Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

We continue our trip early morning after breakfast getting progressively steeper until we get to a restaurant where we have lunch. Then we can relax in hammocks admiring surrouning coca plantations. Later on, we continue trekking to later reach an authentical Inca path - "Qhapaq Ñan"!! The path winds around steep hillsides and sheer gorges for approximately half a mile.
Please note that this part of the trek is not for people suffering from vertigo!!

Later, we descend to the famous hot springs of Cocalmayo and refresh ourselves in its healing water!! After that, we trek to Santa Teresa, a town located at Santa Teresa River. There, we accommodate ourselves in another familial simply hostel.

On Day 3, we have two optional activities planned for the Inca Jungle tour to Machu Picchu. We'll start with an early breakfast before embarking on the trek from Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica. If you choose to do the Zipline activity, you'll take local transportation to the starting point. After completing the activity, we'll continue on to Hidroelectrica, where we'll have lunch. From there, we'll begin following trails leading us to the Aguas Calientes Town, where we'll spend the last night in a more comfortable hostel with private rooms and bathrooms, offering hot showers.

Inca Jungle - Llactapata trek

If you decide to visit the Inca Trail and Llactapata, our guide will recommend that you wake up early and take private transport to the Llucmabamba site. From there, you will start a 4-hour hike to Llactapata, where we'll observe a stunning sunrise above a lovely landscape with Machu Picchu at its center. Later, we'll descend to bamboo groves and a cloud forest with increasingly thick vegetation and tall trees, offering excellent birdwatching opportunities. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the Hidroelectrica Railway Station.

Extra activity in the Inca Jungle tour

• Hiking from Llactapata to Machu Picchu (Extra cost).
• ZIP Line in the morning in Santa Teresa (Extra cost).

Important Note: Before booking, it is very important to let us know about your interest in the trek to Llacpata for availability.

After an early morning breakfast, we hike for 1 hours 20 min up to the mysterious city of Machu Picchu that we enter for the early morning best photos opportunities! Then our Tour Guide shows us around the Incan city and explains us about its history and purposes. After the guided tour, we have an opportunity to climb up for about 45 minutes to Huayna Picchu, a peak above Machu Picchu that serves to take some panoramic pictures of the Incan city. Then, we are given time off to spend and explore Machu Picchu on our own.

In the afternoon, we return by train to Ollantaytambo (alternatively to Poroy), from where we are taken by van back to Cusco.

Machu Picchu is both, the best and the least known site of the Incas as it is not mentioned in any Spanish conquistador´s chronicle so that contemporary archaeologists can not do anything more than just speculate on its functions. Local Quechuan farmers had known about Machu Picchu for centuries before an 11-year-old boy showed the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in a search of Vilcabamba) this site on the 24th of July  1911. At that time, all the rest of the world became aware of its existence. However, the site was covered with thick vegetation so Hiram Bingham along with his team returned and within the years of 1912 and 1915 cleared its surface. Over the years, plenty of work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.

Departure Point: Cusco - We pick you up from your hotel.

Departure Time: 06:30

Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek 

Briefing Time: Between 17:00 - 18:00

Return Point: Cusco - Our driver will drop-off in your hotel or Airbnb department

Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are two mountain peaks which tower over the Machu Picchu archeological site. To climb one of the mountains you need to purchase a Huayna Picchu ticket + Circuit 4 or Machu Picchu mountain + Circuit 3 and your Machu Picchu entry ticket-passes cannot be purchased separately from entry ticket. Usually the Machu Picchu ticket will be used during the guide tour and the mountain tickets are only for your climb up to the mountain, and once an entry ticket has been purchased a mountain pass cannot be added or canceled.

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel in Cusco a day before the adrenaline tour);
• Tourist transportation to bus to Abra Malaga - the initial point of the trek;
• Accommodation: Basic hostel Santa Maria and Santa Teresa (2 nights) and a comfortable Hostel (1 night);
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu circuit 1 or 2;
• Meals: 3x Breakfasts, 3x Lunches, 3x Dinners (Vegetarian food available);
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide;
• Mountain bicycles (brand Scott with a hydraulic brake),
• Helmet and gloves;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle; 

Extra activities included:

• Rafting (helmet, life jacket, paddles, boats);
• Canopy or Zipline (helmet and equipment required);

• Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day
• Peru Travel insurance (It is not obligate, but we recommend you in case you have any emergency for your trips or flights)
• Water (On the route, you will find the small local market and you ca buy by yourself)
• Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco;
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($80)
• A shuttle bus between Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes ($ 24 round trip or $12 - one way)
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
• Other extras not mentioned

Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Travel" option for this trek, you receive your own single room for all nights.

Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!

Usually our hike is starting from Cusco, but we can pick you up from your hotel outside of Cusco. Please check your trip and location for pick you up.

Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

• Original passport,
• Original ISIC (an international student card if applicable)
• Travel insurance (+ copies for a case of lost),
• Pocket money in Nuevos Soles,
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Colcamayu or Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
• Bottled water.
• Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

The Inca Jungle is not Inca Trail, this hike is top alternative trek. Inca Trail Reviews - Tierras Vivas and Book Now!!