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Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu


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Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

Located in Cusco, it allows us to create tours connecting mainly the “Southern Route” (Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco). The most popular tour in Cusco is the Inka Jungle which combines culture and adventure sports such as bicycle, boating, zip line and hard walks for 4 days until you reach Machu Picchu.

 

The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is the best option for those who prefer a more adventurous and adrenaline pumping way to hike to Machu Picchu. Inca Jungle is the most entertaining way to get to Machu Picchu. It is important that you pay attention to these Inca Jungle Trek Tips so you can have an amazing and unforgettable experience. The trail combines trekking with mountain biking, an opportunity to enjoy rafting and ZIP line too. In addition a part of the trail leads through the latest discovered Inca path called Qapaq Ñan. With lots of activities to discover. 

 

The beginning of the bike ride starts at an altitude of 4,350 m.a.s.l. and then it descend to only 1,900 m.a.s.l. The bike ride offers you a visit of the Inca ruins, a view of splendid waterfalls, meeting local settlers and a chance of collecting exotic fruits along the path! Like the icing on the cake, the next day we continue the trek through the coffee and coca plant and subtropical fruit. The third day of the trek you go to Aguas Calientes and have the best time there making the ZIP Line. Last day we reach the overwhelming Incan citadel - Machu Picchu where our Tour Guide explains you each part function and its history.

 

You can admire beautiful mountains on the way as well as subtropical areas of a cloud forest. One of the highlights of the trek is a visit of the amazon, lovely and hot thermal baths where you can refresh yourself in its healing water that benefits your body. The baths, which temperature ranges from 40ºC to 44ºC, owns therapeutic effects on rheumatism, skin ulceration and other skin problems as well as bone pains.

 

 

Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

Inca Jungle Tour Overview

Sustainable Tourism: At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities 

Tour Operator: Tierras Vivas Travel 

Service Level: Comfortable, tourist-class accommodation, tourist-class train, and private transport.

Trek's Difficulty: 2 - moderate; a low-altitude hike, accessible to healthy travelers.

Activities: Rafting and Zipline are included in Inca Jungle tour

Age Requirement: 4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Permits: It is included in your hike your Machu Picchu ticket. Please note: the trail is fully booked months in advance during the high season.

Crew: A Tierras Vivas Representative in Cusco and a professional bilingual Tour Guide on the Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu..

Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner.

Transportation: Transportation by private van, 1x train.

Accommodation: Hostels with a dorm and a shared bathroom (2 nights), Hotel with a private room and a private bathroom (1 night).

Group: Minimun 2 people and Maximun 15 people (What is difference between Large group vs Small group)

Importart Note: On the Machu Picchu Jungle Trek is not included the water. On the route you will find the local market and you can buy the water, it is not expensive and you can help to the communities. 

  

Quick Itinerary

Day 01: Cusco - Abra Malaga - Santa Maria

Day 02: Santa Maria - Santa Teresa

Day 03: Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

Day 04: Machu Picchu - Cusco

 

Highlights of the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu:

  • Exploration of the latest discovered authentical Incan path to Machu Picchu.
  • The most sporty trek of Southern Peru.
  • 1 day of mountain biking.
  • 3 day hike with a professional Tour Guide.
  • An opportunity to give a try to rafting and ZIP Line.
  • Guided tour of Machu Picchu.

 

Meeting & Starting point of Inca Jungle

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

 

Inka Jungle Trek Review

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

 

What is the difference between Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain?

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.

 

Departures 100% guaranteed!!

Do I need to book it in advance? The Inca Jungle Trail has departures guaranteed, but train tickets and entrance to Huayna Picchu mountain are subjet to availability. For that reason, we HIGHLY recommend booking it in advance to ensure you receive exactly what you want!

PLEASE NOTE: May, June and July are peak months of a HIGH TOURIST SEASON in Cusco. It means that train tickets ARE SELL OUT QUICKLY!! Please be aware that the trek leaves daily; however, return train tickets may not be available, if you like to book on last moment. To avoid this inconvenience, please book it several weeks in advance!

 

Why choose Tierras Vivas?

  • A licensed tour guide for 8 trekkers, two licensed tour guides from 9 up to 16 trekkers.
  • Inca Trail tour operator since 2006
  • Specialist operators for international tour companies.
  • Highly experienced english speaking guide.
  • Inclusion all equipment for your Jungle trek to Machu Picchu;
  • We catter for any food restriction
  • Private bus to head trail
  • Tierras Vivas hires peruvian professional staff like guides, assistant guides.

 

Resposinble Travel

If you want to know about our foundation, please click Responsible Travel

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Day 01: Cusco - Abra Malaga - Santa Maria
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Day 01: Cusco - Abra Malaga - Santa Maria

Early morning, we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to transfer by private  vehicle passing Sacred Valley of the Incas to a starting point of the trek at Abra Malaga (4,350 m.a.s.l.) which is the highest place of the trek. There we sit on a bicycle and start biking down for about 4 hours to the small town of Santa Maria. On the route, you can appreciate an Incan site, cloud forest´s birds, medicinal plants, butterflies, snakes and tropical fruits. We also can visit local families to find about their daily routine. When in Santa Maria, we accommodate ourselves in a familial basic hostel where we can have a shower. After dinner, we spend the night there.

Inca Jungle:
Rafting in the afternoon in Santa Maria, 3-5 class of rapids. (Included)

Day 02: Santa Maria - Santa Teresa
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Day 02: Santa Maria - Santa Teresa

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.

Day 03: Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes
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Day 03: Santa Teresa - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes

We have early breakfast before taking a private transport to Llucmabamba Town. There we observe a stunning sunrise above a lovely landscape with Machu Picchu in its centre!! Later, we descend to bamboo groves and a cloud forest with increasingly thick vegetation and tall trees offering us some excellent birdwatching opportunities! Later in the afternoon, we get to Hidroelectrica (a hydroelectric plant) Railway Station and there we start following trails leading us to the Aguas Calientes Town. We spend the last night in a more comfortable hostel there with private rooms and bathrooms offering us a hot shower.

Inca Jungle tour: ZIP Line in the morning in Santa Teresa. (Included)

Day 04: Machu Picchu - Cusco
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Day 04: Machu Picchu - Cusco

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.

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What is Included on the Inca Jungle?
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  • Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel in Cusco a day before the adrenaline tour);
  • Transfer by private bus to Abra Malaga - the initial point of the trek;
  • Accommodation: Basic hostel Santa Maria and Santa Teresa (2 nights) and a comfortable Hotel (1 night);
  • Entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
  • Meals: 3x Breakfasts, 3x Lunches, 3x Dinners (Vegetarian food available);
  • Professional bilingual Tour Guide;
  • Tourist train from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
  • Mountain bicycles (brand Scott with a hydraulic brake), helmet and gloves;
  • Rafting (helmet, life jacket, paddles, boats);
  • Canopy or Zipline (helmet and equipment required);
  • Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;
  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle; 

Not Included:
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  • Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day
  • Peru Travel insurance
  • Water (On the route, you will find the small local market and you ca buy by yourself)
  • 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!

Starting point & Pick up
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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.

 

Trip/ Hiking Starting point & pick up
Inca Trail  Cusco, Chinchero, Urubamba, Yanahuara, Ollantaytambo 
Salkantay Trek  Cusco
Lares Trek  Cusco, Pisac
Rainbow Mountain  Cusco
Ausagante Trek  Cusco
Choquequirao trek  Cusco
Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu   Cusco, Urubamba, Yanahuara, Ollantaytambo
Inca Quarry Trail  Cusco, Urubambam Yanahuara
Day tours  Only Cusco

Appropriate clothing along this hike
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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.

What to bring on the Inca Jungle Trek?
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  • 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.

Inca Jungle to Machu Picchu Map
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Short Inka Jungle Trek 3 Days / 2 Nights
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Short Inka Jungle Trek 3 Days / 2 Nights

The short Inka Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is the best option for those who prefer a more adventurous and adrenaline pumping way to hike to Machu Picchu. The trail belongs to the Alternative Treks to the Inca Trail and it combines trekking with mountain biking, an opportunity to enjoy rafting and ZIP line too. In addition a part of the trail leads through the latest discovered Inca path called Qapaq Ñan. You can admire beautiful mountains on the way as well as subtropical areas of a cloud forest. Short Inka Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu.

 

Inka Jungle Tour to Machu Picchu 3 days

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Days 4
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per person
$ 320.00
Code PIJ
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responsible people foundation

The Responsible People foundation is registered under the Peruvian Non-Profit Organization Act. With an annual contribution from Tierras Vivas, we support our operating costs as well as a significant portion of project development costs.
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