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.

How long is the rafting trip?

The approximate duration of this activity is two hours.

Is it necessary to have high rafting knowledge for this tour?

It depends on the season when you do the tour. If it is in the rainy season you must have a high level of knowledge (class III). During the rest of the year it would be between class -III and III.

Will we have bicycles and helmets there?

Yes, there in the office they will give you everything you need to do the tour.

What kind of bicycles are used for the descent?

For the descent in bicycle from Abra Málaga we use superior quality bicycles brand Kona with double suspension (rear and front). Prepared and specialised for long mountain routes.

Do you recommend me to choose the additional area Machu Picchu Mountain?

Howlanders would like to inform you that visiting this additional area can take up to 4 hours and will slightly reduce the time you will have to visit Machu Picchu on your own, but in no case does it reduce the time of the guided tour, which is two hours. The time of departure of the return train will be later to avoid that you have to make the visit in a hurry.

Where do you camp on the Inca Jungle tour?

In this tour we do not camp, we sleep in different lodging houses and hotels: La Casa del Mono the first night, Hotel Yacumama the second night and Machu Picchu Lodging the third night or similar according to availability of equal or superior category.

Is there a discount if I already have a ticket to Machu Picchu?

Yes, there is a discount of 45 USD per person. To obtain this discount, simply make your reservation and leave us a note, or contact us.

Do I have to bring water and snacks from Cusco?

Since we will come across different villages throughout the tour (trek+activities) where the inhabitants sell bottled water, fresh fruits, etc. it is not necessary to transport water and snacks from Cusco.

🚨 Machu Picchu tickets are likely to sold out! 🚨 Book in advance

Tour details
Itinerary
What to bring
FAQs
Reviews

Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

Descend the Abra Málga by mountain bike and hike up to Machu Picchu

7 reviews

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group with the mountain bikes ready for abra malaga

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aerial view of the hot springs of cocalmayo

people walking along the train tracks on the inca jungle trek

Cusco

4 days

Spanish and English

Starts: From your accommodation in Cuzco at 06:00 A.M.

Ends: To the center of Cuzco at about 10:30 P.M.

Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most original trails you can do to reach the Inca city. Disconnect spending 4 days between mountains, valleys and rivers, combining hiking and downhill mountain biking. Unlike the other routes, at night you will stay in hostels located at lower altitudes instead of in campsites.

And there's more! If you are up for it, you can complete this experience by adding extra multi-adventure activities such as rafting or zip-lining. Do you like this idea of hiking? 😊 Here are all the details:

Tour details

Included

Machu Picchu Llaqta Machu Picchu Route Ticket (Circuit 2)
Guided tour in Machu Picchu
Professional guide Spanish/English
Transportation (bus or train, based on your choice)
3 nights in the lodge
Meals (3 full days with vegetarian option)
First aid kit
Bicycle + equipement

Not included

Day 1 breakfast
Day 4 lunch
Access to Cocalmayo Hot Springs (10 soles)
Water to refill the bottles
Rafting (available as extra)
Zipline (available as extra)

Important information

Since 2021, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture enabled 5 types of official entrances to visit Machu Picchu and it was decided that the visit to the Inca city should be done only by strict unidirectional routes. For this purpose, 4 circuits were created in order to better organize the traffic of travelers inside Machu Picchu and to preserve and protect the constructions of the archaeological site for the future.

This tour includes the entrance Llaqta of Machu Picchu (Circuit 2) in the first, second, or third shift and a guided group visit of 2 hours. If you want to increase your visit time inside Machu Picchu and visit one of the additional areas (Huayna Picchu Mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain, or Huchuy Picchu Mountain) it is essential to add the complete corresponding entrance fee to your booking.

Entrance Ticket Circuito 3 + Montaña Machu Picchu
Entrance Ticket Circuito 4 + Montaña Huayna Picchu
Entrance Ticket Circuito 4 + Montaña Huchuy Picchu

✅ From Howlanders we consider it essential to include the additional entrance fee so that travelers who want to visit one of the additional areas of the citadel can enjoy a complete experience in Machu Picchu.

❌ It is not possible to visit two of the additional zones on the same day due to lack of time.

⚡ The availability of tickets to Machu Picchu is very limited and booking two to three months in advance is recommended. Especially if you are traveling in high season.

💡 To learn more about tickets and circuits available in Machu Picchu please contact us.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel more than 72 hours before the start of the tour you will receive a refund of the total amount of the reservation except 55 USD per person (cost of the entrance to Machu Picchu). The entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are nominative and non-transferable. After this time, or in case of no-show for the tour, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Tour itinerary

DAY 1 Cusco - Abra Málaga - Santa María

Difficulty: High
Distance: 60 km (3 hours downhill biking) + 1,5h rafting
Starting altitude: 4,316 m.
Final altitude: 1,600 m.

🚐 Pick up in Cuzco

At 6:00 a.m. we will be picked up at our hotel in Cuzco to start the adventure by minibus and we will head to the Sacred Valley, crossing the towns of Chinchero, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.

🚲 Descent by bike to Abra Malaga

We will arrive at Abra Malaga, the starting point from where we will have the opportunity to appreciate the snow-capped Huacay Willca (Veronica). It is then time to put on the equipment and start the mountain bike route to the archaeological remains in Huaman Marq'a, where we will stop for lunch. A route of 60 km in which during 3 hours we will feel the adrenaline to the maximum descending from 4,316 meters above sea level to 1,600 meters above sea level.

biking down to the malaga pass during the inca jungle trek

Huaman Marq'a 🚐 Santa María

After lunch, a minibus will be waiting to take us to Santa Maria. Once there, we will go rafting on the white river. We can also take advantage of the afternoon to rest and discover the city.

Later, we will have dinner in a local restaurant and spend the night at the hostel.

rafting in santa maria during the inca jungle trek

DAY 2 Santa Maria - Quellomayo - Santa Teresa

Difficulty: Moderate - 18 km (3 hours)
Initial altitude: 1,200 masl
Final altitude: 1,600 masl

Santa Maria 👣 Quellomayo

First thing in the morning we will have an energetic breakfast in the restaurant and then we will start the route to Quellomayo. A 1 hour trekking route, following a section of the Inca Trail: the Qhapaq Ñan.

Along the way we will see plantations of coffee, cocoa, yucca and different birds such as hummingbirds and parrots, since in those moments we will be totally surrounded by a more tropical ecosystem.

group resting on the way to santa rosa during the inca jungle trek

Quellomayo

Arriving at Quellomayo we will stop for lunch, and then continue the route to Santa Teresa. On the way we will have the opportunity to stop at the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. Undoubtedly, one of the best experiences of the day, enjoying a hot bath in the middle of nature.

Santa Teresa

Once we arrive in Santa Teresa, we will have free time to zip-line or go for a walk and have a drink in one of its typical bars. Finally we will have dinner together in a local restaurant and spend the night in a hostel.

tourists enjoying the hot springs of Cocalmayo in peru

DAY 3 Santa Teresa - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes

Difficulty: Medium - 22 km (4 hours)
Initial altitude: 1,600 masl
Final altitude: 2,000 masl

Santa Teresa 👣 Hidroeléctrica

After breakfast we will start the trek to Hidroeléctrica (1,900 masl) along an ancient Inca trail. After two hours we will arrive to some waterfalls coming from the glaciers, where we will have time to rest.

girl walking across a metal bridge on the road to hidroelectrica

Upon arrival at the Hidroelectrica we will have lunch with the whole group in one of the restaurants to regain strength before the last stage of the trek: a 9 km route that runs along the tracks of the emblematic train that goes to Machu Picchu. The trail is located in an incredible valley where the vegetation has already been completely transformed into high jungle.

Aguas Calientes

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes we will leave our luggage in the lodges and we will have free time to visit the town, its market or just relax with a bath in its hot springs ($5.00). At the end of the afternoon we will meet again with the whole group to have dinner and plan with your guide the next day: the visit to Machu Picchu.

DAY 4 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

Difficulty: Easy - 6 km (1,5 hours)
Initial altitude: 2,000 masl
Final altitude: 2,400 masl

Aguas Calientes

Today we will wake up early to enjoy the most awaited moment: the entrance to Machu Picchu.

On the fourth and last day of the Inca Jungle Trek we can decide whether to walk up to Machu Picchu or take the bus for 12 USD. In the citadel we will have a 2-hour guided tour in which we will discover the fascinating history of the place.

In addition, by booking in advance, we can include to the reservation the extra Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and visit one of these two additional areas.

🔔 These accesses are available as extras, and only one is allowed per visit, as there is not enough time to visit both areas. They are subject to availability.

6:00 am

Machu Picchu

We will access the citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy a two-hour tour in which the guide will tell us all the secrets and history of the Inca city. Later, we will have time to continue exploring on our own, and access the optional areas of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if we have added them to our reservation as an extra.

Aguas Calientes

At the end of the visit to Machu Picchu, once again we will be able to decide whether to go down to Aguas Calientes on foot or by bus (for 12 USD). Once there, we will take the opportunity to walk around the city and have lunch in one of its restaurants.

Aguas Calientes 🚆 Ollantaytambo 🚐 Cusco

In Aguas Calientes, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo. At the Ollantaytambo train station a transport will be waiting for us to take us back to the center of Cuzco. We will arrive approximately at 10:30 P.M.

🔔 The exact train schedule and access to Machu Picchu are subject to availability and will be indicated with the confirmation of your reservation.

aerial view of the city of cuzco in peru

What to bring to Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

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 Trek to 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.