HERE!

What is there to do in Cusco?

Cusco is one of the most famous cities in South America, and for good reason. Besides being the ‘base camp’ for any trip to Machu Picchu, Cusco is a fascinating destination in its own right.

To find out more CLICK HERE and read our full article, ‘Cusco: what to do, see and eat’.

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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu