Inca Jungle Trail Machu Picchu
The Inca jungle trail is the most fun and interesting way to Machu Picchu. From cycling down from the Andes to the tropical forest, rafting on the sacred river of the Incas, zip lining with a beautiful view of the Santa Teresa valley and observing beautiful waterfalls to hiking on a small section of the original Inca trail and tasting the best of exotic Peruvian fruits and all its exquisite gastronomy.
You have the possibility of doing the Inca Jungle Trail 4 days or the Inca Jungle Trail 3 days. In this article we will detail in a didactic and detailed way everything that you will appreciate and try day by day in the most fun and interesting hike to Machu Picchu.
Note
If you would like to know more about the 2 tours of the Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu that we have, here are the links:
- Inca Jungle Trek 4 days.
- Inca Jungle Trek 3 days.
How does the first day on the Inca jungle trek looks like?
Inca jungle Trail Biking
The first day you leave Cusco early and for 3 hours go to Abra Malaga, a place that marks the border between the province of Cusco and the convention (the jungle region of the Cusco region). In the Abra Malaga, there is a flat platform of 200 square meters that is known as the “airport”, this place is located at 4300 meters above sea level. From this point you go down by bicycle for 4 hours to the town of Granadillas. There are 55 kilometers of route from 4300 meters to 1700 meters. The inter-Andean landscapes and the entrance to the tropical forest of the Peruvian Amazon, make this bike ride one of the most scenic in the world.
Inca Jungle Trail Rafting
In the afternoon there is rafting on the Urubamba River (formerly known as Vilcanota or the sacred river of the Incas). The Urubamba River is one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. This river rises in the Vilcanota mountain range, crosses the southern area of the city of Cusco, the sacred valley of the Incas, surrounds the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu on 3 sides, making a meander and heads through the valley of the convention to its confluence with the Tambo River with which they form the Ucayali River, considered the longest river in Peru. The rafting activity lasts 2 hours and the rapids are level 3 and 4. The level scale of the rapids goes from 1 to 6.
- CLASS 1 EASY.
- CLASS 2 BEGINNERS.
- CLASS 3 INTERMEDIATE.
- CLASS IV ADVANCED.
- CLASS V EXPERTS.
- CLASS VI EXTREME (RAPID EXPLORATION)
How does the second day on the Inca jungle trek looks like?
Inca Jungle Trail Hiking
The Inca jungle trek is one of the interesting and beautiful ones in Cusco. This 7-hour hiking trail within the tropical cloud forest takes place between 1,700 and 2,300 meters above sea level. The amount of exotic fruits and psychedelic and medicinal plants that can be seen in this section is abundant. From the upper parts, the views of the Santa Maria Valley and the meandering Urubamba River entering the tropical forest is magical and unrepeatable. In addition to everything mentioned before, in the middle of the trail you will see a 40-meter waterfall. Without a doubt, every drop of sweat left on this walk in the Inca jungle trek will be worth it.
Inca Jungle Trail Hot Spring
After having finished the Inca jungle trail trek, you will go to the most beautiful thermal baths in Cusco and Machu Picchu. Cocalmayo is composed of 4 pools of thermo-medicinal waters of magmatic origin, ranging from 29 to 42 degrees Celsius. These lovely hot spring baths are very relaxing and appropriate after a demanding hike.
How does the third day on the Inca jungle trek looks like?
Inca Jungle Trail Zip Lining
The highlight of the day in the Inca jungle trail is the zip line activity that is carried out with the Vertical company. This company has 5 cables and 1 suspension bridge. The cables are 1000 meters, 800 meters, 600 meters, 400 meters and 200 meters in length. The view of the Santa Teresa Valley and the Sacsara River from each of the cables is amazing. The staff is very attentive and their main priority is the safety and enjoyment of each tourist.
The gardens and waterfall of Mandor
To get to the waterfall and gardens of Mandor, a 3-hour walk is made next to the railway line. This section is decorated by a beautiful and dense tree canopy that is home to many beautiful bird species such as: The Andean toucan, the yellow-green toucan, the Andean guan, the Andean motmot, the cock-of-the-rock and the spectacled bear, to mention some of the most emblematic species. The final section before reaching the Mandor waterfall is surrounded by the most emblematic orchids of Machu Picchu. The owner of this place cultivates around 200 orchids of the 455 registered in the archaeological park of Machu Picchu. All the orchids are marked with their common name and their scientific name. In addition to the beautiful orchids in this place you can also see a lot of medicinal plants and trees, butterflies, hummingbirds, the dwarf deer of Machu Picchu and a beautiful waterfall of 10 meters of fall.
How does the fourth day on the Inca jungle trek looks like?
Machu Picchu Visit
Around 6 in the morning you will board the bus that will take you to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. This meandering route of 8 kilometers and 25 minutes, will leave you at the control point of the archaeological park of Machu Picchu. From this point, hike uphill for 15 minutes to the viewpoints of the citadel, where the postcard photos of Machu Picchu are taken with Huayna Picchu as a backdrop. Without a doubt, a photo that will be remembered forever by all of you and your loved ones. The guided tour in Machu Picchu lasts 3 hours, this gives you enough time to calmly explore the best of the Inca citadel and take memorable photos. After the guided tour, we return by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, from where the return train to the city of Cusco will be boarded.
Return from Machu Picchu to Cusco
After a delicious lunch with your tour guide in the town of Aguas Calientes, around 2:30 in the afternoon, you will board the return train that will take you for 1 hour and 45 minutes to the town of Ollantaytambo, from where a private van provided by your travel agency will take you for 2 hours back to the door of your hotel in Cusco. You will be arriving around 7 pm at your hotels.