Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days/ 3 Nights

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 take you to your hostel, which has hot water and private bathrooms, and then meet you for 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. We will pick you up by car to the zip line zone, and after the activity, we will take you 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 by climbing the hill to the famous Inca citadel of 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.

Since Huayna Picchu sells very quickly, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as an optional alternative 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 at Machu Picchu, with an admission 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 then a tourist bus 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