Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

A 4-day multi-sport route to Machu Picchu: downhill mountain biking from the Malaga Pass, rafting on the Urubamba River and two days of trekking through rainforest and cloud forest, including sections of the original Inca trail and the Inca site of Llactapata, which faces Machu Picchu. Along the way you see snow-capped peaks such as Verónica (5,860 m / 19,226 ft).

Day 01: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Malaga Pass – Santa María (Biking and Rafting)

We leave Cusco at 6:00 a.m. in our private transport to Ollantaytambo for breakfast, then drive up to the Malaga Pass (4,350 m / 14,272 ft). After a few minutes to set up the bikes and gear, we ride downhill for about 3 hours to Santa María (1,500 m / 4,921 ft), passing through highland, cloud forest and rainforest and the Inca sites of Incatambo and Wamanmarca.

In the afternoon we raft the Urubamba River for 2 hours, then return to our countryside lodge for afternoon tea and dinner.

Meals: lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight: countryside lodge. Altitude: 1,500–4,350 m (4,921–14,272 ft). Difficulty: moderate to challenging.

Day 02: Santa María – Cocalmayo – Santa Teresa (Trekking)

After an early breakfast we hike for about 7 hours through the rainforest, past plantations of avocado, cassava, oranges, mangoes, cacao, coffee and coca. We stop for lunch at Quellomayu, then climb a moderate hill along a section of the original Inca trail to the Cocalmayo hot springs, where you can soak and relax (entrance optional, not included).

Afterward we take a bus to Santa Teresa, where we spend the night.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: countryside lodge. Distance: about 14 km (8.7 mi). Altitude: 1,500–1,900 m (4,921–6,234 ft). Difficulty: moderate.

Day 03: Santa Teresa – Llactapata – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes (Trekking)

This is the hardest day of the trek. After breakfast we take a 30-minute bus ride to Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft) and climb for about 3 hours through cloud forest and sections of the original Inca trail to the Puncuyoc Pass. A 20-minute descent brings us to Llactapata (2,700 m / 8,858 ft), an Inca site facing Machu Picchu, with views of the citadel, the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains and the Aobamba Canyon, where you can see another Inca trail.

We then walk downhill for about 2 hours to the hydroelectric plant for lunch, and continue for about 2 more hours through the Machu Picchu National Park to Aguas Calientes, with views of the location of the citadel and the wall around it.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: private room in a hostel in Aguas Calientes. Distance: about 16 km (9.9 mi). Altitude: 2,000–2,850 m (6,562–9,350 ft). Difficulty: moderate.

Day 04: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

After an early breakfast we take the bus around 5:30 a.m. up to Machu Picchu. Your guide leads a 2-hour tour through the history of the citadel. Afterward you have free time to explore, take photos or walk up to the Sun Gate. Climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain is an optional extra with a separate ticket, subject to availability; ask when booking.

We return to Aguas Calientes for lunch. In the afternoon we take the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo at 4:22 p.m. and connect with a private van to Cusco, arriving around 8:00 p.m.

Meals: breakfast. Altitude: 2,040–2,440 m (6,693–8,005 ft). Difficulty: easy.