Lares Trek & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 4 Days

The Lares Trek & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days is considered to be a moderate to challenging trek. Depending on the day the hiking distance may vary but generally speaking, is the second day the hardest as you will climb an elevation of 4400 m or 14435 ft. This can be challenging especially due to the altitude.

In any case, it is advisable to acclimatize to the altitudes the days before the hike. We recommend acclimatizing for two or more days in the city of Cusco. For this purpose, we can offer you various city tours in Cusco out of which we especially recommend the easier ones such as the Cusco City Tour, Maras and Moray Tour, and the Sacred Valley Tour.

Furthermore, we recommend eating healthy, avoiding fatty foods, and drinking a lot of water or Coca-tea. Please avoid drinking alcohol or smoking, especially on the days before the hike.

Nonetheless, altitude sickness can happen even to the fittest, thus here are the most common symptoms so that you can recognize it: headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortened breath, and difficulty with coordination. As long as the symptoms are relatively mild, we recommend using Coca leaves as a way to treat the symptoms. You can chew them or drink them as tea.

In any case, acclimatize your body and take it easy!

The elevation map of the Lares Trek & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 4 days.

The maximum altitude of this trek is 4400 m / 14435.7 ft above sea level.

The lowest altitude is 2050 m / 6725.7 ft above sea level.

Lares is at 3150 m / 10334.7 ft above sea level.

In Cusco we have two seasons:

The best time to do the Lares Trek of 4 days is during the dry season, from April to October as there is a lower chance of rain and generally more sunlight.

Dry Season

In April the season is still changing from rainy season to dry season which means the rain progressively reduces and the days are getting warmer and sunnier.

The months from May to September are undoubtedly the best time to hike the Lares Trek, as the days are sunny with clear skies. Even though the nights are much colder, you will have a higher chance of taking amazing photos of the landscapes during the day.

In October the dry season is slowly changing to the rainy season which can increase the risk of rainy days progressively.

Rainy Season

From November to March there is a higher chance of rain and the rain can be very strong.

In November and December, the rainy season is starting, which means that the rain progressively gets stronger. Yet, there are sunny and bright days, but it can rain at any time and cloudy days get more common.

The rainy season is the strongest from January to March which means that the rain is rather persistent and days are often cloudy, but with some luck, you can still find some sunny days.

However, during its peak month in February, there can be extreme rainfalls triggering landslides and avalanches, causing roads to be blocked and trekking can become very dangerous, which is why the Inca Trail is closed during February and thus the part of the Short Inca Trail is not available.

The total distance on the Lares Trek is 37 km / 23 miles.

During the Inca Trail, you will see 7 archeological ruins, which can only be accessed by foot. What makes the Lares trek unique is that it passes through several traditional mountain villages.

The Inca Trail is the only trek that ends at the ruins of Machu Picchu. The Lares Trek requires participants to travel to Aguas Calientes for the final night followed by a visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

The classic Inca trail is by far the most popular and crowded of all the trekking routes in the area. You should not expect solitude on the Inca Trail.

On Lares Trek you most likely won’t meet many other groups on the trail. The experience is a bit more private, the campsites are more remote.

The classic Inca Trail is also highly regulated, numbers are strictly controlled and documents must be shown at various checkpoints. Remember to book well in advance, as places are limited and tickets sell out months in advance.

Considering the difficulty between the Lares Trek vs Inca Trail, the Lares trek is slightly less difficult than the Inca Trail, but still not an easy trek.

Which one to choose?

The classic Inca Trail is also highly regulated, this can detract from the overall authenticity of the experience. If you are expecting a true taste of the wild Andes, the Inca Trail might not be the best choice.

If you wish to complete a trek in the Sacred Valley, and it is not important to you to reach Machu Picchu on foot, then the Lares trek offers a more rewarding and authentic trekking experience. The Lares trek is suitable for those with limited time, as it is shorter than some other alternative treks to the Inca Trail.