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The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu route is one of the best and unique paths, and now is even better with the addition of the Pisac Inca ruins tour. The itinerary takes you through the Lares Valley known as the “Weavers Way,” as you are taken “OFF the beaten track,” passing by remote indigenous communities like CANCHACANCHA with no electricity and no bus service, who are keeping the Inca culture alive. You’ll have the privilege to interact with these precious indigenous people, experience a bit of their culture and traditions, plus have fun with the children. On this incredibly picturesque trek, you’ll also enjoy peaking ice glaciers, shockingly blue glacial lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. On the last day make your dreams into reality and enjoy a new day watching the sunrise at Machu Picchu and exploring the amazing citadel with your professional guide. An amazing alternative to the Inca Trail and slightly easier than the Salkantay trek, this 4 day trek does truly take you off the beaten track.
Live our experience in video!: Lares Trek video, Lares Trek Pictures.
Please have a look at some of the blogs that our clients have written: Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley, Alli and Ellie hike to Machu Picchu
We will pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 am to start with our expeditions to the best Lares Trek. We may pick you up from any hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to begin your trek. We then drive for 1 hour to the Pisac Inca ruins, where we explore this amazing Inca City with your guide as he shares with you the history of the City and the Incas. After the guided tour, we enjoy breakfast with the amazing views of the Inca city & valleys.
Then we continue in our van for 40 more minutes to Huaran. Upon arrival, we meet our horsemen and horses and begin our 3 hour gradual hike up to Canchacancha, where we will have our fresh and delicious lunch prepared by our chef. After a siesta, we explore the most isolated community called Canchacancha and visit some local homes where you may interact with the locals. It would be nice if you bring some toys, old usefull clothes, notebooks, fruits or any supplies for the residents, they are always very thankful to receive them. After learning about the lifestyle of these local people, we hike for 2 more hours to our first campsite. The tents will be set up, and you can enjoy afternoon tea taking in the amazing views of snow capped mountains and green valleys. After dinner your guide will show you the Inca’s constellations such as the famous southern cross (cruz del sur) cosmic constellations, orion and many others. These were very important in the time of the Incas for their agricultural seasons and even today they are very important to the local people.
After a delicious breakfast, we will begin our hike to the northeast up the valley, it will take about 4 hours to get to the highest point of our trek called Pachacuted pass (4700 mt / 15420 ft). Once there, we’ll enjoy amazing views of glaciers, glacial lakes, llamas, rugged valleys, and farmlands. After a time to enjoy the 360º angle views, we begin the descent towards our spot for lunch, about 1 hour downhill. It is located by a glacial lake, with amazing views of the Lares Valley with plenty of llamas and alpacas. After a little siesta we start to hike downhill for 2 more hours to our campsite located by the Kiswarani community (3700 mt/12,139ft). On the way to Kiswarani, we meet with llama herders and local people. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with them in the Quechua language (Inca’s language). Of course your guide will be there to translate what they say and teach you a few phrases in the quechua language. Also you’ll enjoy a stunning waterfall. At the camp site, tents will be ready and you can enjoy afternoon tea time and dinner and then to bed in our confortable tents.
The most memorable day with new amazing adventure continues! We begin hiking for the next 3 hour until we reach the Hullkiccasa Pass (4200mt/13779ft). Once there, we enjoy fantastic views of glacial lakes which loo like mirrors. Then we head downhill for the next two hours to the farmlands and the lakes of Cucani community, where we visit the local school and play with the highland students. Afterwards we take our van to the hot springs, where we relax in the natural volcanic hot spring for an hour or so, have lunch, and take a siesta. Finally we say goodbye to our amazing cook and horseman, and take our van for the nexxt 2.5 hours to Ollantaytambo where we will have our dinner at a tourist restaurant. At 7pm, we take our train to Aguas Calientes town, where we spend the night in a hotel.
After an early breakfast, we will take one of the first bus (around 5:30am) for a scenic ride up to Machu Picchu to see sun rise over the amazing Inca City. You’ll explore Machu Picchu for the next 2 hours with your private guide learning about the fascinating history of this charming Inca city. After the tour you’ll have plenty of time for exploring more, taking photos and the option to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain or to hike up to the Sun Gate before heading back to Aguas Calientes, for a late lunch. At 4:22 you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a private van back to Cusco where you will be transferred to your hotel at around 8pm.
“The best Lares Trek Machu Picchu around is available on any date that is best suited for you as long as we have a minimum of 2 hikers”
*** This price includes the extra personal porter who will carry your belongings up to 7 kilos, guided tour in Sacred Valley (Pisac Inca ruins) are included in the price and we will provide you with a duffle bag.
SAM (initials of Saul Alvarez Montalvo) Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and direct local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 1oo% Cusquenian Company without any shareholders.
My dream as the owner was to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in having a reputation as being a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. My staff are my extended family. I ensure they are supported financially by paying them a good wage. I am proud of my team without them I couldn’t give the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
In an effort to provide a more personalised service to our passengers, we, in SAM Travel Peru have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
SAM Travel Peru is the only tour operator which TREKS OFF THE BEATEN PATH with the LARES TREK MACHU PICCHU, passing through the most isolated communities, ending at the hot springs. We are the only tour operator including the PISAC INCA RUINS on top of the Lares Trek Machu Picchu — NO ONE HAS A BETTER DEAL than SAM Travel Peru.
I am very proud of my guides! Highly professional, speaking fluent English, very knowledgeable, passionate for the Inca heritage/ history, dedicated to a steady personal development, learning to ensure that you receive accurate and recognised theories about the Inca Andean culture. Fun loving, great sportsmen and well educated crew as well as having a degree in Archaeology, Botany, History or Anthropology. Some of them are great entertainers and the best “Salsa Dancers” on this side of Machu Picchu.
Hiking the Lares Trek Machu Picchu with SAM Travel Peru is a life changing experience with a fully portered trek where your comfort and enjoyment are our first priority. We make sure that you get the best experience for your holiday in Peru while you interact with the locals, explore fantastic sites and re-discover remote ancient Inca towns and buildings. Having the opportunity to learn some words in Quechua and about the fascinating Inka history. Immerse yourself in the stunning landscape and simply feel the magic of Mother Nature (Pachamama) and the Andes. We carry your gear, prepare your meals, set up your tents avoid crowded campsites and take care of you while you sit back and relax.
We provide the following items to our porters and cooks for free: Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffle bags, canteen and girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattress´s and insurance.
Fabulous Cooks… The food on the trek has been highlighted by all our clients they say “that it was better than in the restaurant’s. “Delicious and abundant gourmet style meals, Peruvian and International Cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you are vegetarian or have food allergies of any kind, we can cater our meal to adjust to your needs.
SAM Travel Peru honours any food restrictions.!
Our team (Guides, Cooks, Porters, Cowboys) and our equipment are what really makes SAM Travel Peru stand out from all the competitors…. For all our adventures we hike we include the following items:
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should “give back” to the communities we pass through when on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many social projects and hire locally.
SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only employing them work but also to keep things at grassroots, to share in their homes and with their families. This makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
A beautiful reflection of our attitude in everything we do, is making life richer and more meaningful for all involved.
“Please read carefully the following information; it will help with your questions about our services and the trek to Machu Picchu”
You will be greeted at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to trek´s start. Look out for our representative holding an orange board of SAM Travel Peru at the arrival terminal.
It will take place the night before the trekking departure at 6pm at our office which is located at Calle Santa Teresa Nº383 ; 303 (second floor) we are next to SUBWAY restaurant.
Of course! During the Lares trek Machu Picchu your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, both are for free.
FIRST, to book your Lares trek Machu Picchu, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase an Lares trek Machu Picchu permit without the following information:
SECOND, we require a deposit of US$200.00 per person in order to purchase a permit for the Lares trek Machu Picchu. 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 or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment of your choice, either VISA or PAYPAL.
It would be greatly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many cash machines in 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 charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address of samtravelperu@gmail.com.
Unfortunately the answer is generally “No”. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure dates. Tickets are not transferable nor refundable. With alternative treks we may be able to change dates for a fee depending on what has been already purchased. Please contact the office as soon as possible if you need to change your date.
*** If you cancel your Lares Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!
Yes for sure! 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, other entrances and reservations. The rangers will check your passport when you enter Machu Picchu. The train company will also check your passport before allowing you to board the train. 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 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. They are very strict about this here!!
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. BUT you will have many different seasons as you pass through the numerous microclimates and will depend on the location. We highly recommend you bring some warm clothes and good rain gear in your day backpack. Thick about dressing in layers.
In general if you exercise regularly and spend 2 to 3 days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatization to the altitude, you may be just fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness. For more detailed information on Altitude Sickness click this link: Altitude Sickness.
We offer the Cusco City Tour and Sacred Valley tours that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our day tours on our Main Page.
The maximum group size is 8 persons. Usually our groups are between 2-6 persons. Sam Travel Peru specialises in SMALL, PRIVATE groups and provide a personalised service.
You will have 1 cook per group. The number of porters depends of the size of the group. For a group of 2 trekkers, they will have 4 porters, 4 trekkers will have 6 porters, 6 trekkers will have 9 porters, 8 trekkers will have 12 porters.
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFLE BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/14p. Your team of porters will carry your duffle 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 duffle bag until the end of each day, as the porters 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. Usually a 30 to 50 litre backpack is sufficient.
The Lares trek Machu Picchu is a 39 km hike through the Andes in the Cusco region. The maximum altitude reached is 4,700mt. On the second day of the trek we climb two mountains. 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 (3350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.
It has been highlighted by most of our clients, especially by the female ones who want a private, clean and sanitary toilet!! SAM Travel 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, unlike the dirty facilities supplied by the government.
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 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 wil 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 4:22pm. With this train schedule, you will have more than 9 hours to enjoy Machu Picchu
For sure you may upgrade to Vistadome train which has slightly nicer seats, panoramic windows and ceiling. You will be offered some snacks and a dance show will take place on board. The price is US$57 per person which includes the transfer from Poroy train station to your hotel in Cusco. It is 2 hours by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then another 2 hours from Ollantaytambo to Cusco by bus. If you upgrade to Vistadome, all the way back to Poroy (Cusco), the trip lasts 3.5 hours, then 25mins by taxi to your hotel. Usually our clients are back at the hotel by 8pm. If you plan to take the bus to Puno on the same night, that is totally possible.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, 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 SAM Travel Peru destinations. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you feel it, 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.
As a Professional Direct Local Tour operator we provide you with a duffle bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter who will carry up to 7 kgs or 14 pounds including your 2.5kg sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing.
We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40Litres for hiking in the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.
