Travel to Peru: Lares Trek

Why hike the Lares trek

Over the years, the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu has become a major attraction for travelers in Peru who are looking for an alternative to the Inca trail trek and wish to venture off the beaten path but still experience the thrills of hiking through spectacular scenery and visiting the awe-inspiring citadel of Machu Picchu.

This part of Peru’s countryside is so isolated that it has changed little over the past 500 years and provides trekkers with a unique insight into the traditional way of life for inhabitants of the Lares Valley.

During the trek you will have the chance to visit traditional Andean villages and discover the daily lives of the Andean farmers dressed in their traditional brightly-colored ponchos. In the small villages you will come upon you can see thatched-roof stone houses surrounded by herds of llamas and alpacas—the region’s main income-generating activity—while inside the dwellings you are likely to see guinea pigs running loose. Some of the villages located on the trek route are known for their spectacular weavings, said to be the finest in Peru. Their techniques have remained the same for centuries.

This alternative Peru trek encompasses original Inca routes and breathtaking scenery without the crowds sometimes found on the Inca Trail trek. The Lares Valley is an authentic journey into ancient Inca civilization. Start from magical Cusco, former seat of the Inca Empire, and set off on an incredible adventure that will end at New World Wonder Machu Picchu.

What to do on the Lares trek

The Lares Trek takes you deep into Peruvian history and offers unique experiences in astonishing landscapes. The trek takes you over 14,435 feet (4,400 meters) above sea level at Huaca, so make sure you are acclimatized to the altitude before starting your journey.

On the way, you will pass by the Lares hot springs, composed of several pools maintained at various temperatures, between 82 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit (28-45 degrees Celsius), and frequented by locals and foreigners alike. The springs are a wonderful introduction to the luxuries that nature has provided this mountainous region. The venue is relatively new and a fantastic addition to the already splendidly scenic area.

During the trek you will continue on through ever higher and starker mountain landscape of rocky terrain featuring countless lagoons that reflect brilliant azure skies in their glassy surface. Here, mountain peaks and glacier-fed lakes are ancient spirits to be revered, and the shadow of a soaring condor is heralded as a blessing of your voyage.

A night’s stay in one of the tiny traditional villages such as Patacancha is a humbling highpoint for those who embark on the Lares Trek. You will discover the culture and way of life of these isolated areas.

The Lares Trek ends in Ollantaytambo, where you can catch a train to Aguas Calientes, a great place to spend the night and rest before you carry on your adventure toward the nearby extraordinary archeological site of Machu Picchu.

When to hike the Lares trek

The trek can be done anytime of the year, but the best time is from April to December. Unlike the Inca Trail, which has to be booked months in advance, the Lares Trek is still relatively unknown and allows for more scheduling flexibility.

Travel Testimonials

The Lares trek was very nice. We liked every part of it. We had a very good guide, a good cook and a good tent (even after the hail storm).

Sarah and Bart (Oostende, Belgium)

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