Quick Summary: The Lares Trek is a three-day walk through Quechua weaving villages, usually sold as a four-day trip that ends at Machu Picchu. The classic route crosses a pass of about 4,450 m (14,600 ft), needs no government trekking permit, and finishes in Ollantaytambo, where you take the train to Aguas Calientes. Group tours list from roughly US$620 in 2026. It suits travelers who want villages, hot springs and fewer people more than Inca stonework or glacier views. For the head-to-head with the two bigger treks, see Inca Trail vs Salkantay.
What the Lares Trek Is, and What It Is Not
The trek takes its name from the Lares valley, north of Cusco. Wikipedia lists it among the main alternatives to the Inca Trail: quieter, no permit, slightly easier terrain but harder altitude. The valley is home to Quechua-speaking farmers and weavers, and the route links their villages on foot.
It is not a ruins trek. Few ruins line the route (operators mention Pumamarca near the end). Nor is it automatically easy: camps sit at roughly 3,600–3,950 m, and the pass is higher than anything on the Inca Trail.
Routes and Lengths: Three Days, Four Days and the Variants
The classic route (Route 1, or the Weaver's Way, in MountainIQ's guide) runs Cusco, Calca, Lares, Huacahuasi, Ipsaycocha Pass, Patacancha, Huilloc, Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo. Wikipedia counts three walking days and about 33 km. Operators quote about 31 to 46 km, depending on the route and whether the Machu Picchu day is counted.
- Day 1: Drive from Cusco via Calca to Lares, then walk about five hours to the Huacahuasi camp at roughly 3,750 m (12,300 ft).
- Day 2: Cross Ipsaycocha Pass, usually given as 4,450 m, and drop toward Ipsaycocha lake or on to Patacancha.
- Day 3: Descend through Patacancha and Huilloc to Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo (2,792 m, or 9,160 ft), then take the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Day 4: Machu Picchu, the train back to Ollantaytambo, and a transfer to Cusco of about 1.5 hours.
- Quishuarani route: Slightly longer, with two passes (MountainIQ).
- Huaran starts: Some operators start at Huaran, camp at Cancha Cancha and cross the Pachacutec Pass. Salkantay Trekking Peru and Ali Peru Treks both give 4,700 m (15,420 ft). Exodus puts its high pass at 4,625 m.
- Five days with the Inca Trail: Alpaca Expeditions sells 48 km of Lares plus two days on the Inca Trail, entering through the Sun Gate. It needs an Inca Trail permit.
Weaving Villages and the Lares Hot Springs
MountainIQ names Huacahuasi, Patacancha and Huilloc (also spelled Willoq) as the weaving communities on the main route, and Wikipedia says trekkers can try weaving in Huacahuasi. Awamaki, a nonprofit based in Ollantaytambo since 2009, works with women's weaving associations in the Patacancha valley (Wikipedia). Its own site says it works with roughly 180 women in 9 cooperatives and offers weaving experiences and a homestay.
Walking through a village is not the same as meeting its weavers. Ask your operator whether a weaving visit is scheduled and whether the money reaches the community. Buying from a cooperative or straight from the weaver is the simplest way to get it right.
The Lares hot springs are the other signature stop (facts from a guide updated in September 2026).
- Where: Lares town, at about 3,150 m (roughly 10,300 ft) and about 150 km, or 3 hours, by road from Cusco.
- The water: Outdoor pools plus private indoor pools, 36–44°C overall, with the hottest pool near 41°C.
- Entry: About S/10 for foreign adults in that guide. Other sources differ, and some operators include it while others do not, so ask.
- When: On the classic route, before you start walking on day 1. On Huaran-side routes they usually come at the end.
No Permit Quota, but Book Early Anyway
There is no trekking permit for Lares. Alpaca Expeditions calls it open-access, and MountainIQ and Wikipedia agree. The Classic Inca Trail is the opposite: Wikipedia says it allows 500 people a day, only about 200 of them trekkers, and our Inca Trail guide covers how far ahead those permits sell out.
That does not mean you can wait. The real limits are Machu Picchu entry and train seats. The citadel is capped at 5,600 visitors a day from 19 June to 2 November 2026 and 4,500 on other dates, Andina reported. Salkantay Trekking Peru advises booking at least three months ahead because Circuit 2 tickets are limited, and most travelers let the operator hold the tickets (MountainIQ). Lock your date early, especially in that high-season window, and ask whether your date's entry and train seats are still free before paying a deposit.
From Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
The walk ends at Ollantaytambo. From there PeruRail and Inca Rail both run trains to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). PeruRail gives about 1 hour 45 minutes for the ride, and Exodus's itinerary says about 1 hour 30.
Four-day itineraries normally take that train on day 3 and sleep in Aguas Calientes, so you reach the citadel on the morning of day 4 (Quechua's Expeditions and Salkantay Trekking Peru both run it this way), with a bus up to the site. You arrive by bus, not on foot: only the 5-day Inca Trail combination walks you in through the Sun Gate. Check whether a quote includes the Machu Picchu ticket and which train class.
Difficulty, Altitude and Fitness
- Rating: MountainIQ scores it 2 to 3 out of 5. Alpaca and Quechua's Expeditions say moderate; Ali Peru Treks calls day 2 challenging.
- Walking: About 12–14 km and 5–7 hours a day on Ali Peru Treks' itinerary.
- Altitude: The classic pass (about 4,450 m) is above the Inca Trail's Warmiwañusca (4,215 m, or 13,829 ft) and below the Salkantay Pass (about 4,600 m, per MountainIQ).
- Cold: Nights are around 5°C and can fall below freezing (MountainIQ).
If you can walk a hilly five to seven hours with a daypack, you are in range. Altitude is the bigger risk, so spend a few days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first and read our altitude sickness guide. For warm layers and rain gear, see what to pack for Machu Picchu and Cusco.
Best Months and Rainy-Season Caveats
- Best: May to September, the dry season (MountainIQ).
- Shoulder: April and October, with low rainfall risk.
- Avoid if you can: December to March brings heavy rain and fog, and November rainfall rises sharply.
February is the odd one out. The Inca Trail closed throughout February 2026, Andina reported in January, so Lares is often pitched as the February alternative. Alpaca and Ali Peru Treks run it year-round, but Salkantay Trekking Peru does not offer it in February because of the rainy season and trail maintenance. A trek that runs is not the same as a pleasant one.
What It Costs in 2026
These are operator-listed starting prices for a 4-day group trek, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
- Quechua's Expeditions: US$620 per person for a group, US$740 private, with Machu Picchu entry and an Expedition train included (2026 prices).
- Salkantay Trekking Peru: US$620 land cost, including entry, both trains, the bus up and one hotel night. A sleeping bag is US$20 extra.
- Ali Peru Treks: From US$640, including entry, an Expedition train and a 3-star hotel night.
- Alpaca Expeditions: £485 (about US$650).
- Small group: ILE Tours lists from US$790 on TourRadar, without itemised inclusions.
So expect roughly US$620–800 for a mainstream group trek. Lodge-based versions cost far more: a 6-day Mountain Lodges of Peru trip is listed from US$2,995 by Chimu Adventures.
Lares vs Inca Trail vs Salkantay: Who It Is For and Who Should Skip It
| Lares | Classic Inca Trail | Salkantay | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 3 walking, 4 with Machu Picchu | 4 or 5 | 5 standard, 4 squeezed |
| High point | About 4,450 m (up to 4,700 m on some variants) | 4,215 m | About 4,600 m |
| Permit | None | 500 a day, including staff | None |
| Arrival | Train and bus from Ollantaytambo | On foot via the Sun Gate | Hidroeléctrica, then train or walk |
| Main appeal | Villages, weaving, hot springs | Inca stonework | Big mountain scenery |
Our Salkantay guide covers that trek in full.
Pick Lares if:
- You missed Inca Trail permits, or travel in February.
- You care more about people and landscape than ruins.
- You want three walking days and, on the classic route, a lower pass than Salkantay.
Skip Lares if:
- You want Inca stonework and the Sun Gate arrival. Book the Inca Trail early.
- You want glaciers and cloud forest. Salkantay delivers that.
- You sleep badly in the cold or at altitude.
For most first-timers who can get a permit, the Inca Trail is still the classic. If you cannot, or if villages matter more than ruins, Lares is the better pick over Salkantay for anyone who wants a shorter trek.
FAQ
Is the Lares Trek easier than the Inca Trail?
Not automatically. It has fewer walking days than most Inca Trail trips, but the pass is higher (about 4,450 m against 4,215 m) and nights are colder. Most sources rate it moderate.
Do I need a permit for the Lares Trek?
No trekking permit is needed. You do need a Machu Picchu ticket for the final day, which is usually bought through your operator, so your date still matters.
Can I do the Lares Trek in February?
Some operators run it and some do not. The Inca Trail closes every February, and February falls in the rainy season, so expect heavy rain and fog.
How long is the Lares Trek, 3 days or 4?
The walking is three days. Most trips add a fourth day for Machu Picchu, and the 5-day version adds the Inca Trail. The classic route is about 33 km on foot, though operators quote 31 to 46 km.
Do I walk into Machu Picchu on the Lares Trek?
Not on the standard 4-day trip. You take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and a bus up to the citadel. Only the Lares plus Inca Trail combination enters through the Sun Gate.
Limitations
Prices, routes, passes and rules change, and the figures here are operator listings, not guarantees. Pass and camp altitudes differ between sources by a few hundred metres. As of October 2026, Machu Picchu daily caps, train timetables and Lares hot spring fees may have moved. Work-around: before booking, ask the operator for the exact route and high point and what the price includes (Machu Picchu ticket, train class, hotel, hot springs), and confirm your date's Machu Picchu entry and train seats.