Visiting: Cusco · Abra Málaga · Santa María · Quellomayo · Santa Teresa · Cocalmayo · Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu
Overview
The Inca Jungle Trail 4 Days is the full version of our most thrilling route to Machu Picchu — a 4-day, 3-night multi-sport adventure that combines downhill mountain biking, white-water rafting, zip-lining and a real jungle trek, finishing with a guided visit to the citadel. Along the way you walk a stretch of the original Inca trail through coffee, coca and banana plantations, pass Inca sites, and relax in the Cocalmayo hot springs.
Compared with the 3-day version, the 4-day adds a full day of trekking on day two — about 22 km along the historic path that once linked Machu Picchu with Vilcabamba — for a deeper, less rushed journey through the cloud forest. The biking, rafting and zip-line are all included, and you're fully supported by certified guides, quality safety equipment and a support vehicle. You spend three nights in comfortable lodges in Santa María, Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes.
📅 Good to know. Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, the Jungle route has no daily permit limit, so it can be booked at short notice and runs daily. You choose how to come home from Machu Picchu — by car (cheaper) or by train (faster and more comfortable). Machu Picchu uses timed-entry tickets that sell out in high season — book ahead.
Day by Day
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1
Cusco → Abra Málaga → 65 km downhill biking → Santa María rafting
Hotel pick-up around 6:00 am and a roughly 2-hour drive through the Sacred Valley, with views of the Vilcabamba and Vilcanota ranges and a breakfast stop in the Inca town of Ollantaytambo. You then continue up to the Abra Málaga pass (4,350 m), where you receive all the biking gear and a short training session before the descent begins.
The ~65 km downhill bike ride (about 3–4 hours) drops you toward Santa María (1,430 m) with majestic views of the snow-capped Verónica peak, stopping at the small Inca site of Huamanmarca for lunch. In the afternoon, an exciting 1 to 1.5 hours of white-water rafting awaits in Santa María, then you check in, shower, relax and gather at a local restaurant for dinner.
Good to know: A moderate but action-packed day: warm and windy during the day with very warm nights. The biking starts high in the Andes facing the Verónica glacier.
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2
Santa María → original Inca trail → Cocalmayo hot springs → Santa Teresa
After breakfast around 6:00 am, today is the heart of the adventure — a full hiking day (~22 km, 7–8 hours). A 45-minute walk along the road leads you onto the original Inca trail that once connected Machu Picchu with Vilcabamba, the last Inca capital. The roughly 3-hour stretch on the ancient path offers magnificent views of the Vilcanota valley and hills covered in banana, coca, yucca and coffee plantations.
You stop for lunch in the village of Quellomayo, then continue about 3.5 hours along the Vilcanota River to the Cocalmayo hot springs, a natural outdoor oasis perfect for soothing tired muscles. After a couple of hours soaking, a final 45-minute walk brings you to Santa Teresa, where you spend the night at a cozy hostel and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Good to know: A moderate full-day hike through warm, tropical scenery with very warm nights — and the most memorable stretch of the whole route, on the historic path to Vilcabamba.
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3
Santa Teresa → zip-line → Hidroeléctrica → hike to Aguas Calientes
Rise and shine around 6:30 am and fuel up with breakfast. About 8:00 am the zipline company picks you up and drives you to the base, where after a brief orientation you take on a thrilling 2-hour zip-line adventure across four different ziplines and a suspension bridge high above the canyon.
Once you've had your fill of ziplining, a 1-hour car ride takes you to Hidroeléctrica for a well-earned lunch. After eating, you set off on a scenic ~11 km hike (about 3 to 3.5 hours) along the train tracks through lush jungle to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. Check in to your hotel, recharge and enjoy dinner around 7:00 pm before your big day.
Good to know: Another moderate, adventure-filled day in warm, tropical weather with very warm nights — wake up early the next morning, eager to explore Machu Picchu.
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4
Machu Picchu → return to Cusco (by car or train)
The day starts bright and early at 4:00 am with breakfast at your hotel, then up to Machu Picchu — either a scenic 1.5-hour walk via the Puente Ruinas checkpoint (around 1,700 steps) or the optional bus ($12 each way, first buses 5:30 am). You meet your guide at the main gate for a 2.5-hour guided tour of the citadel, usually on Circuit 1 or 2, with free time afterwards to add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if booked in advance (+$60).
In the afternoon you return to Cusco the way you chose. By train, you head from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours) and transfer by car, arriving in the centre around 6:30 pm. By car, you walk ~3 hours back to Hidroeléctrica to catch the vehicle, reaching Cusco around 9:30–10 pm, with drop-off at Plaza Regocijo.
Good to know: If you add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, the train return is recommended so you have enough time to enjoy the climb.
Which Machu Picchu Circuit Will I Visit?
Machu Picchu is visited on fixed circuits, and tickets are sold only by the Peruvian government in limited daily numbers. Your tour includes the entrance ticket; we buy the best circuit available for your date, prioritising the classic routes:
- Circuit 2 (Classic) — our first choice: the classic postcard viewpoint plus a complete tour of the citadel, temples and terraces. Book ~4 months ahead in high season, as it sells out first.
- Circuit 1 (Panoramic) — the upper terraces and the classic viewpoint, with the best wide photos, but without entering the urban sector.
- Circuit 3 (Royalty) — the lower part of the citadel and the royal sector; a good alternative when Circuits 1 and 2 are sold out.
- Optional add-ons — Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added for a small supplement (separate ticket and circuit, subject to availability).
Circuits and entry times are set by the government and cannot be changed once issued. We always aim for Circuit 2 first and confirm your exact circuit before travel.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Activities | Downhill biking · rafting · zip-line · trek · hot springs |
| Distances | ~65 km biking · ~33 km hiking (day 2 + day 3) |
| Difficulty | Moderate — one long hiking day (day 2) |
| Accommodation | 3 nights in lodges (Santa María · Santa Teresa · Aguas Calientes) |
| Machu Picchu | 2.5 h guided tour (usually Circuit 2) |
| Meals | 4 breakfasts · 3 lunches · 3 dinners |
| Group size | Max 15 travelers · daily departures |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Prices — 2026 Season
An all-inclusive group service with guaranteed departures. The rate depends on your traveller category and on how you return to Cusco — by car or by the more comfortable train.
| Return option | Adult | Student (under 25) | Child (8–17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return by car | $260 | $240 | $240 |
| Return by train | $330 | $310 | $310 |
Prices per person, group service. The student rate requires a valid physical university student ID (under 25, PVC card; ISIC not accepted). A $180 deposit per person confirms your booking and secures your Machu Picchu ticket. Group of 12–14 (max 15); your departure is guaranteed even with just 2–3 travellers.
Optional Add-ons
- Huayna Picchu Mountain (extra ticket)+$60
- Machu Picchu Mountain (extra ticket)+$60
- Bus up to Machu Picchu (each way)$12
- Cocalmayo hot springs entrance~10 soles
What to Pack
There's no luggage transfer, but you only need a small daypack (25–30 L) — backpacks are stored safely during the biking, rafting and zip-line, so you only carry them on the walks:
- Always with you: original passport (and physical student ID if you booked the student rate), cash in soles (for the bus, hot springs, snacks & tips), and your tickets.
- Clothing: quick-dry layers, swimwear (rafting & hot springs), a waterproof jacket or poncho, sturdy trekking shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses.
- Extras: high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, energy snacks, and a camera or phone.
How to Book
Book online or in person at our Cusco office (Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo). A $180 deposit per person secures your Machu Picchu ticket and place; the balance is due at least 24 h before the tour. Tickets sell out in high season, so book ahead.
- Check availability for your travel date.
- Choose your return (car or train), traveller categories and any extras.
- Fill in each traveller's details exactly as in their passport (tickets are nominative).
- Pay the $180 deposit or full amount — you receive confirmation and our team follows up by WhatsApp.
Deposit: a non-refundable $180 deposit per person is used to buy your Machu Picchu ticket immediately and secure your accommodation.
Ticket: issued by the Peruvian government for a fixed date, time and circuit — non-refundable and non-modifiable.
Balance: due at least 24 h before the tour, payable in cash (soles or USD) at our Cusco office, by card (+3.9%), or online (+2.9%).
Student rate: email a photo of both sides of your PVC university ID to info@machupicchuteam.com when booking; the discount is applied on arrival once verified.
Passport: must be valid 6+ months; update us if you renew before travel. Full terms are confirmed at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both share the same activities — biking, rafting, zip-lining and Machu Picchu. The 4-day adds a full extra trekking day (day 2, about 22 km on the original Inca trail from Santa María to Santa Teresa, via the Cocalmayo hot springs), plus an extra night in Santa María. It's a deeper, less rushed jungle experience; the 3-day version compresses the start and skips the long hiking day.
Yes — the downhill biking (day 1), the white-water rafting (day 1) and the zip-line (day 3) are all included in the price, with quality equipment and certified instructors. The only optional extra activity is the Cocalmayo hot springs, whose small entrance fee (about 10 soles) is paid on-site.
A moderate fitness level is enough, but be ready for day 2, which is a full hiking day of about 22 km (7–8 hours) on the original Inca trail. The biking is mostly downhill and the rafting and zip-line are fun and safe. If you can comfortably walk for a full day, you'll enjoy it — no technical experience required.
Returning by car is cheaper ($260 adult / $240 student): after Machu Picchu you hike ~3 hours back to Hidroeléctrica and drive to Cusco, arriving around 10 pm. Returning by train ($330 adult / $310 student) is faster and more comfortable — you take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and transfer, arriving around 6:30 pm, with no extra hike. If you add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, we recommend the train.
You spend three nights in comfortable local lodges — in Santa María, Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes — with private bathrooms and hot showers. Double, triple and matrimonial rooms are available; let us know your preference when you book.
We always request Circuit 2 (the classic route with the postcard viewpoint and a full tour of the citadel). If it's sold out for your date, we book the best available alternative. For Circuit 2 in high season, book around 4 months ahead.
