Lares Trek Short Inca Trail

Lares Trek Short Inca Trail Itinerary 

Explore the natural beauty of Peru with an incredible 4-day trek around Lares, the Short Inca Trail, and Rainbow Mountain! Discover fascinating history and culture while taking in breathtaking views!

Day 1: Cusco – Lares Trek to Ollantaytambo

We start the vehicular Journey from the city of Cusco to get to Calca and then continue to the Andean community of Wakawasi. From Huacawasi, we begin the one-day Lares trek until we reach the Ipsay Pass, 4410 meters (15,431 feet). We descend towards the IPSA COCHA lagoon at 4,200 meters. We continue the walk until we reach Patacancha, the neighboring community of Rumira. In Rumira, our tourist vehicle awaits us to complete the trip until we get to the “site of our overnight stay” in Ollantaytambo.

Informational note: The walking route takes hikers through two attractive weaving communities in Huacahuasi and Patacancha. We will be able to observe alpacas grazing in their natural habitat.

The Lares route is easily accessible from Cusco:

• Travel distance from Cusco to Huaca Wasi “Huaca Wasi: 03 hours 20 minutes
• Hiking route: From Huacahuasi to Rumira (Patacancha)
• Walking distance – 14km / 9 miles
• Hike Elevation Start: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet
• Ipsay Pass Elevation: 4,440 meters / 14,435 feet.
• Elevation of the end of the walk: 3,800 meters / 12,467 feet.
• Hike difficulty: Challenging – Moderate (depends on your fitness level).
• Lodging: 3-Star Hotel “Ollantaytambo.”
• Ollantaytambo Elevation: 2,851 meters / 9,353 feet.
• Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory

Lares Information

Day 2: Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

At 07:00, we walk to the Ollantaytambo train station (a 12-minute walk)

• Train service:
  • Train service information: [Outbound Journey]
    • Train company: INCA RAIL
    • Service: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 (01 hour and 20 minutes of trains ride)
    • Class: The Voyager 41
    • Departure: 06:40. We start the train journey.
    • At Station: 06:10 – Otherwise, you may not be allowed to board.
    • KM 104 Arrival: 07:50

Onboard, at km 104, you will find our starting point for trekking. SERNANP MACHU PICCHU, where you must register and show your permits and passports. Right after the first checkpoint is the ruins of Chachabamba.

The path climbs gradually, taking three hours to reach the Wiñay Wayna complex. The walk offers breathtaking views of the ruins of Choquesuysuy and the Urubamba Valley.

Wiñay Wayna was mainly agricultural, and the curved terraces on the incredibly steep slope are impressive. Given the importance of water, this seems to indicate a religious preference.

After a packed lunch, continue the trail and walk from Wiñay Wayna to the Intipunku “Sun Gate,” taking two hours. The path to the ruins itself lasts about half an hour. You descend by CONSETUR bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night at our hotel.

Hiking data:

1. Height of the start of the walk: 2100m/6900ft. (Chachabamba, Km 104)
2. The highest point of the walk: 2730m/8,792ft. (Inti Punku)
3. Hiking distance: 10km / 6.3 miles (Chachabamba to Machu Picchu)
4. Hiking difficulty: Moderate.
5. Accommodation: 3-Star Hotel “Machu Picchu Pueblo, Aguas Calientes”

Day 3: Machu Picchu Guided Tour and Return Cusco

Finally, we have the principal day of all vacations in the Andes of Peru; the visit to Machu Picchu 🙂

At the chosen time of the group organized with our tour guide, we start the tour by tourist bus that takes us to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu. We enter the Inca citadel, ascending in a walk of about 15 minutes to obtain the best panoramic view of Machu Picchu.

We explore the Inca citadel thoroughly from above to cover all the important sites like the Inca quarry area, the temple of the sun, the sundial, the temple of the condor, etc.

After the spectacular visit to Machu Picchu, we can put the stamp of the Machu Picchu logo “optional stamp; it is free; it is interesting to put it in the passport (the real proof that Machu Picchu visited).”

At noon or early in the afternoon, we began to return to the city of Cusco; It takes three and a half hours by “train and ground transportation.” Thank you for exploring the Andes and the jungle of Cusco.

Day 4: Adventure of the Rainbow Mountain

Hikers begin the expedition at 6:00 in the morning. You will see hundreds of alpacas throughout the trip. On top of the colored mountain is a 360-degree view to enjoy the views.

OPTIONAL THE RED VALLEY: Highly recommended; this extension takes 35 minutes of additional walking. The red valley has an incredible view. From here, we continue our way back to the beginning of the trail to return to the imperial city of Cusco.

Helpful information about the trek.

• Travel time: Cusco to Llactoq 03 hours
• Height of the starting point of the walk: 4,900 m/16,076 ft. (El Parqueo – Llactoq)
• Tour Circuit Max Elevation: 5,100 meters / 16,732 feet.
• Hiking distance: 7 kilometers
• Hike difficulty: Challenging “uphill” – Easy “Downhill.”
• Meals: Box lunch.
• Return time to Cusco: Arrival in Cusco between 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail INCLUSION

• Outdoor activities on treks through the Andes
• A bilingual local tour guide who speaks Spanish and English has a “current card to enter the tourist circuits.”
• Private tourist transport for transfer services (according to the itinerary)
• DAY 01: LARES
  • Authorization and payment of entry to the tourist area of Lares via Patacancha
  • Food: 01 box lunch prepared in a tourist restaurant in Cusco “hikers take their box lunch on the hiking trail”
  • OLLANTAYTAMBO: 01 night in a hotel with 03 stars in Ollantaytambo (HOTELS: Sol de Ollantay or Sol Natura based on a DOUBLE or Matrimonial room). Check-In: from 06:00 to 22:00 Hrs | Check-Out: 05:00 to 11:00 Hrs.
• DAY 02: SHORT INCA TRAIL
  • Breakfast buffet at the hotel
  • Train by Inca Rail: Outbound Journey: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104: Train Class: Voyager 41, at 06:40
  • The tour guide travels on the same train as the walkers to make the stop at kilometer 104 of the railway.
  • Authorization to get off the train at km 104.
  • Entrance tickets plus authorization to enter the Inca Trail network
  • Box lunch “visitors carry in their backpack.”
  • Bus ticket down from the ruins to Aguas Calientes
  • AGUAS CALIENTES: 01 night in a Hotel 03 star in Aguas Calientes (HOTELS: El Santuario Machupicchu, Waman Hotel Machu Picchu, or Hotel Retama Machu Picchu based on a DOUBLE or Matrimonial room). The rooms include private bathrooms with hot showers, Wi-Fi, buffet breakfast. Check-In: 11:00 Hrs | Check-Out: 10:00 Hrs.
• DAY 03: MACHU PICCHU
  • Buffet breakfast service at the hotel
  • 02 bus tickets (up and down)
  • Guided tour 02 hours
  • Train by Inca Rail: Inbound Journey: MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO: Train Class: The Voyager 44, at 14:30
  • Private transfer service from POROY train station to CUSCO
• DAY 04: RAINBOW TRAIL & EL VALLE ROJO
  • Entrance tickets to Rainbow Mountain
  • Lunch box
  • First aid kit and medicated oxygen “just in case.”

🙂 Optional: Go to the pricing button and click it for service upgrades.

Lares Trek Short Inca Trail NO INCLUSION

• Hotels “Cusco.”
• Drinking water
• For food not described in the itinerary, “there are several alternatives to cover it daily.”
• Snacks
• Tip for your guide(s) and driver

What to bring to Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail?

Important checklist

• ORIGINAL PASSPORT (Keep it in an airtight plastic bag in case of rain). We used our passports to board the train to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• COMFORTABLE DAY BACKPACK: A small, comfortable, and light backpack with an adaptable waist strap to balance the weight to enjoy the walks. A waterproof backpack cover is also great for keeping all your gear dry and dust-free.
• PLASTIC BAGS: Keep your belongings and clothes dry.
• WALKING POLES: It does highly recommended to have walking poles for your trek. At Lares and Rainbow Mountain, you can use metal spikes, BUT FOR THE INCA TRAIL, use rubber bands to protect the trail and preserve the Inca Trail; In Machu Picchu, canes do prohibit.
• WALKING BOOTS: Select comfortable, lightweight, good-quality shoes. Booties and waterproofs do recommend, but if you already have something comfortable and grippy, don’t rush to buy new boots; it’s better than the old ones!
• REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE – Fill your bottle with bottled water to recycle plastic and pristine hiking trails.
• WARM CLOTHING FOR LARES AND RAINBOW MOUNTAIN: Fleece, jacket, wool hat, gloves, and bandana.
• WATERPROOF CLOTHING: Rain Poncho does recommend. Some hikers also like to wear waterproof pants; however, a Poncho will suffice if it covers up to the knees. The rainy season is from December to March, but it can rain in the Andes any day of the year. It is better to be careful.
• TOILET PAPER: This is an essential item on the hike! We take plastic bags for garbage to keep the planet blue and green.
• PERSONAL MEDICATIONS AND BASIC FIRST AID KIT: Band-Aids for blisters that can be generated when walking, stomach upsets, or altitude sickness, among other medications prescribed by your doctor.
• FOR THE SUN: Solar radiation in the Andes is intense. Bring excellent sunscreen and apply it occasionally to protect yourself from the sun. Also, bring sunglasses and a hat.
• INSECT REPELLENT: In the Lares Valley, sometimes through Ollantaytambo, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu, there are some flying insects or mosquitoes, so it is advisable to bring a good insect repellent.
• SNACKS: chocolates, chips, crackers, granola bars, or energy bars “bring a few extras, just in case, just what you need.”
• EXTRA MONEY: Most businesses handle US dollars and Peruvian soles in Peruvian national currency and dollars.

Facts Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail

Get off the beaten path on a 4-day trekking adventure through some of Peru’s most iconic trails. You’ll be surrounded by incredible beauty, from the Lares Trek to the Short Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain. Explore with us!

What is the best time of the year to book the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail?

The dry season begins in May and typically ends in September or October. During these months, the Inca Trail is the best alternative since good weather allows you to appreciate the majestic valleys and beautiful mountains along the way without clouds or fog.

In other months the rainfall increases.

How far in advance should I book the Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail?

We recommend that you make your reservation at least twelve months in advance because tickets for this incredible hike are sold out months in advance due to its great popularity.

In our experience working with travelers worldwide, many enthusiastic travelers have sadly tried to book a month in advance. We have told them there are no more spaces, so please follow our recommendation to book many months in advance.

300 admission tickets are reserved for agency personnel, i.e., porters, cooks, helpers, porters, and other staff,

Two hundred admission tickets are available for sale to the general public.

Does the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail operate all year round?

The Inca Trail closed annually in February due to maintenance work in various route sectors.

What is the level of difficulty of the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail?

According to the international classification on the level of difficulty of a hike, we have the following:

On the other hand, the Inca Trail is considered by travelers and experienced hikers with a degree of difficulty three because the Inca Trail route passes through various types of climates and different altitudes.

What should I bring for the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail?

• The maximum weight to carry on the Inca Trail is 5 kilograms.
• Please take into account this weight restriction.
• The following should be considered for this route:

The most important thing: the original ID card or passport is valid and that it is the document with which we made our reservation. Otherwise, we will not be allowed to enter.

• Sleeping bag.
• A medium backpack of approximately 30 or 40 liters
• Toiletries, including toilet paper and wet wipes, as there are no toilets along the route.
• Underwear, especially microfiber socks or any specific material for this type of use
• Insect repellent.
• Sunscreen
• Bottle or canteen
• Flashlight with spare batteries.
• Cash in Peruvian soles
• Wide-brimmed hat

What footwear should I wear on the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail?

Kondor Path tours recommend wearing boots one size larger than usual that are not new or have had some use, as wearing new boots can cause scrapes on the ankles or heel of the foot.

Can I make the Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail on my own?

In 2000, the Peruvian government made it mandatory for travelers to enter the Inca Trail route through a tourist agency.

What is the highest point on the Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail?

Lares Trek: Ipsay Pass
Short Inca Trail: Inti Punku Pass

Is the Lares Trek Short Inca Trail dangerous?

The entire Inca Trail is properly signposted, and the guides and tour operators are the first responsible for the care of the traveler during his Journey. However, this does not guarantee that travelers always follow the indications, and in some cases, accidents have occurred due to the imprudence of the visitor.

It is essential to consider that the physical condition of the traveler must be adequate, as well as having previously done two or three days of acclimatization in Cusco.

Location of Machu Picchu

The Inca City does locate within the so-called ‘Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu,’ which covers 35 thousand hectares (350 km2).

Machu Picchu is located in the Aguas Calientes, province of Urubamba, department of Cusco in Peru.

Its coordinates are 13º 10′ 19” and 13º 14′ 00′ (south latitude). It is also located at 72º 30′ 5” and 72º 36′ 33” (west latitude).

The mountains in Machu Picchu

• 03 mountains surround the Inca City: the Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and Putucusi mountains.
• The closest mountain to Machu Picchu is the Salkantay (6,271 m.a.s.l.).
• The Inca City hills belong to the ‘Salkantay Massif.’
• The rivers in Machu Picchu
• The distance from the citadel of Machu Picchu to the river is 500 meters, the Vilcanota River (also known as Urubamba).
• Besides Machu Picchu, the Vilcanota river crosses other Inca archaeological sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
• The river’s flow increases considerably between December and April (rainy season). The river maintains its usual flow for the rest of the year (dry season).

What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

• Due to its location, Machu Picchu enjoys a very peculiar climate.
• Machu Picchu, there are 02 very marked climatic seasons: the dry and rainy seasons.

The dry season in Lares Trek Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

• The dry season is between April and October. Many people think it is the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
• During these months, the day is exceptionally sunny, and there is almost no rain, allowing the tourist to have a pleasant tour of the Inca City.
• In June and July, daytime temperatures can reach 25ºC (77ºF). In the early mornings, the lowest temperatures can reach 0ºC.
• There is also the “high season of tourism” during the dry season, in which Machu Picchu supports the highest number of visitors.
• The rainy season in Machu Picchu
• The rainy season is between November and March. During these months, the Inca City can dawn covered with fog. Although in the day, the mist will clear.
• In February and March, the rains are more frequent than in the rest of the year. The maximum temperatures can reach 22ºC. Minimum temperatures can reach 8ºC.
• The rainy season is known as the “low season for tourism.” And that is why you can find meager prices for all tourist services.

4-Day Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail COST

Embark on a 4-day trekking adventure through some of Peru’s most spectacular sceneries. From the Lares Trek to the short Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain, this is a fantastic journey you won’t forget!

PRICES PER PERSON 2023

• Solo Travel US$ 1,361.
• 02 people US$ 905. “prices reduce if there are more people in your group.”
• 03 people US$ 795.
• 04 people US$ 690.
• 05 people US$ 670.
• 06 people US$ 615.
• 07 people US$ 605.
• 08+ people US$ 570.

Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail Upgrade

Explore four of Peru’s most breathtaking sites on one unforgettable trekking journey! Enjoy the Lares Trek, Short Inca Trail, and Rainbow Mountain in four days.

TRAIN SERVICES

PERU TRAINS By PeruRail / PER PERSON

+$90. Vistadome train (round trip: OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHUPICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO)
+$498.00 Hiram Bingham train (Inbound Journey: Train MACHUPICCHU – POROY)

EXTRA TICKETS

+$75 Huayna Picchu
+$75 Montaña
+$60 RE-ENTRY TO MACHU PICCHU

HOTEL “OLLANTAYTAMBO”

PER PERSON

Sol Natura Hotel – 3-Star Hotel
+$20. Suite MWB/ DWD Comfort Superior

Pakaritampu Hotel – 3-Star Hotel
+$36. Doble
+$47. Superior

El Albergue de Ollantaytambo Hotel “The hotel is inside the train station.”
+$26. Estándar
+$75 Superior Jardín
+$85 Superior Balcón or Casita

HOTEL “AGUAS CALIENTES”

PER PERSON

Gringo Bill’s Machupicchu – 3-Star Hotel
+$25. DBL/MATRIMONIAL
+$43 Suite

Inti Punku Machupicchu – 3-Star Hotel
+$25. Standard
+$33. Superior
+$39. Junior Suite
+$63. Senior Suite

Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu – 3-Star Hotel
+$29. Traditional
+$35. Superior
+$45. Suite

Taypikala Boutique Machupicchu – 3-Star Hotel
+$35. Standard SGL/DBL
+$80 Suite

Jaya Suite Machupicchu – 3-Star Hotel
+$40.

El MaPi ByInkaterra – 4-Star Hotel
+$69. Superior Deluxe SGL or DBL
+$91. Suite SGL o DBL

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel – 5-Star Hotel
+$244. Superior
+$271. Superior Deluxe
+$298. Junior Suite
+$389. Junior Suite Deluxe
+$488. Suite
+$555. Inkaterra Suite

Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail Discounts

This applies to the following services
Machu Picchu Fee

College & students$20 off

* Kondor Path Tours operates the Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail

HOW TO BOOK LARES TREK SHORT INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS

Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail – Embark on a thrilling 4-day adventure to discover some of Peru’s hidden gems! Experience unique ancient sites with stunning views and marvelous hidden hiking treasures.

1st. STEP