This guide is continuously maintained and verified by our resident Andean mountain leaders, ensuring accurate permit guidance, altitude protocols, and route recommendations for travelers in Peru.
The Inca Jungle Trek is a 3- or 4-day route from Cusco to Machu Picchu that mixes adventure activities with walking: about 45 km of downhill biking from Abra Málaga (4,300 m), rafting on level III rapids, a zipline in Santa Teresa and a walk along the railway to Aguas Calientes, ending with a guided visit of Machu Picchu. The 4-day version adds a full hiking day on an old Inca path through coffee and fruit farms. You sleep in hotels and, on the 4-day tour, one night with a local family. It needs no Inca Trail permit, and our tours start at USD 390.
Inca Jungle Trek at a glance#
| Inca Jungle 3 Days | Inca Jungle 4 Days | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person (group) | USD 390 | USD 420 |
| Biking | About 45 km downhill, around 3 hours | About 45 km downhill, around 3 hours |
| Walking | About 10 km | About 28 km |
| Highest point | Abra Málaga, 4,300 m (by vehicle) | Abra Málaga, 4,300 m (by vehicle) |
| Activities | Biking, rafting, zipline | Biking, rafting, Inca path hike, coffee tour, zipline |
| Nights | Hotels in Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes | A family house in Pispitayoc, hotels in Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate | Easy to moderate |
| Group size | Maximum 12 travelers | Maximum 12 travelers |
Both tours include the Machu Picchu ticket, the guided visit and the return on the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo and our bus to Cusco. See the full details of the Inca Jungle Trail 3 Days and the Inca Jungle Trek 4 Days.
The route day by day (4 days)#
Day 1: Cusco – Abra Málaga – Santa María
We drive through the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo up to Abra Málaga, the highest point of the tour at 4,300 m (14,108 ft). From there you ride downhill for about 45 km, around 3 hours, to Santa María, in the warm valleys of the high jungle. After lunch you go rafting on level III rapids with professional rafting guides, then walk a short way to the house of a local family in Pispitayoc for dinner and the night.
Day 2: Pispitayoc – Quellomayo – Santa Teresa
The hiking day: about 18 km, around 8 hours, on a section of an old Inca path through coffee plantations, coca fields and banana, avocado, pineapple and passion fruit farms, with lunch in Quellomayo. The highest point of the day is about 2,000 m. You sleep in a hotel in Santa Teresa and can visit the Cocalmayo hot springs in the evening (entrance not included).
Day 3: Santa Teresa – zipline – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
In the morning you cross the valley on the zipline course in Santa Teresa, with full safety equipment. Then we drive to Hidroeléctrica and walk about 10 km, around 3 hours, along the railway and the river to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m), where you sleep in a hotel.
Day 4: Machu Picchu and return to Cusco
You go up early to Machu Picchu (2,430 m), by bus (not included) or on foot up the stone steps, for the guided visit. In the afternoon you take the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo and our bus to Cusco.
The 3-day tour follows the same route without the hiking day: after rafting you transfer to Santa Teresa for the night. See the altitude of each day on our Inca Jungle map and altitude profile.
The activities#
- Downhill biking: about 45 km on the road from Abra Málaga down to Santa María, from the cold highlands into the high jungle. Bike, helmet, gloves and protective gear are included.
- Rafting: level III rapids near Santa María, with life jacket, helmet and professional rafting guides. No previous experience is needed.
- Hiking on an old Inca path (4-day tour): through farms and small communities between Santa María and Santa Teresa.
- Coffee tour (4-day tour): local farming families show how the beans are grown, harvested and processed.
- Zipline: a course across the valley in Santa Teresa, with harness and helmet.
- Hot springs: the Cocalmayo hot springs near Santa Teresa, optional and paid locally.
How hard is the Inca Jungle Trek?#
It is one of the easiest routes to Machu Picchu. You reach the highest point, Abra Málaga, by vehicle and then lose altitude on the bike, so the altitude is less of a problem than on the Inca Trail or the Salkantay. The hardest part is the hiking day of the 4-day tour, about 18 km in the heat of the valley. You need to be comfortable riding a bike downhill on a road with curves. Spend at least two days in Cusco first; see our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco.
What is included and what is not#
Included: guide in English and Spanish, hotel pick-up in Cusco, bike and protective gear, rafting and zipline with safety equipment, transport between activities, the nights listed above, meals as listed in the itinerary, the Machu Picchu ticket and guided visit, and the return train and bus to Cusco.
Not included: the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu and back, the Cocalmayo hot springs entrance, travel insurance, drinks and tips. Huayna Picchu is an optional extra, subject to availability. Prices and booking: see Inca Jungle pricing and booking.
Practical tips#
- Cash: bring soles for drinks, snacks, tips, the Cocalmayo hot springs and the bus up to Machu Picchu if you do not want to walk. Take out money in Cusco, as there are few cash machines on the route.
- Phone and internet: the signal can be limited on parts of the route.
- Diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other diets are possible if you tell us when you book. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor first, as the tour starts at a 4,300 m pass.
- Luggage: you can leave the bags you do not need at our office in Cusco for free, before and after the tour.
- Season: the dry season, from May to October, has the clearest weather for the bike descent. In the rainy season heavy rain can change the route or the activities.
What to pack#
- Layers: it is cold at Abra Málaga at the start of the bike ride and hot in the valleys.
- A waterproof jacket or poncho, and quick-drying clothes.
- Good walking shoes and sandals for the river and the hot springs.
- Strong insect repellent and sunscreen: there are many mosquitoes around Santa María and Santa Teresa.
- Swimsuit and a small towel.
- Your passport, which you need for the Machu Picchu ticket and the train.
Inca Jungle or another route?#
If you want to walk into Machu Picchu on the original Inca path, choose the Inca Trail: compare them in Inca Trail vs Inca Jungle. If you want a real high-mountain trek without a permit, compare Inca Jungle vs Salkantay. All the options are in our guide to treks to Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions#
How many days is the Inca Jungle Trek?
Three or four days. The 4-day tour adds a hiking day on an old Inca path between Santa María and Santa Teresa; the 3-day tour goes from the rafting to Santa Teresa by vehicle.
How much does the Inca Jungle Trek cost?
Our Inca Jungle Trail 3 Days costs USD 390 and the Inca Jungle Trek 4 Days USD 420 per person in a group, with the Machu Picchu ticket and the return train included.
Do I need a permit for the Inca Jungle Trek?
No. It does not use the Inca Trail, so you only need the Machu Picchu ticket, which is included. That makes it a good option when the Inca Trail is sold out.
What is the best time for the Inca Jungle Trek?
The dry season, from May to October, has the clearest weather for the bike descent from Abra Málaga. In the rainy season heavy rain can change the route or the activities.
Where do you sleep on the Inca Jungle Trek?
On the 4-day tour: a family house in Pispitayoc, a hotel in Santa Teresa and a hotel in Aguas Calientes. On the 3-day tour: hotels in Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes.
Is the Inca Jungle Trek safe?
The biking, rafting and zipline are done with safety equipment and specialist guides, and our guides are trained in first aid and carry a medical kit and portable oxygen. More answers in our Inca Jungle FAQ.
Written by Joel Cárdenas Gonzales
Founder & CEOFounder and CEO of Southern Peru Explorers since 2009. Born in Cusco and trained as an official tour guide at Instituto Khipu. About the author
