Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 48 hours before the start of your trek, 3 nights would be better. This will give your body time to acclimatize to the high-altitude conditions. There's no sure-fire way to tell how each person reacts to the change in altitude, give yourself as much time as possible in order to begin your trek comfortably.

This is a moderately difficult trail that traverses rough mountain terrain. You will need to be able to hike 10km/ 6 miles per day carrying a small backpack with essentials for the day plus your sleeping mat and pillow. You need to be in relatively good physical condition, plus take time to properly acclimatize beforehand. During the last two months leading up to your trek, we suggest a regular exercise routine to improve endurance and stamina. Getting fit will ensure that you have the best experience possible!

Solo travellers are most welcome. There does, however, need to be at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are travelling solo, please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups. If you are traveling alone, you will need to pay for a single supplement (USD $60.00). This gets you a private tent during the tour. This is payable in cash USD once you arrive in Cusco.

The following is a list of basic items you will need for this trek; - Original Passport - Walking shoes - Waterproof jacket/rain poncho - Warm jacket - Hat and gloves - T-shirts - Comfortable Trousers - Sun hat - Sun cream (factor 35 or higher) - Insect repellant - Toiletries and hand sanitizer - Personal medication - Camera and film - Torch with spare batteries or Headlamps

Please see the section above for trip inclusions and exclusions.

The best time for experiencing good weather on the trail is between the months of April – October when there is minimal rainfall and clear skies. The driest months are June – August, which is winter in the Andes. Nights and early mornings are chilly during this time. November can still be good to hike but, as the season progresses, there is a good chance of getting wet. Rainy season peaks over the Peruvian summer (December- March).

Please consult with your physician or local travel clinic regarding your visit to South America. If you are visiting the Amazon, a yellow fever vaccination is recommended. Illnesses are more common in the Amazon than in the Andes mountains, where this trek takes place. Entrance requirements for Peru in regard to COVID-19 vaccinations and tests change regularly. You should check up-to-date restrictions before traveling.

It’s highly recommended that you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover can protect you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. Note that standard insurance often doesn't cover adventure activities. We recommend using specialist adventure travel insurers, like [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/), for your trip. Specialist insurers can cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover. It's your responsibility to carefully check the details of your policy to ensure that you're covered for the specific activities you'll be carrying out.

We strongly recommend using trekking poles on our Andean trails. Especially for those with any known knee problems. The poles will assist your balance and reduce the impact on your knees. Inkayni Peru Tours has hiking sticks available to rent for US$15. Send us a message after booking to let us know if you would like a pair, you will pay for these in cash upon arrival in Cusco.

On this trek, Mules/ horses will carry cooking and camping equipment as well as 15 lbs/ 7kg of your items. You will need to carry a daypack with items including water, snacks, and additional layers of clothing. You will also need to carry your own sleeping mat and pillow. We recommend bringing only the essentials in order to keep your backpack light!

We take a maximum of 10 people per group.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to begin the Lares trek. After the trek, we will drop you back at your hotel.

Of course, without any additional costs! When you make your reservation, please inform us of any dietary requirements, including allergies. We provide vegetarian options and can cater to lactose-intolerant or gluten-intolerant diets. Most of our main meals are buffet-style, so you can pick and choose. If you have preferences( for example, strongly dislike onions, tomatoes, or mushrooms) we will ask our chef to leave out or separate these items. Please note, we cannot accept individuals with life-threatening allergic reactions.

Any baggage that is not necessary for your trek may be stored in your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge). In the case that your hotel does not provide this service, we will store your baggage safely in our office free of charge.

Machu Picchu entrance tickets can sell out, especially in season. So, it is advisable to book your trip in advance. We can only confirm your trip once we have secured your Machu Picchu entrance ticket. If we are unable to get a ticket for your date, we will recommend an alternative date or refund your booking in full. Please immediately follow your booking by providing your passport information to your host on your Skyhook dashboard. Note that if we have confirmed the purchase of your ticket and you need to change dates/ cancel your trip, the ticket price is non-refundable (as cash or Skyhook credit). If a date change is possible, you will need to pay the extra cost of a new ticket.

Yes! If you would like to add extra days to your stay in Cusco and visit Rainbow Mountain, please 'Message Your Guide' from your Skyhook Dashboard after making the booking. Any activities (including Rainbow Mountain) that are not included in the itinerary of this trip will need to be arranged directly with the local operator and paid for in the country

Hiking up the neighbouring mountains to the Machu Picchu site ( Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain) is an extremely popular add-on to this tour. These mountains have an additional cost of US$85 per person and need to be booked in advance. If you would like to add one of these mountains to your Machu Picchu visit, please let us know once you have confirmed your booking (use the button on your tour dashboard; MESSAGE THE GUIDE). This extra activity is subject to availability. You will need to pay this balance at our offices once you arrive in Cusco. You will have time to climb the mountain after the main tour of Machu Picchu. Your guide will unfortunately not join you for this activity.

For this trip, we do need at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are travelling solo, you're welcome to book, but please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups. Once we have two or more bookings, the only events that may jeopardise your travel dates are natural disasters or other circumstances that may put your safety at risk.

We happily receive clients with food allergies (nuts, wheat, dairy, etc.) Please inform us in detail of your condition upon making your reservation. If in doubt, ask us. We kindly ask that you declare the severity of your reaction and any medication that you take in case of an emergency. If your allergy is severe, you need to be accompanied by someone who will take responsibility for your situation and carries the necessary medication. WE CAN NOT ACCEPT CLIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES