INCA JUNGLE - MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS
Sense the Inca trail was reduced to the number of visitors, we been forced to open new tours to Machu Picchu that now are available. If you are looking for an alternative trip, this is the one. Inca Jungle is a combination of biking, trekking and rafting through the impressive Peruvian Andean mountains to the Amazonian rain forest. This trip ends with a guided tour to Machu Picchu on the 4th day.
Departure: 8:00 am
Duration: 4 days
Location: Rain forest Machu Picchu.
Season: All year
Itinerary
DAY 1 CUSCO-CARRIZALES-SANTA MARIA
Passengers will be collected from their hotels at 8:00 am. Our bus journey take us through the Andean villages of Poroy, Chichero and Maras until, we arrive to Urubamaba and then to Ollantaytambo, both located in the Sacred Valley. Here we have a little stop where passengers can have breakfast or buy the last supplies for the Inca jungle trail. We start going up until Malaga path (14,500 ft 4,350 meters above sea level) which is the highest place of the tour, here the scenery is amazing, snow capped mountains, waterfalls and Andean communities. One more hour driving and we will be in Carrizales where is the beginning of the trip. This down hill is probably one of the best Peru bike tours available. Before we start biking we will try the bikes, following by a briefing about the route and some other safety precautions. Scenery changes while we are biking, from the Andean cold wind to warm rain forest, the first hour is down hill through paved road and the rest of the trip changes to death road, crossing small rivers, small up and down hills not difficult, banana, papaya and other jungle plantations we arrive to Santa Maria, small town in the rain forest. Overnight at Santa Maria. (1 lunch-1 dinner).
DAY 2 SANTA MARIA-SANTA TERESA
Today there are two options, the first option is two hike until Santa Teresa and the second option is doing rafting.
Hiking option. After a nice energetic breakfast we start the trip. Today,the trekking is quite easy, we have some small up hills,the first three hours are going to be a little steeped and later easy hiking. Crossing, banana, papaya,and other kind of plantation, we will arrive to an small place near to the river where we can relax and have lunch. The scenery is fascinating with a big mountains in the side and the Urubamba river along the road until Santa Teresa (1800 meters sea level). Santa Teresa is an small village, locatedin the rain forest to a couple of hours away from Manchu Pinch, in this town we are going to rest in a little guest hostel. Optional Santa Teresa hot springs ($ 2,per person).
Rafting option. For a really adventurous people we recommend this rafting tour for an additional 50 US dollars, the weather is usually warm, the rapids and the nature will make out of this tour a nice day and giving to the tour a different way to see the Amazon jungle. Before the rafting, there is a briefing about the rafting, this will be following a practice in water from commands, secure lines kayac etc, once passengers and guides feel confortable, we will run the rapids. We will be in the water running rapids class II, III and IV, in this section there is a lot of water, nice big waves and holes, also there will be plenty of time to take pictures, swimm and enjoy the scenery. We will finish around one or two pm, there after we will go by car to Santa Teresa to join the rest of the group, here we are going to rest in a small hostel. There is a nice hot springs few minutes away form the hostel, the entrance is $ 2 but this is not included in the price.(1 breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner)
DAY 3 SANTA TERESA-HIDROELECTRIC- CALIENTES
Today there are 2 options in this Inca jungle trail. The first is the easiest, walking following a dirt road track for 3 hours until Hydroelectric, and then another two and a half hours through the rail road until Aguas Calientes. The second choice is the One that we recommend, we take a local bus for about 30 minutes until Lucmabamba which is the beginning of the trekking. The scenery changes as you are walking through a very well preserved Inca trail road, after 3 hours walking up hill, we arrive to the archeological complex of, Llactapata (known also as Patallacta) that means Town of hill side, originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time as Machu Picchu. Some explorers say that this place could be bigger and more important than it is. This is a place where is possible to have the first view of Machu Picchu, take a rest and take some pictures of the scenery. From here takes two more hours until Machu Picchu Hydroelectric, after lunch we will walk for 2 hours and 30 minutes more until Aguas Calientes (town bellow Machu Picchu). Ther is an option to take the train from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes, it takes 20 to 30 minutes, but the train ticket is not included in the price (8 $ train ticket from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes). At Aguas Calientes, we will check in to a lovely hostel for a nice evening. (1 breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner)
DAY 4 AGUAS CALIENTES-MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
Today we recommend to start our trekking early in the morning. The idea is to arrive to Machu Picchu to see the sun rise that for many of our clients this is a wonderful natural spectacle. Walking from Aguas Calientes take 2 hours and 30 minutes more or less, until Machu Picchu. Our guide will take you around the area for two hours guided tour in the wonders of this impressive complex. Machu Picchu citadel is only located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Cusco the Inca capital, it was never found by the Spanish and consequently not plundered and destroyed, as it was in the case with many other Inca sites. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew over much of the site, and few knew of its existence. On July 24 1911, Machu Picchu was discover by Hiram Bingham.
After the guided tour there will be plenty of time to take pictures, walk around the places that we like the most and then, we meet with the rest of the group at Aguas Calientes to catch the train to Ollantaytambo, and from there take a bus to the hotels in Cusco, with this we finish the Inca jungle trail to Machu Picchu.
What´s included?.
Private bus from Cusco to Carrizales, 3 nights simple accommodation, 1 night hostel, meals: (3 breakfast 3 lunches and 3 dinners),English speaking guide, entrance fee to Machu Picchu, bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, train in back packer service to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco, all biking gear with suspension and disk breaks, helmets, knee and elbow protection. If rafting is chosen all the rafting gear, wet suits, life vest, paddles, boat, safety kayak and helmets.
What´s not included?.
First breakfast, last lunch and dinner in Aguas Calientes ( day 4 ), bus tickets to from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and entrance fees to hot springs in Santa Teresa or Aguas Calientes, train ticket from hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes.
What to bring
Hiking shoes, mosquito repellent, couple t-shirt, hat or cup, swimsuit, towel, sandals, shorts, photo camera, things you consider necessary during this Inca jungle trail.
Inca Jungle Notes
The equipment that we use for this Inca Jungle tour are very good, the bicycles have suspension, disc breaks and 27 gear change. The rafting gear is very good, class V life vest, boat, helmets and we always take one safety kayak or Cataract.
You can upgrade you hostel in Aguas Calientes, ask for more information.
