Inca Jungle Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days
This 4-day action-packed excursion combines mountain biking and hiking in the Andes for the ultimate Cusco adventure. During the first day, we will climb to higher elevations, which means cold weather conditions. We will then descend to the warmer sub-tropical climate of the high jungle region of Cusco, which is called the “Eyebrow of the jungle”. This route well-known for expansive vegetation, where cloud forest terrains, allowing visitors to be immersed in the natural world, cleverly combine with adventure activities and natural beauty.
mapaThis Inca trail mixes biking, walking, and maybe some rafting to get to Machu Picchu over four days. Starts out from Cusco, heads up to high passes, then drops into jungle areas. You bike down from Abra Malaga, which is pretty high, about 4350 meters or so, that’s like 14,000 feet. Then the path winds through cloud forest parts, passing small towns like Santa Maria and Santa Teresa.
This tour less packed than the classic Inca Trail, good for those wanting action without the strict permits. Activities switch up – one day you’re pedaling fast downhill, next you’re hiking along old paths. Accommodations are basic hostels or hotels, nothing fancy, but clean enough after a long day. Food’s local stuff, think rice, veggies, maybe chicken or trout from the area. Guides speak English and Spanish, keep things safe. Altitude hits hard at first, so better spend a couple days in Cusco beforehand to adjust, or you might feel dizzy. Doubt if everyone’s ready for the biking part, it’s steep and can be slippery if wet. Overall, it’s for travelers who dig mixing sports with seeing ruins, not just walking all the way.
Ends back in Cusco after the big visit to Machu Picchu on day four. The whole thing covers around 50 kilometers of hiking, plus the bike ride. Landscapes change quick – from snowy peaks to humid jungle with birds and plants everywhere. Some parts follow original Inca routes, others are modern trails. Optional extras like zipline add thrill, but cost more. Prices vary, but expect around 400 to 600 bucks per person, depending on group size.
Groups are small, up to 16, makes it feel personal. If you’re fit enough for moderate effort, it’s doable, but knees might ache from the descents. Wonder if the weather holds, rainy season makes paths muddy. Still, reaching Machu Picchu after all that effort? Worth it, they say. Packs in culture too, with stops at local farms or hot springs. Not for couch potatoes,
The adventure begins when we collect you from your hotel at 6:00 a.m. and we will set off towards the Sacred Valley of The Incas, a stunning route with spectacular landscapes and traditional Andean villages. We will make a brief stop at the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will be able to enjoy breakfast (not included) and purchase some snacks for the rest of the trip. We will then continue by car along a paved road, zig zagging uphill, until we arrive at the Abra Málaga (4,316 m. elevation), the highest point on the trip. From here, we will begin our descent in car until we reach “the airport” where we will receive a detailed explanation about the biking section of the journey from our guide. We will then begin our descent on mountain bike (or if you prefer, you can stay in the car and drive down). After approximately 2 hours downhill, (55 km) we will stop briefly HUAMANMARCA archaeological site, where your guide will tell you all about this magnificent archaeological site. We will then continue by bus, passing through villages and fruit orchards until we reach Santa Maria, where a delicious lunch awaits us. Tis is also where we will spend the evening. In the afternoon we will continue the adrenalin -filled adventure on a rafting trip along the Vilcanota River, which offers Class III or Class IV rapids, depending on the time of the year. After an exhilarating 2-hour trip we will head back to the hotel in Santa Maria. In the evening we will have dinner in the town and rest for the evening, after a day full of adventure.
Today we wake up bright and early and after breakfast, for our day of hiking. We will head out from the hotel to the trailhead, where we will begin with an uphill hike to the Huancarcasa Pass along an original Inca trail, with stops along the way. All along the route, we can appreciate the animals of the region, such as different birds, such as parrots, hummingbirds and eagles, as well as, mountain cats, lizards, millipedes, medicinal plants and fruit trees such as banana, mango, orange, mandarin, cocoa, coconut and coffee plants and trees. During the hike, we will visit a local house who will show us some of their customs and traditions, then we will continue on our way until we arrive at the small village of Quellomayo, where we can rest and have our lunch. After lunch, we will walk for an hour or so, to the Colcamayo hot springs to relax after our hike and a well-earned rest. After we have enjoyed the hot springs where we will take public transport to Santa Teresa, where we will settle into our hotel, then head out for dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and accommodation).
After a hearty breakfast at the prearranged time, we will head out for our next adventure – The Zip Line activity. Enjoy the views from the tree canopy for a different perspective, as you soar through the air of Peruvian cloud forest for the ultimate adrenalin- filled activity. We will then head by bus to the Hydro-electric station to begin our hike along the train tracks until we arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo. Along this route we will stop off for our lunch. On arrival to Aguas calientes, we will settle in to our hotel, and relax in the town before we head out for dinner with our guide. We can take a stroll around the town and visit the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes or enjoy the handicraft market (dinner and hotel included).
In the morning, our guide will wake us at 5:00 a.m.to set out for the most important archaeological site of Machu Picchu. We will take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu which take approximately 25 minutes. We will have a guided tour of the impressive Inca citadel, which lasts approximately 2 hours, after which we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Our guide will be on hand to assist you all along the way and provide instructions and answer any questions. We will then take our train to Ollantaytambo where our transport will be waiting to take us to the Cusco Hotel.
IMPORTANT: The time of the return train ticket can vary, depending on availability, at the time you confirm your trip.
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Book at least four months ahead since spots fill fast. Confirm bike, raft and zip-line gear included. Ask about group size before booking.
Climate
Starts cold at over 4 000 m with frost possible. By day two you enter humid jungle zones where temperatures reach 25 °C. Rain likely November to March.
Best Season
May to October offers drier trails and stable river levels. Rainy season can swell rapids and make zip-line lines wet and cold.
How To Dress
Layer moisture-wick base fleece mid-layer waterproof shell. Swap to shorts or quick-dry pants in jungle heats. Carry waterproof pack cover.
Physical Preparation
Train with mixed cardio like cycling and stair climbs. Include river trek or pool intervals for rafting muscle use. Hike with 5 kg pack to simulate trail fatigue.
Local People
You’ll pass families tending coffee and coca plantations. They speak Quechua and Spanish, wave as you pass. Some sell fresh fruit along muddy trails.
Who Should Go
Ideal for active travelers who want more than pure trekking. Must handle sudden weather shifts and varied gear changes. Not for first-time low-land hikers.
Food On Route
Breakfasts start with oatmeal eggs and fruit. Lunches packed sandwiches rice or quinoa salad with chicken or cheese. Dinners include pasta local potatoes vegetable stew and herbal tea made from coca leaves. Snacks of granola bar and dried fruit keep energy high between activities.
Biking down from Abra Malaga rafting on Urubamba River zip-lining between canyons and hiking to Hidroeléctrica before reaching Machu Picchu
You cover roughly 60 km split across four days including bike paths river routes jungle trails and final hike to Sun Gate
Basic bike handling skills help especially on steep rocky descent from the pass but guides offer practice and support vehicle follows
Rapids are class II so they’re moderate and guides give safety briefing life jacket and helmet before launch
Most agencies allow swapping biking for a hike section though you may miss views of deep canyons from the seat
Standard tour includes bike raft zip-line helmet life jacket and tent if camping but verify sleeping bag and bike quality
Temperatures can drop to zero or below at Abra Malaga early morning so layer warmly and carry gloves
Reservations from May to October fill fast so book at least four months ahead especially if you need specific gear upgrades
Acclimatize two nights in Cusco or Sacred Valley drink lots of water rest before day one and consider coca tea
Moderate to challenging fitness needed for mixed activities and up to 700 m climbs a day with occasional steep descents
Yes notify agency in advance meals can include extra eggs cheese rice beans and quinoa salads for vegetarians
Groups cap at 16 people so guides maintain pace stops and gear changes efficiently without large waits
Yes you must carry insurance covering high-altitude rescue medical evacuation and rafting incidents
If river level is unsafe rafting may be canceled zip-lining postponed and you’ll hike alternate trail segments
Some operators offer add-on hikes to hot springs extra camping nights or a longer train hike from Hidroeléctrica to Machu Picchu
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This 4-day action-packed excursion combines mountain biking and hiking in the Andes for the ultimate Cusco adventure. During the first day, we will climb to higher elevations, which means cold
