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Author: Yapa Explorers Editorial Team
Quick Summary: The Lares Trek is a 3–4 day multi-day route from the highlands of the Lares Valley to Ollantaytambo, ending with a train to Aguas Calientes and a Machu Picchu visit. Unlike the Salkantay (which prioritises dramatic mountain scenery) or the Classic Inca Trail (which prioritises archaeological continuity), the Lares Trek is primarily a cultural experience — passing through remote Quechua weaving communities, including thermal hot springs in the Lares valley, and reaching altitudes of up to 4,700m across two high passes. No permit is required. It remains one of the least crowded of the main Machu Picchu approach routes.
Rather skip the logistics? Want to reach Machu Picchu on foot by the original Inca route? Yapa secures the permit, campsites, porters and your Machu Picchu entry.
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The Lares Trek is the correct choice to recommend to a specific type of traveler — one for whom the route matters as much as the destination, and for whom the human landscape of the Andes is as compelling as the physical one. Most trekking routes to Machu Picchu prioritise either ruins (Inca Trail) or scenery (Salkantay). The Lares prioritises people — specifically the Quechua-speaking communities that have lived at altitude in the Lares Valley for centuries and whose textile traditions are among the most sophisticated in the Andes.
The route passes through villages where residents still wear traditional dress, where weaving is a daily economic and cultural activity rather than a performance for visitors, and where the landscape of high terraced fields and stone houses looks genuinely different from the Inca Trail corridor. The highest passes on the standard Lares route reach approximately 4,400–4,700m — higher than Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail and comparable to the Salkantay Pass in terms of altitude challenge, though the approach gradients are generally less severe.
The Lares Trek is not a consolation prize for travelers who could not get Inca Trail permits. It is a deliberately different experience that happens to end at the same destination. Travelers who choose it because someone told them it was easier than the Salkantay, or because permits were unavailable, often discover it is the most meaningful trekking day of their whole Peru trip — not because of what they saw at Machu Picchu, but because of what they saw on the way.
Yapa Explorers can advise on Lares Trek availability, current pricing, and how to incorporate the route into your Cusco itinerary — contact the team directly for 2026 departure schedules and group options.
The standard Lares Trek begins in the Lares Valley, accessible by road from Calca (approximately 1.5 hours from Cusco). The full 4-day itinerary typically covers approximately 30–40km of hiking across the Lares valley’s high passes before descending to Ollantaytambo, from where a train connects to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. A 3-day version is also offered, with fewer community stops and slightly longer daily distances.
Key fixed elements across most Lares Trek itineraries:
Most Lares Trek itineraries begin with an early departure from Cusco by private van (approximately 1.5–2 hours to the Lares valley trailhead via Calca). The first day typically includes the Lares thermal hot springs as either a morning warm-up stop or an afternoon rest — the springs sit at around 3,200m, and soaking in thermal water at altitude before the real hiking begins is both pleasurable and genuinely helpful for loosening the muscles used the next two days.
The first hiking section introduces the Lares Valley terrain: wide open high-plateau landscape with views of surrounding Andean peaks, llama and alpaca herds grazing on the steep valley walls, and the first distant glimpse of the snow-capped peaks that the route approaches. The day’s hiking is moderate — 8–12km, gradual elevation gain — and serves as genuine acclimatization before the pass days. Camping in the valley, or in some itineraries a guesthouse at one of the community villages.
Elevation: Starting at approximately 2,800–3,200m, ending at 3,500–3,800m. Night temperatures drop significantly — sleeping bag rated to -5°C or lower is required.
The hardest day. The route ascends to the first main pass at approximately 4,400–4,700m — a 3–5 hour ascent depending on the specific pass and group fitness. Unlike the Salkantay Pass (which is approached in pre-dawn darkness for weather reasons), the Lares passes are typically hiked in daylight, which means clearer views but also a more gradual understanding of how far you are from the top.
The weaving community encounters on this day are the defining cultural element of the route. Women from villages like Quiswarani and Cancha Cancha engage with trekking groups at waypoints along the trail, displaying and explaining their textile techniques — the back-strap loom method used in these communities produces textiles with a density and pattern complexity that industrial production cannot replicate. The natural dyes (from plants, insects, and minerals found in the local environment) are explained through demonstration rather than lecture. This is a genuine economic exchange: the community earns income from the textile sales and the presence of trekking groups; visitors get direct access to one of the oldest continuous craft traditions in the Americas.
Whether you purchase anything or not, being present at a working demonstration at 4,000m with the high Andes behind you is one of those moments that recalibrates what travel in Peru means. The Inca Trail does not offer this. The Salkantay does not offer this. The Lares does.
Elevation: Starting ~3,800m, passing over ~4,400–4,700m, ending at ~4,000–4,200m. Total hiking: approximately 12–16km, 7–9 hours.
The second pass on the standard 4-day route is similar in altitude to the first — approximately 4,300–4,500m depending on the specific itinerary. The descent from the second pass begins the long transition from the high Lares plateau into the Sacred Valley zone, with progressively warmer temperatures and the appearance of terraced agricultural land that marks the Urubamba River influence on the landscape.
Day 3 is often the most visually striking of the hiking days — the views from the second pass include the Sacred Valley below and, on clear days, a distant panorama of the peaks surrounding Ollantaytambo. The descent covers significant elevation loss (often 1,000–1,500m over the afternoon) and is the day where trekking poles become most valuable.
Additional community encounter: some 4-day itineraries include a stop at Yanahuara or similar villages on the Day 3 descent, with further textile demonstrations and the opportunity to purchase directly from the weavers at prices set by the community rather than by a Cusco retailer. The difference in what you pay at the source versus what a similar textile costs in a San Blas artisan shop is significant.
Elevation: Starting ~4,000m, crossing ~4,300–4,500m, ending near ~3,000–3,200m. Total hiking: approximately 12–15km.
The final trekking day is the shortest and least demanding — a morning descent from the overnight camp into the Sacred Valley floor, ending at Ollantaytambo. The living Inca town of Ollantaytambo — where residents still occupy houses along water channels designed five centuries ago — is a worthy stop before the train. The fortress ruins above the town, reached by a steep stone staircase, are among the best-preserved military architecture in the Cusco region and take 1–1.5 hours to explore properly. Most Lares Trek itineraries build in 1.5–2 hours at Ollantaytambo before the afternoon or evening train.
The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes approximately 1.5–2 hours, descending into the Urubamba gorge and cloud forest. Overnight in Aguas Calientes, then Machu Picchu on the following morning.
Machu Picchu: Standard guided entry on the day after arrival in Aguas Calientes. The citadel visit follows the same format as other approach routes — 6:00am bus from Aguas Calientes, 2-hour guided tour, free time, afternoon return by train to Ollantaytambo and van to Cusco.
“The weaving women at the pass on Day 2 changed the whole trip for me. I was not expecting that. I was expecting mountains and I got mountains, but the human element was the thing I kept talking about for months afterward.” — AnnaS_Copenhagen, Denmark, May 2026
| Category | Lares Trek | Salkantay Trek | Classic Inca Trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3–4 days | 5 days | 4 days |
| Distance | ~30–40km | ~74km | ~47km |
| Max elevation | ~4,400–4,700m | 4,630m | 4,215m |
| Permit required | No | No | Yes — sells out months ahead |
| Camping | Yes | Yes (or glamping) | Yes |
| Key appeal | Quechua culture, weaving communities | Mountain scenery, glacial landscapes | Inca ruins, Sun Gate arrival |
| Archaeological ruins en route | Minimal (Ollantaytambo at end) | Minimal | Extensive |
| Cultural encounters | High — weavers, communities | Low | Low |
| Machu Picchu entrance | Via Aguas Calientes bus | Via Aguas Calientes bus | Via Sun Gate (hikers only) |
| Difficulty | Moderate-Challenging | Challenging | Moderate-Challenging |
| Crowd level | Low | Moderate | High (at trail itself) |
| Availability | Flexible | Flexible | 4–6 months advance |
The Lares Trek is the right choice for travelers who:
The Lares Trek is less suited for travelers who:
The packing requirements for the Lares Trek are similar to the Salkantay: layering for temperature swings, rain gear (even in dry season at high passes), a sleeping bag rated to -5°C or lower, trekking poles (essential for pass ascents and descents), and broken-in hiking boots. Two specific additions for the Lares:
Does the Lares Trek require crossing passes as high as the Salkantay?
Yes — and on some itinerary variants, slightly higher. The standard Lares route crosses passes at approximately 4,400–4,700m, which is comparable to the Salkantay Pass at 4,630m and significantly higher than Dead Woman’s Pass on the Classic Inca Trail (4,215m). The approach gradient on the Lares passes is generally less abrupt than the Salkantay Pass, which means the ascent feels less sudden — but the altitude is real and the same preparation (acclimatization in Cusco, trekking poles, hydration) applies fully.
Are the weaving community encounters genuine or set up for tourists?
The community visits on the Lares Trek operate through an income-sharing arrangement where villages agree to receive trekking groups along the route in exchange for fair compensation. The weavers are not performing a demonstration — they are showing what they do as a daily economic activity, and the textiles for sale are the same ones produced for market sale rather than tourist-specific products. The authenticity of the encounter depends heavily on the operator and the specific guide. An operator with established community relationships (rather than a last-minute day-trip format) produces a meaningfully different interaction. Ask your operator specifically about the community programme before booking.
How does the Lares Trek end, and does it include the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu?
The Lares Trek ends at Ollantaytambo, from where a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes connects to the Machu Picchu visit on the final day. Entry to Machu Picchu is via the standard Aguas Calientes bus and gate route, not through the Sun Gate. The Sun Gate arrival (Inti Punku) is exclusively accessible to hikers on the Classic Inca Trail and the Km 104 short trail. Travelers for whom the Sun Gate arrival is the primary motivation should consider the Classic Inca Trail or the 1-Day Inca Trail Challenge (Km 104 route) rather than the Lares.
Can I do the Lares Trek in 3 days instead of 4?
A 3-day version of the Lares Trek is offered by some operators, compressing the route by combining pass-crossing days or reducing community stops. The 3-day format is achievable for fit trekkers, but it reduces time in the communities along the route — the element that most distinguishes the Lares from other Machu Picchu approaches. For travelers primarily motivated by the cultural encounters rather than distance covered, the 4-day version gives the experience more room to breathe. If schedule is the genuine constraint, the 3-day format is still a meaningful trek; just know that you are trading the element that makes the Lares uniquely worth doing.
The Lares Trek is less extensively documented in English-language traveler reviews than the Salkantay or Classic Inca Trail, meaning there is less independent verification of specific operator quality and community programme authenticity — cross-reference current TripAdvisor and Google Reviews for the specific operator you are considering before booking. Pass elevations vary slightly between itinerary variants and operator descriptions; the figures cited here (4,400–4,700m) reflect the standard route range. Machu Picchu entry requirements, circuit assignments, and daily visitor limits are subject to change by Peru’s Ministerio de Cultura — verify current requirements at tuboleto.cultura.pe before travel. For the most current pricing and departure schedule, contact Yapa Explorers directly.
