Lares Trek Tours & Trips

Rene our tour guide was patient, informative, and tireless. The chefs were great, and the porters handled things flawlessly.

This trip is a superb all-around tour. Nature in the beginning and culture in the end. The Lares Trek is often run as a private tour and is perfect for people who enjoy a pinch of adventure and have an inclination toward community service. If you want go someplace few people ever reach and see virtually no other tourists along the way, this is the tour for you. It might be fair to say that this hike probably should not be done during the rainy season, as the tents that are available (Eureka Timberline) can’t withstand the winds and prolonged heavy rains that can occur overnight. Though our guide team did its best to re-secure the tents in the middle of the night, water still found its way in and soaked portions of our sleeping mats and bags. The next day (and night) was cloudy and rainy, as well. Accordingly, there really was not any time to dry things out, resulting in another chilly, damp evening. That said, we have an authentic story about roughing it in the Andes. Absolutely worth it! Aside from the continuous scroll of jaw-dropping vistas and the excellent food provided by Chef Julio and Sous Chef Victor (absolute magicians), we got to travel through remote villages and see a way of life that is fast disappearing. Our guide, Mr. Gilber was warm, personable, and knowledgable. The fact that he grew up in the Lares region and still maintains close personal relationships with many residents gave us a real insider’s view. Before setting out, he advised us that the people of Lares have very little and that they very much depend upon selling handicrafts to sustain their way of life. He also recommended, that we purchase some Christmas treats for the children before leaving Cusco. These sweets, together with the buying of handicrafts at several stops along the way, served as a sort of “price of admission”, ensuring that we would be welcomed into people’s villages (and in some cases, even homes where we saw how people raise guinea pigs). The second half of the trip involved some comparatively light hiking around Machu Picchu. Ms. Monica, Mr. Fernando, and Mr. Miguel kept our larger group (18?) on-time and well-informed. Ms. Monica was particularly knowledgable about Incan history, customs, and legends, while Mr. Fernando and Mr. Miguel were on hand to help us with any small issues we encountered. In the end, we learned a lot and have some wonderful stories to tell! In terms of helpful hints, bear in mind that Machu Picchu tickets cost extra on top of the tour price. Also, there are three circuits for experiencing the site. Circuit 1 seems to be mostly outside the main site but includes access to the challenging Machu Picchu Mountain trail. Circuit 2 seems to provide the most complete access to the structures of Machu Picchu. Circuit 3 allows access to the lower sections of the site, together with the vertiginous but gorgeous Huayna Picchu trail. We did Circuits 2 and 3 on the same morning, at 6:00 and 9:00 respectively. While this schedule may cut short some of the guide’s explanations inside Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu offers a bit of a physical challenge that rewards one with an incredible view from a very unique perspective. Although some may try to scare you off from doing Huayna Picchu, don’t be dissuaded. A determined person of normal fitness will have no trouble completing the trail within the allotted time.

Saul Palma was a very good and knowledgeable tour guide! He was very Accommodating!