This is an all-out trip that’s been living on my must-visit list for ages. It’s not just one of the best alternative treks to Machu Picchu; it’s by far the most unique. The trek takes you high up into the Andes, through the stunning Lares Valley, which is famous for its impossibly beautiful landscapes, vibrant communities, and soothing hot springs. It’s often called the “Andean weavers trail” for a reason, and I am dying to see the rich, traditional culture that’s still thriving there. It’s a genuine further-flung spot.
This trek truly offers the best of both worlds. It starts with an off-the-beaten-path adventure in the Lares region and then seamlessly connects with a six- to seven-hour walk on the famous Inca Trail. I can’t wait to gentle-walk my way past ancient Inca sites like Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna, culminating in a truly surreal moment: passing through the iconic Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and watching the sunset over Machu Picchu. I can’t even imagine what that will feel like. After a night in a warm hostel in Aguas Calientes, we’ll be among the first to explore the legendary citadel in the morning light.
This tour has fixed departure dates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and they specialize in small groups, with a minimum of four people. If your group is smaller, they’ll find other hikers to make a group and confirm a departure. You can even secure a free upgrade to a suite or deluxe room at the Marqueses Boutique Hotel if you book six to two months in advance. The hotel sounds amazing, with 24/7 oxygen assistance, which is a perfect touch for altitude acclimatization, and a buffet breakfast. I’m excited by the authentic touches and top-tier logistics provided by the company. They’ve really nailed the combination of adventure and comfort.
The day kicks off with a 5:40 a.m. pickup from your hotel in Cusco (11,155 feet / 3,400 meters). Our private bus takes us on a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley, making a quick stop in Urubamba (8,858 feet / 2,700 meters) for a toilet break and a chance to grab some last-minute snacks. A packed breakfast is served here before we continue for another 20 minutes to the beginning of the Pumahuanca Valley (9,186 feet / 2,800 meters), known for its white corn crops and chicha, the famous Inca corn beer.
Here, we’ll meet our horses and their handlers, who will carry all our gear. We’ll start our hike with a gentle switchback ascent on a gravel path, climbing from 9,186 feet to 11,811 feet. After a four-hour walk, we’ll arrive at the Inca complex of Inca-Kancha (11,811 feet / 3,600 meters) for a guided visit and our first lunch. Our expert cook will prepare a delicious Peruvian meal. After relaxing, we’ll continue our journey, observing native trees and passing through the small community of P’accha, surrounded by spectacular mountain landscapes and herds of llamas and alpacas. We’ll then hike for two more hours to a series of small waterfalls and reach our first campsite, Cuyoc (13,123 feet / 4,000 meters).
We’ll wake up early at 6:00 a.m. to a cup of coca leaf tea before enjoying a hearty breakfast with quinoa pancakes. At 7:00 a.m., we’ll kick off our trek with incredible views of the Chicon, San Juan, and Veronica mountains. We’ll embark on a challenging four-hour climb, following a dirt path with some stone steps and switchbacks, towards the Pumahuanca Pass (15,026 feet / 4,580 meters). This is where pilgrims build sacred piles of stones, known as an Apacheta, as a symbol of gratitude to the mountain spirits. At the pass, we’ll honor the mountain with coca leaves, as is the local custom.
From the top, you can enjoy stunning views of the Moray, Maras, and Salineras regions. After a well-deserved rest, we’ll descend for an hour along a stone road with incredible views, arriving at a lake for lunch. After lunch, we’ll continue our two-hour downhill walk. Along the way, we’ll meet local farmers in their colorful traditional clothing. The main village in this area is Cuncani (12,303 feet / 3,750 meters), where we’ll have the opportunity to visit a local home. We’ll get a unique insight into their simple lives and their deep connection with nature, preserving traditional customs in agriculture and weaving. Our transportation will then take us to the village of Lares, where we’ll get to soak in the famous medicinal hot springs. We’ll enjoy dinner at the campsite right next to the pools.
Today is the day we hit the Inca Trail! We’ll get an early pickup from our campsite at 4:00 a.m. for a 3.5-hour private transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo (9,160 feet / 2,792 meters). From there, we’ll take the Expedition train for about 1 hour and 45 minutes to Km 104 (6,890 feet / 2,100 meters), the start of our trek.
After showing our passports at the checkpoint, we’ll begin our soft, gradual climb. We’ll first see the ruins of Chachabamba, an ancient stone altar used to worship the sun and surrounding mountains. After exploring it, we’ll continue our ascent through a cloud forest, which is overgrown with orchids and tree ferns. After about three hours, the trail descends into another forest, leading us to a beautiful waterfall and the magnificent ruins of Wiñaywayna (8,694 feet / 2,650 meters). We’ll have lunch here and get information from our expert guide.
In the afternoon, we’ll walk the last part of the trail, passing impressive stone staircases and resting places. We’ll climb 60 stone steps before reaching the majestic Inti Punku (Sun Gate, 8,792 feet / 2,680 meters), where you’ll get your first glimpse of the wonder. From there, we’ll descend for 45 minutes to a viewpoint to watch the sunset over Machu Picchu. Then, we’ll descend to the main entrance and take a bus to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll have accommodation and dinner. We’ll spend the night at Viajeros Hostel or a similar hotel.
This is the moment. We’ll have breakfast from 4:30 a.m. and board the first bus to Machu Picchu (7,872 feet / 2,400 meters) at 5:20 a.m. The park opens at 6:00 a.m. Once inside, our expert guide will lead a tour for about 2-3 hours, explaining the secrets of this enigmatic city. You’ll visit iconic sites like the Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the famous Intihuatana.
After the guided tour, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the ruins on your own. You can even choose to climb Huayna Picchu (8,924 feet / 2,720 meters) if you’ve booked a separate entry ticket in advance. After you’ve had your fill, you can walk down to Aguas Calientes (6,888 feet / 2,100 meters) in about an hour, or take the bus down. We’ll have a delicious buffet lunch with the group before boarding our afternoon train back to the Poroy train station (11,480 feet / 3,499 meters), arriving around 8:30 p.m. From there, we’ll have a final transfer back to Cusco.
Upgrade Options
| Upgrade | Price (USD) |
| Huayna Picchu Mountain Pass | $65.00 |
| Machu Picchu Mountain Pass | $65.00 |
| One-way Vistadome Train Ticket | $60.00 |
| Round-trip Vistadome Train Ticket | $80.00 |
A highly qualified professional with extensive experience in the art of guiding will lead your tour. They have years of dedication to nature walks, have medical certifications and an overflowing passion for leading people on unforgettable adventures.
We understand how essential a delicious hot meal is to revitalize and comfort your body after a challenging hike. Therefore, on each expedition with Ausangate Peru, you will find chefs with extensive experience in preparing meals during the hikes.
All our hiking trips offer a varied selection of delicious meals, rich in carbohydrates, proteins and essential fats. We have carefully selected foods that adapt perfectly to the natural environment.
Our experienced muleteers and their faithful horses are responsible for all our equipment and will always be available in the safe and comfortable camps, ready to receive us.
For our hikes, we provide you with your own personal chef. They prepare delicious meals of different dishes so you will be happy, satisfied and energized for your hike. We have had many comments from previous travelers saying that the food was amazing and they really liked it and it was an unexpected highlight of the trip. Additionally, for our tours and trek packages we ensure that all meals included in restaurants are safe and offer a variety of optional dishes. For more information about food and restaurants.
Unlike other travel companies, we keep our numbers of travelers small and our services are personalized. It is important to us to make every part of your trip special. We guarantee the maximum number of people in your group will be eight, although our groups usually end up being smaller than this. We can also organize private tours and services if you wish.
You must spend at least two days in Cusco to properly acclimatize before beginning any trek you do with us. You can also take altitude pills called Diamox or get this medicine in Cusco, or soroche pills. Make sure you drink plenty of water and coca tea. If you stay at the Hotel Cusco B&B they can show you how to make your first Coca mate!
Our guides are well prepared with first aid kits. They are also trained and certified in CPR and first aid. For our high altitude hikes, we always carry emergency oxygen. Additionally, for our long alternative treks to Machu Picchu, we also have an emergency horse that can be ridden.
We have our own stock of high quality equipment and adapt it to your trip. We make sure you are warm and comfortable during your adventure. Our tents are The North Face Mountain 25 2 person tents. We also work with a variety of hotels in the area and make sure we find them within your reach and liking.
For all your hikes and tours, you can store your luggage for free at your hotel or in our office.
The high tourist season in Peru is from April to September. This is also the dry season, when hiking is excellent because there is very little chance of rain. However, some people prefer to visit Peru during the low season, from October to March, because there are generally fewer tourists in the city and at the tourist sites. Additionally, during the rainy season, the mountains and valleys around Cusco are green and lush. If you are planning to hike Machu Picchu it is generally best to try to go during the dry season, however we have many groups that go during the rainy season and still have an amazing experience. We offer all our hikes throughout the year and the archaeological sites are open all year round, with the exception of the entrance to the Inca Trail, which is closed throughout the month of February for maintenance.
Due to the geographical properties of the mountains, the weather in the Andes is very unpredictable. The weather here is known for short rain showers, followed by sunshine, followed by thunderstorms. The rainy season lasts from approximately October to March, so if you plan to travel within these months, be sure to bring a waterproof jacket or poncho. If you are traveling between April and September, the probability of rain is lower, but it is important that you bring a poncho so as not to have any problems during the walk, since there will be light rains. The Cusco region is generally hot during the day and cold at night. In the summer, between October and March, it can be in the mid-80s during the day and drop to around 50 degrees at night. In the winter, between April and November, it can reach up to the mid 70s and then drop as low as 30s at night. The weather at night varies significantly depending on altitude. At Cusi Travel, we provide you with warm North Face tents to sleep in during camping trips, but in any case, make sure to bring a warm and light thermal fleece or sweater for the night. For more information on what clothes to bring on your trip to Cusco.
Be sure to always carry cash with you, as some places do not accept credit cards. Most stores and restaurants also require you to pay in Peruvian soles, but you can always exchange money at a “Casa de Cambio”. There are also many ATMs in the city of Cusco, but they generally have limits and withdrawal fees. For more helpful money tips.
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
5 (12 reviews)
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