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Orange Nation Peru offers outstanding and unique opportunities. A combination of off-the-beaten track experiences with different choices for The Lares Trek. We have created independent travel experiences catering for the free spirited hikers with a passion for exploration. Start in the quaint town of Lares, 40 miles north of Cusco and 35 miles southeast of Machu Picchu. The trek itself lies awaiting your call in the legendary Lares Valley. The valley is east of the Urubamba mountain range, and part of the Sacred Valley.
The hike can be completed as a 2 or 3 day trek. Or to compliment your thirst for adventure it can connect with the epic Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo with an extension by 1 to 2 days.
As of 2024 permits are not required for the Lares Trek. That means with a little organization of train tickets to Aguas Calientes and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu. Orange Nation Peru can help you experience both the beautiful Lares Trek and also Machu Picchu.
An alternative to the Inca trail, the Lares trek is arguably easier and quieter for those who love the intense remoteness and isolation. A less heavily trodden unfamiliar and uncertain trail trapezing over 3 high altitude passes.
There are five common Lares trekking route itineraries to Machu Picchu. Each offering an a la carte menu of regional tastes by various companies. Orange Nation Peru’s route is the best of all of them. That is “off the beaten path,” (no crowds), the most scenic views of lakes, mountains & valleys etc. It visits the more isolated indigenous communities and best of all it ends at the Lares Hot Springs. Recently, we have included the Pisac Ruins in the early morning when it is not crowed. Choose from 3 or 4 days to Machu Picchu or 5 days that includes the Short Inca Trail. Below we have included the 5 Day itinerary.
Itinerary 5 Days
Your Andean Mountain adventure through the Lares Valley to Machu Picchu begins early with your pickup at 6:00am from the Cusco hotel. We will drive to Huaran where will start our hike. We will meet your horsemen and horses. Time to get ready, boots on and begin our first 3 hours gradually ascending towards Cancha Cancha. Along the way, lunch will be served next to the river. Replenish your energy for the trek ahead with a delicious meal prepared by your trekking chef.
Cancha Cancha (3,900m/12,800ft) is one of the most isolated and traditional communities, self-sustaining as it has been for hundreds of years. There is no road to the community and they were recently connected to electricity in December, 2019. After settling into your tents and having afternoon tea, you will have the opportunity to visit a local family. You will learn all about life in a traditional Andean village, with your guide as your interpreter. After dinner, your guide will show you the Inca constellations on which they depended for their agricultural guidance and still do to this day.
Your guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy before you get up for breakfast. Feeling all revved up to begin our second day, we begin our 7 hour hike northeast. It starts out as an intense walk, accomplishing high passes on our way to the highest point of our trek at Pachacutec Pass(4,500m /14,800 ft). Motivating you along the trail for this intense part of the trek are the views of glaciers, remote lakes, alpaca herds, rugged valleys and spectacular mountain vistas. Keep your eyes on the sky for the Caracara falcons and Andean geese!
After enjoying the summit, we descend for 3 hours until we reach our campsite located by the Quiswarani community, (3,700m/12,139ft). On the way, we will be taking an isolated trail where we will see indigenous highland people. Dressed in their traditional outfits working in the fields or herding their llamas and alpacas. The local indigenous people will interact with you in Quechua (the Incas’ language). Your guide will act as your interpreter to translate and teach you some Quechua language. When you arrive at the spectacular seven waterfalls, you are almost to the campsite!
At the campsite, everything will be ready. Enjoy hot drinks and appetizers before dinner, then snuggle in for a comfortable night sleep.
Your adventure continues as you begin the most scenic day yet! We begin our ascent for 3 hours until we reach the Willqaqasa Pass. (4,200m/13,779ft) Get a bird’s eye view of the reflections of the mountains in mirror images in the glacial lakes. The majestic Colquecruz and Pitusiray Mountains are inspiring to admire from the pass. We continue our trek through the Puna grasslands, productive agricultural sites and natural pristine lakes. Time to descend for 2 hours to the Cucani community. Connecting with the local indigenous children. Have the opportunity to visit their school and share in some quality time with the students.
From Cuncani we meet the driver and ride down through the valley with extensive agricultural areas. See fruit bearing trees, varied flora and native flowers like begonias and wild orchids. Finally, we reach our destination, the Lares Hot Springs (3,100m/ 10,170ft), where we can soak in the natural volcanic hot springs for an hour. Later, have lunch and relax. Time for our goodbyes for our remarkable chef and horsemen.
After lunch in Lares, we take our private transport to 2.5 hours Ollantaytambo, where we have dinner together and spend the night in our hotel.
We start this exciting day early; your guide will pick you up at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, the guide will give you your lunch to add to your daypack. The train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am. Have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included). Your hotel can provide you a picnic breakfast to take with you or you can pack your own breakfast.
Get off the train at the famous Km104, where your trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit the first Inca site nearby. The first hour and a half are a gentle upward climb. Along the way, stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River. Pass through a cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end of the hike!
When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to take some time for photos and as you do you will find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. This close to Machu Picchu, you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. Your guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate. The guide will answer any questions you have before the short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.
After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate. Here you have your first view of Machu Picchu! Though the hour-long walk is a gentle rolling up and down. The walk ends with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca. As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. Make sure to go slowly and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last part of your hike to Machu Picchu.
Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms. The House of the Guardians is where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu from above the site. You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists. This which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots.
Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town. Visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.
This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will give you a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel.
When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.
The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.
Please check with our Sales Staff for what is included and what is not included.
ORANGE NATION is the only tour operator with its own scenic and cultural trek routes, that TREKS COMPLETELY OFF THE BEATEN PATH with the LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU.
Look forward to interacting with one of the oldest and most authentic indigenous cultures of Peru. You will come across locals from isolated villages still wearing beautiful, bright traditional outfits and speaking Quechua, an indigenous language of Peru that was the primary spoken language during the Inca Empire. Next, find yourself trekking through absolutely stunning mountain landscape. You will pass gigantic snowcapped mountain peaks and glaziers, jaw dropping turquoise and clear blue glacial lakes and on clear nights, the brightest star constellations you can find. The air you breath is clean and fresh and feels crisps against your skin. Lastly, this trek is moderately challenging. So, you get the full satisfaction of hiking through the Andes to get to Machu Picchu, without having to deal with the intensity and high physical fitness required by other trails.
Due to lack of time the 3 day Lares Trek is unable to visit the Lares Hot Springs which is possible on the 4 day Lares Trek.
The Lares trek and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is perfect for the traveler who wants the best of the wild Andes Mountains and the most magical Inca archeological sites – this way you have the best of both worlds in 5 days!
You pass through the most isolated indigenous communities keeping the Inca culture alive, living with no road routes to the outside world, like their ancestors before them. Our own unique route is incredibly picturesque, with majestic glaciers, shockingly blue glacial lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. The Inca Trail portion is on the original Inca trail just like in ancient times, explore the ancient Inca religious cities along the way and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, where most of the famous photos of these ancient ruins are taken. You get to visit Machu Picchu twice!
The 2-Day Lares Trek + 2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days is great for those who want the best of both treks – this way you get the best of wild Andes Mountains and the most important Inca archeological sites.
We pass through indigenous communities and meet the locals who still live without roads connecting with the outside world. They still live as their ancestors before them, keeping their ancient culture alive. This is our own unique and very scenic route with waterfalls, llamas, alpacas and beautiful glaciers which feed the shockingly turquoise lakes. Along the hike we explore the ancient Inca religious sites on the original Inca trail just like in ancient times and get to enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, where the most famous photos are taken. You get to visit Machu Picchu twice!
The Lares trekking route is the most scenic and culturally enhancing trail you will ever experience. Our four-day trek through the Lares Valley to Machu Picchu takes you to isolated villages, spectacular snow covered mountain peaks, with striking lakes, rivers and streams snaking their way through the most tranquil and serene places in the Andes Mountains. What makes this trek the most unique and special is your encounters with indigenous communities, a truly culturally enriching experience, that can only be exclusively experienced on this amazing trail. Learn about the Inca culture from their decedents, who still maintain their ancestor’s way if life, herding llamas and alpacas, weaving and farming using ancient technics and using the star constellation to guide their planting and harvesting seasons.
Our trek also includes a complimentary detour to The Salt Mines (Salineras) in the colonial town of Maras. Discover an age-old tradition that has not changed much in centuries, dating back pre-Incas. This small isolated community still extracts salts the same way their ancestors did.
This trek will enhance your visual senses and take you back to a time when life was as simple as could be.
Please read carefully the following information. It will help with your questions about our services and the trek to Machu Picchu..
The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
Of course! During the Lares trek Machu Picchu your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.
FIRST, to book your Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase an Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail permits and entrances without the following information:
SECOND, we require a deposit of $211.00 USD per person in order to purchase a permit for the Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA.
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address orangenationperu@gmail.com.
According to Peruvian Law, you must be under 18 years of age at the time of your trek or tour to Machu Picchu (students 18 & above need student cards). For example: if you book a trek at the age of 17 but you turn 18 before you do your trek, you must have a valid university ID card to qualify for the student discount.
All students must provide a copy of their passport at the time of their booking to get the student discount. Send us a copy at info@orangenationperu.com
Unfortunately the answer is No. Once the tickets for the Inca Trail have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure dates. Permits and entrance tickets are not transferable nor refundable. If you cancel your Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail , the deposit is not refundable at all!
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your Lares Trek + Short Inca Trail, permit, entrances and reservations. In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 USD per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.
If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or get on the train.
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend that you plan to always dress in layers to facilitate adjusting to the quickly changing weather conditions.
In general, if you exercise regularly and spend a couple of days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you will be able to acclimate normally. It usually take between 24 hours to 2 days.
The recommended remedies for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness.
The maximum group size is 10 persons. Our groups are usually between 2-6 persons. Orange Nation Peru specialises in SMALL, PRIVATE groups and provide a personalized service.
You will have 1 cook per group. The number of pack horses depends of the size of the group. For a group of 2 trekkers, they will have 4 horses, 4 trekkers will have 6 horses, 6 trekkers will have 9 horses, 8 trekkers will have 12 horses.
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/14lbs. Your team of porters will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day, as the pack horses will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. A 30 to 50L backpack is sufficient.
The Lares trek + Short Inca Trail is a 39 km hike through the Andes in the Cusco region. The maximum altitude reached is (4,700m/15,419ft). The trail is a fairly difficult trek and you should be well prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You have to be moderately fit and take regular exercise.
In preparation: try walking 15kms a day or go to the fitness club in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3,350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.
This has been highly appreciated by most of our clients, especially by our trekkers, who want a private, clean and sanitary toilet! Orange Nation Peru toilet facilities have an individual tent and a camping toilet with a seat. Check out the picture, which illustrates how we set up our camping toilet on the trek by using this link: picture of toilet tent. Our toilet is always set up a comfortable distance from our campsite. At night if you need to use the toilet it is readily accessible and clean.
There are hot showers and hot water pools to soak in and relax on the 3rd day of your trek at the Lares Hot Springs. Be sure to bring your bathing suit.
In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health issue, Sam Travel Peru will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.
Generally, those who have to be assisted off the trail are taken to Ollantaytambo and if they recover quickly, they then continue the journey to Aguas Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu according to original plan.
Absolutely!! Included in the package and on the last day we will drop you at your hotel! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too! If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, for sure we will pick you up there !
It will depend on the train availability (high season it could book out) but the idea is to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu and enjoy the amazing views on the way back to Cusco from the train. Therefore, you we usually book the train at 14:55 or 15:20.
The Vistadome train service has nicer seats, panoramic windows and ceiling. You will be offered snacks and a dance show will take place on board. You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for $67 USD. These trains run from Aguas Calientes to Poroy. We will pick you up in Poroy and drive you back to Cusco, which takes about 25 minutes. Please request in advance.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Orange Nation Peru destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator for that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.