Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu

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Day 1:

Cusco, Santa Maria (Biking and Rafting)

After a hotel pickup between 6:00am and 6:30am, you will head on a 1.5-hour ride to Ollantaytambo. Here you can have a quick breakfast and buy snacks. Then, you'll continue for 1.5-hour more towards the Malaga High Pass (4,350 meters) where your adventure begins. After a safety briefing, you will enjoy a thrilling 2.5-hour bike ride down into the lush and humid jungle. You will see Huamanmarka Archaeological site along the way, before arriving to Santa Maria village around 1:30pm. You will spend the night at a basic, Eco Lodge.

Activity in Santa Maria: Rafting. Go on a scenic 2.5-hour rafting adventure and go down class III & IV rapids on the Urubamba River (also known as Vilcanota River). If you choose not to participate in the rafting activity, you can explore the town on your own.

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Day 2:

Santa Maria – Quellomayo – Santa Teresa – Cocalmayo Hot Spring (Hiking, Hot Spring)

We walk along the riverbanks and start climbing. On our way we'll see small coffee plantations, fruit trees, etc. In this area it is possible to see many types of plants, orchids and birds. We will observe the beauties of the high forest which is a paradise of biodiversity in the Inca jungle route. After arriving to the top of the mountain we will see the whole valley of Urubamba. The group will descend to arrive at the village Qellomayo. After the break we will trek for 3hrs. going through farms, rivers, waterfalls until arriving at the hot water springs in Santa Teresa. We will continue to walk until reaching the town Santa Teresa.

Cocalmayo offers several relaxing crystal clear hot springs, each with its own temperature. The sound of the river and the stars at night time make it a perfect scenery. After the hot springs(cocalmayo) the group will continue to walk for about 40 min. (or take a bus of you´d prefer) until reaching the town of Santa Teresa where you will check in to a nice comfortable Hotel. After the dinner you all are invited to visit one of the bars to hang out with the other members of the group.

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Day 3:

Santa Teresa – Lucmabamba – Aguas Calientes

We continue to explore the roads less traveled and start from the town Santa Teresa. The passengers that reserved in advance will enjoy the zipline, the rest of the group will continue until reaching the hydroelectric too, where the whole group will rejoin. After a short break, the journey will continue along the great Inca jungle, going through waterfalls, coca and coffee farms until arriving at the town Aguas Calientes. The group will be taken to the hostel around 4 pm. At night we all get together in a restaurant to have a great dinner and have a briefing about the trek to Machu Picchu.

On this third day of our Inca Jungle tour, we will take the van for about 40 minutes to Lucmabamba to hike another section of Inca Trail (Qhapaq Ñan). This Inca trail was only discovered in 2003 and has a variety of flora and fauna. Its nearly untouched surroundings conceal the archaeological remains of Llactapata, from where we will have an impressive and rarely seen view of Machu Picchu Citadel.

After lunch, we will begin our descent to the train station at the hydroelectric plant, where we will take a 30 minute train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes. We’ll spend the night, have dinner and then breakfast on the following day.

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Day 4:

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Finally on last day of our Inca jungle tour we get up around 4:00AM. After which we´ll get ready to head to Machu Picchu, our trek will follow an ascending path through the high forest, after registering in the control entrance around 6:00AM. we will have a private guide leading us within the Inca citadel for about 1,5 hours.

The travelers that booked the hiking to HuaynaPicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will be able to start this journey, the climbing lasts around 45 min. for Huayna Picchu, the way up is very steppy at some points but it’s worth it because the view from the top is absolutely breathtaking.

For Machu Picchu Montaña, it´ll last you about 2hrs to go up, and it´s not as steep as Huayna Picchu, and even higher! Please note that you have to go before a certain time, so don´t forget to ask your guide which time you have been issued.

You will have until 5PM time to explore Machu Picchu on your own, because then the guards will ask you to leave. In the afternoon, according to the departure of the train ticket, you will descend walking on your own to the town of Aguas Calientes to get the train back to Ollantaytambo where the group will be picked up and transferred to Cusco city.