3 Day Inca Jungle Hiking Tour to Machu Picchu in Peru

About the Experience

During your walk, you will be able to see coca leaf plantations, coffee plantations, and many fruits, the Inca Jungle Tour is an adventure with easier access to Machu Picchu so feel safe to see the Inca city Machu Picchu without much effort or difficult walks.

Inca Jungle Tour 3 days is the best option to get to Machu Picchu and enjoy landscapes and plantations of coffee, cocoa and hot springs, the 3-day adventure is excellent for people who do not have much time in the city of Cusco, and They want to travel to Machu Picchu in a more fun way.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Cusco – Abra Malaga – Santa Maria – Santa Teresa

You will begin the Inca Jungle Trail at 06:00 with a pick up from your hotel. On the way out, we’ll pass by the towns of Chinchero, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, all belonging to the Sacred Valley. The adventure begins at Abra Málaga a (4,316 m / 14,160 ft) high pass, with its impressive view of the snowcapped Huacay Willca (Mt. Veronica). There, you will receive your biking equipment, bicycles and safety instructions.

You will then begin your bike descent, crossing different ecological zones such as Puna and Cloud Forest, both having a huge range of flora and fauna. After 3 hours of biking downhill, you will finish your bike journey at the archaeological remains of Huaman Marq’a. There, you will take the van again and drive 25 minutes to the town of Santa Maria (approximately 1,200 m / 3,937 ft). From this town you will continue by bus 40 more minutes until santa Teresa village where you will spend your first night, leaving your baggage in the hostal you have an option to go to the hot springs.

Note 1: In the afternoon you have the option of rafting on the Vilcanota River (optional).This river offers category II and III rapids. For this activity, you will give you a helmet, windbreaks and category V life jacket. This activity is available between the months of April to December, and as stated by the Peruvian government, it is mandatory to know how to swim to perform it.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Shuttle to Abra Malaga: 3 1/2 hours by bus from Cusco
• Biking distance: 40 miles
• Biking time: 3 1/2 to 4 hours approximately
• Minimum elevation: 12,50 m / 4691 ft
• Highest elevation: 4350 m / 5167 ft

Day 2: Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

You will start by the day by having your breakfast between 07:00 and 07:30 then everyone will have the option of doing Zip Lining with one of the most trusted operators in the area for approximately two hours (This activity is at an additional cost and is optional). Then, you will have transport to the Hydroelectric, where the government control is located to enter the Machu Picchu National Park (Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary).

If you do not do the Zip Line then you walk from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric for approximately 3 hours. You meet at Hydroelectric with those who did the Zip Lining and those who did not. After this you will start to trek to the town of Aguas Caliente, passing through the area called Intihuatana, a small archaeological site. There, your guide will teach you about this site.

You will continue to San miguel, where you will enjoy your lunch. Along the journey, you will have the opportunity to take in the majestic Machu Picchu mountains and other constructions at the top of the mountain.

You will end the walk at roughly 16:00 in the town of Aguas Calientes where you will spend the third night in a basic hostel.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Walking distance: 9.2 miles
• Adventure: Moderate - High
• Starting elevation: 2000 m / 6562 ft
• Hostel elevation: 2000 m / 6562 ft

Day 3: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco Hotel

After breakfast you will board the bus which will take you to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of the itinerary the same professional tour guide from the trek; will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. You will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore on your own.

If you have booked Wayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price):

Visit the Sun Gate: You will have an opportunity to walk (approx. 2 hours up and down) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to see Machu Picchu from a different angle.

Hike to the Inca Bridge: The Inca Bridge offers a dose of adventure for your next Machu Picchu visit. However in this case, the adventure is a little less strenuous, but a lot more death defying, not for people with vertigo.

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Walking to Machu Picchu: 3.72 miles
• Tour in Machu Picchu: 2.3 hours exploring
• Machu Picchu site elevation: 2430 m / 7972 ft
• Huayna Picchu Mountain elevation: 2720 m / 8924 ft
• Machu Picchu Mountain elevation: 3000 m / 9843 ft

Briefing or informative meeting

All information meetings are held in your hotel at 18:00, one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Peru Hike offices.

These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at the office (you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up

Peru Hike can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnb's may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. Peru Hike strongly recommends that you book accommodation with good access.

Return to Cusco

Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!

In Machu Picchu you’ll board a bus that will take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to your arrival.

In Aguas Calientes you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 2 hours.

Once you arrive at the station, the representative, identified with the Peru Hike clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Plaza San Francisco, in Cusco. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Plaza San Francisco takes 2 hours.

In San Francisco, depending on your hotel’s location, the organizer will take you to a smaller car from their company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel in Cusco.