Two Trails. One Journey to Machu Picchu.
Soak in Lares hot springs, stay with Quechua families, cross high passes, and reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.
Beyond the Trail. Into the Andes.
The Lares Trek + Inca Trail combines Quechua culture and high-Andean landscapes with the Short Inca Trail from Km 104 to Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate.
Choose How You
Want to Hike
Compare Lares +
Inca Trail Options
4–6 Travelers Max
(Ultra-small shared)
Steady Group Pace
Shared Senior Guide
- Lares: Shared local homestay/camping & authentic weaving interactions.
- Llamas & alpacas: Your gear travels with the llamas, so you can walk alongside yours and meet alpacas on the route.
- Night 3: 3★ Comfortable Hotel in Aguas Calientes (Double/Twin).
Adult: $1,110
Student: $1,070
Child: $1,070
100% Private
(Just the 2 of you)
Your Private Pace
Exclusive Private Guide
- Lares: Private romantic camping setup & exclusive community interaction.
- Llamas & alpacas: Walk alongside your own llama and get close to alpacas along the trail.
- Night 3: 3★ Matrimonial Room (Upgradable to 4★/5★ Inkaterra/Sumaq).
Adult: $1,791
Student: $1,749
Child: N/A
100% Private
(Your private group)
Adaptable Squad Pace
Exclusive Private Guide
- Lares: Private group campsite/homestay & fun local dynamics.
- Llamas & alpacas: Walk alongside your llamas and meet alpacas on the route.
- Night 3: 3★ Multi-bed or Double/Twin rooms for the squad.
- Tiered pricing: Larger groups get lower rates.
Adult: $1,156–$1,791*
Student: $1,115–$1,749*
(Scaled by group size)
100% Private
(Your family unit)
Kid-Friendly Pace
Family Specialist Guide
- Lares: Kid-friendly interactions (llamas/alpacas & local children).
- Llamas & alpacas: Kids walk alongside their own llama and get close to alpacas along the trail.
- Night 3: 3★ Family Hotel setup (Connecting/Family rooms).
Adult: $1,327
Student: $1,285
Child: $1,282
Four unforgettable days
in the Andes.
Pre-Trek Briefing in Cusco
You meet your guide in Cusco to go over the route, altitude, packing and homestay etiquette. You also receive your duffel bag (8 kg allowance, carried by pack animals on the Lares section). Bring your original passport, because you'll need it for the Inca Trail checkpoint.
Cusco – Ankasmarka – Lares Hot Springs – Wakawasi
Drive from Cusco to Ankasmarka and the Lares hot springs, then hike through Andean farms to Wakawasi for a traditional family dinner.
Wakawasi – Ipsaycocha Pass – Patakancha
The trail climbs through high grasslands and glacial lakes to Ipsaycocha Pass, the trek's highest point, before descending to Patakancha, a traditional weaving community where you'll stay with a local family.
Patakancha – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Aguas Calientes
Take the train to Km 104, hike through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, then descend to Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Cusco
You take an early bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of its temples, plazas and terraces. Afterward, you have free time in Aguas Calientes before the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer back to your Cusco hotel.
Moderate to Challenging,
but not technical.
Day 2 at Ipsaycocha Pass is the main challenge, higher than Dead Woman's Pass.
Day 2 requires a long climb, thin air, and maximum trekking hours.
Soft earth trails easy on knees, plus a 3-hour stone step climb to Wiñay Wayna.
Prepare before you arrive
- Acclimatize for 2–3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
- Practice hill walking in the weeks leading up to your trek.
- Day 1 is an easy 8 km warm-up walk after the hot springs.
Support on the trail
- Guides carry satellite phones, radios, and a full first-aid kit.
- Professional monitoring for everyone at high altitude.
- Expert team provides guidance and pacing throughout.
Why Combine
Them?
Lares Trek
Classic 4-Day Inca Trail
5-Day Inca Trail
Everything
you need,
nothing you don't.
Prices include permits, team, food, gear and transport.
NOT INCLUDED: Breakfast on Day 1, Lunch on Day 4, Huayna Picchu/Machu Picchu Mountain ($75), tips and travel insurance.
- Lares community access, Lares hot springs entry, 2-Day Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu ticket
- Pre-trek briefing in Cusco
- Professional bilingual mountain guide
- Chef specializing in Andean cuisine
- Local horsemen with horses and llamas carrying your gear (8 kg personal duffel allowance)
- 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners, plus snacks
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets available on request
- 2 nights with Quechua host families (Wakawasi and Patakancha)
- 1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Private minibus from Cusco to Lares, and from Patakancha to Ollantaytambo
- Train to Km 104 and Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo
- Machu Picchu shuttle bus tickets
- Private transfer to your Cusco hotel
Lares needs no
permit. Inca Trail &
Machu Picchu do.
Sell out
Months ahead for May–October high season.
Non-transferable
Strictly non-refundable, non-transferable, and no date changes allowed.
Passport-linked
Linked to your passport and checked at Km 104 checkpoint.
Our advice
Book 5–8 months ahead for high season, or 2–3 months ahead for other months.
Best time to
hike the trail
Peak Dry
May – SepClear skies and sunny days, but very cold nights (can drop below 0°C). Highest crowd levels; permits sell out months in advance.
Shoulder
Apr & OctGreen landscapes and pleasant weather with significantly fewer hikers. Ideal balance of conditions and crowd size.
Rainy
Nov – MarRegular afternoon showers and lush, green cloud forests. Lowest crowd levels and easiest permit availability.
Closed
FebruaryTrail Closed: Annual conservation and trail maintenance month.
What does it
actually cost?
$1,791
per person with licensed operators
All-inclusive (permits, lodging, 10 meals, trains/buses & full team).
Private treks range from $1,156–$1,791 per person depending on group size.
- Students & Under-17 Discounts
- Private or Shared Group Options
- Group Size Savings
Add-ons: Train upgrades, extra night in Aguas Calientes, Huayna Picchu & Machu Picchu Mountain.
What to Bring.
Local roots.
Thoughtful trekking.
Cusco-based
Our office is at Calle Quera 239, and we answer our own phones.
Small groups
No more than 6 hikers on shared treks.
Lower impact
Waste control, biodegradable products and community reforestation support.
Safety first
Satellite phone, radios, first-aid kits and guides trained in mountain rescue.
Four ways to go
Shared, couples, friends or families.
Questions travelers ask most
Ready to walk the classic Inca Trail?
Choose your group type, check permit availability and start planning your journey to Machu Picchu.