Lodge-based treks in Peru: Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate

Reviews of Peru’s Best Lodge-based Treks

Are you planning a trek in Peru but don’t want to camp? There are some fantastic lodge-based treks in Peru’s Cusco region, boasting wonderful walking and beautiful accommodation.

Three lodge-to-lodge mountain treks offer superb mountain scenery, contact with the local community and an unexpected degree of luxury.

Lodge-based Trekking in Peru

Each of the lodge-based mountain treks is unique. The lodges vary in size and comfort level, but they all offer en-suite bedrooms with very comfortable beds, hot showers, lounge areas, excellent food and wine, and some have hot tubs.

They are:

• Ausangate Lodge trek
• Lares Lodge to Lodge
• Salkantay Mountain Lodges trek

In all three cases, the lodge operators are committed to being environmentally and socially responsible. Food is locally sourced where possible, and the staff are generally from the communities where the lodges are located, so there is a good level of community involvement. You get to meet the locals, to see their farming techniques and weavings and even, on occasion, to sing and dance together.

Kathy has just returned from Peru, where she enjoyed the Lares lodge-based trek, having been on the others in previous years.

Read on to discover the differences and see which works best for you.

Stunning mountain views, Ausangate Lodge trek

Ausangate Lodge-based Trek: 5 Days and 50 km Trekking

This is the most challenging and most remote of the lodge-based treks. It is suitable for experienced, fit trekkers and requires that you are very well acclimatised to the altitude as you cross several high passes and sleep at high altitudes. You trek up high for 4 to 6 hours each day.

The mountain scenery is superb, and you trek far off the beaten track high in remote mountain areas until the last day, when you visit the fabulous Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca.

The trek is fully supported, and all luggage is transported by llama and horse. Staff are from the local Chillca community and accompany trekkers throughout the route.

The lodges are less luxurious than on the other treks, but they have wood-burning stoves, lounge areas, and double and twin rooms with private bathrooms and hot showers. There is only electricity at one lodge, where you can charge batteries, and there is no WIFI.

Ausangate Outline Trek Itinerary

B=breakfast, L=lunch or boxed lunch, D=dinner

Day 1: Transfer Cusco-Checapue. Short hike to Chillca (L,D)

Day 2: Chillca-Machuracay trek (B,L,D)

Day 3: Machurcay-Anantapata (B,L,D)

Day 4: Anantapata-Huampococha (B,L,D)

Day 5: Huampococha-Cusco (B)

Day 6/7: Optional add-on to Machu Picchu

We suggest at least a 5-day acclimatisation programme before this trek. We can organise this to include some interesting day walks and other activities from Cusco and/or a few days around Lake Titicaca.

Preparing for the day, Lares lodge.

Lares Lodge-based Trek: 7 days

This is the most flexible of all the lodge-based treks.

It is ideal for all hiking abilities and interests, with optional cultural visits and alternative trails for guests who prefer not to do tough hikes. There are several guides with each group, allowing each person to choose their preferred activity.

Each day, there is a menu of three activities to choose from:

• a tough walk;
• a moderate walk;or
• a cultural activity.

This allows for a wide diversity of people, some that don’t want to do any trekking, others that only want to do trekking, but with the luxury of good lodges at the end of each day.

This Lares trek is excellent for families and groups of friends with different interests. Kids and parents can choose different activities, and there is bound to be one activity suitable for each group member.

Lares Lodge Facilities

The lodges are large, spacious, and very comfortable. The first two have hot tubs. The first lodge has an outdoor hot tub and a full-sized billiard table, kissing llamas, and large gardens—fabulous for kids. There is Wi-Fi in all the lodges.

Meals are buffet, snacks are healthy and plentiful, trekking meals are exceptionally good.

For families with kids who want to trek but would like a backup, hiring a horse is an option.

The highlights are the scenic off-the-beaten-track walking days, the fabulous Inca sites of Pisac, Ancasmarca, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, lots of colourfully dressed locals, and interaction with local people. You get to eat a Pachamanca and see farming and weaving demonstrations.

Lares Outline Itinerary

B=breakfast, L=lunch or boxed lunch, D=dinner

Day 1: Cusco and drive to Sacred Valley – Chinchero to Huchuyqosqo-Lamay  (L,D)

Day 2: Sacred Valley – Pisac and hike valley and ruins – Lamay (B,L,D)

Day 3: Cuncani to Huacawasi, Huacawasi (B,L,D)

Day 4: Quiswarani to Huacawasi, Huacawasi (B,L,D)

Day 5: Huacawasi to Patacancha, the Weaver’s Trail (B,L,D)

Day 6: Ollantaytambo Inca sites, train to Aguas Calientes (B,L,D)

Day 7: Guided visit to Machu Picchu, train to Cusco, ends (B,L) Itinerary (7 days)

We suggest two nights, to aid acclimatisation, in Cusco before this programme, which we can organise for you.

Local kids off to nursery, Lares

Salkantay Lodge-to-Lodge Trek: 7 days, 63 km

This is a tough seven-day trek through the beautiful mountain range, the Cordillera Vilcabamba, which surrounds Machu Picchu. Some days are long and hard, but the lodges offer hot showers, gourmet meals, wine, goose-down bedding, outdoor jacuzzis, and personalized service.

In the first few days, you almost rub shoulders with the glaciers of Salkantay and Humantay. You trek over a high pass and then, as you descend, pass through a variety of eco-zones, fabulous for flowers, birds, and changing scenery. The Inca site of Llactapata is a highlight and gives a unique view over Machu Picchu.

Salkantay Outline Itinerary

B=breakfast, L=lunch or boxed lunch, D=dinner

Day 1: Pick up from Cusco and drive to start of trek. Trek to Salkantay Lodge, Soraypampa (L,D)

Day 2: Free day at Salkantay Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 3: Trek from Salkantay Lodge to Huayraccmachay, overnight in Wayra Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4: Trek from Wayra Lodge to Collpapampa, overnight in Colpa Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5: Trek from Colpa Lodge to Lucmabamba, overnight in Lucma Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 6: Trek from Lucma Lodge to Aguas Calientes, overnight in hotel (B,L,D)

Day 7: Guided visit to Machu Picchu, train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, end of tour (B,L)

High altitude is an issue on this trek, so we recommend an acclimatisation period of 5 days before starting the trek. If you prefer, we can organise walks and other activities around Cusco or a few days around Lake Titicaca.

Salkantay mountain views

Plan Your Lodge-based Trek in Peru

If you would like to start planning a lodge-based or camping-touring holiday to Peru, just get in touch with us at Andean Trails. We can help walkers, families, and travellers of all abilities and ages.