When people imagine trekking to Machu Picchu, they usually picture the classic Inca Trail. It is famous for good reason, but it is also permit-limited and busy in high season. Travelers looking for something different are increasingly drawn to a combination: a few days in the Lares valleys, known for Quechua farming and weaving communities, followed by the final section of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate.
The result is a trek that balances living Andean culture with Inca history. Here is how it works and who it suits.
Two Trails, One Arrival
The Lares area lies north of Cusco, beyond the Sacred Valley. Unlike the Inca Trail, it does not require a trekking permit, and it sees far fewer hikers. The paths link small highland communities where families farm, herd llamas and alpacas, and keep weaving traditions alive.
A combined itinerary spends the first days in Lares, then transfers to the railway at Km 104 to walk the short Inca Trail past Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate. Because that final stretch is part of the regulated Inca Trail, hikers still need a two-day Inca Trail permit and a Machu Picchu entrance ticket, booked through a licensed operator.
What a Typical Four Days Look Like
Itineraries vary by company, but a common pattern runs as follows.
Day one: hot springs and a first homestay
After a drive from Cusco, many trips stop at the Lares hot springs before an easy walk of around 8 kilometers through farmland to a village for the night. Staying with a local family, rather than in a tent, is one of the distinguishing features of the route.
Day two: the high pass
The hardest day climbs through high grasslands and past glacial lakes to Ipsaycocha Pass, at roughly 4,450 meters. That is higher than Dead Woman’s Pass on the classic Inca Trail, so acclimatization matters. The trail then descends to Patakancha, a traditional weaving community, for a second homestay.
Day three: the Inca Trail section
The group transfers to Ollantaytambo and takes the train to Km 104. From there, the walk climbs past Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate before descending to Aguas Calientes for a night in a hotel.
Day four: Machu Picchu
An early bus takes hikers up for a guided tour of the citadel, followed by the train and transfer back to Cusco.
Why Choose This Combination?
Culture you can take part in
On the Lares section, the people you meet are not performers but residents. Visitors may see weaving, farming and herding as part of daily life, and staying in family homes offers a very different perspective on the Andes than a campsite does.
Fewer crowds
The Lares paths are quiet compared with the classic Inca Trail. For travelers who value solitude and open landscapes, that is a strong draw.
Beds instead of tents
Many combined itineraries use homestays and a hotel rather than camping, which appeals to travelers who sleep poorly in tents at altitude.
The Sun Gate is still included
Unlike a Lares trek that ends with a train ride, the combination finishes on foot through Inti Punku, so travelers still arrive at Machu Picchu the traditional way.
How Hard Is It?
Operators generally rate the combined route as moderate to challenging. The second day is the toughest, with a long climb, thin air and seven to nine hours on the trail. On the other hand, the Lares paths are mostly soft earth that is easier on knees than stone steps, and the first day is a gentle warm-up.
The Inca Trail section adds a steady climb of about three hours on stone steps to Wiñay Wayna. Hikers who are comfortable walking several hours on hilly ground and who spend two to three days acclimatizing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley beforehand are usually well prepared.
Planning Notes
- Permits: The Lares section needs no permit, but the Inca Trail section does. Permits are passport-linked, non-refundable and non-transferable, and they can sell out months ahead for May to October.
- Season: The Inca Trail closes every February. April and October often bring green scenery with fewer hikers, while May to September is drier but colder at night.
- Gear transport: On many Lares itineraries, horses or llamas carry a personal duffel, so hikers walk with a daypack.
- Homestay etiquette: Ask before photographing people, accept food graciously and follow your guide’s advice on small gifts.
Choosing a Company
Look for an operator that knows the communities well and can explain how visits benefit host families. Ask about group size, what is included, how the gear is carried and what safety equipment travels with the group.
Wayki Trek, a Cusco operator formed in 1998 by guides from rural Andean communities, runs a Lares and Inca Trail combination with homestays in Wakawasi and Patakancha. Its page on this four-day itinerary that pairs both trails sets out each day’s distance, altitude, lodging and inclusions, which is a useful benchmark when comparing companies.
Is It Right for You?
Choose the Lares and short Inca Trail combination if you want real contact with Andean communities, quieter trails, a bed at night and still the walk through the Sun Gate. If your heart is set on Dead Woman’s Pass and three nights of camping on the historic trail, the classic four-day route is the better match.
Either way, the journey to Machu Picchu becomes more than a trip to a famous site. On this route, it becomes a few days spent with the people whose ancestors built it.