What makes the Lares trek so special
If the Inca Trail is about Inca stone, the Lares trek is about living people. It winds through Andean villages where families still herd llamas and weave by hand, past turquoise lakes and over high passes — with far fewer hikers and a thermal hot spring at the start. Here is what makes it different.
Living Andean culture, not just ruins
The Lares valley is one of the last strongholds of traditional Quechua weaving and herding life. On the trail you pass through working villages, meet weavers using natural dyes, and see daily Andean life largely unchanged for generations. It is the most cultural of the routes to Machu Picchu — a human landscape rather than an archaeological one.
High lakes, passes and hot springs
Lares delivers serious mountain scenery — glacial lakes, big skies and passes around 4,600 m — without the permit pressure of the Inca Trail. It is also the only classic route that starts at a natural hot spring, a welcome soak before the climbing begins. The walking is genuinely high-altitude, so acclimatize in Cusco first.
Lares vs the Inca Trail
They are different experiences, not better or worse.
| Lares trek | Inca Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Main draw | Living Andean culture | Inca ruins + Sun Gate arrival |
| Crowds | Quiet | Busy, permit-limited |
| Permit | Not required | Required, sells out |
| Availability | Year-round | Closed every February |
| Arrival at Machu Picchu | By train + bus | On foot through the Sun Gate |
Walk the cultural route to Machu Picchu
Our guided Lares trek ends at Machu Picchu, no Inca Trail permit needed.
Who the Lares trek is for
Choose Lares if you care more about people and landscapes than about walking on original Inca stone, if your dates fall in February when the Inca Trail is closed, or if Inca Trail permits are sold out. It rewards travelers who want a quieter, warmer, more human path to Machu Picchu.
What makes Lares special: living Andean culture
The Lares trek stands apart because its heart is people, not just ruins or peaks. The route threads through remote Quechua communities where traditional life continues much as it has for centuries — herding llamas and alpacas, farming high terraces, and above all weaving. Meeting families, seeing natural-dye textile-making and walking past working villages gives Lares a human warmth the other treks can't match.
The landscape and the hot springs
Lares is also beautiful in its own right: high passes, glacial lakes, sweeping valleys and grazing alpaca herds. A signature bonus is the Lares hot springs, where many treks begin or pause — a rare chance to soak tired muscles in natural thermal water amid the mountains. The walking is moderate rather than extreme, with a high pass around 4,400–4,600 m but manageable daily distances.
Why choose Lares over the Inca Trail
Three practical reasons stand out: it needs no permit (so it never sells out and can be booked late), it's gentler than Salkantay or the Classic Inca Trail, and it offers a cultural depth the others lack — while still finishing at Machu Picchu via train. If you value people and culture over reaching the citadel on foot, Lares is the one. Compare it in our three-trek guide, and see the routes: Lares to Machu Picchu and Lares + Inca Trail.
Frequently asked questions
Lares is the most cultural route to Machu Picchu. It passes through living Andean villages of weavers and herders, includes high lakes and a hot spring, and stays far quieter than the Inca Trail.
No. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Lares trek does not require a limited permit, so it can be booked closer to your travel dates and runs year-round.
It is comparable in effort, with high passes around 4,600 m, but it has fewer stone staircases. Good acclimatization in Cusco beforehand is essential.
Yes. The trek finishes in the mountains, then you take the train to Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu the following day.
