The Pisac Ruins and Lares Trek to Machu Picchu in 3 days is one of the most cultural and scenic routes in the Cusco region. We start this unique journey at the famous Pisac Inca ruins, then continue into the remote Lares Valley where Inca traditions are still alive.
Visit isolated Andean communities that preserve their ancestral way of life. You will have the chance to meet local weavers, see children in traditional dress, and learn about customs that have changed little since Inca times. This is a true cultural immersion trek.
The route is incredibly scenic. Hike past ice capped glaciers, turquoise glacial lakes, waterfalls, and high Andean valleys filled with llamas and alpacas. On the final day, watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and explore the citadel with your expert guide.
This is the perfect alternative to the Inca Trail. It is less crowded, more cultural, and slightly easier than the Salkantay Trek. In just 3 days, you get off the beaten path and finish at Machu Picchu.
Rated 4.9/5 from 1,200+ Lares Trek reviews. Our guests call this “the most authentic trek in Peru.”
“It’s the journey, not the destination. We shared tea with weavers in Huacawasi and saw 3 condors at the pass. Machu Picchu was just the bonus.” — Alli & Ellie, USA, May 2026 Read their full story →
Featured in: Global Field Trip: Journey, Not the Destination | Machu Picchu Travel Guide: Lares Trek Information
4500 m.s.n.m
Up to 8
Group or private
Trekking
Moderate
3 days / 2 nights
We recommend this trek for active travelers in good physical shape. The route has one high pass but shorter hiking days than other treks.
We pick you up at your hotel at 5:00 AM. Drive in our private van to the Sacred Valley. Stop for classic views of terraced mountains and farmland. Arrive at Pisac archaeological site. Explore the Inca cemetery with 5,000 tombs, huge farming terraces, the Inca tunnel, and the religious area. This was a major Inca city.
After Pisac, drive to Calca. Visit the local market for last minute supplies. Then ascend by van to Hualcapunku Pass at 4,500 m. Enjoy views of snow capped mountains, rural communities, and valleys full of llamas and alpacas. Descend to Chancachaca to start the trek.
Hike 3 hours through the Huacawasi Valley to our campsite near Huacawasi village at 4,000 m. Meet local families in the afternoon.
Early breakfast. Leave camp by 6:00 AM. Short climb to Huahuaqasa Pass at 4,500 m. This is the highest point. From here, see spectacular lakes, valleys, and peaks of the Urubamba mountain range.
Descend to the beautiful lakes Aruraycocha and Yuracocha. These lakes are fed by glaciers from Pumahuanca and Kiswarani mountains. We have lunch near the lakes. Look for Andean birds, including condors.
After lunch, descend for 3 hours through the Yanahuara ravine. Pass small farming communities. The climate gets warmer as we drop to 2,950 m. Arrive at Yanahuara village in the Sacred Valley. This fertile valley was the breadbasket of the Incas.
Take a 20 minute bus to Ollantaytambo. Board the train to Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. Check in to your hotel and rest.
Early breakfast at the hotel. Take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu to catch sunrise. Enjoy a 2 hour guided tour of the citadel. Your guide will explain the history, architecture, and mysteries of this New Wonder of the World.
After the tour, you have free time. Explore on your own, take photos, or hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you booked permits in advance. Extra fee of $75 applies.
Return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo at 4:22 PM. Our private van meets you for the 2 hour drive back to Cusco. Drop off at your hotel around 8:00 PM.
Our trekking days follow a proven rhythm designed to maximize energy, safety, and time at each site. This is how your day flows in the Lares Valley:
The Pisac Ruins and Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 3 Days is available any date with a minimum of 2 hikers.
Click Book Now on our homepage. We need a $200 USD deposit per person to confirm your permits and services. To book, provide for each traveler: Full name exactly as on passport, gender, passport number, date of birth, and nationality.
You can pay the balance in cash at our office in Cusco in US dollars or Peruvian soles. There are ATMs in the city center. You can also pay by VISA or PayPal online with a 5.5 percent service fee. For PayPal, send payment to info@incatrailhikeperu.com.
Once train and Machu Picchu tickets are bought, dates cannot be changed. Tickets are non transferable and non refundable. If you cancel, the deposit is not refundable. Contact us immediately if you have an emergency.
Yes. You must bring the same passport used for your booking. It is checked at Pisac, on the train, and at Machu Picchu. If you get a new passport, we can update it for a $25 fee. Send copies of both old and new passports. If you do not update it, bring both passports. Without the correct passport, you cannot enter Machu Picchu.
We meet at 6:00 PM the night before your trek. The office is at Garcilaso Street 210, Office 213, 2nd Floor, in La Casa del Abuelo shopping center in Cusco.
Yes. You can store your main luggage at our office or your hotel for free during the trek.
Yes. On day 3, we drop you at your hotel in Cusco. If you are staying in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we drop you there too.If you cancel your Lares Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!
Maximum 8 people. Most groups are 2 to 6. We focus on small groups for a personal service.
The night before, you get a duffle bag. Pack up to 7 kg. Porters and mules carry it. You will not access it until camp. Carry a 30 to 40 liter daypack with water, jacket, rain gear, camera, sunscreen, and snacks.
It is rated moderate. You need to be in good physical condition. You hike 5 to 6 hours per day with one high pass at 4,500 m. If you are active and acclimatize 2 days in Cusco, you will be fine.
Our guide assists you to the nearest road for transport. We carry oxygen. In serious cases, helicopter evacuation can be arranged at your cost. Travel insurance is required. No refunds if you do not finish.
Spend 2 to 3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to acclimatize. Drink water, coca tea, and rest. Our guides are trained and carry oxygen. Tell us if you feel symptoms. We also offer Cusco City Tours and Sacred Valley tours to help you acclimatize.
Weather changes fast in the Andes. You pass through many microclimates. Mornings are cold. Days can be warm. Rain is possible any time. Bring layers: warm jacket, fleece, rain gear.
Yes. We set up a private toilet tent with a camping toilet and seat. It is clean and placed away from camp. This is much better than public facilities.
We book the 4:22 PM train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. This gives you over 9 hours at Machu Picchu. Train times depend on availability in high season.
Upgrade to Vistadome for $67 USD per person. You get nicer seats, panoramic windows and ceiling, snacks, and a dance show. It includes transfer from Poroy train station to your Cusco hotel. The standard train takes 2 hours to Ollantaytambo plus 2 hours by bus to Cusco. Vistadome goes all the way to Poroy near Cusco. The trip is 3.5 hours, then 25 minutes by taxi to your hotel. You arrive around 8:00 PM. You can catch a bus to Puno the same night if needed.
Tipping is not required but it is customary. It is important for our team. If you are happy with the service, tip what you feel is fair. It motivates our guides, cooks, and horsemen.
Yes. We are a local, responsible tour operator. We protect the environment and support local communities. We respect culture and religion. Our staff are trained to care for the land and people.
Use this list to prepare for changing mountain weather and the Lares Valley.
Cusco
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