Best of Cusco and Adventure Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu 7 Days/ 6 Nights

We begin the Sacred Valley VIP Tour by picking you up from your hotel at 6:30 AM in our tourist bus. From Cusco, an early start to take our time to visit places.

Our first stop is Chinchero, about 40 minutes from Cusco.

The colonial town of Chinchero was built on top of an Inca town, surrounded by multicoloured fields, and is close to a lagoon of the same name that provides water to nearby agricultural areas. Chinchero is one of the last Inca living towns that preserve ancient traditions and clothing, and you'll also see local artisans showcasing beautiful handmade textiles crafted with traditional techniques passed down through generations. In those textiles, it is possible to read stories and legends of divinities and sacred animals.

MORAY

A few minutes' drive from Chinchero, we will reach the central Inca agricultural laboratory known as the Moray circles. The circular stone construction consists of descending circles built into natural depressions in the ground, uniformly spaced at 150 meters, which were used to adapt different crops to the Andean ecosystem.

This place features an amazing irrigation system equipped with a filtration system to prevent water flow and crop damage. Also, many ceremonies to the earth (Pacha Mama) took place in the deepest circle. Therefore, this multifunctional location serves both agricultural and spiritual purposes.

MARAS/ SALINERAS (Salt mines)

A fast 20-minute ride from Moray, we arrive at a little valley where the Salineras of Maras (Maras Salt mines) are located, one of nature's biggest mysteries. From the depths of the mountain, a spring of extremely salty water sprouts. Even before the Incas ruled these lands, they utilised these salt mines, which are constructed from approximately 3000 small wells, each about 4 m² and 10 cm deep. They have been exploited ever since, producing salt through a simple natural process: salty water fills the wells, and the sun evaporates it, leaving behind pure salt.

Buffet Lunch in Urubamba

At noon, we'll arrive in Urubamba to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, prepared with fresh local ingredients from the Sacred Valley. This is the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge before continuing the tour.

Ollantaytambo, After a short rest, we continue our journey until we reach Ollantaytambo, also one of the last living Inca towns. You will be amazed by the impressive Temple of the Sun, featuring intricate stonework, terraces built to support the mountain, and a temple shaped like a llama. Ollantaytambo, a former Inca administrative, military, and religious centre. Known for its massive stone structures and strategic location, the city of Guorriors has been involved in rebellions.

Pisaq In the early afternoon, we'll explore Pisaq, an archaeological complex featuring an extensive system of agricultural terraces with irrigation channels, allowing the cultivation of different varieties of Corn, including the giant white Corn, Parcacay Sara.

During the visit, you will explore the residential and administrative areas, a large agricultural terrace, and the cemetery, all built high on the mountain slopes and cliffs. We'll also visit the famous Pisac market, a local trading space that has now expanded to offer a variety of artisan crafts and souvenirs.

Finally, we return to Cusco, arriving at around 7:00 PM.

Accommodation: Hotel 7 Ventanas

Your adventure begins with pickup at approximately 7:00 am. The bus takes the road through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas and drops you off at 4316 m (14,160 ft) altitude — the highest point of the trail, called Abra Malaga. Here, you will be transferred to your mountain bikes (we provide helmets, gloves, and protective pads). Your guide will give you an overview of what’s to follow… and your adventure begins! As you freewheel down the smooth but challenging roads and through different landscapes, you won’t be able to catch your breath until you reach the first stop in Alfamayo-San Luis, a three-hour ride from the starting point. There, you will enjoy your lunch with a panoramic view. Before you head off again, you’ll have time to freshen up and apply a dab of insect repellent. Then you will ride along a hilly path to the recently discovered archaeological site of Huamanmarca. Your tour guide will provide you with the historical background of the site before you continue your descent to 1,500 m (4,921 ft), where the edge of the jungle meets the small but charming town of Santa Maria. Here, you can purchase a snack or a nice, cold beer to enjoy while you rest your legs before being served a traditional Peruvian dinner. You will spend the night in a family-run hostel.

Optional activity: Rafting after arriving at Santa Maria:

RAFTING. Duration: approx. 2 hours. Price: US$40 per person.

You will wake up around 6:30 am to the aroma of the finest indigenous coffee. After breakfast, we begin our trek. The path will progressively steepen until you arrive at a family restaurant in Santa Rosa, where you’ll stop for refreshments. You will move on to a rest stop where you can lie in hammocks as you admire the surrounding coca plantations. Afterwards, you’ll continue on a short path to the original Inca Trail. As the Incas did centuries before, you’ll trek along a path for just over two hours to the small town of Quellomayo. Here, you’ll stop for a well-deserved lunch. From Quellomayo, it’s just a short trek to Rio Vilcanota, which will lead you to the famous hot springs of Colcamayo. Your body will thank you as you soak in the relaxing, therapeutic properties of the medicinal waters nestled between the mountains. Here, you can enjoy the hot springs and relax your muscles in these natural settings. Then we carry on our hike to the town of Santa Teresa for dinner, and then to your hostel, where you’re sure to get a good night’s rest after wading in the thermal baths.

After being served breakfast around 7:00 am, you will trek to Collpani, a small valley with a river of the same name. This river is one of the sources of freshwater in Santa Teresa. Continuing from here, we will hike along the banks of the Urubamba River, passing by a few agricultural fields with corn and other tropical fruits. In some seasons of the year, it is possible to see locals farming the fields, collecting fruits, and joining them. After all this adventure, we will stop at a restaurant in Hidroelectrica to have lunch. After a delicious meal, we had some time to rest before continuing our hike among the train lines for two and a half hours in the middle of the jungle. We will enjoy the birdsong and observe the different flora. We arrive at the base of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, in the afternoon.

We will bring you to your hostel, which includes hot water and private bathrooms, and then meet you to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Optional activity operated by Cola de Mono: 

ZIPLINING/CANOPY – If you wish, you can participate in this optional ziplining activity. For that, you will be transported by car to the zip line zone, and after the activity, you will also be transferred to Hidroelectrica. Then, you will continue the hike to Aguas Calientes.

Cola de Mono – South America’s highest zip lines!

Located: about 15 minutes from Santa Teresa by car

Duration: approx. 2 hours

Price: US$50 per person

You will have your breakfast early in the morning. Then we start our last day, climbing up the hill to the famous Inca citadel Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. Avoiding the crowds, you will be the first visitor of the day. Your tour guide will take you around the vast ruins for approximately 3 hours, providing a comprehensive explanation of their historical significance and their place within the Inca Empire. After this, you have some free time to wander around.
Machu Picchu is the best-known of all the archaeological Inca sites, as it is recognised worldwide! Experts believe the citadel was constructed around the mid-15th century by the Inca Pachacuteq and rediscovered by the American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911.

The guided tour of this fascinating place will be an unforgettable experience! You will visit the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial and the Burial Grounds. (according to the time of your entrance fee)

We offer optional hikes in Machu Picchu with an additional ticket.

You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, only 400 entrance tickets are available per day; therefore, please let us know in advance if you wish to participate in the hike so we can reserve your ticket at an additional cost of US$60.00.

Due to Huayna Picchu being oversold very quickly, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as an alternative optional climb. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded, but not less beautiful! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.

La Gran Caverna is a ceremonial site in Machu Picchu, with a fee of US$60.00 per person.

Also, there is another road to Inti Punku, the SUN GATE, which is the traditional end of the Inca Trail (a 3-hour hike), US$35.00 per person.

You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a 1-hour hike). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$35.00 per person.

After time in the sanctuary, we take one of the frequent buses back down to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch. If you prefer not to take the bus, you can walk through the beautiful jungle, which will take you 45 minutes.

At 7:00 pm, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and tourist transport to Cusco. If you would like to return to Cusco in the early afternoon, please let us know so we can book an early train at 2:30 pm.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 7 Ventanas

Based on your flight or bus schedule, we'll provide a complimentary walking tour of Cusco, allowing you to explore the city's enigma and enjoy some souvenir shopping. Afterwards, we will transfer you to the airport or bus station.

Meals: Breakfast