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Duration

4 days - 3 nights

Difficulty

Moderate - Challenging

Elevation

4315 M.S.N.M

Travel Style

Adventure

The 4 day Inca Jungle Tour offers an adrenaline packed ride down trails and along rivers to the iconic Machu Picchu.

Combining the thrilling activities of downhill mountain biking, river rafting, zip-lining and hiking, you will no doubt arrive at the gates of the citadel with a huge smile on your face!

Perfect for those seeking an unforgettable adventure on route to the lost city of the Incas, this tour will treat you to breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley and the historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

  • Itinerary
  • Inclusions
  • recommendations
  • price

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Abra Malaga pass – Santa Maria (biking and rafting)

Day 1 will begin with pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 6am.

After a 4-hour drive in your private transport through the Sacred Valley, you will arrive at the start of the Inca Jungle Trail at San Luis.

Once you have received your safety briefing and biking equipment, you will begin the downhill mountain biking experience from the Abra Malaga Pass at 4,316 m / 14,160 ft.

The adrenaline packed ride covering 60km, will treat you to views of the snow-capped peak of Veronica, and the cloud forests that blanket the Sacred Valley. As you descend down the trail, the surrounding egology will start to change, as you leave behind the treeless highlands of the glacial mountains and journey down into lush, green vegetated forests.

After a 3-hour ride, past the Huaman Marq’a archaeological site, you’ll arrive in the town of Santa María at 1,250 m / 4,691 ft. Here you’ll eat lunch and prepare for the next activity.

The Vilcanota River runs through the town of Santa María. Its gushing waters and level II, III, IV rapids, provide the perfect conditions for the afternoons’ river rafting experience. First, you will be provided with a safety briefing and all the necessary equipment you will need for the activity, including windbreakers, vests and helmets. Then, you will venture into the water for a 90 minute thrill ride down-stream, amidst the backdrop of the Amazon jungle.

Once you have completed the rafting, you will have dinner and settle in for the night in a hostel in Santa María.

Day 2: Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – (Hot springs)

At 6:30am, you will begin the 16km hike towards the town of Santa Teresa. The 7-hour hike will lead you along parts of the original Inca Trail and take you under the treeline of tropical Amazonian forests. The trail passes by small Quechua villages and a variety of coca, coffee and fruit plantations. Along the way, your guide will teach you about the local flora and fauna, unique to the area, and the history of the Inca Empire within the region.

Half way through the day you will stop for lunch and a rest in a hammock in the village of Quellomayo amidst the backdrop of the Huancarccasa canyon. Afterwhich, you will continue along the trail for a further 2-hours until you reach the hot springs of Cocalmayo.

Commonly known as ‘The Medicinal Baths Of Santa Teresa’, the springs are situated in the middle of a sub-tropical jungle, between a huge river and a small mountain. They comprise a set of 3 pools of varying sizes, that are fed from a natural spring located in the upper Uripata lagoon. Depending on the pool, the water temperature can vary between 38ºC and 44ºC.

Once you have bathed the afternoon away in the medicinal turquoise waters of the springs, you will be checked in to your nearby hostel and treated to a restaurant dinner in the town.

DAY 3: Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes (Zip-lining)

You will then be collected in your private transport, to be driven to the nearby zipline base. Here, you will be given a brief safety orientation, before embarking on a 2-hour adventure through the jungle, across four different ziplines and a suspension bridge.

Once you’ve completed the activity, you’ll begin the 2-hour hike to Hidroelectrica alongside glistening waterfalls and through tropical fruit plantations. Upon arrival in Hidroelectrica, you will take lunch in a local restaurant, before gearing up for the final stretch of the trail to Aguas Calientes.

For the next 3-hours, you’ll walk alongside the Vilcanota River, following the railway line that runs from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, arriving in Machu Picchu Town around 5pm.

After checking into your hostel, you’ll regroup with your guide for dinner in a local restaurant and rest up for the night ready for the day ahead.

If you wish to relax in Aguas Calientes hot springs, they’re only a 10 minute walk from the town center and are open for visitors until 8pm. Entrance fee is 10 soles (optional extra).

DAY 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

At 6:30am your guide will escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu where you will make your way through the Inca city with your personal guide. Aswell as visting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you’ll be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximatley 6.30pm.

There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.

Inclusions

Includes

  • 6pm Briefing at your hotel in Cusco the night before the tour
  • Private transport from hotel in Cusco to San Luis
  • Professional English/Spanish speaking tour guide
  • Food : 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
  • Vegetarian/vegan and special diets requested
  • Entrance ticket to Santa Maria River Rafting
  • Entrance ticket to Santa Teresa Zipline
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Biking equipment : bike, arm and knee pads, helmet, gloves.
  • Rafting equipment : windbreaker, vest, helmet
  • 1 night hostel in Santa Maria
  • 1 night hostel in Santa Teresa
  • 1 night hostel in Aguas Calientes
  • Bus ticket : Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
  • Train ticket : Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (expedition/standard class)
  • Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Does not include

  • Breakfast on day 1
  • Lunch and Dinner on day 4
  • Trekking Poles : Can rent from agency : $ 20 USD for entire tour
  • Optional lunch in Machu Picchu town : $ 27 USD (upon client request)
  • Hike to Huayna Picchu/Machu Picchu mountain : $ 70 USD (upon client request)
  • Optional entrance to hot springs in Santa Teresa (S / .10 soles)
  • Optional entrance to hot springs in Aguas calientes (S / .10 soles)

Recommendations

  • Original passport – expiration date no less than 7 months
  • Valid Student ID card (if student booking)
  • Good quality walking boots or shoes
  • Trekking poles – can be rented at agency
  • Sandals for down time (very important)
  • Good quality trekking socks to avoid blisters
  • Raincoat or long poncho (for rainy season)
  • Waterproof trousers (for rainy season)
  • Long sleeve shirts
  • Long trousers
  • Shorts suitable for hiking
  • Wide-brimmed hat – UPV is strong at altitude
  • Canteen water bottle as you should drink plenty of fluid on the trail
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Medicine/personal effects (eg. contact lense liquid)
  • Personal First Aid Kit
  • Camera or phone camera
  • Portable battery charger
  • Toilet paper (not usually found on trail)
  • Small travel towel
  • Cash/coins – small denominations – soles & dollars
  • Swimming suit for Santa Teresa hot springs (optional)

Price and Options

  • Price group $432 per person
  • Price private $558 per person

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