Multi-day trip

From Cusco: Budget Inca Jungle Trek with Return by Car

Activity provider: Haku Travel E.I.R.L
Multi-day trip

From Cusco: Budget Inca Jungle Trek with Return by Car

Activity provider: Haku Travel E.I.R.L

From US$ 225 per person

Enjoy an adventurous budget alternative to the traditional hiking trails to Machu Picchu. Choose to add rafting and ziplining along the way.

About this activity

Cancellation policy
This activity is non-refundable
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 3 - 4 days
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, Spanish
Pickup included
Pickup is available from hotels and hostels in central Cusco. The local partner will contact you to inform the exact pickup time depending on your location. Please note, pickups from Airbnb or private apartments are not included. If this applies to you, the local partner will coordinate an alternative pickup location.
Small group
Limited to 15 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy an affordable option to visit the iconic Machu Picchu
  • Explore an adventure-packed alternative to the traditional Inca Trail
  • Watch the sunrise over the UNESCO-listed "Lost City of the Incas"
  • Enjoy a guided tour and ample free time at Machu Picchu
Full description

DAY 1: Cusco - Abra Málaga - Huamanmarca - Santa María or Santa Teresa (overnight depending on option chosen)

Pickup from your accommodation in Cusco between 6:00 - 6:30 AM. Transfer to the highest point, Abra Malaga, at an altitude of 4316 m, from where you will descend by bike for 3 hours, passing streams and vegetation until you reach Huamanmarca. Then, you will be transferred to the town of Santa María, to have a typical lunch and free time to explore coca and coffee plants with your guide. You can choose to add on a rafting adventure available at an additional cost (Level II, III and IV). If you choose the 3-day option, you will continue the route until you reach the thermal baths of Cocalmayo in Santa Teresa, which are medicinal and therapeutic waters. After relaxing, continue in a 40-minute walk to the town of Santa Teresa where you will overnight in a family lodging. If you choose the 4-day option, you will have free time until dinner time in Santa María, and will overnight.

DAY 2 for 4-day option: Santa María - Quellomayo - Termas de Cocalmayo - Santa Teresa

Start the hike with a gradual climb for 3 hours. This area is tropical and you will appreciate organic products of different varieties such as coffee, cocoa, avocado and medicinal plants. Along the way you will also appreciate natural attractions such as the "El Velo de Nusta" waterfall, before reaching the highest pass of the day called "Pastogrande" at 1900 meters. Stop for lunch at Islayunca. Continue to the unexplored waterfall "Gonzales", then walk 2.5 hours so you can enjoy the hot springs of Cocalmayo in Santa Teresa, which have medicinal and therapeutic waters. After relaxing, continue on a 40-minute walk to the town of Santa Teresa where you will overnight in a family lodging.

DAY 2 for 3-day option / DAY 3 for 4-day option: Santa Teresa - Hydroelectric - Aguas Calientes

After a typical breakfast, you can choose to add on a zipline adventure after your breakfast. In this case, after the activity, you will be taken by transport to the beginning of the trail to Aguas Calientes at Hydroelectric. If you skip the zipline, you will be taken straight to Hydroelectric.

Start a walk on the train tracks through a native jungle to Aguas Calientes, about a 3 hours trek. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, enjoy lunch. At Aguas Calientes, your guide will show you to your accommodation. Have dinner in a restaurant and plan with the guide for the next day's visit to Machu Picchu. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 3 for 3-day option / DAY 4 for 4-day option:

 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Hydroelectric - Cusco

Get up early in the morning at 4:30 AM to start the walk towards Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The steep walk up will last approximately 1.5 hours, and the objective is to appreciate the sunrise from the Inca citadel and be the first to arrive. The walk up to Machu Picchu requires a good physical condition — you can also choose to add on a bus to Machu Picchu, if you don't want to do the walk. Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu and the surrounding sites. Enjoy free time to take photos and look around the citadel. If you chose one of the extra hikes to one of the mountains, you will split ways with the group to go by yourself to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. You can choose to add on these hikes at the checkout. Leave Machu Picchu and return to Aguas Calientes (walking or by bus, depending on if you choose add-on at checkout). Once in Aguas Calientes, start the walk back to Hydroelectric where your guide will be waiting to gather the group to return to the city of Cusco — again, you can choose to add on a train to Hydroelectric at the checkout, if you don't want to do the walk. Be back in Cusco around 9:30 - 10:00 PM. The drop-off will be in San Francisco square in the historic center, near Plaza de Armas. Please have in mind this is a budget-friendly tour and does not include the train back to Cusco. Distance traveled by car/van from Hydroelectric to Cusco is approximately 5 to 6 hours.

Includes
  • Transfer by shared car/van from Cusco to Santa Maria and from Hydroelectric to Cusco
  • 2 or 3 breakfasts, 2 or 3 lunches, 2 or 3 dinners (depending on option chosen)
  • 2 or 3 nights accommodation in basic hostel/family lodging
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • Professional bilingual guide for entire route
  • Professional bikes with hydraulic brakes and Shimano accessories
  • Bike equipment: gloves, 7 or 661 integral helmet, Fox armor, 661 knee pads, Fox elbow pads
  • First-aid kit
  • Breakfast on first day and lunch after the visit to Machu Picchu
  • Bus to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes or vice versa (can be chosen as an add-on at checkout)
  • Machu Pichu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Hikes (can be chosen as an add-on at checkout)
  • Extra activities such as rafting and zip-line (can be chosen as an add-on at checkout)
  • Entrance to the Colcamayo hot springs in Santa Teresa (can be paid on site)
  • Travel health insurance
Not suitable for
  • Pregnant women
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Cash
  • Daypack

Not allowed

  • Pets
  • Tripods

Know before you go

  • When booking, please provide the passport details. This information is required in advance in order to confirm your admission ticket to Machu Picchu
  • This tour offers multiple activities, such as rafting, zip-line, biking and trekking, and is appropriate for all adventurers
  • You can add the bus up to and down from Machu Picchu as an add-on at checkout, for the tour to be less physically demanding for you. Prices are the same if paid on the spot, so if you are not sure when booking, it's possible to decide on the day of the tour
  • The add-on hikes for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are subject to availability. The local partner will contact you in case the option you have chosen is fully booked in order to offer an alternative or cancellation
  • In high season, tickets of the first shift may not be guaranteed. In this case, you will be provided with an alternative schedule, which can also result in a change of itinerary
Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 5 reviews

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The Jungle Trek was an absolute highlight of our Peru trip. At first we were happy to get out into nature. We were literally overwhelmed by the variety and beauty! Our guide Gustavo was super friendly and tried hard and made the tour a great experience! All the people we met during the tour (hosts at the accommodation, guides at the rafting etc.) were very open and incredibly hospitable! Every day brought new adventures and we were able to enjoy every single one! The only shortcoming of the tour was the accommodation at Machu Pucchu, a hotel that wasn't particularly well maintained. But apart from that, we would recommend the tour to everyone and would definitely do it again!

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October 5, 2022

May 22, 2022

This was the best experience. The guide was amazing! all the adventures (rafting, biking, ziplining) it was amazing!! 10/10 would recommend.

November 21, 2021

Product ID: 387042