Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: Self-Launched 4-Day Andean Trek
4 days · Peru
Alpaca Expeditions charges £505
No-markup version: ~£453 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Alpaca Expeditions' 4-day Lares Trek — a quieter, community-focused alternative to the Inca Trail that winds through Quechua villages, high passes and hot springs before finishing at Machu Picchu. Instead of a fully catered guided group, you'll arrange a licensed local trek guide and horsemen directly in Cusco (or join a small shared trek), sleep in basic village guesthouses and hostels, eat in local comedores and cook simple meals, and take the same public Expedition-class train and Machu Picchu buses. You still need a licensed guide for the Machu Picchu citadel entry, and you must book your Machu Picchu circuit ticket and Huayna Picchu add-on in advance. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP; allow 2 full days in Cusco to acclimatise before starting.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Lares Hot Springs to Kiswarani
Lares / Kiswarani
Get an early shared van or public bus from Cusco towards Lares (roughly 3.5–4 hours; shared tourist minibus ~£10–15 per person, or negotiate a private transfer with your guide). Stop at the Lares thermal baths for a soak and breakfast — entry is a few soles. From the trailhead at Punta Carretera you'll meet your guide, horsemen and mules and begin a gentle 3–4 hour hike up through the potato-farming valley to Kiswarani village (around 3,800m). If you've arranged a village homestay or basic guesthouse, spend the afternoon visiting local homes, learning about llama herding and, if school is in session, dropping off supplies. Dinner is simple local food or a cook-up at your lodging. Bring cash in soles; there are no ATMs in Lares.
🚌Shared tourist minibus Cusco–Lares (~£10–15), short transfer to trailhead
🛏Basic village guesthouse/homestay in Kiswarani with shared bathroom (~£10–15) or campsite with rented gear
- →Soak in Lares hot springs
- →Hike through the potato valley to Kiswarani
- →Meet horsemen and mules at the trailhead
- →Village walk and llama/alpaca herding visit
Kiswarani to Condor Pass to Cancha Cancha
Condor Pass / Cancha Cancha
The toughest day: a 3–4 hour climb to Condor Pass at 4,680m, with stops for coca tea and snacks. Pace yourself — altitude is real, and a support horse is worth arranging with your horseman if you're struggling. From the pass it's about an hour down to the El Mirador viewpoint for a packed lunch, then a further 3 hours of descent through glacial lakes and alpine scenery to Cancha Cancha village. In the afternoon visit a local family to learn about hand-woven llama and alpaca textiles and guinea pig farming. Sleep in a village guesthouse or camp; nights here can drop near freezing, so pack layers and a good sleeping bag.
🚌On foot with guide and horsemen (~6–7 hours hiking)
🛏Village guesthouse in Cancha Cancha with shared facilities (~£10–15) or campsite
- →Climb to Condor Pass (4,680m)
- →Lunch at El Mirador viewpoint
- →Descend past alpine lakes to Cancha Cancha
- →Visit a local family for weaving and farming life
Cancha Cancha to Maras Salt Pans to Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Ollantaytambo / Aguas Calientes
A 4-hour downhill hike out of the valley past traditional Inca terraces to the road, where a shared van picks you up. Stop at the Salineras de Maras salt pans (entry around 10 soles) — a striking pre-Incan network of evaporation ponds — and buy salt direct from the cooperative shop. Continue by shared colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~£3–5) and spend the afternoon exploring the living Inca village and its water channels and terraces on your own or with a short local guide. Grab dinner in town (menu del día ~£5–7), then take the evening PeruRail/Inca Rail Expedition-class service to Aguas Calientes (book ahead; ~£45–60 one way for tourists). Check into a budget hostal near the river.
🚌Hike out, shared van to Maras, colectivo to Ollantaytambo, evening train to Aguas Calientes (~£45–60)
🛏Budget hostal in Aguas Calientes, private or dorm (~£15–22)
- →Downhill hike through the Sacred Valley
- →Maras salt pans visit
- →Self-guided walk of Ollantaytambo ruins and village
- →Expedition train to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu at Sunrise, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the ~5:30am Consettur shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu (return ticket ~£20–25; buy in Aguas Calientes the day before). Your Machu Picchu entry ticket must be booked online in advance for a specific circuit and time slot (roughly £40–50 for foreigners), and a licensed guide is required to enter the citadel — hire one at the gate or book a small-group guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–40 per person). Catch the sunrise over the ruins, then explore Circuit 3B or upgrade to Circuit 1B for panoramic views. If you want Huayna Picchu, book that separate permit months ahead (~£55–60). Mid-afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo (~£45–60) and a shared van or bus on to Cusco (~£5–8).
🚌Shuttle bus up/down (~£20–25), train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£45–60), shared van to Cusco (~£5–8)
🛏Not included — hostel in Cusco from ~£10–18
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- →Guided 2-hour tour of the citadel
- →Free exploration on Circuit 3B
- →Optional Huayna Picchu hike (pre-booked permit)
Self-launched vs. Alpaca Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alpaca Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£453 | £505 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £52 per person (10%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alpaca Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£453
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Lares Trek to Machu Picchu: Self-Launched 4-Day Andean Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £453 per person for 4 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Alpaca Expeditions?+
Yes — Alpaca Expeditions charges around £505 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £453 — a saving of roughly £52 (10%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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