Lares Trek Peru - The Best Alternative to Machu Picchu

The Lares Trek is dubbed the Ultimate Cultural Trek. On the Lares Trek, you don’t just get to experience the thrill of hiking a part of the Inca Trail system, you actually get to meet the descendants of those people who built the Inca Trails and Machu Picchu. It gives your Inca Trail experience so much more color and it also adds context to your visit to Machu Picchu.

Another drawcard for the Lares Trek is the fact that you don’t need any trekking permits. You just need a ticket for Machu Picchu, but this isn’t as much of a hassle as the permits for the Classic Inca Trail. All trekking packages for the Lares Trek include tickets for Machu Picchu.

The Lares Trek is also considered to be easier than most of the other treks on the Inca Trail system. Compared to the Classic Inca Trail, for example, there are a lot fewer steps and this makes for a more gentle trekking experience.

On top of all of that, the Lares Trek is simply a lot quieter. Fewer numbers of people on the trails make this trek the calm way to get to Machu Picchu. On the Lares Trek, you can experience the Andean for yourself.

The best time to hike the Peruvian Andes is from April to October when the weather is relatively warm. In the months of June, July and August the nights are cold and a four season sleeping bag is recommended. The rainy season lasts from November to March, with February as the highlight. In this month the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. Rainy season or not, prepare for sun and rain. The mountains make the weather pattern unpredictable.

Dry season (April – October)

Day: 20’C – 25’C / 68’F – 77’F

Night: -1 – 7’C / 30’F – 45’F

Rainy season (November – March)

Day: 17’C – 22’C / 62’F – 71.6’F

Night: 4’C – 7’C / 39’F – 45’F

A typical Lares Trek can be done in 4 or 5 days. The number of days depends the price of the trek. Prices vary between 500 and 700 EUR or USD per person. This always includes accommodation, transfers, food, and entry to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Inca. Here you can find different offers for the Lares Trek.

The Condor Pass is your biggest obstacle during the Lares Trek. The pass has an altitude of 4,300mt/14,107ft above sea level. On a typical Lares Trek, you are most likely to cross the Condor Pass on the second day. It is key to take it easy while crossing the pass. If you are prone to altitude sickness, then this is where it can happen. Fortunately, once you have crossed the Condor Pass, you will descend pretty quickly. This will aid your acclimatization and should settle the worst symptoms of altitude sickness.

The Lares Trek is high. It is basically as high as the Salkantay Trek and you could say it is also just as difficult. The highest point, the Condor Pass, is about 300 meters lower than the highest point of the Salkantay Trek, which lies at 4600 meters.

During the Lares Trek, you also sleep at fairly high altitude. The first two nights you will be staying at around 3700 meters and the last two nights you will be spending at around 2700 meters. It is high, but with the right acclimatization, the Lares Trek is definitely doable.

One sure way to get good at what you do is to practice. The best practice for hiking is hiking. Seeing that you are interested in the Lares Trek, we assume that you already like hiking. Hike a bit more. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by hills or even mountains, it is time to see them more often. When? If you are new to this, we suggest starting six months before your planned departure by simply going for an hour (or two) hike a week. When you get the hang of it, after about three weeks, it’s time to beef up your intensity. Bring a pack of 10 to 15kg and add a longer hike of three hours to your week. If this lifestyle is new to you, you will soon reap the benefits of trekking.

After a good few months of solid hiking, it is time to put your endurance to the test. Do back to back long hikes. You can simulate a few days of constant trekking by going hiking for a few days. Easy at that. Plan a smaller trekking holiday or keep it simple by hiking your favorite route on repeat. If you are comfortable hiking for 4 hours a day, 3 days in a row while carrying a 10kg to 15kg backpack, you will be fine.

Moderate Strength Exercise

You will need to get a bit stronger. One way to get stronger is to do some basic strength work. You don’t need a gym membership, as merely using your bodyweight can already give you the results you are looking for. Once or twice a week, depending on how you are feeling, you can do two sets of 10 lunges, 10 squats, and 10 step ups. If you want to push yourself a bit more, you can try to add some pull ups and push up to your routine. Going the extra mile in your strengthening is, however, really not necessary. You can already enjoy trekking when you just stick to the basics. This is not a fitness competition.

That should get you fit!

You can book the Lares Trek in Cusco during your travels but it is better to book your Lares Trek in advance. The Lares Trek always includes Machu Picchu at the end of the journey. For Machu Picchu you need tickets and they need to be organized in advance. Trekking companies always need some time to book these tickets. It is therefore convenient to book in advance, online.

On Bookatrekking.com you can easily compare and book local providers and hikes. In addition, we have the lowest price guarantee. Have you found the Toubkal ascent of your dreams? In that case, you can proceed with the booking. At Bookatrekking.com you pay a deposit of 15% of the total amount. You pay the remaining amount on location prior to the trek directly to the trekking company.

Find here all our trekking options for Peru and check this page to get all our quotes for the Lares Trek. Have you checked our Peru travel guide yet?