We are always keen to get off the beaten track and the Lares trek was certainly that. We did look at doing the traditional 5 day Inca trial trek but after much discussion with our chosen agent (APUS Peru) we decided on mixing in some living culture with the traditional hike. So 3 day Lares, 2 day Machu Picchu trek it is.

Arriving at this choice was not straight forward. This part of the trip has been about 6 months in the planning, not only to ensure we could actually get the tickets for Machu Picchu but also because also cause it’s kinda the initial reason for traveling half way around the world 😂😂

Our agent APUS Peru, weren’t the cheapest but they come highly recommended in the lonely planet, I have worked on the owners personal blog and most importantly they have great travel sustainability practices. It’s important to make sure iconic travel destinations such as Machu Picchu are protected.

What I didn’t expect was the standard of care and effort they put into our trip. It was better than I could have ever imagined, a first class camping experience (if that’s a thing).

Day one started super chilled… a great little view point and then some hot springs.

Knowing we had some serious hiking ahead, I made the most of relaxing. The boys however ran round like nutters, challenging each other into hotter and colder pools.

We then started off up hill, heading further and further from civilisation. That said our first lunch stop was incredibly civilised! A mess tent was erected with table and chairs. The food was absolutely incredible, the avocado was even shaped into a star! And there was a toilet tent!!! 😱 full on 5 star treatment.

After lunch the real hiking started! We had a total of 5 horses carrying all the camping equipment and an emergency horse to help the boys out if needed. Initially I thought it was over kill…. I was wrong!

Over the next few hours we gained altitude into the wilderness. It was tough, even the boys started to flag as we got higher and higher. But we were rewarded with an absolutely stunning hike.

All the way up we kept hearing giggles and getting climps of 2 or 3 children running and hiding on the opposite side of the valley. Our guide said they lived up in the hills and make this trek twice every day. I was in complete ore of them. We are not unfit by any standard, this was a difficult hike, compounded by the altitude it was very very difficult. But these kids did it twice a day?!?

As we got close to our campsite for the night, our view vanished and we ascended into the clouds. The temperature also started to drop, so our guide suggested we started collecting fire wood… as we did the giggles of the local children got closer and closer. For the rest of the hike it turned into a game of hide and seek with my boys.

We arrived at our campsite at just over 4000m. We couldn’t see a thing 😂. But our tents were already set up and we quickly unpacked our extra layers. It was cold! Now I know I get cold all the time but it was cold… even husband put on a hat!

Middle man was staring to feel a little off it so we chilled in the mess tent while dinner was prepared for us. I know right “prepared for us”….. I can’t help but reflect on how lucky we are!

After about an hour we emerged from the mess tent to the sounds of more giggles. The clouds had cleared and wow… what a view! Even middle man who was now really starting to struggle with altitude sickens was in awe!

BBBoy was soon off with the local kids to see their house. That boy can seriously make friends anywhere… here we are on top of mountain, No roads, barely a path, and less than 5 other people within sight and he gets invited on a play date 😂😂

But in all seriousness, what an experience, really seeing how the alpaca hurding families live. Eating snacks in their house, holding their guinea pigs, and learning some of the language. He came back excited to tell us all about it.

After dinner we had a fire, marshmallows and spent time looking at the stars. It was a great end to a tough but great day.

Unfortunately tough middle man was not great… our guide decided to give him some oxygen. It’s horrible to see one of your babies sick, he is usually the more resilient of the three but altitude is unpredictable.

Our guide reassured us that the oxygen would do the trick and after a night’s sleep he would be fine! So exhausted we all gratefully got into our super thick sleeping bags wondering what tomorrow would bring.