Classic Lares Trek

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 am and take you by van to the famous Lares thermo-therapeutic pools. Whether you are in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley around Urubamba or Pisac, we can pick you up from a hotel, hostel, Airbnb, or any other location. From Cusco, we drive 1 hour to Calca in the Sacred Valley, where we visit the market and buy local products. We then drive another 2 hours to the Lares Hot Springs, where you can soak in the therapeutic pools of varying temperatures, which are beneficial for bones, muscles, and stress relief, while enjoying the stunning mountain views. Your trekking chef will then prepare an energizing breakfast for you.

After breakfast, we'll take a 30-minute drive to Pampacorral and begin a 2-hour hike to Kiswarani Village, where we'll enjoy a lunch freshly prepared by our talented chefs using local ingredients. We then hike for 2 hours to our first campsite on the banks of a beautiful Andean lake, passing potato fields, waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain views on our way to Blue Lagoon at 3900m. On arrival at the campsite, your tents will be pitched and a hot cup of coca tea or coffee will be waiting for you.

During the day, you will enjoy the fantastic views of the Sacred Valley, explore the Lares district, enjoy the hot springs, and take a short hike along the beautiful valley. You will also hike through potato farms, visit the village of Kiswarani, interact with the locals, walk with llamas and alpacas, and enjoy the Kiswarani waterfalls. At the campsite, you will have hot water for washing, tea time, and stargazing before sleeping in our comfortable tents.

Start the day with a steaming cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent, then get up early to start packing for the most challenging day of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. After breakfast, you will receive a snack from our chef and start a 4-hour trek to the highest point of the trek, the Condor Pass at 4750m. Beautiful lakes full of wallatas, also known as Andean geese or "lovebirds", mountain caracaras, llamas, alpacas, and unobstructed views of the Andes await you along the way.

Once at the summit, you will enjoy a 360° view of the mountains and lakes while your guide leads a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains above the Condor Pass. As a reward for your efforts, we will bring you a cup of coca tea. From there it's a 2-hour trek down the mountain to Acopata, where you'll have a delicious lunch.

After lunch, you'll have another 2-hour descent through stunning scenery to the village of Canchacancha (3750m), where you can relax in your tents with hot drinks and take in the mountain scenery as soon as you arrive. You'll be able to interact with the locals as you wander around the village, chasing llamas and alpacas, playing football with the kids, teaching a few words of English, or learning a few words of Quechua.