INCA JUNGLE - MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS
Since the Inca trail was reduced to the number of visitors, we had 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 takes 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 hour after, we will be in Carrizales which is the beginning of the trip.
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 winds to warm rain forest air, the first hours is downhill through paved road and the rest of the trip changes to death road, crossing small rivers, small up and down hills not difficult. In the way we will be able to see banana, papaya and other jungle plantations after this adventure tour, we will arrive to Santa Maria, small town in the rain forest where we will rest and sleep in the double occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms. Guest house at Santa Maria. (1 lunch-1 dinner).
DAY 2 SANTA MARIA-SANTA TERESA
Today there are two options, the first option is to 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 and the first three hours will be a little steeped and later easy hiking. Crossing, banana, papaya, and other kind of plantation, we will arrive to a small village, where we can relax and have lunch. The scenery is fascinating with big mountains around it and the Urubamba River along the road. Couple of hours after hiking, we will be in Santa Teresa (1800 meters sea level). Santa Teresa is an small village, located in the rain forest to a couple of hours away from Manchu Pinch, in this town, we are going to rest in a little hostel with double occupancy rooms with private bathrooms.
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 you a different way to see the Amazon jungle. Before the rafting, there is a briefing about the commands, secure lines, safety kayak etc, this will be followed by a practice in the water, once passengers and guides feel comfortable, we will start going down the river. During the first hours, 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, scenery is also spectacular with nice big trees and mountains that surround the river, there will be plenty of time to take pictures, swim and enjoy the nature. 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 from the hostel, the entrance is $ 2 but this is not included in the price. Hostel with double occupancy rooms with private bathrooms. Meals included (1 breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner)
DAY 3 SANTA TERESA-HIDROELECTRIC- CALIENTES
Today there are 2 options for the trekking. The first is the easiest, walking following a dirt road track for 3 hours crossing the Urubamba river using a zip line 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 trek. 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). There 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 hostel for a nice evening in rooms with private bathrooms and showers. (1 breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner).
DAY 4 AGUAS CALIENTES-MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
Today, we recommend starting our trekking early in the morning. The idea is to arrive to Machu Picchu early so we can see and enjoy this place before gets to crowded. 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 discovered 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?.
Transportation: Private bus from Cusco to Carrizales (beginning of the biking trip), support vehicle (for the people who doesn´t want to bike or if they are tired), bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, train tickets in back packer service to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco, bikes, raft and trek.
Accommodation:1 night simple accommodation with double occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms, 1 night simple accommodation with double occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and 1 night in 3 stars hostel.
Notes that, you can upgrade your hostel in Aguas Calientes, ask for more information.
Guides: English speaking guide throughout the trip, certified in rescue and first aid, with degree in tourism.
Machu Picchu tour: Entrance fees to Machu Picchu, 2 hours private guided tour around Machu Picchu in English, bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Biking tour: All biking gear with suspension and disk brakes, helmets, knee, body and elbow protection.
Rafting tour:Wet suits, life vest level V, paddles, boat, safety kayak or Cataraft, 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 tour map
View Inca Jungle 4 days in a larger map
Inca Jungle Notes
The equipment that we use for this Inca Jungle tour are very good, the bicycles have suspension, disc brakes 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.
Our prices are carefully arranged so this can be fair for clients and the company. You can find prices cheaper than the ones we have, but you need to be aware that for this trip there is no regulations and there are a lot of companies which offer this tour with minimum safety precautions, in fact there was more than 2000 complaints about this Inca jungle tour during 2010.
Machu Picchu tour notes
Machu Picchu regulations
In an effort to protect Machu Picchu, the Peruvian government authorities put limit to the number of people who visit Machu Picchu. In 19th of July 2011, no more than 2500 people per day are allowed on Machu Picchu, and is very strictly controlled. Once this limit of 2500 people is reached, Machu Picchu is completely closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made. Reservations are not held on Machu Picchu and all permits for Machu Picchu must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct personal information, and no modifications can be made. Any attempts at modifications result in a loss of the permit and any money paid.
River Explorers is happy to work within the framework of these regulations in order to protect Machu Picchu.
The rules and regulations controlling Machu Picchu are continually changing and it is important to be aware of the issues detailed in this document before embarking on your adventure to Peru.
Inca Trail trekking booking policies
*When booking any trip involving Machu Picchu, please book as far in advance as possible in order to increase the possibility of securing space on Machu Picchu during the high periods of the year (May to October). We ask in order to proceed with your booking your personal Information exactly as it appears on the passport.
Full name
Date of birth
Passport number
Nationality
Date of passport expiry
Thank you for your understanding.
