The trek crosses the Malaga Pass at 4350m, descends into the cloud forest. The trail starts in Santa Teresa, a 4:30 of hours away from Cuzco and ends in Aguas Calientes town.
The experience is not as popular as the overbooked Inca Trail but many find it just as beautiful. This trek (also sometimes called the Inka Jungle), is ideal for travelers in search of alternatives taking you through rural communities and adventures in the Jungle.
The Inca Jungle Trek, the Great Adventure to Machu Picchu is perfect for outdoor lovers, because the activities such as: biking, rafting, zip line and trekking with your final destination in Machu Picchu and sacred Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu. ITEP Travel guides are experts in the field, with years of experience they are well versed in the route. You are sure to have a fabulous experience with what many of our visitors have nicknamed, “The Super Team.”
Pick up time is 5:30 a.m. from your hotel.
We will leave the Imperial City of Cusco and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is here that we will have the chance to have the breakfast if you didn’t have it in Cusco. We will continue to Abra Málaga (4 350 meters) (14 160 ft.), the starting point of our biking tour. After a short explanation to help orientate you, your guide will provide you with the necessary equipment for the activity.
We will begin our 3-hours, bicycle descent 55km (34.18 miles) until we reach the town of Huamanmarca. During the trip we will experience the beauty of the snow-capped mountains and the tropical forest. Is here in the tropical forest that our Peruvian Amazon adventure begins. We will cross small streams and we will enjoy the change from cold to a tropical climate. During the journey we will stop several times to review bicycles and equipment.
We will arrive at the town of Santa María (1 200 masl) (3,937.01 ft.), where we will have our lunch and stay for our first night in a hotel. In the afternoon we have the option of rafting on the Vilcanota River. This river offers category III and V + rapids. For this activity we will give you helmets, windbreaks and category V life jackets. This activity is available between the months of April to December, and you must be able to swim to participate in accordance with Peruvian law.
That is our first day of Inca jungle trail to Machu Picchu.
Biking time: 3.5 hour approximately.
Meals: Lunch, and Dinner
Difficulty: Moderate
After a delicious breakfast, we will be ready to make the first day of trekking to Santa Teresa. The first two hours of our tour we will ascend the terrain. On the way we will have several stops to learn a little more about the richness in flora and fauna of the area in which we will find ourselves.
We will also stop at the home of a local family, where we will learn about their customs and traditions. Later we will cross a section of the Inca Trail that formerly connected the Sacred City of the citadel Machu Picchu to the last Inca refuge, Vilcabamba. Here our guide will explain a little more about the history of the Incas and also the Incan communication system (the route of the Incas).
At this point we have the pleasure of experiencing some of the most impressive views of the Huancarccasa canyon, the majestic Salkantay.
We will then descend to the town of Quellomayo, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch and a relaxing rest in the hammocks of the restaurant. We will continue with the last two hours of our hike to arrive at the thermal baths of Cocalmayo, where we will spend a while enjoying this enchanting place.
When the whole group is ready, our transport will take you to the town of Santa Teresa, where we will spend our second night.
Trekking Time: Approximately 9 hours (including picnic lunch in the route), and 2 hours for the lunch time.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Distance: 12km.
Meals: Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner
Difficulty: Difficult.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes at 1,900 m/6,232 ft.
After a hearty breakfast, on day three we will have the opportunity to do the zip line activity “We run in the air over the Andean Mountains”. This activity lasts approximately two hours.
Later. We head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974ft), where we come upon a distant but spectacular view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary from the southeast, a view few travelers ever get a chance to admire. We take a short break to explore the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored.
We arrive to Hydroelectric Village “Train station Village”, We continue walking next to the rail way until Aguas Calientes also known as Machupicchu Village (approx. 3 hours) to Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we check into a hotel for a celebration dinner with our guide and one last briefing for our next day experience!
Note - Those who prefer not to hike from Hydroelectric Village to Aguas Calientes can take the train experience 40 minutes’ trip “price is not included”. They will meet the rest of the group at the train station in Aguas Calientes together. (The guide confirms your preferences the night before.)
About Our overnight in Machupicchu Village: Hotel in Aguas Calientes will vary according your request and expectations.
A LITTLE OF HISTORY:
Bingham first discovered Llactapata in 1912. "We found evidence that some Inca chieftain had built his home here and had included in the plan ten or a dozen buildings. Bingham locates the site "on top of a ridge between the valleys of the Aobamba and the Salcantay, about 5,000 feet above the estate of Huaquina." "Here we discovered a number of ruins and two or three modern huts. The Indians said that the place was called Llactapata." Bingham did not investigate the ruins thoroughly, however, and they were not studied again for another 70 years.
Trekking Time: Approximately 9 hours (including picnic lunch in the route), and 2 hours for the lunch time.
Walk and Terrain: Walk, on mostly steep trails, and some open slopes.
Distance: 18 km.
Meals: Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging.
Today you´ll using the bus services to arrive to the archeological site of Machu Picchu.
If you plan on hiking Mt. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu you must make reservations in advance to your trip and the fee is US $ 35.
This is the most important day of the tour, today you will visit one of the seven wonders of the world. The tour will start very early, to appreciate the sunrise in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Our day will start at 5:00 a.m.
Once inside the archeological site, you´ll have a two-hour guided tour inside the Inca city of Machu Picchu, you will see its most important temples, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, etc. You will then be free to explore Machu Picchu on your own. If you booked in advance, to hike Mt. Huayna Picchu (height: 2,800 meters) (9,186.35 ft.) or Machu Picchu mountain (height: 3 082 meters) (10,111.55 ft.) you will have that opportunity after your guided tour. You must make the reservations to hike either mountain three months in advance for an additional cost of US $ 35.
Space is limited to only 400 people a day to climb Mt.
We also recommend allowing time to relax, meditate and rest while taking advantage of the magical and spiritual energies of this great wonder. After you have finished enjoying Machu Picchu, you will return to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo and the return by bus till Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 4kms/3.7mls
Difficulty: Easy
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