The Lares Trek starts at Huarán, in the Sacred Valley, and then climbs through farmland, stone houses and thatched roofs to your first camp at Cancha Cancha. On day 2 you walk past a mountain lake with views of Pitusiray, Chicón and Colque Cruz, then descend to the small village of Quiswarani. Afterwards, a private vehicle takes you to the Lares hot springs and back to Cusco, so you finish the trek with a soak. Choose a shared or private service, so we can tailor-make every detail to your travel style, needs and budget.
Andean villages and farmland
Mountain lake and snow-capped peaks
Led by a local expert team
A soak in the Lares hot springs
Route and Itinerary
Two Days, One Journey
Use the interactive map to follow the Lares route from Huarán to Quiswarani, and then check the altitude changes.
Day 1 covers 6.26 km from Huarán to Cancha Cancha, while on day 2 you walk 12.27 km to Quiswarani, reaching 4,723 m a.s.l. Afterwards, a private vehicle takes you to the Lares hot springs and back to Cusco.
Distances are measured by GPS, so they add up the two days you walk.
A short drive to Huarán, then a climb through farmland to your first camp.
At 6:00 a.m. we pick you up at your hotel, and then we drive to the trailhead at Huarán, in the Sacred Valley, where the trek begins. From there we climb for about 6 hours while the mules carry our personal gear. Along the way we pass stone houses, thatched roofs and cultivated fields, and we finally reach Cancha Cancha, where we set up camp. In the evening, while we rest, you can chat with the local farmers, who live here with their sheep and llamas.
Highlights
Drive to Huarán, then start the trail.
Stone houses, thatched roofs and farmland.
Local farmers, with their sheep and llamas.
Dinner and first camp at Cancha Cancha.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Altitude comes from the route’s GPS track, while distance is measured along the trail.
A day of lakes, waterfalls and snow-capped peaks, then a soak in the hot springs and the drive back to Cusco.
After breakfast we set off toward a mountain lake with a wide view of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray (5,750 m a.s.l.) and Chicón (5,500 m a.s.l.), as well as the Pachacutec summit (4,500 m a.s.l.). Along the Inca trail we see waterfalls, while in the distance Colque Cruz (5,700 m a.s.l.) gives us an incredible view. Then we descend to the small Andean community of Quiswarani (3,700 m a.s.l.), where our private transport is waiting after 6 to 7 hours of walking in total. Finally, we drive to the Lares hot springs to relax, and then continue to Cusco.
Highlights
Mountain lake and snow-capped peaks.
Views of Pitusiray, Chicón and Colque Cruz.
Waterfalls along the Inca trail.
Relax in the Lares hot springs, then drive to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Altitude comes from the route’s GPS track, while distance is measured along the trail.
Your price
What’s Included
On the trail
Professional English / Spanish guide.
Assistant guide for groups of more than 8 passengers.
Cook and kitchen assistant.
Muleteers and mules for the camping gear and your large backpack (maximum 6 kg per person).
Accommodation for the guides, cook and muleteers.
First aid kit, including an oxygen bottle.
Camping and meals
Comfortable three-season tents for two people, with a mattress, an inflatable sleeping pad and a sleeping bag.
Trekking poles.
Kitchen and dining tent, with tables and chairs.
All meals on the route: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner, plus tea and snacks.
Transport
Private transport from Urubamba to Huarán.
Private transport from Lares back to Cusco.
What’s not included
Tips for the staff.
Breakfast on day 1, so please eat before you leave.
Optional extras: horse riding during the trek (not available on descents) and a single tent, but please ask us for pricing.
Important Notes
Shared or private service, so it is tailored to your dates and group size.
Bring your original passport.
Also, bring cash in soles and/or US$ for tips.
Times are approximate.
FAQ
Difficulty and altitude
The 2-day Lares Trek is rated Moderate, but you walk on both days, about 18.53 km in total, and the highest point is 4,723 m a.s.l. on day 2. Day 1 is a climb of about 6 hours to Cancha Cancha, while day 2 takes 6 to 7 hours to reach Quiswarani, so expect two full days on the trail.
Good physical condition is recommended, but mules carry your gear and your large backpack (maximum 6 kg per person), so you carry only a small daypack. Your team also travels with a first aid kit that includes an oxygen bottle.
We recommend at least one full day in Cusco (3,399 m a.s.l.) or the Sacred Valley before you start, and more time if your schedule allows. As a result, your body has time to adjust before the trek. Take it easy on that first day and drink plenty of water, since the trek starts at 3,333 m a.s.l. and climbs to 4,723 m a.s.l. on day 2. However, if you have a health condition, check with your doctor before you travel.
Packing and booking
Bring your original passport, comfortable waterproof trekking shoes, warm clothes, a rain jacket or poncho and gloves. Also bring a hat for the cold and one for the sun, sunscreen, insect repellent (minimum 20%), a flashlight or headlamp, two 600 ml water bottles, snacks, a swimsuit for the Lares hot springs, and any personal medication. The sleeping bag and trekking poles are included, so you do not need to pack them. Also, bring cash in soles and/or US$ for tips.
Book as early as possible, so we can confirm availability for your dates.
You can choose a shared or a private service, while we tailor-make every detail to your travel style and needs. The price depends on your group size and the services you choose, so request a quote.
Write to us on WhatsApp with your preferred dates and group size, and then we will confirm availability, explain how to secure your booking and reply as soon as we can.
Before and after the trek
Before the trek, your guide meets you for a briefing. On day 1 we pick you up at your hotel at 6:00 a.m., and then we drive to Huarán, in the Sacred Valley.
Carry your original passport. Also, breakfast on day 1 is not included (your lunch and dinner are), so have breakfast before departure.
On day 2, after your walk to Quiswarani, we drive you to the Lares hot springs and then back to Cusco. Also bring a swimsuit and a towel for the hot springs.
Vegetarian meals are available, while vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free meals are available with advance notice. Times are approximate.
Pack light
What to bring
The bag you carry yourself while walking.
Sun and rain
Sun hat and warm hat
Sunscreen
Waterproof poncho
Warm jacket, scarf and gloves
Insect repellent (minimum 20%)
Daypack essentials
Water (two 600 ml bottles)
Snacks
Toilet paper and wet wipes
Headlamp or flashlight, with spare batteries
Documents and health
Documents (original passport)
Personal medication
Camera and power
Camera / phone
Power bank
Your sleeping bag and trekking poles are included, so you only need to bring the rest. Also bring several pairs of socks, sandals for resting, a small towel, binoculars if you like, and a swimsuit for the Lares hot springs. Then pack your clothes and sleeping bag in plastic bags to keep them dry. Finally, bring cash in soles and/or US$ for tips.
On the trail
Food and dietary needs
Vegetarian options are available on this trek. Moreover, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free meals are available on request with advance notice. Please tell us about any food allergies when you book, so we can confirm what we can arrange for you.
Traveling responsibly
We buy local products whenever we can, to support the local economy. In addition, on the trail we take care to recycle, reuse and avoid single-use plastic.
Our muleteers and mules
On this trek our muleteers carry the camping equipment and your large backpack with pack mules. They work under the same conditions as our porters on other treks, except for the 20 kg weight limit that applies to porters:
Food: meals provided throughout the trek.
Equipment: uniform provided.
Animal care: load protectors on every mule.
Shelter: accommodation for all our staff.
That is why your large backpack is limited to 6 kg (13 lb).
Tripadvisor · 2026 Reviews
What Our Travelers Say
Recent Tripadvisor reviews of Santu trips in Peru, posted in 2026.
This is Santu’s overall rating, so it is not specific to the Lares Trek.
“The experience was incredible; we were 3 families and we loved it. The level of food, the tents, the guides. A ten.”
Edgardo C · Toledo, Spain Written 4 August 2026 · Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor
“… Giuliana exceeded our expectations. She did an amazing job listening to our wants/needs, make recommendations and take care of all the steps along the way. We felt fully informed.”
“Giuliana who is an amazing travel agent who planned everything for Us and give us lots of great ideas and she came with an amazing package that it took care of all our needs …”
To provide the best experience, we use technologies such as cookies to store and/or access device information. By consenting, we may process data such as browsing behavior or unique identifiers on this site. Refusing or withdrawing consent may negatively affect certain features and functionality.
Functional
Always active
Technical storage or access is strictly necessary to provide a specific service explicitly requested by the user, or solely to enable communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferencias
El almacenamiento o acceso técnico es necesario para la finalidad legítima de almacenar preferencias no solicitadas por el abonado o usuario.
Statistics
El almacenamiento o acceso técnico que es utilizado exclusivamente con fines estadísticos.Technical storage or access is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The information collected cannot normally be used to identify you.
Marketing
Technical storage or access is used to create user profiles, deliver relevant advertising, or track users across websites for similar marketing purposes.
