Lares Trek, Hot Springs, 4 Days

Set out on the Lares Valley Trek with Hot Spring, a multi-day trek of 4 days and 3 nights. Trekkers spend 3 nights away and 4 days walking the route named for the Lares Valley.

Overview

This four-day route trades long daily mileage for time inside the villages of the Lares Valley. You camp for two nights, soak in the Lares hot springs on day one, and cross Condor Pass between alpine settlements before dropping toward the Sacred Valley. Alpaca Expeditions runs it with certified English-speaking guides, professional chefs and porters, and each traveller gets a personal porter for up to 7kg, with the duffle bag handed over at the pre-trek briefing.

Day three layers on the Sacred Valley itself: the Maras salt mine, Ollantaytambo, then the Expedition tourist class train to Aguas Calientes for a hotel night. The final day is a guided tour of Machu Picchu with a local indigenous guide, and the operator argues the visit lands better because of everything you absorb in the valley the day before. Entrance fees for the Lares Valley and Machu Picchu are covered, with Circuit 2, 3 or 1 assigned subject to availability.

It suits people who want culture and a slower walking pace rather than a hard push to a deadline. That said, the listing still asks for a strong level of physical fitness, and it is not recommended for travellers with back problems or those who are pregnant. Groups run to a maximum of 14 travellers, and a minimum of 2 people per booking is required.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Briefing in CuscoThe night before the hike, meet at the operator's office at 6pm. This is where you receive your duffle bag for the porter service.
2. Cusco departureThe tour begins in Cusco, a stop the listing logs at 5 minutes with free admission.
3. Hot Springs, LaresSix hours at the hot springs with admission included. The night is spent camping, with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
4. Quiswarani to Cancha CanchaA six-hour trek day over Condor Pass, passing Quiswarani and finishing at Cancha Cancha village. Camping again, with all three meals included.
5. Cancha Cancha to Aguas CalientesA six-hour leg from Cancha Cancha through Huaran, the Maras salt mine and Ollantaytambo, then on toward Aguas Calientes, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
6. Hotel night in Aguas CalientesThe night is spent at IntiPunku or similar in Aguas Calientes, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included that day.
7. Machu Picchu guided tourThe listing logs a five-hour trek segment on this final day, followed by three hours at Machu Picchu with your guide. Breakfast is included and admission is covered, with no further accommodation.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing will shape how this trek goes for you.

• Fitness needed. The pace is slower and the daily mileage shorter than on some classic routes, which is the operator's own pitch for this trek. Even so, the listing asks for a moderate to strong level of physical fitness. Treat it as a real trek, not a valley stroll.
• Gear to rent. Sleeping bags, trekking poles and air mats are not included but can be rented. Sort this out before departure so you are not arranging it at the trailhead.
• Your duffle. Each traveller gets a personal porter for up to 7kg, and the duffle bag is provided at the briefing. Pack that bag with what you actually need on the trail and leave the rest in Cusco.
• Food and water. Four breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners are included, along with drinkable water along the trek. Chefs and porters travel with the group, so you are not carrying or cooking your own meals.
• Machu Picchu circuit. Entrance to Machu Picchu is included, with Circuit 2, 3 or 1 assigned subject to availability, so you may not get your first choice of route. Huayna Picchu Mountain is separate and must be booked in advance if you want it.
• Safety kit. The crew carries a first aid kit, an oxygen tank and a satellite phone. The listing includes these items for safety on the trek.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems or those who are pregnant, and the listing rules out anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. A minimum number of travellers is required to run the trip, and it depends on good weather, so cancellations can happen, though a different date or a full refund is offered in those cases. Extra costs to budget for include sleeping bag, pole and air mat rentals, tips for the crew, Huayna Picchu if you want it, travel insurance, and your hotel in Cusco before and after the hike. You also need at least 2 people to book.

Common Questions