Trek to Machu Picchu via the Lares Trail

Travellers who experience the guided Lares Trek to Machu Picchu find that it neatly intertwines quintessential Peruvian highlights into one remarkable 31-km trail. If you want a more straightforward, shorter trek to Machu Picchu, the Lares Trail makes a fantastic choice!

Trekking the Lares Trail in 2026

Planning a Lares trek in 2026? A few things are worth knowing before you book:

• No trail permit required: Unlike the Inca Trail, the Lares Trail has no permit cap, so it stays flexible and can be booked closer to your travel dates.
• You still need a Machu Picchu ticket: Machu Picchu now uses timed-entry circuit tickets with daily caps that sell out in the June to August high season, so secure your entry ticket well ahead even though the trail itself has no cap.
• Open year-round: The Lares Trail stays open all year, including February, when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance. The driest and most reliable months are still April to August.
• Go with a guided tour: The Lares Trail is a network of valley paths rather than one marked trail, so a guided trek with a support crew is strongly recommended for navigation, and it also handles your permits, transfers, and Machu Picchu entry.
• Acclimatize for the altitude: The route climbs to around 4,500 m, higher than Cusco, so give yourself 2 to 3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to adjust before you set out.

What makes the Lares Trail different from the Inca Trail?

The Inca Trail attracts a lot of travellers, and for good reason! It overflows with varying scenery, from cloud forests to Incan ruins to unreal mountain views. While the Lares Trail may not have constant ever-shifting imagery, the culture along the way adds a different brush of colour to the landscape. One major highlight of the Lares Trail is that you’ll pass by some Andean villages, where you may be able to catch some traditional activities, like weaving!

Machu Picchu

What’s the terrain and difficulty of the Lares Trail?

The most difficult aspect of the Lares Trail is adjusting to the high altitude, which peaks at around 4,500 m, but other than that, the terrain isn’t super technical. You also don’t have to carry your legs up as many steps as you would on the Inca Trail!

Let’s review all the highlights we’ve gathered so far, shall we?

• The Lares Trail is shorter than the classic Inca Trail
• It is not super technical and relatively straightforward
• The scenery is still stunning and you get to pass Andean villages

What’s the general itinerary of the Lares Trail?

You’ll find varying itineraries across the internet, but we like our itinerary the most (I mean, how could we not?)! It integrates and pre-plans additional days in Cusco, so you don’t have to worry about booking accommodations alone! You can even choose two optional day tours to maximize your time there.

It also includes luggage transportation, pre-booked accommodations, entrance fees (including Machu Picchu), and meals along the trekking portion. Find a quick glimpse of the itinerary below—or read the detailed tour overview on the guided Lares Trek tour page.

Along the Lares

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco

Highlight: Drop your bags off at your hotel, after getting picked up from the airport, and head out into the iconic Cusco at your leisure.

Day 2: Explore Cusco

Highlight: Get your body used to the high altitude (3,399m, 11,200’), and choose either the Maras Moray Tour or the Sacred Valley Tour for your included guided day trip.

Day 3: Trek to Huacawasi (3,800 m / 12,467 ft)

Distance: 3-4 hours, 10km / 6.2 miles

Highlight: Trek 400m to your campsite in Huacawasi, a quaint small village peppered with llamas and livened with vibrant colours.

Day 4: Hike to Mantanay (3,800 m / 12,467 ft)

Distance: 6-7 hours, 14km / 8.7miles

Highlight: Get the toughest part of the hike over with right after breakfast, where astonishing views of Aruraycocha Lake await, before the descent travels through a vegetation revamp and towards another lake!

Day 5: Final trekking day (2,040 m / 6,700 ft)

Distance: 4 hours, 7km / 4.4 miles

Highlight: Trek to Yanahuara, another charming town in the Sacred Valley, and enjoy a delicious final meal with your cooks and horsemen. Afterwards, transfer to Ollantaytambo, to check out an archaeological site and museum.

Day 6: Machu Picchu

Distance: Your choice

Highlight: The day you’ve been waiting for…Machu Picchu exploration!

Day 7: See you, Cusco

Highlight: Your tour may end here, but your memories will live forever.

How far in advance do you need to book the Lares Trail?

It is not required to book the guided Lares Trek months before your departure date, however, it is much easier to book your Lares Trek to Machu Picchu through a travel company, as they can arrange your accommodations, and luggage transfers, and ensure your trip goes smoothly. It is recommended that you book pre-planned, guided tours as far in advance as possible, especially since you’ll want your ticket into Machu Picchu.

Lares Trail Lake

When is the best time to trek the Lares Trail?

The best time to trek the Lares Trail is between April and August—dry season.

Other adventures in Peru

Looking for other adventures in Peru? The country brims with natural wonderment intertwined with a vibrant culture and fascinating history, making it an unforgettable destination for an adventure. Discover our other guided tours in Peru or check out our extensive travel guide to Peru to learn more about other epic experiences in this South American gem.

For other routes to Machu Picchu, the guided Salkantay Trek and the remote guided Choquequirao Trek are the most popular alternatives to the Inca Trail.