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Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail · 4 Days

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.

4 Days / 3 Nights2 family homestays + 1 hotel night
~32.5 kmApproximate hiking distance
~4,450 mHighest stated altitude
2,040 mLowest point
7–9 hoursper day (Days 2–3)
The Experience

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.

2-Day Inca Trail + Machu Picchu permits required
Moderate to challenging
Shared Group (4–6), Couples, Friends, Families
Mar–Jan (Inca Trail closes every February)

Compare Lares +
Inca Trail Options

CATEGORY & PROFILE
GROUP PRIVACY
PACING & GUIDE
CULTURAL IMMERSION & LODGING
INVESTMENT (USD)
ACTION
Shared GroupBest for: Solo travelers & social hikers

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

Couples ExplorersBest for: Honeymooners & romantic escapes

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

For FriendsBest for: Adventure squads & reunions

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)

For FamiliesBest for: Parents, kids & teens

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

Your Journey

Four unforgettable days
in the Andes.

Day 0

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.

Day 1

Cusco – Ankasmarka – Lares Hot Springs – Wakawasi

~8 km / 5 mi · 3,820 m / 12,533 ft
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.

Moderate
Day 2

Wakawasi – Ipsaycocha Pass – Patakancha

~13 km / 8 mi · Ipsaycocha Pass ~4,450 m / 14,600 ft
Family homestay in 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.

Challenging
Day 3

Patakancha – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Aguas Calientes

~11 km / 7 mi · ~2,750 m / 9,022 ft
3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes

Take the train to Km 104, hike through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, then descend to Aguas Calientes.

Moderate to challenging
Day 4

Machu Picchu Guided Tour – Cusco

2–3 hours · 2,430 m / 7,972 ft

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
How hard is the Lares + Inca Trail trek?

Moderate to Challenging,
but not technical.

~4,450 m
Peak Altitude

Day 2 at Ipsaycocha Pass is the main challenge, higher than Dead Woman's Pass.

7–9 hrs
Hardest Day

Day 2 requires a long climb, thin air, and maximum trekking hours.

Soft Paths & Steps
Terrain Type

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.
What's included

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
Permits

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.

To secure your permit:
Must book through a licensed operator like Wayki Trek. See our Inca Trail 2026 Permits Guide for more details.50% deposit secures permits. Balance due 15 days before your trek.
What to go

Best time to
hike the trail

SeasonMonthsTrail Conditions & Highlights

Peak Dry

May – Sep

Clear skies and sunny days, but very cold nights (can drop below 0°C). Highest crowd levels; permits sell out months in advance.

Shoulder

Apr & Oct

Green landscapes and pleasant weather with significantly fewer hikers. Ideal balance of conditions and crowd size.

Rainy

Nov – Mar

Regular afternoon showers and lush, green cloud forests. Lowest crowd levels and easiest permit availability.

Closed

February

Trail Closed: Annual conservation and trail maintenance month.

Investment

What does it
actually cost?

Industry Range
$1,110–
$1,791

per person with licensed operators

Wayki Trek — Shared Group
from $1,110

All-inclusive (permits, lodging, 10 meals, trains/buses & full team).


Private treks range from $1,156–$1,791 per person depending on group size.

Discounts
  • 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.

Why not the cheapest? Our prices cover all permits, comfortable homestays, hotel accommodation, meals, trains, buses, and a professional team to ensure a seamless experience.
Pack List

What to Bring.

Waterproof hiking bootsRain coverThermal baseWaterproof shellGlovesDown jacketSwimsuitSleeping bag rated to −10 °CHeadlampSunglasses2 L reusable bottlesSun hatQuick-dry towelSpare batteriesSPF 50+FleecePersonal medicationWarm hatInsect repellent for cloud forestOriginal passport
Why travel with us

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.

Quick Answers

Questions travelers ask most

It is a 4-day trek that combines two days on the Lares Trek, with hot springs, Quechua homestays and a high Andean pass, with the 2-day short Inca Trail from Km 104 to Machu Picchu. You enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate and take a guided tour the next morning.
The Lares Trek reaches a higher point, about 4,450 m at Ipsaycocha Pass compared with 4,215 m on the classic Inca Trail, so the altitude is harder. The trail surface is easier, though: mostly earth paths instead of steep stone steps. Overall, the Lares + short Inca Trail combination is a little less demanding than the classic 4-day Inca Trail.
Yes, especially if culture matters to you. Lares is known for its living Quechua communities, traditional weaving, llama and alpaca herds, glacial lakes and hot springs, and it has far fewer hikers than the Inca Trail. Combining it with the short Inca Trail means you still arrive at Machu Picchu on foot.
Among the popular routes, the Salkantay Trek (about 4,600 m) and the classic 4-day Inca Trail are usually considered the toughest. The Lares + Inca Trail is moderate to challenging, and its hardest day is the climb over Ipsaycocha Pass.
Not for the Lares section. You do need an official Inca Trail permit for the Km 104 section and a Machu Picchu entrance ticket. Wayki Trek arranges both, and they are included in the price. See our Inca Trail 2026 Permits Guide.
You spend two nights with Quechua host families in Wakawasi and Patakancha, sleeping in simple, clean rooms, and one night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes. There's no camping on this trek.
Yes. Active kids love the llamas, hot springs and homestays. We recommend it for children aged 8 and over who have acclimatized well. See our Lares + Inca Trail for Families.
Yes, entry to the Lares hot springs is included on Day 1. Bring a swimsuit and a towel.
Your adventure starts here

Ready to walk the classic Inca Trail?

Choose your group type, check permit availability and start planning your journey to Machu Picchu.

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VOICES OF OUR EXPLORERS

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Rind1 profile picture
Rind1
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An Unforgettable 4 Day Trek to Machu Picchu We can’t thank Carlos and his team enough for such an amazing experience. If you’re planning to do the Inca Trail, we’d definitely recommend Wayki Trek. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, and even when we hit some really bad weather, we always felt safe and well looked after. It was really important to us that the porters were treated well, and it was clear that the company genuinely cares about them. Everything was so well organised from start to finish, and we’ll always remember our four days trekking to Machu Picchu. Couldn’t recommend them enough!
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Khalil E profile picture
Khalil E
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Matchu Picchu trek (2d/1n) Very nice trek to Machu Picchu! The hike was well organized, and our guide was excellent. He shared lots of interesting information throughout the trek and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended!
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Brice C profile picture
Brice C
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Trip of a lifetime on the Inca trail, supported by the absolute best Trek company ! Thank you to the Wayki Trek team for an amazing Inca Trail experience from beginning to end. The booking process was extremely efficient and reactive, with excellent preparation advice and friendly service. The trek experience itself was extremely professional and perfectly led by our guide Jose from beginning to end, and the possibility to hike with a small group made it much easier and enjoyable. Our guide's knowledge of Inca culture and history, as well as the ecosystems we crossed along the path, was truly incredible and his knowledge of the Inca trail itself was second to none (I particularly appreciated how we were advised to take breaks before the most challenging moments). The logistics team, from the porters to the chef, was friendly and very helpful. Everyone was extremely attentive and the food we were served on the trail was delicious and nothing short of a miracle considering the limited resources and facilities offered by some of the camp sites. It was the trip of a lifetime for us. Thank you again for an experience that surpassed all our expectations !
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torialen profile picture
torialen
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experience of a lifetime! Our group of 9 hiked the Lares + Inca trail 4d/3n with Wayki Trek in early June. We started planning our trip 9-months prior to our travel date and reserved our trail spots 7-months in advance. Working with Wayki Trek was easy - they were extremely responsive with all of our questions. We are so thankful to Americo for the time he spent helping us plan and prepare. Once on the trail, we were very fortunate to have José as our main guide. With more than 20 years of experience, José is truly the best: he is knowledgeable, encouraging, and patient. On Lares, we hiked for miles as the only ones on the trail surrounded by incredible Andes views. We are so thankful to the Huacahuasi and Patacancha communities for being so welcoming and sharing their culture with us. Once on the Inca Trail, it was much busier, but we were up early and out ahead of most other groups - José ensured that we got the best experience, photos, and information. Wayki Trek offers a private and personable experience. The “Explorer Friends” option meant we could limit our group to our travelers only. All of our meals along the trail were incredibly fresh and delicious. Thank you so much to the amazing chefs and porters that worked so hard to care for our group. As a special bonus, a Wayki Trek photographer hiked the Lares section with us, capturing professional photos of our group that were shared after our return home. We will never forget our quiet and calm hours on the Lares trail nor the moment we came upon Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail Sun Gate. We are so grateful to Wayki Trek for this incredible experience.
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Dan D profile picture
Dan D
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Amazing Experience We hiked 4D/3N starting on May 13th. It was an amazing experience, Josce was patient, kind and so passionate. He was so patient while we walked at our pace, we weren't rushed at all, which we had heard was a challenge with some other companies. He was kind and attentive with every member of our group of four, checking on everyone even when we went on separately a little bit as we went at our own pace. The passion he showed in the history of the trail, of the people and the country was very contagious. It made me want to learn more. The best thing I can say is my wife and I felt safe and taken care of on the trail, which allowed us to enjoyed it all so much. Josce's team was fantastic to deal with the porters were amazing with how quickly they moved on the trail. They would break down the camp after we left, pass us on the trail, meet us at a fully set up camp with food waiting for us. Yet they cheered when we made it to camp like we did something great while they did all the work. They aren't appreciated enough no matter how much we appreciate them. The chef's were great, the food was always good and there was always so much of it. We watched a few hikers being escorted off the trail for medical reasons which made the risks a little more real to us. It made us so happy we went with a smaller group and were lucky enough to have Josce and his team lead us. Thank you for making a great experience even better!
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shirleya1976 profile picture
shirleya1976
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Our trek to Machu Picchu was an incredible experience Our trek to Machu Picchu was an incredible experience, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Jose. He was extremely attentive throughout the entire trek, always checking in on how everyone was doing. My husband was having issues with his knee, and Jose frequently made sure he was okay and able to continue comfortably. Jose was also incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the history of the Incan sites. His enthusiasm made the experience even more meaningful and engaging. Beyond that, he was very friendly, joked around with the group, and helped ease some of the “torment” of the trek with his sense of humor and encouragement. The porters were absolutely amazing. They worked so hard to ensure everything arrived at camp on time and that camp was fully set up and ready for us each day. Their effort and dedication were truly impressive. The food throughout the trek was excellent — always tasty, well prepared, and there was plenty to choose from. I especially want to give a huge shoutout to the chefs. I have Celiac disease, and they took such great care with my meals that I made it through the entire trek without becoming ill from gluten exposure or cross-contamination. That level of care meant so much to me and allowed me to fully enjoy the experience without worry. Overall, this was an unforgettable adventure, made even better by the incredible team that supported us every step of the way.
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Laura G profile picture
Laura G
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Salkantay 5 day — Amazing!! Amazing company. Small groups. Fantastic service. Great tents. Great food! Great guide and cooks!
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Sara Z profile picture
Sara Z
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Amazing Salkantay trek We had the most amazing trek on the Salkantay trek with Wayki! The guide, Josce, was wonderful, shared so much valuable information, and made sure each of us were successful in the hike. The three meals provided each day were above and beyond excellent and it was so nice to walk into camp with our tents set up for us. I can’t express how thankful I was for the entire Wayki team!
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Kaylee D profile picture
Kaylee D
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Best Adventure Guiding Company Ever!!!! We booked both the Rainbow Mountain full day and the Machu Picchu/Huayna Picchu full day tours/hikes. Wayki trek has been incredible from the beginning. Quick to answer emails regarding any questions my group had, very upfront about the pricing and the details of the days we had planned. We had Domingo as our guide for Rainbow Mountain and Miguel as our guide for Machu Picchu — could not recommend either one of them more!! They were both phenomenal and so informational about the cultures and sights. The guides always had our tickets and everything prepared and ready to go. Traveling to the sites was seamless, and the communication the days before the trip was very helpful to help know what to pack for the treks. Will absolutely be back to book another tour with this company the next time we are back in Peru!
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David I profile picture
David I
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Unforgettable 4-Day Inca Trail Experience with Wayki Trek Planning the Inca Trail can be challenging, especially when choosing an operator due to mixed online reviews about porter conditions and overall quality. I can confidently say that choosing Wayki Trek was one of the best decisions we made. From the very beginning, communication with the office was quick, clear, and professional. On the trail, everything was exceptionally well organized, from the quality of the camping equipment to the meals and daily logistics. One aspect we truly appreciated was being part of a small group. It made the experience far more personal, relaxed, and immersive, and allowed the days to be paced perfectly without feeling rushed or crowded. Our guide, Josce, was outstanding. He shared his deep passion and knowledge of Inca history, took the time to explain sites in detail, and perfectly paced each day so that it felt like we had the whole trail to ourselves. His attention to detail and care for the group truly elevated the experience. The entire crew deserves enormous respect. The porters were incredibly strong, kind, and clearly well looked after, something that really mattered to us when choosing an operator. Special mention to Andres, the chef: the food was exceptional and among the best we had in all of Peru, with generous portions and even insights into traditional cooking methods. We did the 4-day small group Inca Trail in January, during the rainy season, which meant the trail was quieter and the experience felt more personal, something we absolutely appreciated. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience made unforgettable by a passionate, professional, and caring team. Wayki Trek looked after us incredibly well, and we feel very lucky to have experienced the Inca Trail with them. Highly recommended.

CONTACT US

Don't be told, live it! Wayki Trek is a Tour Company in Cusco, Peru specializing in Inca Trails to Machu Picchu, Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu and tours around Cusco region, with environmental and social responsibility always as a priority

Get in Touch:

Reservations & Inquiries: +51 969-775-002 (WhatsApp)
Trip Coordination: +51 987-378-388
24/7 Emergency Line: +51 984-693-474

Visit Our Office: Calle Quera 239, Cusco, Peru

Business Hours (GMT-5):
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

WE ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE

WhatsApp: +51 969-775-002

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