OVERVIEW

The Inca Jungle tour is an alternative way to get to Machu Picchu and engage in an incredible multi-activity tour that includes biking, trekking, rafting and zip-lining. The tour is 3 days that includes these activities ending in Aguas Calientes where we spend the night before ending the tour with the highlight of South Americas most famous tourist attraction – the site of Machu Picchu itself on day 4.

DAY 1 – CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – MALAGA HIGH PASS – SANTA MARIA (BIKING AND RAFTING)

Meals: Lunch and dinner
Pickup at your hotel in the morning (around 6.40 – 7.00) and we start our drive towards Ollantaytambo – once here. We have a short break (you can have some breakfast – not included) before continuing on by bus until Abra Malaga arriving approximately 10.30 am to 11 am and at an altitude of 4350 meters. It is from here that we will start our adventure with biking descending for about 3 hours whilst passing through rural villages, by rivers – we will also visit the Huamanmarka archaeological site along the way. We then continue till we reach Santa Maria (arriving at 14.00 approximately) where we will have lunch and relax for a bit before beginning our rafting part of the trip. The rafting is on the Urubamba river and lasts for about 2 hours and there will be a safety kayak accompanying the rafters at all times. Those in the group that chose not to participate in the rafting will be exploring the town in the meanwhile. We then all go to the guesthouse for the night.

DAY 2 – SANTA MARIA – SANTA TERESA (TREKKING)

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After a good breakfast sat outdoors at the lodge we start our trekking for the day by walking along the river bank and slowly climbing. We will pass by coffee plantations and fruit orchards plus maybe see a variety of birds and plants in this wonderfully biodiverse high jungle forest. When we arrive to a pass we can see the whole of the Urubamba Valley below. We then start our descent – we will be passing through farmland, by rivers and waterfalls until we arrive at the hot water springs of Santa Teresa (entrance fee 20 soles – not included). We will take a break here and then later walk for a further 40 minutes until the actual town of Santa Teresa (1680 meters) where we will sleep the night in a local family house (basic conditions).

DAY 3 – SANTA TERESA – AGUAS CALIENTES (ZIPLINE AND TREKKING)

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
On the third morning, after breakfast, we will set off from Santa Teresa and you will be taken by bus to Hydroeléctrica for the zip-line – 2,500 meters of cables with the longest ride covering 400 meters and the highest at 150 meters. Those who are not participating in the zipline will continue hiking for about 3 hours until reaching the Hidroelectric also to rejoin the rest of the group. Everyone will then have lunch and then the tour will continue with a trek along the Inca Jungle trails for a further 3 hours until arriving at the town of Aguas Calientes. Here you will be taken to the hostel at about 4 pm and at night the group will be taken for dinner in a local restaurant whilst receiving a briefing about the following day tour to Machu Picchu.

DAY 4 – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Meals: Breakfast only
Today we wake up early and catch the shuttle bus Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu site at 5.30 am. The ticket control entrance should be passed about 6.00 am and we will enter the site to see one of the wonders of the world. At the ruins you will be taken to a 2-hour-guided visit of the site.
Before starting the guided tour on the site, you will have time to grab some snacks from local shops, check we have got everything you need on you (sunglasses, suncream, a hat and a waterproof poncho are definitely recommended) and get ready for the final part of this unforgettable experience.
During our guided tour we will visit enclosures, plazas, sacred fountains, temples, towers and our guide will explain the different functions of each area such as the agricultural and urban sections. The tour lasts for about 2 hours and you will then have free time to explore the site yourself. During your free time, you can also climb the Huayna Picchu mountain (2720 m) as an additional option (see below). Great spots around the site in order to take the best pics are the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock and the Sacred Plaza with amazing views over the Cordillera Vilcabamba on the background and Rio Urubamba below.
After spending some hours at Machu Picchu we unfortunately have to leave and the group will make its way down to the town of Aguas Calientes (you can walk or there is also a bus service which is included in the price) before taking the train back to Cusco. If time allows, you can also go to the local hot springs in the town (entrance fee not included for this) in order to chill out and relax a bit before ending your tour. You must be at the train station at least 30 minutes before your train departure time and the train journey takes about 1 hour 45 mins to get to Ollantaytambo, where we will transfer to a tourist bus to take you back to Cusco (you will be dropped off at San Francisco square in Cusco at around 22.30).