Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

Our representative will collect you from your hotel in our bus and drive to Ollantaytambo, where we will have a short stop to relax your legs, use restrooms, or take your breakfast. Then we will continue driving for about an hour to reach Abra Malaga (4,316m or 14,116 ft), the highest point in this trip.

This is the spot where we will start our mountain bike. Your tour guide will provide you with all the biking gear for the same bike, followed by a safety speech and instructions. Afterward, we ride down, following the asphalt road. Along the way, we will have some spots to enjoy the stunning views and see how the dry landscapes of mountains turn into green, lush forests. You'll also see some snow-capped mountains around.

After cycling for about two hours, we will get to Huamanmarca town, where our biking tour ends. You will take a rest, then we will continue our bus drive for about 30 minutes to Santa Maria town, 1,200 m (3,937 ft). Here we will get our lodge and enjoy our delicious lunch prepared by our local family.

In the afternoon, you'll have the option to join rafting river activity in Santa Maria, where some sections have categories I, II, III, and III+ with some rapids. The RAF instructor will provide you with safe equipment (helmet, windbreaker, and life jacket). (Please note that this exciting activity is only available from April to December as the river rises during the wet season.) If you are not doing the Water rafting you could walk in the town or go to the river to relax. We spend the first night here.

Today is the hiking day in the forest, so we wake up around 6:00am and enjoy our jungle and fresh breakfast. We start hiking through some farming lands.

This hike section is not very demanding because the path doesn't go higher than 2,000 meters. On the way, you will see different jungle fruits such as bananas, mangos, oranges, and others. You'll also see some coffee, coca, cacao, and tea plantations. Of course, your guide will explain each of them. You will also stop in the house of a local family to learn about the organic coffee and chocolate processes. Definitely, you will make your own coffee.

After 2 hours of hiking, we will start ascending for another 1 hour to reach the Inca Trail, where you can see different breathtaking vistas of the valley and mountains around. This is a section of the original trail that connected Machu Picchu with the Amazon. Here, you will also learn about the Incas history and more about the Peruvian culture. Our hike will continue, going down towards the restaurant where we enjoy it.

After we have rested enough, we continue hiking, following the Urubamba River, to reach the thermal baths of Cocalmayo, where you can soak and relax your muscles after a long hike.

Afterwards, we continue our hike to Santa Teresa town, 1,500m (4,921 ft), where we spend the second night in a hostel.

Continuing with your adventure after breakfast, today you will have the option to go ziplining. If you do, you'll keep hiking the first section. The instructor will pick you up at the restaurant and drive you to the base camp, where they will provide you with the zip line gear.

You'll spend around 2 hours in the zipline flying the different cables and the suspension bridge. After this, you will drive to Hidroelectrica. For people who are not doing the zipline, we will walk for 2 hours following the bus road to the next restaurant in Hidroelectrica.

In Hidroelectrica, we'll enjoy our lunch with a fantastic view of Machu Picchu mountain. You'll probably be excited because we are closer to turning our dreams into reality. After a well-deserved rest, we'll continue hiking to Aguas Calientes by following the railway. It will take another 3 hours of hiking with some different stops along the way where you can have stunning views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains.

Around 4:00 p.m., we will arrive at Aguas Calientes town, also known as Machu Picchu pueblo. Here, your guide will lead you to your accommodation, where you can rest or explore the picturesque town by walking in its narrow streets. Around 6:30 p.m., we will have dinner, and the briefing for the next day will be provided for your tour guide.

The most anticipated day has arrived. After exploring some of the most fascinating landscapes in the jungle, finally we will visit Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Our day will start at 4:00am with breakfast at the hostel, then we will hike to Machu Picchu for about 1 hour with some flat sections and a steep trail with many stairs. Once you arrive at the checkpoint for Machu Picchu, we will show you tickets and possport to enter the park. We will hike to the classic spot where you can enjoy the sunrise and have a spectacular view of Machu Picchu and surrounding areas.

You'll take the time to capture the best moments in this mystical Inca citadel. Your guide will explain the history and how Machu Picchu was discovered years ago. Then, you'll go explore the most outstanding Inca temples that you can find around the area. The tour circuit will take about 2 hours, and it ends at exit.

If you have a ticket to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (previous reservations are needed with two months of anticipation plus a fee of $75). There are only 400 entrance tickets per day to climb these two mountains. You can climb these on your own time, but you’ll need to return to Aguas Calientes by hike of 40 minutes or bus in order to board a returning train to Ollantaytambo and finally a bus drive towards Cusco.

NOTE:

In order to receive detailed information about your trip, including when and where you will be picked up on the first day, you must visit the “Vidal Expeditions” office one day before embarking on your journey.

KEEP IN MIND:

Please bring your passport and the immigration slip you received upon your arrival to Peru. Cash is the only acceptable form of payment (Dollars or Soles). The type of change (Dollars or Soles) given for payments made in Soles will be determined by the Agency.