Randonnée dans la vallée de Lares avec source chaude 4 - Jour, 3 - Nuit

One of the most rewarding experiences to be had in Peru. What interested us about the Lares Trek was how immersive the route was: a practically uncrowded trail, access to diverse landscapes, and a glimpse into the lifestyle of rural Andes villages. The route itself was perfectly challenging, but even if things got tough, we were given ample time to rest and recover. Our guide, Valentin, was extremely well-informed, funny, and well-spoken; it’s impossible to think of doing this trip without him. As for camping, we rented gear (tents, mats, and sleeping bags)—it was perfectly fine and comfortable. The food, cooked by the wonderful Octavio, was exactly what we needed to fuel up and continue our journey. Once the hard part was over, we were rewarded with a stunning tour of Machu Picchu—where nothing felt rushed. Truly a unique experience and was only made possible with Alpaca Expeditions. Would do it again 1000/10 times.

I had a wonderful experience on the Lares Trek private tour. I felt everyone on our Alpaca team went above and beyond to make sure our experience went smoothly. The views were gorgeous, and I loved how peaceful it was since there were barely any hikers on the route despite it being peak tourist season. I can’t recommend Valentin as a guide enough—he was excellent at explaining the culture and environment (since he’s local) and had great energy each day as well. Octavio, our chef, made delicious meals on our campsite as well.

The lares trek was a great way to see what highland/Andean life is like for the Quechua people. Our guide Fernando took great care of our group and I felt completely safe throughout the entire trek, (especially as a solo female traveler) I had 100% confidence in him and our porters, horsemen, chef. Their communication was clear and when members of the group were sick, they handled these situations professionally and with safety their priority. They made sure We were comfortable and our chef Cristobal made multiple delicious meals and a cake for the birthday of one of those in our group. The employees are Quechua and take pride in their culture, and ultimately I am so glad I picked alpaca expeditions for this trek. The views along the trek itself were breathtaking. 100% would recommend this company and lares trek if someone is looking to get in touch with Quechua culture and complete a unique trek in Sacred Valley

It was an amazing experience. Our guide, Fernando was extremely knowledgeable. The food prepped by Juliana was outstanding. Would definitely use Alpaca Expeditions again. The local people are warm and inviting. It was great to see their way of life. The Andes are stunning and Machu Pichu did not disappoint. Also, our hiking group was solid all the way around.

Raul Valandra is an exceptional guide. We completed the Lares Trek with him, and his deep knowledge of Peru, combined with the generosity with which he shared his Inca heritage and local traditions, made the experience unforgettable. Raul made sure we crossed every mountain pass safely, always with a fabulous sense of humour that kept the group smiling, even on the toughest climbs. Machu Picchu is extraordinary, but the trek leading up to it was the true highlight. The landscapes, villages and cultural insights turned the journey into much more than a hike. If you’re considering the Lares Trek, we highly recommend requesting Raul as your guide.

This was our second trip in Cusco this year with this company Alpaca Travel which was recommended to us by our friends who used it for few years in a row. The trip was not an easy one and the weather was cold and windy especially at night but our guide (Fernando) and the cook( Juliana) and the helpers and horseman helped us make it unforgettable. Fernando explained about the area, the customs of the local people, the flora and fauna with lots of details. Juliana created wonderful meals for us to warm us and nourish us since we started the hike at around 3400 m and we went over 4600 metres and down again to 3500 metres in 3 days. Being cold they provided some rubbery bags( cannot recall the name) filled with hot water which helped us stay warm in our sleeping bags. Really a trip that we will never forget and i recommend it as the views are spectacular during the day and at night when the sky is full of stars. We love Peru and we will surely return as the people and the food are incredible.

We did the Lares track and summited Condors Pass. Yes, the views are amazing, yes the camping is cold, yes you need good gear. But I think the best part of this experience was not the views or the emtional moments felt hiking Condors pass. It was the cook, Julian's cake. It was a young boy Jonathan who was sweet and reminded us of our son a bit. We gave him a futbol. And our guide Fernado, who kept everyone safe and was attentive of the groups total experience. We loved dinner with our camping partners, who we did not know. A couple from Canada that emigrated from Romania and we're in their 50s/60s. The connection to the staff and group members, and people in the Andes makes this trail phenomenal. You'll get more than just a hiking experience, you'll get a human experience. This trek, while challanging, was certainly *lifetime*.

We booked with Alpaca Expeditions a modified Lares trek where we skipped the last day in Machu Picchu as we already visited it. We had an amazing time trekking with our guide Fernando, very knowledgeable, patient, friendly and accommodating. Fernando made sure that everyone reached the destination safe and sound, and along the way he provided insightful informations regarding Inca history, flora and fauna and geography. The supporting team had an excellent cook as well, Juliana who made incredible dishes and a super tasty cake to celebrate our successful summit of the Condor pass. We visited hot springs, a very nice beginning of the trek, followed by a short hike to our first camp spot; beautiful, but cold. The team made sure we stayed warm and next day was the challenging day summiting Condor pass at 4600m. Beautiful views of the glaciers, turquoise lakes, pastures with llamas and alpacas, everything made the day a highlite of this trek. And at the end of the day the trekkers played soccer with all the Alpaca team and had a lot of fun. The last day we visited a local family and brought them groceries while they showed us their way of life in the Andes. Fernando and Alpaca then organized a visit for us to the salt mines and a nice transfer back to Cusco. Overall, an excellent trek that was made easy by the whole supporting team, especially Fernando - thank you!

Everything was amazing from start to finish. Alpaca Expeditions looks after and thinks of everything for your trek. Can’t recommend them enough. Our guide Ismael, made the trek even better.

I did the Lares Trek with Alpaca Expeditions. They helped me book, and provided clear instructions about the itinerary and what to bring. Before we started hiking, our guide Ismael gave us a detailed briefing, handed out duffel bags, and explained what to expect. He was incredibly attentive to everyone's needs. A few of us were a bit sick, and we all had different hiking paces and camping experience levels. Ismael accommodated every single need with grace, understanding, and patience. What really impressed me was how Ismael incorporated Andean culture into the experience, and his depth of knowledge of pre-Incan and Incan history and culture. He suggested we buy groceries for local families, plus toys and school supplies for the children. I truly enjoyed meeting the Andean kids and their dogs, learning about their lives outside of school, and even playing soccer with one of them. We also visited a 78-year-old Andean elder, who invited us into her home. Ismael translated between English and Quechua as she shared stories about her life. He also taught us Quechua words, showed us how to make ropes, and shared fascinating history about pre-Inca and Inca civilizations. Ismael took the time to photograph us and pointed out the best spots for pictures along the trail and at Machu Picchu. As someone who often forgets to take photos, I really appreciated that. Our chef, Avelino, prepared the most delicious food I've ever tasted: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all while camping. Every day brought something new. When I struggled hiking up Condor Pass, his pancakes, omelettes, chaufa rice, lomo saltado, and soups gave me both energy and motivation to keep going. He even baked us a celebration cake after the hardest day of the trek. All of this was done in a camp kitchen, truly impressive. Going into this trip, I knew I'd booked a reputable company. But it was Ismael's care and storytelling, Avelino and Rufina's amazing cooking, and the porters (the Josés) who made our gear appear at camp like magic that made this experience special, memorable, and unique. I'm especially grateful to Ismael. Talking to others who did the same trek with different guides and companies, I realized that not everyone includes Andean culture or interactions with local people like Ismael does. That aspect meant more to me than I could have imagined, all thanks to him. In a couple of years, I hope to return to Peru for another hike, and I hope Ismael and Avelino will be part of the journey. Thank you all so much for your hard work! Sulpaiky, Tupananchiskama! (Thank you, until we meet again)