Tour overview
We invite you to travel the Lares Valley, a full-day experience that brings together the Sacred Valley, high Andean communities, lakes, an ancestral ceremony, and the famous Lares hot springs. We operate this tour with private transport and a trail guide, leaving Cusco and returning around 6:30 p.m. It is a full day of living Andes: landscapes, culture, and hot springs, away from the crowds of the busiest circuits.
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Best time to travel Approx. April to October (dry season)
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Approximate altitude ~3,200–3,800 m a.s.l. (Lares Valley)
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Physical difficulty Moderate; a full day at altitude, without a long trek
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Minimum number of passengers 2 adults
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Maximum number of passengers 10 adults
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Booking lead time 1 day in advance
Overview
- Full-day tour: Cusco → Sacred Valley (Pisac/Calca) → Calispuquio → Panpallacta → lakes and ceremony → Lares hot springs → Ancasmarca → Cusco ~6:30 p.m.
- Morning: transfer through the Sacred Valley and an Andean breakfast in Panpallacta (confirm inclusion when you book).
- Midday: lakes in the area and an ancestral ceremony.
- Afternoon: ~2 hours at the Lares hot springs (entrance fee not included), Ancasmarca, and return to Cusco.
- Includes private transport and a trail guide.
Itinerary
Morning — Cusco, Sacred Valley, Calispuquio, and Panpallacta
We leave Cusco early in private transport and take the route toward the Sacred Valley, passing through the Pisac and Calca corridor. Terraces, rivers, and Andean towns mark the start of the day. Our trail guide presents the plan: community, lakes, ceremony, and hot springs, so you know what to expect on each stretch.
We continue toward Calispuquio and then to Panpallacta, where we share an Andean breakfast in a community setting (meal details according to what we confirm with you; do not assume full inclusion if it has not been agreed). It is a warm moment to connect with the local setting, the highland climate, and the slower pace of the Lares Valley before we continue toward the lakes.
Midday — Lakes and ancestral ceremony
From Panpallacta we head toward the lakes in the area. The landscape opens into mirrors of water and hills; the air is clean and the Andean quiet accompanies the visit. Our trail guide orients you on the walk and on the meaning of the place within the local worldview, preparing the space for the ceremony.
We take part in a brief, respectful ancestral ceremony, guided within our responsible-tourism practice. It is a moment of gratitude toward the earth and the mountain, not a show: we ask for openness and respect. We then resume the road toward the Lares hot springs, already tuned to the surroundings.
Afternoon — Lares hot springs, Ancasmarca, and return to Cusco
We arrive at the Lares hot springs and have about two hours to enjoy the pools of natural hot water. It is the most relaxing stretch of the day: a change in temperature, valley landscape, and rest after the morning at altitude. The hot-spring entrance fee is not included; confirm the local payment procedure with us.
When we leave the springs we visit or pass through the Ancasmarca area according to the day’s plan, closing the cultural arc of the route. We start back to Cusco with an estimated arrival around 6:30 p.m. We drop you at your hotel or the agreed point. That is how we operate the Lares Valley: complete, Andean, and with the KYD Tours seal.
Recommendations
- Bring a swimsuit, a towel, and sandals for the hot springs.
- Dress in layers: a cool morning, the springs, and possible wind in the valley.
- Sunscreen, glasses, and cash for entrance fees and extras.
- Respect the ancestral ceremony: it is a place of meaning, not only of photos.
- Confirm pickup times and any special requirements with us.
Inclusions
Included
- Private transport.
- Trail guide.
Not included
- Entrance tickets (Lares hot springs and other sites if they apply).
- Meals (Andean breakfast or other meals, unless confirmed when you book).
- Drinks.
- Tips.
- Travel insurance.
- Towels or other services at the hot springs.
- Personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
What time do we get back to Cusco?
The estimated arrival is around 6:30 p.m. Confirm the exact time with us on the day you leave.
How long do we spend at the hot springs?
About 2 hours at the Lares hot springs.
Is the Andean breakfast included?
The stop in Panpallacta with an Andean breakfast is part of the classic itinerary; confirm with us exactly what is covered when you book. By default, meals are not assumed to be included.
How difficult is the tour?
It is a full day of transfers and altitude; it is not a long trek, but the weather and the height are noticeable. A generally good level of fitness is recommended.
