The Inca Jungle Trek is a 4-day adventure trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu with numerous activities such as cycling, rafting and trekking. Our mountain biking activity in Maras Moray, rafting on the Urubamba River, travel the Inca trails in the dense Andean jungle to finally make your visit to Machu Picchu.
Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days 3 Nights – Overview
The Inca Jungle Trek is a fantastic alternative route to Machu Picchu that combines mountain biking, rafting and hiking. This action-packed adventure takes you into the Peruvian jungle, along a magnificent stretch of the original Inca Trail, and ends at Machu Picchu, one of the most incredible places in the world.
You will discover several stunning landscapes, including the Andes, the Urubamba River and the jungle. You’ll also have time to explore the local banana, coffee, and avocado plantations. With such a unique and varied itinerary, it’s not hard to see why the Inca Jungle Tour is now one of the most popular routes to Machu Picchu. If you are looking for a multi-sport adventure and want to see as much of Peru’s incredible landscapes as possible, this tour is ideal for you.
Pick up from your hotel at 7:00 am and you will drive for 1 hour to Cruzpata, where you will start mountain biking through the potato and wheat fields, enjoy the stunning views of the Andes, visit the town of Maras and explore the Salineras. Descent towards the Sacred Valley. You will then take our transportation for a two-hour drive to the town of Santa María for lunch.
After lunch, attend a safety briefing and begin the 1.5-hour rafting trip down the Urubamba River. The rapids are Class III and IV; Rafting tour guides are different because we use specialized professional guides familiar with the waters of the area. After rafting, take a 30-minute walk to the rest area. Dinner and overnight in a rustic lodge.
This day begins with the beautiful sounds of tropical birds in the Peruvian jungle. After breakfast and freshly brewed coffee, explore the local coffee, coca leaf, banana and pineapple plantations. Then start walking along a beautiful and lost original Inca Trail (different from the classic Inca Trail) that connected Machu Picchu with Vilcabamba (the last capital of the Incas).
Along the way you will pass avocados, yucca, oranges, mangoes, cocoa, coffee and coca bushes. After approximately 4 hours of walking, you will arrive in Quellomayo, where lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Then there is another 4 hour hike upstream along the Urubamba River to the Cocalmayo hot springs (pure volcanic water). The water here is considered healing, good for bones and muscles and relieves stress and headaches.
After relaxing in the hot pools, take a bus to the town of Santa Teresa. Spend the night in a simple hotel with a hot shower and WiFi.
After breakfast in Santa Teresa, get ready for the best day of your local expeditions in Peru! First, a one-hour drive to Lucmabamba (2000m/6600ft), where you’ll find the original Inca Trail, created in the 15th century and lost with the rediscovery of Machu Picchu a few years ago.
The hike takes approximately 3 hours to Llactapata, another large Inca site directly in front of Machu Picchu, where you will get your first view of Machu Picchu.
Discover and enjoy the spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the Andes. You’ll then embark on a relatively easy two-hour walk downhill to the hydroelectric plant, where you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
After lunch, the final walk along the railway towards Aguas Calientes begins. This portion of the hike is steeped in history as you visit Mandor Farms, owned by Hiram Bingham III. We saw during the 1911 expedition. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes around 5:00 pm, your guide will take you to your hotel where you will have time to rest and freshen up. Enjoy a final dinner together, plan the next day, and spend the night at the hotel.
The day starts very early to prepare for the best day of this hike. After breakfast at the hotel we took the first buses to Machu Picchu and reached the illuminated sky.
You explore the citadel and visit the most important sites, palaces and temples. You will then have free time to explore or climb Mount Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu on your own (different and NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR on the ticket to the Machu Picchu Citadel). Once you have completed Machu Picchu, you will need to take the bus to Aguas Calientes, have lunch there (NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR), then take the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo and take private transportation back to Cusco. Return to your hotel gate around 7:30 p.m.
Please note that we do not have porters for this tour and you are responsible for transporting your own equipment, clothing and personal belongings. If you do not have enough space in your backpack, we can organize the transfer of your belongings by car for free, but only to the extent possible.
Here are some important things to take with you on the Inca Jungle Trek:
The basics for the hike:
Clothes:
Accessories:
Personal stuff:
Note: Remember that you will take all your belongings with you during the hike. So pack as light as possible.
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