Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4-Day Adventure

I just recently completed the 4 day, 3 night Luxury Lares Trek with 2 of my friends. All 3 of us that went are 35 year old males, and consider ourselves to be "somewhat" outdoorsy people. We paid 2000 dollars each for the luxury package. Before I go into the review, I would like to say, quickly, that I think it is important to acknowledge that a good part of the reason that we seek out experiences like this is to force ourselves to leave our comfortable lives and experience something different. At the end of the day, you are in the middle of the Andes Mountains, and therefore there is a limit to the comfortableness of the experience. However, with 100% certainty and confidence, can I say that our crew did everything in their power to make us feel comfortable given the limitations. Our main tour guide was Mr. G, and there were approximately 8-9 crew members, ranging from a chef to a massage therapist, etc. I think the shining light of the luxury experience was the food. At no point whatsoever did I feel like we were "roughing it" in terms of food. We were provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and dinner always consisted of an appetizer, a main entree, and even dessert. The level of flavor and quality of dishes that we were provided, was nothing short of a miracle. The chef of our crew, Augusto, deserves a raise, I don't care what they're currently paying him, it needs to be more. Additionally, the daily massages, effort to provide a hot shower, and general accommodating nature of the entire crew we're worth our weight in gold. Going into this experience, I actually thought that $2,000 was a bit steep a price, however now my opinion has completely reversed. I think $2,000 is actually a great value for money. I would highly recommend the luxury Lares experience, or the luxury experience in any of their hikes. The TreXperience crew were friendly, hardworking, and honest people. I can't speak highly enough about our experience

We had a great time on the Lares Trek, with wonderful scenery, time to explore local markets, a visit to hot springs, and the chance to meet a local Andean couple and learn about their way of life. There was only one really hard day of trekking, but it’s still not to be underestimated, especially at altitude. Allowing time to acclimatise in Cusco or another high-altitude Andean town beforehand is well worth it if you don’t want to feel awful! Our original guide was ill on the morning we were due to leave, but luckily Roberto stepped in at the last second—he was literally woken up at 4 am to ask if he could cover. He was fantastic: enthusiastic, full of stories about Inca culture and history, and a reassuring guide through the mountains. We had a different guide for Machu Picchu, Daniel, who was also brilliant. And yes, Machu Picchu is breathtaking and thoroughly deserves its place as a modern wonder of the world. We’d highly recommend TreXperience and the Lares Trek.

This was an outstanding experience from start to finish! David was an amazing guide, who knew an incredible amount of Peruvian and local history, and whose mountain instincts and leadership made for a truly enjoyable and secure trip despite the physical demands of the Lares Trek. The Lares trail itself is no joke and requires a high amount of endurance to climb through the Condors pass, especially given potential altitude sickness. David was always accommodating of everyone’s demands and paces and ensured we always had water, food, and a smile on our faces. Moreover, he made sure that we were all informed of daily plans, meeting locations, and was a fluent translator in English, Spanish, and Quechua, which were all helpful when talking with locals, from Ollantaytambo to Canchacancha alike. I appreciated how much David allowed us to explore the daily lives of locals living in the mountains, which proved to be one of the most eye opening experiences for our whole group during the trip. Before this trip, I expected wonderful hiking and culture, which was easily met within the first 8 hours. What I was not expecting from this trip was the degree of comfort insofar as food and camping accommodations that Trexperience provided. Our chefs, Elizabeth and Rosmel, and porter, Leandro, were some of the hardest and most attentive people I have ever met. They prepared unique hot meals three times a day, beginning with a soup course that always wowed the table, followed by other Peruvian delicacies including lomo Saltado and even a whole cake. Moreover, our campsites would already be set up for us when we got to each site after hiking, courtesy of Leandro, and even during August, the blankets and equipment provided, ensured that we were warm during nights that dipped below freezing. Additional cherries on top of this trip also include the Lares hot springs we visited the first day, and the Vistadome Observatory train from Machu Picchu to end the trek. We also hiked the optional Huayna Picchu once at Machu Picchu and would highly recommend that addition for all those interested in a uniquely challenging hike and incredible views of the citadel.

This was the most amazing experience. It really was such a beautiful time, both in the stunning scenery and the most wonderful group hiking with us. Our tour guide, David, was so knowledgeable, supportive and kind. He made the experience one million times more special, and had so many captivating stories to tell. If anyone is able to take a tour with TreXperience, they would be so lucky to have him as a tour guide! Secondly, our chefs, Elizabeth and Rosmel, were outstanding. They hiked with us through the mountains while all the while cooking the most delicious, traditional meals. They truly were superhumans and brought such happy energy to the trek. Lastly, our porter, Leandro, was exceptionally strong and organized. He beat our hike time by half almost every time despite having to handle 5 energetic mules. I was blown away by his work ethic and positive attitude throughout it all. If anyone is able to experience this trek, you would be so blessed to have anyone in this team (David, Elizabeth, Rosmel and Leandro) alongside you while you witness the breathtaking beauty of the Andes and a culture that has been the bedrock to modern society today. They truly made the experience beyond worth it.

An amazing experience Great value Four days