Hike the Lares Trail in the Sacred Valley

The Lares Trail in the Sacred Valley of the Incas offers the opportunity to walk for five or seven days deep into the remote scenery of the Lares Valley, passing through small communities yet staying overnight in comfortable lodges.

The Lares Trail provides an interesting alternative to our popular Luxury Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. However, the experience is not just confined to trekking as you will also visit the important Inca archaeological sites of Ollantaytambo, Pisac and Machu Picchu, as well as the market in the town of Calca and small weaving workshops. The seven day trek option includes the fascinating Inca Terraces at Moray and the Salt Pans at Maras. There are plenty of opportunities to sample local dishes and cuisine, including a ‘pachamanca’ where an entire meal is cooked on hot stones buried under ground.

The three mountain lodges are located in the towns of Lamay and Ollantaytambo and in the rural community of Huacahuasi. These serve as deluxe ‘base camps’ with luxuries such as hot showers and comfortable beds for day hikes in the surrounding environs.

The four-night or six-night options have fixed departure dates from Cusco in a small groups, complete with an expert guide who will accompany you for the entire journey. Some of the transfers will be done by vehicle to ensure that walkers can make the most from their visit to the Sacred Valley.

Guests can hike from one lodge to the next, or transfer by vehicle part of the way—ideal for a variety of hiking levels and abilities. Finally, you will end by taking the train to Machu Picchu, where a guided tour of the Lost City of the Incas is included. The Lares Trail is more than a trek, it is an immersive experience in the Sacred Valley.

We can arrange an add-on experience with some extra days in Cusco, accommodation in Lima and perhaps something slightly different such as a few days in Northern Peru.

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