Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

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Peru Travel Insights

Lima, Cusco & Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 6 Days
Map of Lima, Cusco & Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 6 Days
Lima, Cusco & Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 6 Days

A shorter alternative to the Inca Trail, the Lares Trek offers an experience just as stunning. Despite the high altitudes, this trek follows a less rigorous route through local communities, making it ideal for those who are looking for something accessible, unique, and immersive.

Beautiful Andean landscape
Map of Lares Lodge-to-Lodge Trek to Machu Picchu - 5 Days
Lares Lodge-to-Lodge Trek to Machu Picchu - 5 Days

The five-day Lares Trek takes you high up in the Andes, hiking during the day and overnighting in luxurious lodges along the way. Providing impressive views of snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes, it’s a relatively demanding hike that will test your fitness.

Girl walking home in the Lares Valley
Map of Lares Valley Trek & Short Inca Trail - 8 Days
Lares Valley Trek & Short Inca Trail - 8 Days

Trek through the Lares Valley, where you'll pass between glacier-capped mountains where llamas and alpacas graze in the surrounding hills. You'll visit the town of Lares, a colourful traditional town in the heart of the valley. Combined with the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, this is a trek that combines two wonderful valleys & mountain ranges with very different ecologies & landscapes.

View from the Santa Cruz trek in Peru
Map of Best 10 Treks in Peru
Best 10 Treks in Peru

Peru — a nation with abundant natural diversity, from coast, to mountains, to jungle — has long attracted lovers of the Great Outdoors. The Peruvian Andes, running like a backbone down the centre of the country, contain mesmerizing variations in landscape that make for some of the best trekking in the world. Cloud forests, 5000m+ cordilleras (mountain ranges), the world’s deepest canyon and the striking remains of ancient civilizations all await.

Making a pilgrimage to Machu Picchu on one of these two treks makes your arrival even more spectacular
Salkantay Trek vs the Inca Trail: Which is Right for You?

Trekking to Machu Picchu is a dream for many travelers—but there's more than one way to get there. The classic Inca Trail lets trekkers walk in the steps of the Incas, while the more remote Salkantay route offers solitude and wildlife. Compare your options for getting to Peru's most famous place on foot, from distance and cost to overnight options.

Huchuy Qosqo
Map of Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco
Best Day Hikes in the Sacred Valley near Cusco

Peru is famous for the Inca Trail and other multi-day hikes, but if you are short on time, there are plenty of excellent day hikes throughout the Sacred Valley. These hikes are a great way to visit some of the rural communities and lesser-visited ruins throughout the Valley.

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Peru
Travel specialist Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
active 51 mins ago

Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca

Peruvian food, culture, and history aren’t just things I love—they’re a part of who I am. As a proud Cusqueñian, I carry my roots with pride and love sharing my culture with others. I've lived...

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Travel specialist Jimena Salazar
active 6 mins ago

Jimena Salazar

For me, traveling is about much more than just visiting places. It’s about opening new paths in your life—through the people you meet, the flavors you try, and the landscapes that take your breath...

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Travel specialist Jorge Ramirez
active 1 min ago

Jorge Ramirez

I believe the best journeys start with truly listening. When I design a trip, my goal is for travelers to feel that every detail reflects who they are—their interests, their pace, and the kind of...

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Travel specialist Eduardo Ponce
active 1 day ago

Eduardo Ponce

I am a travel agent specialized in creating tailor-made travel experiences designed around each traveler’s needs, preferences, and expectations. I take the time to understand my clients, their...

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Trip Reviews for Peru

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Family trip to Peru
Peru | Aug 18 - Aug 28, 2026

A
Alissa S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2026
Jimena and team put together an amazing adventure in Peru for our family. We have used KimKim before and found it quite easy to use; this time was no different. We were able to give insight into some of the things our family enjoys and from there an itinerary was created which we refined to meet our families specific interests and requests. We even made some last minute adjustments that were graciously accommodated.
To add more detail, we are a family of 5 with two adult children and...
Read more

Jimena and team put together an amazing adventure in Peru for our family. We have used KimKim before and found it quite easy to use; this time was no different. We were able to give insight into some of the things our family enjoys and from there an itinerary was created which we refined to meet our families specific interests and requests. We even made some last minute adjustments that were graciously accommodated.
To add more detail, we are a family of 5 with two adult children and one younger child. We had asked to see Machu Picchu as well as the Amazon rainforest and Jimena delivered an amazing trip plan. Every detail seemed well planned. Each transfer (and there were many) was seamless and our guides brought us to the airport or train station and ensured we were all set. On the other end of each transport, someone was there to receive us. We always felt safe and taken care of. Our guides from Peruvian Soul were all lovely and informative. They made sure we were comfortable and all our needs were met. We also had a separate driver so the tour guide was able to focus just on sharing stories and information with us. The places we stayed were all beautiful and great for our family. People there were friendly and accommodating.
I could go on and on about all the details, but suffice it to say that this trip was packed with activities and internal travel to multiple different locations, which would have been extremely difficult for us to plan on our own. Kim Kim and Peruvian soul made sure all of these details were perfect.

Local specialist: Jimena Salazar
Jimena
Jimena Salazar
Local specialist in Lima, Peru | Replied on Oct 21, 2026
Hello Alissa Thank you so much for your lovely review! It makes me so happy to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful time in Peru. It was a real pleasure to help you plan this trip and bring your ideas to life. I know that traveling with kids of different ages can be a little tricky when it comes to finding activities everyone will enjoy, so I'm especially happy to hear that the whole family had a great time! Your guides also remember you as such a lovely family, and I hope... Read more

Hello Alissa

Thank you so much for your lovely review! It makes me so happy to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful time in Peru.

It was a real pleasure to help you plan this trip and bring your ideas to life. I know that traveling with kids of different ages can be a little tricky when it comes to finding activities everyone will enjoy, so I'm especially happy to hear that the whole family had a great time!

Your guides also remember you as such a lovely family, and I hope this trip was just one of many more adventures you'll share together.

Sending warm greetings from Lima, Peru!
Jimena

KimKim and Andean Travel Experience - highly recommended for a fun, fantastic, and seamless Peru adventure!
Peru | Oct 2 - Oct 8, 2026

Michael
Michael M.
Norristown, PA | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2026
The experience planning and going on our trip to Peru utilizing KimKim and Andean Travel Experience was outstanding! LizKaren was our point of contact during the planning stages and she provided great recommendations, strong guidance, answered all our questions, and was extremely responsive. Once on the ground in Peru, Lisbeth took over as our primary contact and was always available whenever we needed to reach out via WhatsApp. The trip itself was seamless. Our drivers and guides were... Read more

The experience planning and going on our trip to Peru utilizing KimKim and Andean Travel Experience was outstanding! LizKaren was our point of contact during the planning stages and she provided great recommendations, strong guidance, answered all our questions, and was extremely responsive. Once on the ground in Peru, Lisbeth took over as our primary contact and was always available whenever we needed to reach out via WhatsApp.

The trip itself was seamless. Our drivers and guides were always on time and communicated well. In addition to the obvious highlight of exploring Machu Picchu, other highlights included our ATV tour to Maras and Moray and our Michelin-quality lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa.

Thank you LizKaren and Lisbeth for all your help!

Hotel Review
Tierra Viva Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo

We really loved this hotel. The rooms were great but the highlight was walking out in the morning and being surrounded by the Andes mountains. The bungalow style buildings were very attractive and well-maintained.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Ollantaytambo is a very cute town with lots of good restaurants and shopping. It is a bit challenging to get to, but I believe that is true for Peru in general.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca

We really appreciated all the planning and de...
Peru | Sep 12 - Sep 19, 2026

Meredith
Meredith J.
At | Reviewed on Oct 18, 2026
We really appreciated all the planning and details that wen into our trip to Peru. The trip was amazing and the team we interacted with was great! Enfrain was a great guide throughout Cusco and the surrounding areas. Sergio was amazing at Machu Picchu. We really did enjoy everything that got booked and all the hotels we stayed at. Thanks for all the help to make sure we made the most amazing memories! Read more

We really appreciated all the planning and details that wen into our trip to Peru. The trip was amazing and the team we interacted with was great! Enfrain was a great guide throughout Cusco and the surrounding areas. Sergio was amazing at Machu Picchu. We really did enjoy everything that got booked and all the hotels we stayed at. Thanks for all the help to make sure we made the most amazing memories!

Hotel Reviews
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Urubamba
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa San Blas Boutique
Cusco
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The best staff we came across on our trip. Really stood out with trying to make sure we enjoyed our stay and were taken care of.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Innside Lima Miraflores by Melia Hotels International
Miraflores
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Shared Full Immersion Cooking class
Shared Full Immersion Cooking class
Cusco
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Llama trek, Ancestral Weaving & Salt Flats of Maras
Private Llama trek, Ancestral Weaving & Salt Flats of Maras
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Machu Picchu exploration with a private guide
Machu Picchu exploration with a private guide
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sergio was an amazing guide!
Transport
Private tour to Awanakancha, Pisac Sites & Market: Hacienda Lunch
Private tour to Awanakancha, Pisac Sites & Market: Hacienda Lunch
Peru
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Half-Day Cusco Walking Tour: Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha & San Pedro Market
Private Half-Day Cusco Walking Tour: Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha & San Pedro Market
Cusco
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Shared Half-Day Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs
Shared Half-Day Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs
Lima
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Io Gillhuber

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