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Traverse the Lares Valley and its high Andean passes on a private seven-day trek that threads Quechua villages, glacial lakes and condor-filled skies before arriving at Machu Picchu. This route pairs cultural encounters with high-altitude hiking and guided archaeology.
Traverse the Lares Valley and its high Andean passes on a private seven-day trek that threads Quechua villages, glacial lakes and condor-filled skies before arriving at Machu Picchu. This route pairs cultural encounters with high-altitude hiking and guided archaeology.
You wake before dawn in Cusco, the cool mountain air pinching your cheeks, then climb into a van that threads the Sacred Valley’s switchbacks toward Lares. The road opens to folded ridgelines and terraced hills; distant glaciers glint like white knives. Over seven days the trail moves between high puna, glacial lakes and adobe villages where alpacas graze and Quechua tongues rise with the breeze.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Valencia Travel Agency S.a.c. · Cusco, Cusco
You wake before dawn in Cusco, the cool mountain air pinching your cheeks, then climb into a van that threads the Sacred Valley’s switchbacks toward Lares. The road opens to folded ridgelines and terraced hills; distant glaciers glint like white knives. Over seven days the trail moves between high puna, glacial lakes and adobe villages where alpacas graze and Quechua tongues rise with the breeze.
The Lares route follows ancient pathways used by Andean communities long before tourism arrived. Geology here is dramatic—folded sedimentary layers, glacial cirques and lakes carved by ice—while the cultural landscape is equally layered: colonial-era towns, Inca terraces and living textile traditions that still dye cloth with native plants.
Expect a mix of steady ascents (highest pass ~4,500 m), rocky ankle-testing stretches and long descents into warmer valley floors. Nights are in two-people tents on foam mattresses, with cooks and horsemen handling camp logistics; hot meals bookend the day. Wildlife includes condors wheeling on thermals and hardy camelids that skirt the trail.
Practical edge: acclimatize in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for 2–3 days before starting, carry a small daypack for essentials, and hydrate constantly—the sun is intense and altitude magnifies exertion. Footwear should be broken-in boots with good traction; poles help on loose descents. Guides carry oxygen and first aid; still, know your limits and alert staff to any altitude symptoms.
By day six the trail funnels into Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, where the final morning climb or bus to Machu Picchu delivers the payoff—a sunrise reveal of stonework and mountain that feels earned rather than given.
challenging.
7 days.
Participants should have regular aerobic activity and be comfortable hiking 4–7 hours per day at altitude; prior high-altitude experience helpful.
No special trekking permit is required for Lares itself, but entrance to Machu Picchu is included and you must keep your scheduled Machu Picchu entrance time.
Daily distances are moderate (5–15 km) but include steep ascents to ~4,500 m; expect 4–7 hours of walking on full trekking days.
Horses and porters carry cooking gear, tents, shared camping equipment and up to ~7 kg of personal belongings per person as provided by the operator.
Three-star hotels in Cusco, a hotel in Aguas Calientes, and camping with 3-man tents and foam mattresses on trek; meals include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with a professional cook.
The Lares corridor contains pre-Inca and Inca-era routes linking highland communities; textiles and terrace agriculture reflect centuries of continuous Andean practice.
Stick to established paths, avoid disturbing pastures and don’t leave any waste—high-altitude puna is slow to recover and tourism pressure is concentrated on fragile campsites.
Valencia Travel Agency S.a.c. operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You wake before dawn in Cusco, the cool mountain air pinching your cheeks, then climb into a van that threads the Sacred Valley’s switchbacks toward Lares. The road opens to folded ridgelines and terraced hills; distant glaciers glint like white knives. Over seven days the trail moves between high puna, glacial lakes and adobe villages where alpacas graze and Quechua tongues rise with the breeze.
You wake before dawn in Cusco, the cool mountain air pinching your cheeks, then climb into a van that threads the Sacred Valley’s switchbacks toward Lares. The road opens to folded ridgelines and terraced hills; distant glaciers glint like white knives. Over seven days the trail moves between high puna, glacial lakes and adobe villages where alpacas graze and Quechua tongues rise with the breeze.
The Lares route follows ancient pathways used by Andean communities long before tourism arrived. Geology here is dramatic—folded sedimentary layers, glacial cirques and lakes carved by ice—while the cultural landscape is equally layered: colonial-era towns, Inca terraces and living textile traditions that still dye cloth with native plants.
Expect a mix of steady ascents (highest pass ~4,500 m), rocky ankle-testing stretches and long descents into warmer valley floors. Nights are in two-people tents on foam mattresses, with cooks and horsemen handling camp logistics; hot meals bookend the day. Wildlife includes condors wheeling on thermals and hardy camelids that skirt the trail.
Practical edge: acclimatize in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for 2–3 days before starting, carry a small daypack for essentials, and hydrate constantly—the sun is intense and altitude magnifies exertion. Footwear should be broken-in boots with good traction; poles help on loose descents. Guides carry oxygen and first aid; still, know your limits and alert staff to any altitude symptoms.
By day six the trail funnels into Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, where the final morning climb or bus to Machu Picchu delivers the payoff—a sunrise reveal of stonework and mountain that feels earned rather than given.