Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu

13
Peru
4 Days
3B 3L 3D
From$559 USD
Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu

Hike, bike, zip-line, and raft your way to Machu Picchu on the Inca Jungle Trail, an incredible combination of hiking and extreme sports!

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Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to Santa Maria: Biking and Rafting

Start your adventure with a hotel pick-up around 5:00 AM (time to be confirmed). Our morning drive takes us to Malaga Pass(4,350 meters), arriving at around 11:00 AM.

Let the fun begin! We descend the pass on mountain bikes, on an exhilarating ride that takes approximately 3 hours, passing by small villages, orchards, and rivers.

We reach Huamanmarca around 1:30 PM. From there, it's a short (approx. 30 min) ride in our private van to the town of Santa Maria.

Next up is a 2-hour rafting trip. We encounter class III and IV rapids, accompanied by a professional safety kayak.

Tonight, we spend the night in a hostel in Santa Maria.

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Day 2: Santa Maria trek to Santa Teresa: Trek through the Inka Jungle

After a delicious breakfast, we begin our trek to Santa Teresa at 6:00 AM.

The first 2 hours are uphill, but we pause to learn more about the diverse flora and fauna. Take a break at a family house to drink water and maybe refuel with some tropical fruit.

Resume the trek to cross the section of the Inca Trail that historically connected Machu Picchu with Vilcabamba. Your guide will tell you more about the history of the Incas.

Afterwards, we will descend to the small town of Quellomayo for a lunch stop.

Finally, it's a 2-hour trek to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo, where you can spend time and unwind.

Tonight's hostel accommodation is in Santa Teresa.

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Day 3: Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes: Trekking and zip-line

After breakfast in Santa Teresa, we walk 20 minutes from the hotel to the zipline meeting point.

This canopy activity has 12 platforms and 5 cables suspended 250 meters above the valley - the longest zip line is 1000mts!

After about an hour and a half of high-flying, a bus takes us to Hydroelectrica. We stop for lunch and check out a series of waterfalls as well as an astronomical sundial used by the ancient Incas.

After 2 to 3 hours of walking along the train tracks, we arrive in the small town of Aguas Calientes. Rest and relax in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

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Day 4: Visit Machu Picchu and return to Cusco

This last day starts very early, around 5:00 AM. Have breakfast, then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu.

Your guide will give a tour, telling you about the history of Machu Picchu and showing you the famous temples, altars, and viewpoints. After that, you have free time to explore the city or climb one of the mountains.

Meet your guide back in Aguas Calientes to collect train tickets and for a last lunch (this is optional and not included). The train takes you to Ollantaytambo, where our bus is waiting to drive you back to Cusco.

Note: a popular activity to do at Machu Picchu is to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. If you would like to do this, please let us know in the Skyhook guide's chat after making your booking.

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What's Included

Included
  • Pre-departure briefing: Meet your guide and group at the local guides office around 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins.
  • Accommodation: 1 x night in a 3 star hotel in Aguas Calientes, and 2 x nights in a basic hostel.
  • All Transportation: Including bus from Cusco to start point, train ticket return to Ollantaytambo, and bus back to Cusco.
  • Food: 3 x breakfasts, 3 x lunches, 3 x dinners.
  • Guide: An experienced, bilingual guide + an assistant guide for groups with 8+ people.
  • Activities: Full suspension mountain bikes, helmets, and gloves. Rafting activity with all equipment. Zipline activity.
  • Bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (one-way).
  • Entrance to Machu Picchu + Guided tour.
Not Included
  • First breakfast in Cusco and last lunch in Aguas Calientes.
  • Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
  • Any international or domestic flights.
  • Entrance ticket to the hot springs in Santa Teresa (extra US$5).
  • Huayna Picchu entrance fee (extra US$85).
  • Return bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (extra: US$12).
  • Tips and gratuities.
  • Single supplement: if you're travelling alone, you will need to pay an additional US$60 for your own room.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

13 verified reviews

Katherine
Katherine

(Oct 2024)

The tour was amazing in that all the activities were fantastic, especially the white water rafting. Accommodation basic but fine. Food local but delicious. Our tour guide Jonathon did his job but seemed bored and even complained of being tired. It was our first time and he did not have the energy & enthusiasm that would have created more excitement. It was obvious that he had done it for years. Other guides were taking photos, videos, making it fun for their groups. Your rating 4/5 due to guide but would highly recommend doing tour to friends with another guide.

Leslie
Leslie

(Oct 2024)

Best experience of my life! Our guide (Jonathan) went above and beyond. He was respectful, very knowledgeable, and on top of everything. He answered all of our questions and was a joy to be around.

Leah
Leah

(Jul 2024)

We had the most incredible trip with Wilbert! The experience and adventure he takes you on is truly a trip of a lifetime. We’re both single females in our 30s and he took care of us like a father figure and was super knowledgeable of Machu Picchu and the Inca history, especially since his family is from that area. It was nice because he catered to our needs as well. We’re in decent physical shape but definitely struggled with some of the heights and so he pushed us but also arranged transport when needed. I would definitely train 3 months in advance if you’re not already an experienced hiker. You also need to bring a significant amount of Sol (at least 400) for tips throughout the trip (i.e. drivers, raft guides, zip line instructors, water and snacks throughout the way, etc). The food was all very good (mostly chicken, tomatoes, rice, potatoes, vegetable soups) and we never felt unsafe eating anything. The hostels were all very clean. Would highly recommend to anyone as it’s a memorable experience that’ll last a lifetime! And hopefully you’ll get Wilbert as your guide as he is like the Mayor of Cusco and takes phenomenal photos and videos of you!

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Rose
Rose

(Apr 2024)

Our 4 day Inca jungle trek tour with Wilbert was absolutely incredible! I wanted to see Machu Picchu but I’m a pretty novice hiker and was also worried about mountain biking down switchbacks. Wilbert immediately put me at ease. He coached my group of 3 through the biking and made sure we went at a pace that was comfortable for us, checking in frequently to make sure we were okay. He took my GoPro and took some awesome footage of us going down the mountain. The rafting portion was so much fun and Wilbert made sure to capture photos of us as we set off down the river. We were most nervous about trekking with our 10kg bags on the trail. Wilbert secured trekking poles for me last minute and again allowed us to go at our (slow) pace. Every time we wanted to stop we learned more about the plants and animals around us as well as other historical facts which we thoroughly enjoyed. At lunch on day 2 he ran to secure hammocks for us and always looked to make sure we had everything we needed and more. On day 3 he waited for us at the bottom of the Zipline, videoing our arrivals and getting us the best seats on the bus for our drive to the trekking point. He again went at our pace and stopped to point out important sights. Knowing I get bus sick, he got me the seat next to the driver on the bus ride up to Machu Picchu on day 4. He showed us all of the best spots to take pictures and provided so much information that really helped us appreciate the importance and beauty of Machu Picchu. Wilbert made our experience so special and I am so grateful for his kindness and expertise. I would highly recommend this trip and ask for Wilbert as your guide!

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Dwayne G
Dwayne G

(Sep 2023)

Jonathan was a great tour guide, good option for a fun approach to Machu Picchu with great activities built in along with some medium difficulty hiking including parts of the Inca Trail with spectacular views.

FAQs

Before you go

You need to pack the following essentials for Inca Jungle Trail:

- Original Passport
- Walking shoes
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Warm jacket
- Hat and gloves
- T-shirts
- Comfortable Trousers
- Sun hat
- Sun cream (factor 35 or higher)
- Insect repellant
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- Personal medication
- Camera and film
- Torch with spare batteries or headlamps.
- Swimwear for rafting

We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 48 hours before the start of your trek. This will give your body time to acclimatize to the high-altitude conditions. There's no sure-fire way to tell how each person reacts to the change in altitude, give yourself as much time as possible in order to begin your tour comfortably. There is plenty to do in Cusco and in the Sacred Valley. We can help arrange a few day trips for you.

Please consult with your physician or local travel clinic regarding your visit to South America. If you are visiting the Amazon, a yellow fever vaccination is recommended. Illnesses are more common in the Amazon than in the Andes mountains, where this trek takes place. Entrance requirements for Peru in regard to COVID-19 vaccinations and tests change regularly. You should check up-to-date restrictions before traveling.

There is a total of 3 hours of mountain biking. 95% of the road is downhill and paved, therefore, the cycling part of the tour is not difficult. You do need to know how to ride a bike but only basic to intermediate experience is required.

We recommend a backpack that can hold between 40-50 liters with only the necessary clothes for the 4-day trip. The rest of your luggage will be left in a storeroom at your hotel/hostel in Cusco or our office. During part of the trip, you will have to carry your own backpack. Pack only the essentials.

Please see what's included and not included in the section above.

Yes, if you are a solo traveler, you will need to pay a single supplement (US$60). This will mean you get private accommodation during the tour, and don't need to share a room. You'll need to make this payment in cash to the local guide once you arrive in Cusco.

No technical skills are required to join this tour; however, participants must be in good health and possess an adventurous spirit, as activities include white-water rafting and zip-lining.

Children need to be at least 15 years old to participate in the Inca Jungle Trail.

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip.

We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, Rise & Shield. They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim. They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.
On your trip

Hiking up the neighboring mountains to the Machu Picchu site (Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain) is an extremely popular add-on to this tour. These mountains have an additional cost of $85 USD per person and need to be booked in advance. If you would like to add one of these mountains to your Machu Picchu visit, please let us know once you have confirmed your booking (use the button on your Skyhook dashboard; MESSAGE THE GUIDE). This extra activity is subject to availability. You will need to pay this balance at our offices once you arrive in Cusco.

You will have time to climb the mountain after the main tour of Machu Picchu. Your guide will unfortunately not join you for this activity.

We take a maximum of 10 people per group.

Any baggage that is not necessary for your trek may be stored in your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge). In the case that your hotel does not provide this service, we will store your baggage safely in our office free of charge.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. After your tour, we will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco.

You will carry your backpack on your own shoulders during the trekking part of this trip (Day 2). Your backpack will contain all your belongings for the for the four-day trip, best to pack light! The rest of your luggage will be stored in Cusco.

During the biking activity the backpack goes in our transportation. During the zipline and rafting, the backpack stays at the base camp.
Other FAQs

Yes! If you would like to add extra days to your stay in Cusco and visit Rainbow Mountain, please 'Message Your Guide' from your Skyhook Dashboard after making the booking. Any activities that are not included in the itinerary of this trip will need to be arranged directly with the local operator and paid for in the country.

Machu Picchu entrance tickets can sell out, especially in season. So, it is advisable to book your trip in advance. We can only confirm your trip once we have secured your Machu Picchu entrance ticket. If we are unable to get a ticket for your date, we will recommend an alternative date or refund your booking in full.

Please immediately follow your booking by providing your passport information to your host on your Skyhook dashboard.

Note that if we have confirmed the purchase of your ticket and you need to change dates/ cancel your trip, the ticket price is non-refundable (as cash or Skyhook credit). If a date change is possible, you will need to pay the extra cost of a new ticket.

For this trip, we do need at least two people booked on a date to confirm departure. If you are travelling solo, you're welcome to book, but please drop us a message beforehand to confirm existing groups.

Once we have two or more bookings, the only events that may jeopardise your travel dates are natural disasters or other circumstances that may put your safety at risk.

We consider the importance of varied, nutritious, and above all delicious food, so we offer a wide variety of foods in the Inca Jungle trek. That is why we will offer you 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, and 3 happy hours so that you recover all the energy of the trek and at the same time enjoy a culinary experience of the highest level.

If you are vegetarian, vegan, or otherwise, you must inform us to ensure a personalized dining experience.

We happily receive clients with food allergies (nuts, wheat, dairy, etc.). Please inform us in detail of your condition upon making your reservation. If in doubt, ask us. We kindly ask that you declare the severity of your reaction and any medication that you take in case of an emergency. If your allergy is severe, you need to be accompanied by someone who will take responsibility for your situation and carries the necessary medication.
WE CAN NOT ACCEPT CLIENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES.

Of course, without any additional costs! When you make your reservation, please inform us of any dietary requirements, including allergies. We provide vegetarian options and can cater to lactose-intolerant or gluten-intolerant diets. Most of our main meals are buffet-style, so you can pick and choose. If you have preferences (for example, if you strongly dislike onions, tomatoes, or mushrooms) we will ask our chef to leave out or separate these items.
Your head guide is Gonzalo

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip you'll be led by Gonzalo and the guiding team based in Cusco.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Gonzalo

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