Machu Picchu Planner
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: The Permit-Free Alternative to the Inca Trail
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Pick the route first, then check what the listing books for you. The Lares trek appeals to hikers who want a multi-day walk towards Machu Picchu without chasing an Inca Trail permit. The trade-off is a different kind of trail: farming valleys, weaving communities and hot springs, with the archaeology saved for the end.
What the Lares Trek Books, and Who It Suits
A Lares package combines a walk through the Lares Valley with a separate Machu Picchu visit at the end. According to the Lares trek entry on Wikipedia, the standard Lares trek route is about 33 kilometres, a trek of around three days.
The walking section and the Machu Picchu section are two different products joined by a train, and each listing joins them in its own way.
Lares is a different walk with a different character, and our Inca Trail guide covers that route on its own terms.
Lares Valley Trek with Hot Spring 4-Day, 3-Night: A Slower Route via the Sacred Valley
This listing describes a Lares Valley trek with a hot spring stop, a Sacred Valley visit to the salt mines and Ollantaytambo, a train to Machupicchu town and a guided Machu Picchu tour. The operator pitches it at hikers who prefer a slower pace and shorter daily distances, with village visits along the way.
Two details are not settled by the description: the accommodation type on each night and the return route to Cusco. Ask both questions before paying. I would pick this one if the salt mines and Ollantaytambo matter to you as much as the trek. Look elsewhere if you want a tent-based trip with fewer road stops, because the Sacred Valley visits take time away from the valley walking.
Lares Valley Trek with Hot Spring 4-Day, 3-Night
From $650 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Hikers who prefer a slower pace and shorter daily distances, with village visits, salt mines and Ollantaytambo before Machu Picchu.
Not for: Trekkers wanting a demanding, trail-only route, since part of the itinerary is a Sacred Valley tour rather than hiking.
A 4-day, 3-night Lares Valley trek with hot spring, a Sacred Valley stop at the salt mines and Ollantaytambo, a train to Machupicchu town and a guided Machu Picchu tour. Confirm the accommodation type each night and the return route to Cusco.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
Weaving Villages, Hot Springs and a Camping Option
The case for Lares rests on the valley itself. According to the Lares trek entry on Wikipedia, the Lares Valley is home to traditional weavers and farmers, and the hot springs in Lares are popular.
I treat Lares as a cultural walk with altitude attached, and I would not choose it for archaeology along the trail. Ask how visits are arranged and who in the community hosts them, and treat the answer as part of what you are buying.
On a Lares package, the archaeological payoff comes at Machu Picchu, once the walking is done.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N Including Hot Springs: The Camping Choice
This small-group listing camps along the Lares route, includes meals and the Lares hot springs, and finishes with a private guided tour of Machu Picchu. Its description names remote villages on the way, which suits trekkers who want to cross the valley at walking pace and sleep in tents.
The description leaves two things open: how the return to Cusco works, and whether Machu Picchu entry and train tickets are included. Get both answers in writing. Pass on this one if you need a bed every night, since camping is the format here and not an optional extra.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N Including Hot Springs
From $703.57 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Trekkers wanting a camping route past remote villages like Cancha Cancha, with Lares hot springs and a guided Machu Picchu tour.
Not for: Travelers who prefer hotel nights, since the listing describes camping equipment rather than lodges on a four-day trek.
A 4-day, 3-night small-group camping trek on the Lares route with meals, Lares hot springs and a private guided tour of Machu Picchu. Confirm how the return to Cusco works and whether Machu Picchu entry and train tickets are included.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
How Lares Compares with the Inca Trail
The headline difference is the permit. According to the Lares trek entry on Wikipedia, unlike the Inca Trail, permits are not required to hike the Lares trek.
The Inca Trail runs on a different system. According to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu entry on Wikipedia, every Inca Trail trekker must be accompanied by a guide, so permits are bought through a registered tour operator. Our page on Inca Trail permits explains how that process works.
Altitude is the second point of comparison. According to the Lares trek entry on Wikipedia, the Lares routes cross high passes, the highest at about 4,400 metres. I treat that as a planning variable: build acclimatisation days in Cusco into the itinerary before the trek starts, and ask the operator where the pass falls in their schedule.
Choose Lares if the Inca Trail permit window has closed on you, or if village life interests you more than the Inca Trail itself. Book the Inca Trail instead when the historic trail is the whole reason you are coming, and accept the permit step that comes with it. If neither fits, our Salkantay trek guide covers another way to walk towards Machu Picchu.
Rosa Quispe's Planning Notes for the Lares Route
Plan the Lares trek from the Machu Picchu end backwards. The trail needs no permit, but the package still depends on a train, an entry ticket for the citadel and a return to Cusco, and each listing handles those pieces differently.
Schedule the high walking after a few days in Cusco, not on arrival.
Confirm which circuit and entry time a tour has booked before you pay. Machu Picchu visits run on circuits set by the Ministry of Culture, and the circuit decides which viewpoints you reach.
A listing that will not name its circuit before payment is a poor fit for anyone with a specific viewpoint in mind.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days with Panoramic Train: For a Vistadome Return
This listing pairs the Lares trek with visits to the Maras salt mines and Ollantaytambo, the Lares hot springs and a Machu Picchu visit, then returns travellers to Cusco on the Vistadome panoramic train. The description is aimed at couples, families or solo travellers wanting a quieter trek through weaving communities.
The description does not state whether Machu Picchu entry, a guide, meals and overnight arrangements are included, and those are the questions to send before booking. Book this one when a settled train return to Cusco matters more to you than camping in the valley. Skip it if you prefer to buy your own rail tickets directly from the rail operator, since the return leg is built into the package.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days with Panoramic Train
From $698 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Couples, families or solo travelers wanting a quieter trek with weaving communities, hot springs and a Vistadome train back to Cusco.
Not for: Travelers who want full itinerary detail upfront, as the listing does not state accommodation, meals or Machu Picchu guiding.
A 4-day Lares trek with visits to the Maras salt mines and Ollantaytambo, the Lares hot springs, a Machu Picchu visit and a return to Cusco on the Vistadome panoramic train. Confirm whether Machu Picchu entry, a guide, meals and overnight arrangements are included.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
What to Check Before Booking
Before paying for any Lares package, get written answers on the Machu Picchu circuit and entry time, the tickets included, the meeting point and pickup area, the accommodation each night, and the cancellation terms.
- Do not assume that every Machu Picchu tour includes an entry ticket. Confirm entry for the specific listing you are about to book.
- Check whether the train, the bus up to the citadel and the entry ticket are included or left to you, and note which legs you would need to buy yourself.
- Read the meeting point and pickup area in the listing before paying, so you know whether your Cusco accommodation falls inside it.
- Ask what kind of accommodation each night uses, because a camping trek and a hotel-based itinerary feel very different at altitude.
- Read the cancellation terms against rail and weather disruption. Timetables are set by the rail operator and can change, so recheck the schedule close to departure.
This checklist will help less if you have already settled on the Inca Trail; in that case, start with the permit process instead.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for the Lares trek?
The trail itself needs no permit. A Machu Picchu visit at the end still requires an entry ticket for the citadel, so check whether your package covers it or leaves it to you.
Can I switch to Lares if Inca Trail permits are gone?
Lares works as a fallback because it needs no permit, but it is a separate route with its own character and not a section of the Inca Trail.
Do Lares packages include the train?
It depends on the listing. One describes a train to Machupicchu town, another a Vistadome return to Cusco, and a third leaves the return to be confirmed, so ask each operator which legs are ticketed.
Will I meet weaving communities on the Lares trek?
Village contact is the main draw of the route, and two of the featured listings mention village or weaving-community visits in their descriptions.
Is Lares a good choice if I fly into Cusco the day before?
Starting straight after a flight leaves no room for acclimatisation before the high passes. Add Cusco days to the plan, or move the trek start date back.
What size bag should I carry on the Machu Picchu day?
Carry a small daypack and check the Ministry of Culture's current bag rules for the citadel.
Edited from Cusco, Peru. Check the Ministry of Culture and the rail operator for current tickets and timetables before travelling.
Rosa edits Machu Picchu Planner's route and tour comparisons using published tour details and official ticket and rail sources. About Rosa.