Price: $ 950.00
Starting from
5 Days 4 Nights
4,800 meters/15,710ft
Driver Team + Local Guides
Trekking
Demanding
Min 2 Persons
We believe the ultimate Peruvian adventure shouldn’t force a choice between ancient culture and epic challenge. Our premium 5 day Lares Trek Short Inca Trail is designed for the Conscious Adventurer , offering superior logistics and cultural immersion overlooked by mass tours. We prioritize early departures and high quality logistics (equipment, food, safety) to ensure an intimate and safe high-altitude journey. The physical challenge culminates in the final conquest of the trail, arriving dramatically at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) the true achievement of the Short Inca Trail . Our booking service offers a low deposit option that is fully refundable for peace of mind. Start your journey today, and check the latest traveler reviews on TripAdvisor to see why we are the local expert choice
Your amazing 5 day Lares Trek Short Inca Trail adventure begins with our private transport leaving Cusco at 6:00 a.m., driving 4 hours toward Lares town. On this first day, you hike 5 hours uphill through lush vegetation and wildlife (Llamas and Alpacas), reaching your first campsite Cuncani, a small Quechua Community in spectacular mountains. Our professional chef prepares a delicious meal for you along the way, giving you time to get to know the Quechua people and their way of living.
We start early with a cup of coca tea at 05:30 a.m., followed by a nutritious breakfast prepared by our professional chef. At 06:45 a.m., we begin the challenging 5 hour climb towards the highest point of the Lares Trek: Sicllaq’asa (4,800 meters/15,710 ft.). This ascent, through different microclimates, offers spectacular views of snow capped mountains like Qolqecruz and Sahuasiray. After reaching the summit, we descend to Cuyoc for lunch, followed by a scenic downhill trail to our favorite campsite a location that offers the best views of the Urubamba canyon and the Milky Way. We finish the demanding day with a delicious Peruvian cuisine dinner.
Start time (hike): 06:45a.m.
Hiking Distance: 16km/ 9.94miles
Hiking Time: 09 – 10 hours
Physical Rating: Demanding
Lowest Elevation: 3800m/12,464ft
Highest Elevation: 4,800meters/15,710ft
You will wake up with a hot cup of coca tea at 06:30a.m. followed by a nutritious breakfast. At 07:45a.m. you will leave this small peasant community and hike down a fertile valley with more vegetation, agriculture farmlands, native flowers such as begonias and wild orchids. After 3 hours walking, you will arrive in Puma Marka community, the end of your Lares Trek and the place where you have a delicious lunch. From here you get into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From Puma Marka, we will catch a van and make the short drive into the valley to visit the Salineras salt pans, in the town of Maras. Here, a saltwater spring gushes forth and spills down the side of the mountain. Over 5,000 small evaporation chambers have been created and look as if they are tumbling down the mountainside. These mysterious places have been in use since pre-Incan times.
The salt is said to have healing properties because its filled with natural minerals, some of it even comes out pink. Local families each own one of these pans and make their living supplying salt to the towns around the area. There is a small shop on-site if you care to take some salt home with you. After visiting Salineras, we will head to Ollantaytambo town for the night at the hotel.
Start time (hike): 07:45a.m.
Hiking Distance: 08km/ 4.97miles
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Physical Rating: Moderate
Lowest Elevation: 2,859m/9,350ft
Highest Elevation: 3800m/12,464ft
Day 4 is the climax of your 5 day Lares Trek Short Inca Trail experience. We depart Ollantaytambo early for the scenic train ride to 104 km, the starting point of the Short Inca Trail. After registration and a visit to the Chachabamba archaeological site, we begin the gradual uphill hike, enjoying spectacular scenery until we reach Wiñayhuayna. After lunch, we continue the exciting 2-hour hike to Machu Picchu, entering through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). A big advantage of this specific tour is that you reach Machu Picchu when it is almost empty, giving you a private area to yourself for photos before taking the bus to your Aguas Calientes hotel.
Start time (hike): 08:30am
Hiking Distance: 12 kms/7.5 miles:
Hiking Time: 07 hours
Physical Rating: Demanding
Lowest Elevation: (2,000m/6,560 ft.
Highest Elevation: 2,720 m/8,924 ft.
You will visit one of the greatest places on earth, Machu Picchu!! After an early breakfast, you will board the bus to go up to Machu Picchu, The New Wonder of the World. And then, you will start to explore this fascinating crystal city with your expert guide for 2 hours’ history lesson. After your guided tour, you will have free time to keep exploring on your own or climb Huaynapicchu mountain. (This is a separate entrance ticket and costs $75 per person). Then, you will come down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy your lunch in a local restaurant. This is optional not included. After lunch, you will catch the train at 15:20 or 16:22 pm to Ollantaytambo. PMA private bus will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
Start time: 05:30a.m.
Machu Picchu visit: 5 to 6 hours
Physical Rating: Moderate (except Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Montaña, they are Demanding)
Train Schedule: It can be at 2:55p.m.- 3:20p.m.- 4:22p.m. Or 4:43p.m. (depending on the
availability)
The night before your Trek, there will be a pre trek talk with your expert guide in your hotel at 6:00pm
Peru Hikers will pick you up directly from your hotel. As long as your hotel is in the center of Cusco city.
Some treks will allow for pickups on the Sacred Valley
Inca Trail: Cusco, Urubamba, Yanahuara and Ollantaytambo
Salkantay Trek: Only Cusco
Lares Trek: Cusco and Pisac
Rainbow Mountain Trek: Only Cusco
Day Tours: Cusco, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.
This Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a 34km/21miles hike in the Andes of Peru.
Day two is challenging because you will climb up to 4,800/15,748ft the highest point on the Lares Trek. You should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it.
It is also important to have good acclimatization to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days’ in Cusco (3,400m/11,154ft) prior to starting your Trek.
We provide a private, clean and sanitary toilet tent with a seat.
There are culture ministry toilets too
Hello Machu Picchu will assist you to the nearest city for help with transportation.
We always carry our first Aid Kit; in extreme situations a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Your Travel insurance is required and recommended).
Generally, we transport you to Ollantaytambo town, if you recover quickly you will continue with the journey towards Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu (cost incurred by traveler) according to the original plan.
Absolutely! We will drop you off at your hotel, and also, if you booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley, Our HM representative will drop you off there.
It depends on the train availability; the idea is to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu to explore and enjoy this fascinating city on the way back to Cusco.
You will take the train at 15:20, 16:22 or 16:43 depending on availability.
Travel protection is essential for your peace of mind and safety throughout the journey.
Unexpected medical emergencies or illnesses prior to your trip could make you lose prepaid, non-refundable payments. Emergency medical transport and air ambulances in remote locations can be extremely expensive and will probably not be covered by your medical health plan, so it is mandatory that you purchase personal travel insurance.
Your insurance must cover, personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, repatriation costs and all other expenses.
There are several insurance companies offering travel protection plans available for purchase online. Very important when you take (adventure – activities).
Our group tours are of all different types of people, with various hiking skills and ages. By agreeing to our group tour you understand that some travelers might be slower or faster than you are. Your expert guide will work through the group to spend the time with everybody to make the best decision for the group.
You are responsible for your personal items throughout the journey. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our bus, tent, restaurant, etc. Dont leave anything unintended while hiking. Other trekkers or groups may pick it up not knowing who it belongs to.
It depends on where you visit.
On the coast of Peru, it is usually quite hot although during the dry season (April – August) it can getchilly early in the morning and at night. In the Andes of Cusco, you will find two main seasons – wet and dry. The wet season runs from November to April but is usually warmer overall.
The dry season runs from May to October and has hot clear days but cold nights.
Peruvian weather is difficult to accurately predict. You can see beautiful clear hot days in the middle of the wet season and hail storms in the dry season – this is the magic and beauty of Peru.
The primary cause of altitude sickness is going to high too quickly. Given time your body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen at specific altitudes. This is known as acclimatization and generally takes 1 to 3 nights at the given altitude.
Dont over exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours.
If you go above 10,000ft (3,047m), increase your sleeping elevation by 1,000ft (305m) per day and for every 3,000ft (915m) of elevation gained, take a rest day.
If you start to show symptoms of moderate altitude sickness, dont go higher until symptoms decrease.If symptoms increase, go down and down.
Keep in mind that different people will acclimatize at different rates.
Take it easy; dont over exert yourself when you first get up to altitude.
Avoid tobacco, alcohol or other depressant drugs including tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
Eat a high carbohydrates diet while at altitude.
Diamox (acetazolamide) changes acid balance which allows you to increase breathing and improve oxygen uptake – the same mechanism as in normal acclimatization, but faster.
Dexamethasone (a steroid) is a drug that decreases brain and other swelling, helping to reserve the effects.
It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected – though not compulsory. Anything extra will be an expression of satisfaction for the persons who have assisted you on your tour. This is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your journey.
If at the end of your Trek you feel your trekking guide and support team did an amazing job, Tipping is appreciated. The suggestion is that each hiker contributes the following to the collective pool. The amount recommended is different per trek and listed below. For the guide, this is more personal, it would be the most welcome. It is of course at your discretion or whatever you are comfortable leaving.
Inca Trail (4 and 5 days)
Porter 60- 80 soles
Chef 160 soles
Lares trek (4days)
Porter 100 – 120 soles
Chef 200 soles
Salkantay Trek (5 days)
Porter 120 soles
Chef 200 soles
Peru Hikers promotes responsible and sustainable tourism in the Andes while benefiting local communities.
We provide unforgettable adventure and cultural destinations such as Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Rainbow Mountain.
Traveling in small groups offers genuine and unforgettable experiences, building personal relationships and forming cherished memories.
Our tour guides are passionate storytellers who love showcasing their hometowns and taking visitors beyond the obvious.
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5200 m /17060.3 ft.
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