Lares Trek & One-Day Inca Trail: Self-Launched Peru Adventure
8 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£1,105 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day Cusco-to-Cusco Andes adventure covering the Sacred Valley, a self-arranged 3-day Lares Trek through Quechua villages and over the 4,800m Sicllaccasa pass, a guided one-day Inca Trail from Km 104 via Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, and a sunrise visit to Machu Picchu. Instead of a G Adventures small-group departure you book each piece directly — licensed trek operators in Cusco, individual Inca Trail permits via the official MINCUL portal, PeruRail/Inca Rail trains, colectivos and local guides in Aguas Calientes. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco — acclimatise
Cusco
Fly into Cusco (CUZ) from Lima (~£60-90 one way on LATAM/Sky, book direct; note Lima-US/UK flights usually don't include domestic tax — foreign passport holders are exempt, keep your international ticket number). Take an official taxi or the airport colectivo mini-bus into the centre (~£3-5). Check into a hostel in San Blas or the historic centre for two nights and do almost nothing: coca tea, short flat walks, early night. Altitude is 3,400m and the Lares trek starts day 3, so today is genuinely about rest. Optional: Inka Museum entry 10 PEN (~£2).
🚌Taxi/colectivo from Cusco airport ~£4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cusco centre, private twin/double ensuite (e.g. San Blas district) — £22-30/night for a double, ~£13 pp
- →Rest and acclimatise
- →Coca tea and San Blas wander
- →Optional: Museo Inka (10 PEN)
Sacred Valley: weaving co-op, pottery, Ollantaytambo
Cusco → Ccaccaccollo → Huchuy Qosqo → Ollantaytambo
Self-launch the Sacred Valley day: buy a Boleto Turístico parcial (70 PEN / ~£15) covering Pisac, Ollantaytambo and other sites. Easiest low-stress option is a shared small-group Sacred Valley day tour booked on GetYourGuide or Viator (~£20-30, includes stops at Chinchero/Pisac and Ollantaytambo, usually with a weaving demonstration). To match the original more closely, take a colectivo or cheap taxi from Cusco to Ccaccaccollo village (~£4-6) where local women's weaving associations sell textiles direct, then on to Lamay for the community-run Parwa restaurant lunch (book a table the day before or just turn up — menu del día ~£4). Continue by colectivo to Urubamba (~£1.50) then Ollantaytambo (~£1.50). In the afternoon walk up to the Pinkuylluna storehouses for the view over the ruins, then a local chicheria for corn beer. Overnight in Ollantaytambo at a guesthouse. Meanwhile, buy/confirm your Lares trek with a licensed Cusco agency today for tomorrow's start (see day 3 notes) or in advance.
🚌Colectivos/combis Cusco–Ccaccaccollo–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo, or shared tour coach ~£25 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo, double/twin ensuite — £22-28/night, ~£12 pp
- →Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op (buy direct)
- →Parwa Community Restaurant lunch, Lamay
- →Boleto Turístico parcial — Ollantaytambo ruins
- →Optional: Pinkuylluna storehouse hike (free)
- →Chicheria visit
Lares Trek day 1: Lares town to Cuncani
Ollantaytambo → Lares → Cuncani
Self-launching the Lares Trek means booking a licensed local operator (collect and share the agency's permit, guide and mule contracts). Standard 3-day Lares packages with guide, cook, mules, meals and camping run ~£250-350 pp for a small group, booked directly with Cusco agencies or via GetYourGuide. A shared minivan/van picks you up in Ollantaytambo early (~3 hrs) and drives to Lares town (~3,100m) for a leisurely start. Hike ~4km to Chancachaca (~3,480m) for lunch, then on to the community campsite near Cuncani. Sleep high and hydrate; bring a sleeping bag or rent one locally (~45 soles). Unlike a big-group departure you may be joining a small local trek (4-8 people).
🚌Shared van Ollantaytambo–Lares (included in trek package)
🛏Tent camping at community campsite, Cuncani (included in trek package)
- →Leisurely valley hike ~4km (3,480m)
- →Quechua village walks, meet local families
- →Night at community campsite
Lares Trek day 2: Sicllaccasa pass (4,800m)
Cuncani → Sicllaccasa → Kuyoc
Big day: climb from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain 12.2km over the ~4,800m high pass, with views of Andean lagoons and snow-capped Chicon Mountain. Make the coca-leaf offering at the top (your guide will show you the ritual), then descend to camp by a stream. Take it slowly — altitude, not distance, is the challenge. Waterproof layers and warm gloves are non-negotiable; nights at this altitude are near freezing.
🚌On foot
🛏Tent camping near Kuyoc stream (included)
- →Sicllaccasa high pass 4,800m
- →Coca-leaf offering to the Apus
- →Lagoon and Chicon Mountain views
Lares Trek day 3 → Ollantaytambo
Kuyoc → Lares/Ollantaytambo
Finish the last few hours of descent with the mule team and cook team, say goodbye (budget tips: roughly 35 USD for the crew, 10-25 USD for the head guide as a collective pool, ~£30-50 total across hikers — with a small self-booked group that's often just you and a few others, so check the arrangement). Van back to Ollantaytambo for a hot shower and proper bed. Tonight, confirm your day-6 Km 104 Inca Trail permit and 1-day guide, your PeruRail/Inca Rail Ollantaytambo–Km 104 ticket and onward Aguas Calientes return ticket. Collect your passport-stamped permit, and pack for a wet-weather day.
🚌Shared van Kuyoc–Ollantaytambo (included)
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo — £22-28/night, ~£12 pp
- →Final descent hike
- →Trek crew farewell
- →Confirm Inca Trail permit and train tickets
One-day Inca Trail: Km 104 → Sun Gate → Aguas Calientes
Ollantaytambo → Km 104 → Aguas Calientes
The one-day Inca Trail is a separately permitted entry (a segment of the 2-day permit / 'Camino Inka 1 día' run) and requires a licensed guide — book this well ahead through a registered Cusco agency or GetYourGuide (~£250-350 pp including permit, guide and lunch; permits sell out in peak months). Take the early PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo (or the 6am that stops at Km 104; ~30-40 min, ~£20-30 depending on cabin), disembark at Km 104 and hike steeply up past Wiñay Wayna and Inti Pata, reaching the Sun Gate in the late afternoon over Machu Picchu itself. Packed lunch en route. Descend to Aguas Calientes for a hostel night and an early alarm.
🚌PeruRail/Inca Rail Ollantaytambo–Km 104 and Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£25-45 total
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Aguas Calientes, double/twin — £30-40/night, ~£18 pp
- →Km 104 trailhead entry
- →Wiñay Wayna and Inti Pata ruins
- →Sun Gate arrival over Machu Picchu
Sunrise Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco
Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu → Cusco
Buy your Machu Picchu entry + circuit ticket in advance on the official MINCUL/ machupicchu.gob.pe site (~152 PEN / ~£32 for the classic circuit; Huayna Picchu or Montaña add-ons sell out fast). Catch the earliest Consettur shuttle bus up (30 min, ~12 USD one way, ~£10) to be at the gate around sunrise, and hire a licensed guide at the gate or book a small-group guided tour through GetYourGuide (~£25-35 for a 2-hour tour). After the ruins, bus down, and take the afternoon PeruRail/Inca Rail train back to Ollantaytambo (~£35-55) plus connecting bus to Cusco (~£4). Check into Cusco accommodation for one night; celebrate with a proper dinner.
🚌Consettur bus Machu Picchu–Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo, coach to Cusco ~£55
🛏Hostel/guesthouse Cusco centre — £22-30/night double, ~£13 pp
- →Sunrise Machu Picchu with licensed guide
- →Optional: Huayna Picchu/Montaña Machu Picchu (extra ticket)
- →Cusco evening
Depart Cusco
Cusco
Fly or bus out of Cusco. Airport taxi ~£4. If you have a spare half-day, a DIY Cusco city walk (Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha exterior, San Pedro market) costs nothing — Boleto Turístico or individual entries about 45 PEN (~£10) if you want the guided circuit.
🚌Taxi to Cusco airport ~£4
🛏—
- →Optional: San Pedro market and Cusco city walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,105 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £645 per person (37%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,105
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Lares Trek & One-Day Inca Trail: Self-Launched Peru Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,105 per person for 8 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,105 — a saving of roughly £645 (37%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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