Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu – Inca Jungle Trail 4 Days

ITINERARY

Day 1: Biking the Malaga Pass (Cusco –  Santa Maria)

For your Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu you will have to wake up early. The hotel pick up will be at around 7:00 am. Our private transport will take you across the Sacred Valley.

In the town of Ollantaytambo we’ll have a 30 minute stop. You can use this time to make last minute shopping. Ollantaytambo is well implemented.  You can also have breakfast here.

The drive will continue to the Abra Malaga or the Malaga Pass. This is the highest point in the Jungle Inca Trek at 4,350 m / 14,272 ft. Here we’ll take our rental bikes. We’ll gear up and have a briefing before the departure.

We’ll bike downhill across a misty Andean landscape. This will be only the first adventure on our Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu. During this ride we’ll reach the cloud forest. This is where the climate changes to be warmer. The bike ride ends in Huamanmarca.

After these thrills we’ll take a transportation to the town of Santa Maria. Here you can opt to add a rafting experience (extra charge). You can choose to go down the Vilcanota River.

In Santa Maria, you’ll be able to settle in a comfortable hostel. You can take a hot shower and rest. Here you’ll have lunch and dinner.  We’ll spend the night here before continuing our Inca Jungle Trek.

Day 2: Inca Jungle Tour (Santa Maria – Santa Teresa)

The second day of the Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu is for exploration. We’ll have breakfast at the hostel. We’ll depart at 6:30 am. We’ll be hiking the cloud forest. Remember to stay hydrated. The first hour on the Inca Jungle trail will be easy. The path is flat. Then the path will ascend.

On our way across the Inca Jungle trek, we’ll encounter plantations. From coca, to coffee, to cacao and native fruits. We’ll stop at the Pispitayoq family house for resting.

We’ll reach one path that in ancient times was connected to the Classic Inca Trail. This path will lead us to an easier path. Our destiny is Qellomayu village. Here, we’ll have lunch.

But the hike in the Inca Jungle Trail isn’t over. After lunch, we’ll walk for another 3 hours to arrive at the Vilcanota river banks. We’ll cross the river by a monkey bridge.  After a little more of walkin we’ll relax at the Cocalmayo hot springs.

Relax your sore muscles in these famous hot springs. After that we’ll deserve rest, you’ll continue to Santa Teresa. In town, you’ll settle in your hostel for the night.

Day 3: Entering Machu Picchu Pueblo (Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes)

For the third day of the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu picchu, the adventure will continue. Breakfast will be at 7:00 am. Before we start hiking again, you can do zip lining. This is an optional activity with an extra cost.

After this, we’ll start walking on a dirt trail to the Hydroelectric Central Station. In the town around the Hydroelectric plant, we’ll have lunch in a local restaurant. Our Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is near its end.

After lunch, we’ll walk along the railroad in the direction to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo. From this part of the Inca Jungle trek, you’ll have the first views of Machu Picchu Mountain.

This last leg of the Inca Jungle trail takes about 3 hours. During this time you’ll encounter the diverse flora and fauna from Machu Picchu.

You will reach Machu Picchu Pueblo near 5:00 pm. Our team members will make sure you arrive at your hostel in Aguas Calientes. You’ll have accommodations with a private bathroom and hot showers.

Day 4: Machu Picchu Visit (Aguas Calientes – Cusco)

For the last day of our Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu, we’ll explore a wonder of the world. You’ll have to wake up around 4:00 am. At 4:20 you’ll meet with your tour guide to start the hike to the sanctuary.

You can also take the first bus to Machu Picchu (extra cost). We aim to reach Machu Picchu before the sun rises. We want you to experience the dawn over the ruins of Machu Picchu.

Before entering Machu Picchu, you’ll have to show your passport. Enjoy a 2 hour guided tour by our expert tour guide. Get to know the most important areas in Machu Picchu.

The Inca Jungle trail will bring you to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the amazing views, the history and the magnificent nature around. For solo explorations, you will have time after the guided tour.

During this free time you can plan to climb the Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu Mountain. This comes with an extra fee and requires early booking.

Before midday we’ll be turning back to Aguas Calientes. From Aguas Calientes we’ll be returning to Cusco by your chosen method.

To return by car, You need to walk the three hours back to the Hydroelectric Station. This will shorten the time for free exploration. The trip back to Cusco will take around 7 hours. But it is cheaper.

You can return by train to Ollantaytambo. From there a private transport will take you to Cusco. In total this takes around 5 hours. This is a more convenient return but it is a little more expensive.

For the end of your Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu, we’ll leave you, safely in your hotel. With us, your adventure will be the best possible.

WE OFFER YOU TWO OPTIONS TO GO BACK TO CUSCO AFTER VISITING MACHU PICCHU

Train option

You can visit Machu Picchu for a longer time and have enough time if you are planning to do HUAYNAPICCHU or MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN, which require a minimum of 3 hours approximately.

After visiting the area of Machu Picchu for 7 to 8 hours, you have to return to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train at 18:20 to Ollantaytambo for 1.5 hours, then by car to Cusco for 2 hours more to arrive in Cusco around 10:30 pm.

Car option

You arrive at Machu Picchu around 6:00 am for the guided tour for 2 hours then you have free time to explore the site on your own.

If you take this option, and you are thinking to do HUAYNAPICCHU, or MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN it’s possible but will be too very tight and rush because you need to leave Machu Picchu at 11:30 to walk back to Hydroelectric for 3 hours, in order to be in Hidrolectrica at 3:00pm to take a car for 6 hours back Cusco.

If you are considering doing this option and doing one of the mountains, we recommend you stay one more night in Aguas Calientes and return the 6th day to Cusco by car.

Inca Jungle Trail Not Included

• Hot springs entrance fee in Cocalmayo (3 USD).
• Bus to Machu Picchu (12 USD, double if you want to return by bus).
• Breakfast on the first day and lunch at Machu Picchu (you will have options to choose a restaurant and explore).
• Snacks.

Price

If you are a university student you can get a 20 USD discount on your entrance to Machu Picchu. To apply for this benefit you have to send a digital copy of both sides of your current student card.

Make sure all data (name, university’s name, visible student photo) is visible. You can only apply to this benefit if you are 25 years old or younger. After getting the discount, you have to present your student card at the control point before entering Machu Picchu.

The regular pricing for the Inca Jungle Trek depends on your return option. However, we have available many services that can enhance your Inca Jungle Trek.

The return by car can cost you 185 USD per person. The return by train can cost you 285 USD per person. For the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu we recommend adding the 50 USD. For the complete adventure sport experience.

Additionals

• Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: 20 USD
• Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: 20 USD
• Vistadome Train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (luxury upgrade): 30 USD
• And all extras mentioned in the Not-Included section above.

Terms of Reservation

Minimum 1 week before, minimum 2 people and the minimum age is 12 years.

Changes or upgrades are subject to 1) availability and 2) an extra charge as stated in our Terms and Conditions.

Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu (please contact us for availibilities): In case you opt to add one of the two hikes, please contact us first via Whatsapp +51998002311 or incapathperu@gmail.com to check availabilities. The entrance fee for each is $20 and will be added automatically when you choose the preferred option in the dropdown above.

Terms of Cancellation

You can choose between 2 options that will affect the refund policy:

• Option 1: We purchase the tickets within 5 days prior to the start of the tour. You can receive a 95% refund if you cancel before we purchase them. Once the tickets are purchased, the fees below apply.
• Option 2: We purchase train & entrance tickets as soon as you book to guarantee the best tickets. You receive a partial refund when you cancel.

Cancellation fees p. person: $95 (for train, bus and entrance tickets already purchased) + 5% administrative fee. The remaining amount will be refunded within 3 working days.

Postponement fees p. person: Cost of postponing tickets (train, entrance & bus) + 5% administrative fee.

If you cancel 3 days or less before the start of the tour, there won’t be any refunds. We don’t issue refunds in case of delayed flights, inconveniences with train schedules, bad weather or sudden strikes that affect the tour.