The Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu is a popular alternative route where you can not only go trekking, but also biking, zip lining, and rafting while enjoying the great views, an original Inca trail, and fruit and coffee plantations! The following route is the typical 4 Day option of going on the Inca Jungle Trail.

Inca Jungle Trek - Rafting

Day 1: Cusco – Abra Malaga – Santa Maria

We'll start by leaving Cusco for Abra Malaga at 4350 meters altitude. We'll start the Inca Jungle Trail 5 minutes down from Abra Malaga and bike down to Santa Maria at 1250 meters. In the afternoon we'll take a ride to the Vilcanota River where we'll go rafting! We'll return later in the afternoon for dinner at a local restaurant and stay overnight in a small local family lodging.

Inca Jungle 4 days - Malaga Pass
Meals : L/D
Accommodation : Local family lodging
Maximum Altitude : 4350m
Minimum Altitude : 1250m
Distance travelled : 70KM
Approximate biking time : 3-4 hours

Day 2: Santa Maria – Qellomayo – Cocalmayo – Santa Teresa

Today we'll start our day with breakfast at around 7:00am before hiking the Inca Jungle Trail. This will likely be one of your harder days along the Inca Jungle Trail since we'll be hiking for 7 to 8 hours today! We'll start our hike by leaving Santa Maria which is at 1250 meters and hiking along a part which is along the local road then an hour up an original Inca trail which is at 1750 meters, giving us great views of the area. We'll pass by parts of the jungle, coffee and coca leaf plantations and around 4 to 4 ½ hours into our trek, we'll arrive in the small community of Qellomayo where we'll have lunch. After lunch we'll continue our hike, walking along the river at an easy uphill slope for about 2 ½ to 3 hours until we reach the hot springs of Cocalmayo. We'll spend some time soaking in the hot water baths and relaxing after our long hike along the Inca Jungle Trail today. After 1 to 2 hours in Cocalmayo, we'll take local car/bus to Santa Teresa which is at 1500 meters and only about 20 minutes away. Here we'll have dinner together at a local restaurant and stay the night at a local family lodging.

Inca Jungle 4 days - Hot Springs of Cocalmayo
Meals : B/L/D
Accommodation : Local family lodging
Maximum Altitude : 1750m
Minimum Altitude : 1250m
Distance hiked : 20KM
Approximate walking Time : 7-8 hours

Day 3: Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

On our third day of the Inca Jungle Trail, we'll take a car/bus to a zip line camp of “Cola de Mono” about 20 minutes away. We'll be able to zipline for about 2 hours across the valley and afterwards we'll take a ride to Hidroelectrica where we'll enjoy a lunch. After lunch we'll hike along the railroad tracks from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. We'll stay overnight in a hotel.

Inca Jungle 4 days - Ziplining
Meals : B/L/D
Accommodation : Hotel
Maximum Altitude : 2100m
Minimum Altitude : 1500m
Distance travelled : 25KM
Approximate walking Time : 3 hours

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo - Cusco

We'll wake up around 4:00am and have breakfast before heading out to hike up to Machu Picchu. The hike up will be long a zig zag path uphill and should take about an hour and a half. Remember to bring your passport which matches your Machu Picchu entrance ticket as well as your ISIC (International Student Identification Card) if you booked with a student discount. When we enter, our guide will give us a tour of the main areas of this ancient city which will take about 2 hours. Afterwards we'll have time to roam around Machu Picchu on our own to discover the enigmatic energy which comes from this Inca city. Then we'll take a bus down to Aguas Calientes. You'll take the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo in the late afternoon and once there, we'll pick you up and drive you back to Cusco.

Inca Jungle 4 days - Machu Picchu
Meals : B
Maximum Altitude : 2430m
Minimum Altitude : 2100m
Distance travelled : 7KM
Approximate walking Time : 1 1/2 hours