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 10 hours 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 Jorge Ramirez
active 8 hours 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 Jimena Salazar
active 6 hours 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 Eduardo Ponce
active 4 hours 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

Liz and Lisbeth provided a great experience f...
Peru | Sep 7 - Sep 11, 2026

Camille
Camille P.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2026
Liz and Lisbeth provided a great experience for our Peruvian trip. Read more

Liz and Lisbeth provided a great experience for our Peruvian trip.

Hotel Review
Sueños del Inka Hotel
Cusco
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
Liz Karen
Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Sep 18, 2026

Hi Camille,

Thank you so much for your kind review! 😊 It was a pleasure helping you with your Peru trip, and I’m so happy to hear you had a great experience with us.

Lisbeth and I truly enjoyed having you here, and we hope you take home lots of wonderful memories from Peru!

Warmly,
Liz

Best Trip Ever!!
Peru | Aug 28 - Sep 5, 2026

R
Robyn C.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 17, 2026
Planning a bucket list trip is hard enough, but when you have someone who sees your vision and goes above and beyond to make it comes to life, you know you have made the right decision. From the second we connected with Liz Karen, we knew it was going to be great. Despite how many times, I changed my mind, tweaked our trip, Liz was amazing and handled it promptly. The trip was everything we had hoped for and more. Everything was seamless. A few days before we left, LatAm cancelled one of... Read more

Planning a bucket list trip is hard enough, but when you have someone who sees your vision and goes above and beyond to make it comes to life, you know you have made the right decision. From the second we connected with Liz Karen, we knew it was going to be great. Despite how many times, I changed my mind, tweaked our trip, Liz was amazing and handled it promptly. The trip was everything we had hoped for and more. Everything was seamless. A few days before we left, LatAm cancelled one of our local flights. Liz and her team sprung into action and had it resolved in 24 hours. They even checked us in for the local flights and even send us our boarding passes. Communication while in Peru was amazing and they were responsive if we had any questions, or if something had changed. Thank you Liz and your team for planning and make this trip unforgettable.

Local specialist: Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
Liz Karen
Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
Local specialist in Cusco | Replied on Sep 18, 2026

Hi Robyn,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 It was such a pleasure helping you plan your Peru adventure, and I’m so happy to hear the trip turned out to be everything you hoped for.

I really appreciate your kind words about our team. It was truly a pleasure working with you, and I hope you take home lots of wonderful memories from Peru. Hopefully, you’ll come back and visit us again someday!

Warmly,
Liz

Our trip to Machu Picchu was spectacular. A...
Peru | Aug 30 - Sep 9, 2026

Brian
Brian L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 16, 2026
Our trip to Machu Picchu was spectacular. As was our visits to Lima, Paracas and the Sacred Valley. Our Tour Guide in Lima, Nancy, was very knowledgeable about the City's history. Her joy for cuisine was also memorable. We had a great time with Nancy. Paracas was a huge surprise, as we did not know how expansive the Desert was and the Paracas Reserve was fabulous. Alvaro was the consummate Tour Guide, as the Desert is his life. The adventures he took us on will forever... Read more

Our trip to Machu Picchu was spectacular. As was our visits to Lima, Paracas and the Sacred Valley.

Our Tour Guide in Lima, Nancy, was very knowledgeable about the City's history. Her joy for cuisine was also memorable. We had a great time with Nancy.

Paracas was a huge surprise, as we did not know how expansive the Desert was and the Paracas Reserve was fabulous. Alvaro was the consummate Tour Guide, as the Desert is his life. The adventures he took us on will forever be etched in our memories.

Our days with EJ and Willie (our driver) were filled with wonderful and epic sites. EJ is a plethora of knowledge concerning the Inca people and culture. We learned so much from him. The side excursions like Stargazing alongside the road was awesome. And our coffee stops were filled with great conversation. We will forever remember EJ, as a Friend and Family.

Hotel Review
La Hacienda Bahía Paracas
Paracas

This Hotel has a lot of character and the Service, Atmosphere and Food were exceptional. We highly recommend this Hotel if you plan on visiting Paracas, Peru.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Anne Godoy

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