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Inca Jungle - Machu Picchu
The ultimate trek to Machu Picchu
Inca Jungle - Machu Picchu tour information
Starts
6:30 AM at your accommodation in Cusco
Ends
8:00 to 10:00 PM in the city center of Cusco (depending on your train schedule)
bookmark_borderBriefing
The Inka Jungle tour is one of the most unique ways of visiting Machu Picchu. This 4-day tour runs between mountains, valleys and rivers, combining hiking and downhill biking. In addition, you will have the opportunity to do adventure sports such as rafting and zip line (available as extras). Unlike other routes to Machu Picchu, in this tour, the accommodations are not campsites but actually hostels located at a much lower altitude. One thing to remember is that although in some occasions transportation will be by road, you should still travel lightly since you will have to carry your backpack during most of the trip.
- Confirmed daily departure
- Difficulty level: Moderate - Easy
- Group size: 8
- Health restrictions: no back problems, no expectant mothers, no serious medical conditions
Tour itinerary
todayDAY 1 Cusco - Abra Málaga - Huamanmarka - Santa María
Difficulty: High - 55 Km (3 hours of descent by bicycle)
Initial altitude: 4,316 masl
Final altitude: 1,600 masl
Accommodation: La Casa del Mono
access_time6:30 am
Your adventure will begin at 7:30 in the morning when you will be picked up at your hotel in Cuzco by minibus to head towards the Sacred Valley with the whole group, crossing the towns of Chinchero, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. You will arrive at Abra Málaga (4,316 masl), the starting point from where you will have the opportunity to appreciate Huacay Willca (Veronica). It is then time to put on the equipment and start the ride by bicycle to the archaeological remains in Huamanmarka, a trail long of 55 km where for 3 hours you will feel maximum adrenaline descending to 1,600 meters above sea level.
Upon arrival, a minibus will be waiting to take you to Santa Maria, where you will eat in a typical restaurant. After lunch you can do rafting as an optional activity (available as an extra) or rest. Later, you will have dinner and spend the night in Santa Maria after a long day.
todayDAY 2 Santa Maria - Qellomayo - Hot Springs - Santa Teresa
Difficulty: Moderate - 18 Km (3 hours)
Initial altitude: 1,200 masl
Final altitude: 1,600 masl
Accommodation: Yacumama Hostel
access_time6:00 am
First thing in the morning, you will have breakfast and then later on you will start the trip to Santa Rosa which is a 1 hour trekking route along the Inca Trail (Qhapaq Ñan). During this trip, you will be able to see plantations of coffee, cocoa, yucca and different birds such as hummingbirds and parrots, since at that moment you will be totally surrounded by a more tropical ecosystem. After arriving to Pispitayuc, you will be able to rest a bit before taking the road again until you arrive to Qellomayo, where you will have a short break to eat before continuing the route until Santa Teresa.
On the way, you will have the opportunity to stop in the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. Without a doubt, one of the best experiences of the day will be to enjoy a hot bath in the middle of nature. Once you arrive in Santa Teresa, you will have free time to do zip line (available as an extra) or go for a walk and have a drink in one of its typical bars. Finally you will all have dinner together and spend the night in a family hostel.
todayDAY 3 Santa Teresa - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes
Difficulty: Medium - 22 Km (4 hours)
Initial altitude: 1,600 masl
Final altitude: 2,000 masl
Accommodation: Machu Picchu Lodging
access_time7:00 am
After breakfast, you will start the hike to Hidroeléctrica (1,900 masl) by travelling on an old Inca Trail. After two hours you will arrive to waterfalls, where you will have time to rest for a while.
access_time1:30 pm
After arriving at the hydroelectric plant you will eat with the whole group in one of the restaurants to get your strength back before the last stage of the journey: a 9 km route that runs next to the tracks of the emblematic train that goes to Machu Picchu. The road is located in an incredible valley where the vegetation has already been completely transformed into a high jungle.
When you arrive to Aguas Calientes, you will be able to leave all your luggage in the lodgings and you will have free time to explore the town, its market or simply relax in one of its thermal waters (Entry fee: $5.00 USD). At the end of the afternoon, you will meet again with the whole group for dinner and plan with your guide the next day, the visit to Machu Picchu.
todayDAY 4 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Difficulty: Easy - 6 Km (1,5 hours)
Initial altitude: 2,000 masl
Final altitude: 2,400 masl
access_time4:00 am
In order to see the sunrise in Machu Picchu, you will have to get up early. At around 4:00 a.m., breakfast will be available. You will then start the hike up to Machu Picchu, an hour and a half route. You also have the option of taking a bus ($24.00 round trip).
access_time6:00 am
You will access the citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy a two-hour tour in which the guide will tell you all the secrets and history of Machu Picchu. Later, you will have time to continue exploring on your own, and access the optional areas of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain which is available as an extra (subject to availability).
You will return to Aguas Calientes by yourself. You can choose to do it either by walk, which takes around 1h 30 mins, or by bus for which tickets can be bought there for $24 per person. Once in Aguas Calientes you will have free time to eat and finally take the train that will take you to Ollantaytambo (subject to availability).
Finally, when you arrive in Ollantaytambo, the minibus will be waiting for you and the whole group to take you back to the center of Cuzco, where this fantastic adventure ends.
*On the way back to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes we always recommend taking the 4:22 pm train to enjoy the scenery during the 1h 30min journey to Ollantaytambo. However, we also offer the option of reserving at different time in case you need to arrive in Cusco sooner or later; you only have to indicate it in the notes section when making the reservation.
Tour details
Included
- Access tickets to Machu Picchu
- Hotel pickup
- Minibus to the starting point
- Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Return bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- High-end bicycle with double suspension
- Helmets - gloves - knee and elbow pads
- Reflective jacket
- First night's accommodation at La Casa del Mono in Santa Maria (or similar)
- Second night's accommodation at Yacumama Hostel in Santa Teresa (or similar)
- Third night accommodation at Machu Picchu Lodging in Aguas Calientes (or similar)
- First-aid-kit
- Food (three full days with vegetarian option)
- Professional guide and assistant (Spanish / English)
The accommodations are subject to availability. If there is no availability, you will be assigned an accommodation of similar category.
Not included
- Day 1 breakfast in Ollantaytambo
- Day 4 lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Round trip bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu ($24.00 USD - optional)
- Access to Cocalmayo hot springs ($5.00 USD - optional)
- Hot springs - Santa Teresa transportation ($5.00 USD - optional)
error_outlineImportant information
The train schedule may vary depending on availability. Once your reservation is made we will be able to confirm the exact timetables of the trains. If the weather conditions are adverse and the additional activities of rafting or zip-lining are not carried out due to safety reasons, a full reimbursement will take place for said activity.
The order of the visits could be altered, but it will not affect the content of the program. The schedules of the tickets and transports could be subject to modifications.
SAFE ADVENTURE – Covid 19
This activity includes the appropriate protection measures to ensure your safety. In addition, our excursions are outdoor and in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion. Remember to follow the instructions of the staff during the development of the excursion.
restoreCancellation policy
You will receive a 40% refund of your booking if you cancel at least 30 days before the tour start date. After this time, or in case you do not show up, no refunds will be given.
What to bring to Inca Jungle - Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes is 1000 meters lower than Cusco, and the weather varies depending on the time of year, especially during the rainy season. As it is a variable climate we recommend to take:
- Passport
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Cap or hat
- T-shirt and hiking shorts
- Warm clothes
- Comfortable shoes (preferably waterproof mountain shoes)
- Refillable water bottle
- Raincoat / waterproof poncho
- Sandals or flip flops
- Swimwear and towel (for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Personal hygiene products and medications
- Flashlight
- Medication to avoid altitude sickness (in case you consider it necessary).
Where does the tour Inca Jungle - Machu Picchu start
Cusco is the main tourist city of Peru and is very well connected. If you plan to arrive from Lima, you can get to Cusco by bus (24 hour trip) or take a one hour flight. You can choose between low cost airlines like Peruvian Airlines, LCP or StarPeru or full-service airlines like Latam and Avianca. If you plan to arrive from Arequipa, the bus ride to Cusco will take roughly ten hours. Alternatively you can also arrive by plane, in this case, however, the only airline that offers direct flights is Latam Airlines. If you plan to arrive from Puno, the best option is to take a bus on a six hour trip. We also offer the possibility to take a tourist bus route that stops in the most important places and landmarks along the way, leaving Puno at 7:00 am and arriving at Cusco at 5:30 pm.
Inca Jungle - Machu Picchu tour reviews with Howlanders
Yesica Olmedo · November 12, 2019
Questions & Answers
Is it open year round?
It is available all year round, but there may be route changes during the months of January, February and March due to the rainy season.
Is there an age restriction?
The average age of travelers living the Inka Jungle Trail experience is between 20 and 40 years. But as it is not a high difficulty tour, it can be done by children up to 8 years old minimum and adults up to 65 years old maximum. Also, it is not permitted for pregnant women.
What is the difference between Huayna Picchu and Montaña Machu Picchu?
Both are optional visiting areas located in the fortress of Machu Picchu. The main difference is that Huayna Picchu is around an hour and a half hike with steep inclination and stairs. This is not suitable for people with vertigo. On the other hand, Montaña Machu Picchu is a route that takes about 3 hours, with a wider and not too steep trail.
What is the difference between Inca Jungle and Inca Trail?
On the Inca Jungle tour we do the circuit in different means of transport, such as biking or rafting. On the Inca Trail you move by foot or by car/bus.
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