What is the Inka Jungle Trail: itinerary and activities

This post is also available in: Español

One of the mandatory stops on your visit to Peru is Machu Picchu, an Inca city surrounded by temples, terraces, and water channels built at 2,430 meters on top of a mountain.

There are different options to travel to this sacred city, but today we want to talk about the Inca Jungle, the most exciting and intense adventure where you connect with the wildest nature through the practice of different sports.

Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

The Inca Jungle, is an adventure tour where you combine several adventure sports. It is oriented to active people, sportsmen and sportswomen, and eager to have a unique experience while enjoying the best natural landscapes and pre-Columbian history.

Biking routes, river rafting, hiking on trails, bathing in hot springs and even winding in the middle of the jungle. An adventure that will make you live intensely all the way to Machu Picchu.

Day 1: Beginning of the Inca Jungle Trek by bike

The Machu Picchu adventure begins in the city of Cusco, where a bus will pass early in the morning by the hotel where you are staying to take you to the beginning of this great experience.

Once in Abra Malaga, you will begin the bicycle route which consists of a 55 km ride, which lasts approximately 3 hours to Huamanmarca. Don’t be scared, most of this bike route is downhill, which will make you feel safe and gain confidence and strength for the rest of the adventure.

Once the bikes are parked, you will continue your journey by bus until you reach Santa Maria.

The next activity of the day consists of rafting, although you also have the option to do this part walking, trekking if the rapids scare you. The river adventure is unique and exciting.

Day 2: Inca Trail to Santa Teresa

The day will start early to join the trails of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Through there you will travel along the mountain slopes enjoying the beautiful landscape around the original road of the Incas. Finally, you will arrive at Keyomallo, the stop for lunch, and refuel on the second day of the Inka Jungle.

You will continue the tour this time to reach the Cocalmayo Hot Springs. After seven hours of hiking, we can think of no better way to relax, than bathing in its hot waters.

After the swim, you will only have about forty minutes of walking left until you reach the last stop, Santa Teresa.

Day 3: Adventure to Aguas Calientes

The day begins with a hearty breakfast to prepare the body for everything that awaits us on this day. On the route to Hidroeléctrica, you will have the option of crossing the jungle flying with zip lines. Although this option is not included in the tour, for 30 soles you can enjoy this great adventure.

Once in Hidroeléctrica and after the lunch stop, you will continue the walking tour on a 9 km route along the train tracks until you reach Aguas Calientes. This route can be done by train, but the views of the jungle from the top of the mountains are unique and well worth it. For this reason, we recommend walking and enjoying the landscape without rushing.

Aguas Calientes will be the last stop of this adventure before reaching the top, as Machu Picchu is 2,450 meters above sea level.

Day 4: End of the Inca Jungle in Machu Picchu

This day is an early morning walk to the Inca city of Machu Picchu, and see how the sun rises and illuminates all the ruins of this spectacular place.

This early morning hike will last about an hour and a half and at six in the morning, see the sunrise from Machu Picchu. Afterward, you will enter the citadel to see all the places to see in Machu Picchu, and discover the most hidden secrets of this most visited place.

This tour ends and the only thing left is the return to Cusco city, where you can go by train on different schedules. The trains stop in Ollantaytambo and the views from the windows are breathtaking.

The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is an essential trip if you want to live more intensely all that Peru has, both nature and history through its roads, jungles, rivers, and ruined cities.