Trek The Lares Trail: Peru

Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 12 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we leave minimal ecological impact, cause less disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings. Small numbers also allow greater flexibility and spontaneity: a dinner in a local home, an impromptu village wedding invite and any such experiences that can become among the most memorable experiences of your BikeHike adventure. 

Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. This trip attracts one of our most diverse groups. A typical trip is comprised of men and women in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge. The age range on this trip is typically from 30-60, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well. 

The fitter you are, the more easily you will adjust and enjoy yourself. The question most commonly asked by our travellers is “how fit do I have to be?” This will vary according to your age and normal level of daily activity.

We understand that people come in many fitness levels, so we've graded our trips accordingly. There are four difficulty levels on our trips: Easy, Moderate, Challenging, and Strenuous.

This is a “challenging” trip. You should be able to sustain full days of activity, 6-9 hours, with breaks.

The main challenge of the trip is the physical demands of consecutive days of hiking during the trek along with the demands of altitude. Although the hikes themselves are not particularly strenuous, their length and challenging terrain will be more taxing than expected. Days are full, average 6-9 hours per day. The winds can be extremely strong and the temperatures change from one moment to the next. For the most part, you are only expected to carry your daypack on the trail while hiking. Your daypack should be large enough to include your lunch, water, camera, sunscreen and any layer clothing you may need to adapt to the changing weather on the trail.

You should have a good level of fitness and the stamina to cope with consecutive hiking days. We strongly recommend that you begin a regular fitness program that includes walking or hiking - that is if you are not already doing so. Working out four times a week (including some hiking whenever possible), 60 minutes per session should be a minimum to prepare you for this adventure. In addition, try to get in some longer distance hikes beforehand to prepare for your adventure.

BikeHike Adventures has been operating since 1994.

The logistics of organizing tours to remote corners of the world can be very complex. Our trip development department spends long hours researching destinations, routes, ground operations and equipment. All itineraries are screened without clients before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. Nothing is untested.

Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. This trip attracts one of our most diverse groups. A typical trip is comprised of men and women in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge. The age range on this trip is typically from 30-60, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well.

Cuzco, Peru. You can arrive anytime on day 1 of the trip and depart anytime on day 8.

The best time of year is from April to November, where the weather is generally clear, dry, and cool. During the transitional months of April/May and October/November, one can experience variable weather patterns with a general build up of afternoon clouds and possible showers that rarely last throughout the night. Andean nights are cold, ranging from 25 to 40°F (-4 to 5°C) depending on the elevation, while the days are pleasantly warm with temperatures between 60 to 80°F (15 to 26°C).  

Yes, Cuzco is located at 11,200 feet, so your body needs time to acclimate. Take your time settling in at the new altitude. Don’t rush things. Drink lots of water. Don’t physically exert yourselves for the first couple days. Avoid alcohol. Don’t eat heavy meals. It’s really important to spend a couple days at altitude before even thinking about starting a trip. So, many travellers arrive into Cuzco at least two or three days before starting any treks. It’s definitely NOT recommended to fly up to that altitude and then start a trip right away.

Absolutely! This trip is quite popular with singles. Unlike many adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplement fees to solo travellers. Instead, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip. Learn more about solo travel with BikeHike. 

We will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests (e.g. vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), but ask that you please discuss your request with us when signing up for a trip.

This trip is generally not a family focused trip for young families but could be suitable for families with strong teenagers. However, we do offer many Family Focused trips, some of which are able to accommodate children as young as six.

There are many Inca Trails in Peru. Most people know about “The Inca Trail,” the one that ends at the Sun Gate. However, there are many Inca Trails…that is, routes that the ancient Incas used. The Salkantay Trail and Lares Trail are other trails that end in Machu Picchu, just at a different spots than the famous Inca Trail. The Inca Trail has an average of 500 trekkers on the trail per day. The Salkantay Trail has about 100-150 trekkers per day. The Lares Trail has about 150-180 trekkers per day along the most popular sections. However, different companies trek along different portions of the Lares Trail. BikeHike Adventures treks along the more remote section of the Lares Trail, starting where many other tours end. The Lares Trail is really special as trekkers are surrounded by pristine wilderness and pass small villages where there are great opportunities for cultural interaction.

The hiking is a total distance of a marathon, 26 miles / 42 km. That breaks down to about 7 miles / 19 km per day, but that is at altitudes between 12,000-14,000 feet. Expect to be walking a good 6-7 hours per day, in cool to cold temperatures. The ground is mountainous, as it is the Andes. We'll be walking on a trail for most of the 4-days, but there will be sections that might be scrambling over rocks, and up, up, up, or down, down, down. Nothing is technical climbing, the most challenging part is the altitude. There is no support vehicle on the Lares Trek as you will be up high on a mountain trek, but llamas carry our gear. You only need to hike with a daypack with the essentials for the day. You are right on the equator in Peru so it will be warm during the day. But, as soon as the sun goes down, it is cold. And the sun goes down quickly. Expect to be wearing a good jacket, hat and gloves.

Packing for this trip must be very organized. We have prepared a specific packing list with instructions that you can download by clicking the link to the right on this page.

Thermarests (inflatable mattresses) are provided, but you must bring your own sleeping bag. If you don’t have one, they are available to rent. 

This is an incredible experience as you'll be tenting in Peru along the ancient Inca routes! There are four consecutive days of trekking, with three nights of camping with altitudes ranging between 10,000 – 13,500 ft / 3,050 – 4,100 m. Expect nighttime temperatures to be chilly (-5°C to +3°C / 20°F to 25°F). Tents and sleeping mats are supplied, and down filled sleeping bags are available for rent.

Camping on this trip does not involve pitching your own tent. Porters and cooks, with llamas, will carry the gear and have our campsites ready upon arrival. Our skilled cooking staff will freshly prepare all meals, and the tents will be pitched at predetermined campsites. Our bathing facilities are the occasional river we pass and warm bowls of water in the mornings.

Each morning, you will be brought a washing basin filled with warm water to wash your face and brush your teeth; bathing facilities are not available along this trek. There are no established washrooms along the Lares Trek. The guides set up a toilet tent for some privacy.

There is no cell coverage on the trail except in Lares Village. For any emergencies, we carry a satellite phone.

We personally recommend the Lares Trail. It sees nowhere near the traffic the Inca Trail does. The Inca Trail only allows 500 people a day (including guides, porters, etc.) in order to protect the integrity of the trail. This makes for a busy walk during the day and crowded campsites at night. It is still a great walking trail and you pass Inca ruins along the way and finish the hike at the sunset gate overlooking Machu Picchu, but it's just not a peaceful experience. It depends on what you prefer. The Lares Trail is a good alternative and more remote. Depending when you do the trek, chances are you won’t see many other tourists on the trail. You also pass more villages to see how locals live and get a feel of the culture. The scenery is dramatic with mountains and lakes and pack llamas carry your gear.