Early starts, big Andes views, and fewer people.

This 5-day trek is built around the quieter Lares route to Machu Picchu, so you spend real time in the Peruvian highlands instead of getting funneled with the usual crowds. I also like how day one starts with Lares thermo-medicinal hot springs, which is a smart way to loosen up before the hikes. One thing to consider: day two pushes higher and longer, including a climb to Condor Pass at 4700 m.

You’ll be treated to a mix of mountain camping and comfortable breaks in town, with guided stops at Inca sites plus a full Machu Picchu visit on the last day. In the reviews tied to this operator, names like Manolo and Sara show up often as guides, and chefs like Oscar and Augusto get praised for food that is better than you’d expect on a trek (yes, people talk about cakes too). If you’re sensitive to altitude or you want an easy stroll the whole way, plan on moving at a steady pace and taking it seriously on the high day.

Key things that make this trek worth your attention

Lares route keeps you away from the densest crowd patterns

Hot springs and early-day routines help you reset before hiking

Condor Pass is the big altitude moment, then you descend fast on day two

You camp two nights with comfortable gear, then sleep in 3-star hotels twice

Small groups, max 12 travelers, so your guide can actually manage the pace

Strong team focus on hot meals, clear instructions, and keeping you comfortable

Why the Lares side of Machu Picchu feels calmer

Machu Picchu is a magnet, but the route matters. Taking the Lares trek first shifts your experience from crowds to quiet Andean villages, high passes, and long views where the sky feels close. You’re not spending every day just moving between checkboxes. Instead, the days are shaped by hiking time, rest time, and cultural moments that feel more local.

If you care about meeting real people, Lares is a good match. Day two includes a campsite in Cancha Cancha, described as a village isolated from modern tech, where Quechua is the everyday language. That kind of setting changes the whole mood of your trek.

Day 1: Hotel pickup, Sacred Valley market stop, then Lares hot springs

The day starts early, with pickup from your Cusco hotel in the morning. Your meeting time is listed as 4:30 am, and the tour notes a typical early departure like 5:30 am, so expect a very “morning person” start. The drive takes you toward the Sacred Valley area, and you stop at a local market before going to the Lares thermo-medicinal baths.

The hot springs are not just a nice break. They’re a practical warm-up for your body. Different pools run at different temperatures, and the trek design uses that before you start climbing. Reviews and descriptions around this trek repeatedly highlight how food and pace help people finish strong, and the hot springs are part of that same logic, help your muscles feel less angry when hiking begins.

After breakfast, you begin the first trek segment uphill to Kiswarani village, then you move on to lunch and continue to your campsite.

Kiswarani camping by a blue lake, plus astronomy at altitude

Your first campsite is set at about 3750 m, and the trek day is listed at roughly 9 km over about half a day of active walking. When you arrive, tents and a hot cup of tea are set up for you. That detail matters more than it sounds, because after a cold hike you want the comfort to come fast.

The campsite sits near a beautiful blue lake, and the tour includes time to relax and stargaze, plus learning about Inca astronomy. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole schedule because it’s not about rushing. You get to feel the rhythm of the mountains, watch the sky change, and let the first day settle in.

Practical note: even when “easy” is listed for day one, altitude is still altitude. Take it slow, drink water, and treat your breathing like part of the job.

Day 2: Condor Pass climb and Cancha Cancha without modern distractions

Day two is the big hiking day. You start with a warm drink in your tent, then after breakfast you hike uphill for about 4 hours to Condor Pass at 4700 m. At the summit, you explore before beginning a descent of about 3 hours through the scenery.

Altitude here is not theoretical. 4700 m is the highest point on the trek, and it’s the day where you’ll feel it most. The tour lists the route as moderate to challenging and covers around 16 km with about 7 hours of hiking. The trick is to keep your effort steady, not heroic.

By evening, you camp at Cancha Cancha (around 3750 m). The tour description emphasizes how isolated this village is, including no electricity, no internet, and no cellphone service, and that Quechua is the main language. Even if you don’t speak Quechua, this is still one of the most human parts of the trip because daily life is right there in front of you.

Food is part of why this day works. A lot of praise in the reviews centers on the chef team. People talk about meals that feel like proper courses and about how much energy the food gives you after tough hiking.

Day 3: Downhill to Huaran, then Ollantaytambo, Salineras, and a real night in a hotel

Day three shifts into recovery mode. You wake in a village setting with llamas and alpacas nearby, then hike downhill for about 4 hours to Huaran at around 2700 m. The move from high terrain to lower elevation makes a noticeable difference in how your body feels.

From Huaran, you take a private bus to Salineras and Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is often called a living Incan city, and the tour gives you time to walk its ancient streets and see a water channel still in use since Inca time. This is the day where you go from mountain hiking to town history, and that contrast helps the trek feel like more than just walking.

You’ll have dinner in a local restaurant and sleep in a hotel in Ollantaytambo. That hotel night is a meaningful part of the value, because your legs need at least one real break before the Machu Picchu ascent day.

Day 4: Train into the cloud forest, Chachabamba to Wiñay Huayna, and Sun Gate timing

Day four starts around 6 am, with a walk from your hotel to the train station. You ride a train for about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Ollantaytambo to km 104 at Chachabamba, described as cloud forest. Then the hike begins, starting with Chachabamba, an Inca ruin stop.

You explore Chachabamba, then hike for about 4 hours until Wiñay Huayna. Lunch and refreshments are provided along the way. From there, the schedule continues toward the Sun Gate for your first glimpse of Machu Picchu.

This is the big “arrive with the right feeling” part of the route. You come in through the Sun Gate, then you walk downhill for about an hour to the city. The tour notes you’ll arrive in the afternoon, with the chance to experience Machu Picchu with fewer people than the first wave.

Afterward, you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have dinner, and sleep in a hotel there.

Day 5: Early buses, sunrise potential, guided Machu Picchu, and optional peaks

On the final morning, you get up early again. Breakfast is included, then you take early buses up to the citadel. The schedule notes that on a clear day, you can watch sunrise over Machu Picchu.

Your guide leads a 2 to 3 hour tour of Machu Picchu. Then you’re free to explore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu or Montaña, if you have tickets. Tickets for those extra viewpoints are not included and should be booked ahead of time.

After sightseeing, the guide shows you how to get back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Then you take the Panoramic train and bus back to Cusco. The TreXperience team meets you off the train and returns you safely to your hotel.

This ending is a good fit for most people because you get both structure and freedom. You’re not left alone inside a complex site on your first visit, but you also get time to linger.

Food, gear, and the crew that makes the hard parts feel manageable

One of the clearest themes in the feedback is the quality of the food. People keep describing it as the best trek food they ate in Peru, and they mention variety across meals. Chefs like Augusto and Oscar show up in praise, as do assistant chefs and porters tied to the same team. You’ll be served multiple meals each day, with breakfast every morning, plus lunch and dinner included during the trek days.

The tour includes a Pachamanca cooking demonstration too. That’s a nice cultural touch, and it also signals that this company aims to show you food traditions, not just feed you quickly.

Gear and comfort are also part of the plan. You’ll camp two nights with comfortable equipment, and you’ll get tents set up on arrival. Plus, there’s a duffle bag limit of 7 kg that can be carried by horse, so you don’t have to haul everything on your back.

If you’re a first-time trekker, that horse-carry detail is a practical win. It means you can pack lighter, carry the essentials you truly need, and still stay comfortable on longer walking days.

Price and value: $980 for a real five-day circuit

At $980 per person for about 5 days, this trek is not the cheapest way to reach Machu Picchu. But it is also not trying to be a bare-bones hike. You’re paying for:

• Round-trip logistics from Cusco including transfers and train and buses during the Machu Picchu portion
• Two nights camping with equipment plus two nights in 3-star hotels
• Meals that are included (breakfast daily, plus lunches and dinners as scheduled)
• Guides, porters, and an experienced chef team
• Included Inca site access timing, with the base Machu Picchu admission included while extra viewpoint tickets are optional

Where this becomes good value is on day two and day four. Those are the heavy effort days, and your schedule is built to keep you fed, hydrated, and moving with clear instructions. A well-run team can be the difference between a trek that feels stressful and one that feels like an accomplishment.

Also, the small group size helps. The tour caps at 12 travelers, which usually means less crowding on the trail and more attention if someone needs a slower rhythm.

Packing tips and altitude reality, so you don’t waste energy

The tour gives options like trekking poles guidance, and it notes optional items such as a mattress and sleeping bag. You can also likely rent or buy in Cusco, but the key is planning ahead so you don’t show up underprepared.

For packing, focus on these priorities:

• Warm layers for camping nights. Even with comfortable gear, high altitude chills fast.
• Shoes you trust. There’s uphill, downhill, and a long day with stairs and route segments.
• A small day bag and a system for water, snacks, and layers you can manage without stopping for long.
• Keep your personal load light since horse carry covers up to 7 kg for your duffle bag.

Altitude is the biggest “what you need to know” factor. Day two goes to 4700 m. If you’ve had issues with altitude before, you’ll want to take it slow, stay hydrated, and be realistic about pace. The good news is that the route is staged, with descents and a hotel night after the toughest segment.

Who should book this Lares plus Inca Trail combo

You’ll likely love this trek if you want:

• A quieter approach to Machu Picchu with real Andean hiking time
• Mountain camping experiences, not just bus and photos
• A group tour with structure, plus enough breaks to enjoy the scenery
• Strong focus on food and crew support, including encouragement on tough moments

It may be less ideal if you:

• Want an entirely easy hike with no high pass day
• Need frequent hotel-only nights during the trek
• Have knee or ankle problems and need to minimize stairs and uneven terrain

Should you book it?

If your goal is to reach Machu Picchu, but you also want the journey to feel meaningful, I think this is a solid choice. The Lares route gives you a calmer, more human side of Peru before you step into the big Machu Picchu spotlight. The combination of hot springs, camping nights, and a guided Machu Picchu day is also a smart mix for most fitness levels, as long as you respect day two.

My advice: book if you’re excited about walking in the Andes and you’re willing to go slow on the high pass. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, this one is worth it.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The meeting point start time is listed as 4:30 am. The day’s schedule also references early hotel pickup in the early morning hours.

How long is the trip, and what nights are you sleeping where?

The tour runs about 5 days. You sleep 2 nights camping in the mountains and 2 nights in 3-star hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.

Is hotel pickup and return to Cusco included?

Yes. The tour includes pick up from your hotel in the morning of the tour and the TreXperience team returns you safely to your hotel after the Machu Picchu portion.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is included for 5 days. The schedule also includes lunch and dinner during the trekking days, with dinner and lunch counts listed as included for 4 lunches and 4 dinners.

Are entrance fees for Machu Picchu included?

Machu Picchu admission is listed as included via the day four and day five admission ticket notes. Optional entrance tickets for Machu Picchu viewpoints like Montaña or Waynapicchu are not included.

Is there a hot springs stop?

Yes. Day one includes the Lares thermo-medicinal hot springs, with access to pools at different temperatures before the first hiking segment.

How difficult is the hiking?

The tour lists day one as easy, day two as moderate to challenging, day three as easy, and the other days include hikes with set durations. It also asks for a moderate physical fitness level.

Can I bring my own trekking gear?

Trekking poles and items like a mattress and sleeping bag are listed as optional add-ons, with guidance available. A duffle bag up to 7 kg can be carried by horse.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at booking.

How large are the groups?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. You’ll need to provide passport details at booking, and you must have a current valid passport on the day of travel.