The Inca Trail through the jungle to Machu Picchu is the perfect excursion for those who love activities and thrills. Not only will you be hiking, but also biking, rafting and even ziplining. We think you’ll agree that it’s quite an adventure.
Through breathtaking scenery and lush jungle, you will pass Inca archaeological sites until you reach the small town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. On the last day, you will enter the amazing Inca citadel, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Let yourself be enveloped by the magic of the Incas and their mystical history as you explore and reveal their secrets. Are you up for the challenge?
If you are an adventure lover and want something different, our Classic Inca Jungle Trek is just what you were looking for. A breathtaking and exciting journey awaits you with a combination of sports and incredible trails through the Peruvian jungle.
Along the way, you will stop at important Inca archaeological sites and learn all about the unique flora and fauna in the beautiful Andean rainforest. Feel the wind rushing past your ears as you cycle from the highest point of the trail into the jungle. Enjoy the water splashing in your face as you battle the rapids of the river.
Optionally, experience the thrill of ziplining through the thick foliage and listen to the sounds of nature that encourage you.
Be amazed by the breathtaking surroundings as you walk along the trail. This excursion has it all.
To end your exciting adventure, you will spend a day exploring the incredible Machu Picchu and learning all about the fascinating history of the Incas. See how they were able to build such an impressive construction on a mountain and feel transported back in time as you imagine what life was like back then.
HIGHLIGHT
ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – ABRA MALAGA – HUAMANMARCA – SANTA MARIA (CYCLING AND RAFTING)
Begin your adventure by heading to the Malaga pass to descend by bike for three hours. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to enjoy rafting on the river before spending the night at a lodge in Santa Maria.
DAY 02: SANTA MARIA – SANTA TERESA – COCALMAYO HOT SPRINGS – LUCMABAMBA
Today, visit a local family and also learn all about the flora and fauna. Cross a part of the original Inca Trail and head to Santa Teresa for optional zip-lining and relax in the hot springs of Cocalmayo. In the evening, sleep at our campsite in Lucmabamba.
DAY 03: LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT – AGUAS CALIENTES
Visit a local coffee farm before climbing to Llactapata, from where you will get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Then from Hidroeléctrica head to Aguas Calientes along the train tracks to spend the night in a hotel.
DAY 04: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Get up early to explore Machu Picchu before the big crowds arrive and enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours. Later, return to Aguas Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo and private transportation back to Cusco.
Highlight of the day: The exhilarating feeling of biking from the mountain tops to the warm and beautiful jungle.
Feel the wind run through your hair
Your jungle adventure begins today when we pick you up from your accommodation at 5:30 a.m. We will leave the imperial city of Cusco and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast.
Then, we will continue to the Malaga pass (4,350 m / 14,271 ft), the highest point of our itinerary. From this place we will start our mountain biking, where a brief orientation will explain you about riding before receiving all the cycling gear. We will begin the three-hour descent on our bikes over 55 km / 34.18 miles.
You will feel the wind rushing by and see how the landscape changes from misty mountains to the beginning of the lush jungle. You will ride along small streams enjoying the change of weather as the temperature rises according to your progress. On the way, we will stop several times to check bikes and equipment until we reach Huamanmarca. From there, we will take transportation to the village of Santa Maria (1,200 m / 3,937 ft). Here we will have lunch and check into our lodge for the night.
In the afternoon, we will raft the Vilcanota River in category III and III+ rapids. You will be safe as we will provide you with helmets, windbreakers and life jackets category V. Please note that this exciting activity is only available from April to December, as the river rises during the rainy season. You must know how to swim to participate according to Peruvian law.
In the evening, we will return to the warm village of Santa Maria to enjoy a delicious dinner, rest in our comfortable rooms and recover our energies for the next day of adventure.
Highlight of the day: After a long day of hiking and ziplining, relax in the hot springs of Cocalmayo in the most incredible setting.
Experience the heat of the Selva jungle
After a hearty and tasty breakfast, we will walk for 45 minutes before ascending. In this part of the tour we will make several stops to learn more about the abundant flora and fauna of the area. We will also stop at the home of a local family to understand their customs and traditions in this region of Cusco.
Later, we will cross a stretch of the Original Inca Trail that connected the sacred city of Machu Picchu with the last refuge of the Incas, Vilcabamba. Here, your guide will take the opportunity to teach you about the history of the Incas and their system of communication, the Inca trails. Also, you will have the pleasure of contemplating some of the most amazing views of the Huancarccasa canyon and see the majestic Salkantay mountain in the distance.
We will then descend to Huacayupana for a tasty lunch in a local house before taking our transport to Santa Teresa. Here, you will have the chance to enjoy another exciting activity as you zipline through the mountain valley and thick forest. You will feel as if you are flying over the river in a dreamlike setting.
Afterwards, another surprise awaits you, relaxing in the hot springs of Cocalmayo, just 20 minutes away in our transportation. You will spend some time relaxing in the thermo-medicinal waters in the most enchanting setting you can imagine. When everyone is ready, our private transportation will take you for another hour to our camp in Lucmabamba to spend the night in our Jungle Domes. You will enjoy dinner and let yourself be carried away by the sound of nature all around you.
Highlight of the day: Visit Llactapata and see Machu Picchu for the first time.
The road to Aguas Calientes
This morning, you will wake up to a revitalizing hot coca tea served in your Jungle Dome. Then, you will prepare for the day before enjoying your last delicious breakfast made by our talented chef. Today, we will begin our hike early, and you will have the opportunity to hike a small section of the original Inca Trail, a highly acclaimed trail throughout the world.
You can explore the rainforest for some time before taking a walk through an organic farm. This is a great place for coffee lovers, as delicious aromas fill the air and you have the opportunity to taste coffee freshly brewed by the locals. Coffee is the main form of cultivation in the area and many farmers are passionate about their product and the process involved in making it. You can learn how it is made from start to finish.
Later, we will ascend for three hours, accompanied by breathtaking views of the beautiful Santa Teresa Valley. Soon you will arrive at the great Inca site of Llactapata, which is located right in front of Machu Picchu. This will be your first time to appreciate the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. It is a wonderful place to enjoy and spend time getting to know a little more about the roots and history of the land. Also, you will be able to observe the Huayna Picchu mountain and the Machu Picchu mountain.
You will enjoy this site with your guide, who will explain all about the history of the Incas who used and worshipped this wonderful ancient land. You will have plenty of time to take great pictures, so you can share these beautiful memories with friends and family back home.
After Llactapata, we will continue our hike for an hour and a half downhill, where we will see Machu Picchu with us all the way until we reach our lunch spot, Aobamba. Once we have eaten, we will continue to Hidroeléctrica. From there, you can take a train to Aguas Calientes if you are very tired (additional cost of US $37); otherwise, we will continue walking for three hours beside the train tracks.
Along this part of the trail, we will visit the Intihuatana, a famous rock that was used for ceremonial purposes in Inca times; according to experts, it was connected to the larger Intihuatana at Machu Picchu. All along the way, we will be accompanied by the Urubamba River, a green forest and the song of a great variety of birds. If you have good eyesight, you will be able to see parrots, toucans and the national bird of Peru, the cock of the rock.
Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will head to your hotel to take a swim and relax. If you wish, you can explore the town before our dinner at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we will coordinate the last details of the big day ahead before an early night.
Note: During the rainy season, hiking the Llactapata trail is not 100% guaranteed for safety reasons. When there are heavy rains, this trail becomes very dangerous.
Highlight of the day: Explore the incredible Machu Picchu.
Tour the incredible Inca Village, Machu Picchu
Today is the most important day of all and the grand finale of our trek – finally! You will visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. We will rise early to avoid the large crowds at Machu Picchu and enjoy the serenity of the soft morning light as the sun rises and shines on the huge rocks.
The entrance to Machu Picchu is from 6:00 in the morning, and we like to be one of the first groups to enter. We will board the bus from Aguas Calientes and enter the Lost City of the Incas. Here, you will enjoy an informative guided tour of approximately two hours through several important sites.
Afterwards, you will return to Aguas Calientes. There, you will have lunch at a restaurant of your choice before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo, where our private transportation will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.
It’s time to put your feet up and rest for now. We assure you that your heart will beat to the rhythm of the Andes for weeks, months and even years to come.
At Tunqui Expeditions we specify the included and non-included services for all the itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please check the details to make sure you do not miss anything. Some items may be different for certain programmes, so please read carefully before booking with us.
WHAT IS INCLUIDED?
Permits & Tickets
The “Machu Picchu Circuit 2” ticket offers the most complete tour of the Machu Picchu citadel and is also the most requested. For this reason, we recommend booking it well in advance to secure your entry. (Circuit 2)
High Quality Service & Safety
You’ll meet your guide and group at our office for a pre trek briefing. There you’ll receive your duffle bags, which will be carried by our horses. The meeting is at 17:00 the evening before the Ausangate trek.
Our official guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploration and pride in sharing our culture and history. On every experience they will keep you safe and comfortable, so you can enjoy your time worry-free!
Private Camping Equipment
All equipment will be carried by our horses.
On the trek you can carry your personal belongings up to a maximum weight of 7kg / 15.4 lb (this weight includes your sleeping bag).
Bike with front suspension, gloves, and helmet.
All Tunqui Expeditions guides have received specialised first aid training. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit for basic emergencies (altitude sickness, traveller’s diarrhoea, cuts, abrasions, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the trail as quickly as possible and get you to a clinic for treatment.
We believe that attention to detail is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your rucksack on the road and a rain poncho.
We have a telephone service available 24 hours a day for easy communication with Tunqui Expeditions prior to your trek.
Your comfort is our first priority. Although our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, calling a doctor, hospital or friend can make you feel more secure. For this reason, every Tunqui Expeditions guide carries a satellite phone to call anywhere in the world from anywhere on the mountain.
Accommodation
The first night of this trek is spent in a lodge in Santa Maria with a double or triple room.
Like our ancestors, we’re very considerate of the Pachamama (Mother Earth). For this reason, our campsites and lodges are adapted to the environment to avoid generating negative impacts. We’ll spend the second night in our private Jungle Domes Campsite.
The last night of this trek is spent in a hotel in Aguas Calientes with a double or triple room, private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.
Meals
Our chef prepares the most amazing dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan or special menus are available at no extra cost), so please let us know on your booking form if you have any special allergies or restrictions and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks and snacks.
We’ll provide you with boiled, filtered and chilled water throughout the trek, from your first lunch to your last breakfast. You will need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle (we recommend a capacity of 2 litres).
Every morning at the campsite you’ll be woken with a cup of hot coca tea. Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you are warm from the inside out before you start your day.
Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you with popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of trekking, you don’t have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up and enjoy a bite to eat!
Before you start your trek, your guide will provide you with a cloth bag containing local fruit, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We’ll refill it every morning so you can enjoy your snacks on the trail.
We’ll provide you with a cloth bag for your snacks – perfect for storing wrappers and keeping the environment clean. Feel free to use it throughout the walk!
Transportation
Extras
We believe that it is the attention to detail that sets us apart from other tour operators. As we wrote above, each walker receives
Taxes and fees
All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in our price. There are no hidden charges.
The Tunqui difference
The following list is less tangible, but equally important and part of everything we do and include at Tunqui Expeditions.
He started in the industry as a porter and understands your needs better than anyone. We are committed and promise a better life for every member of Team Tunqui.
This includes better wages that they can live on so they don’t have to beg for tips to make ends meet. This is our job. We provide them with all the equipment they need, including warm down jackets, proper walking boots, rucksacks, hats, headlamps, sleeping bags and mats, and tents for them to sleep in.
We also help their families by supporting their village schools, bringing doctors and dentists to the families and planting trees in their valleys. We are committed to our social projects and the more than 300 porters on our team appreciate this.
While our porters trek to Machu Picchu dozens of times a year, they never enter our famous citadel. We make four trips a year to take our team inside and spend two days touring the important ruins, allowing them to touch and see the history of their ancestors.
Although the numbers are not yet equal, we look forward to the day when we have 50/50 men and women working in the mountains as part of the Tunqui Expeditions team.
We use local products that are biodegradable and organic wherever possible.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
You can climb the famous mountain that you always see in photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s a 45 minute climb and the descent can be scary if you’re afraid of heights. You can do this after your guided tour of Machu Picchu. Permission must be obtained at least two to three months in advance due to high demand. Bear in mind that there may be changes to protect your safety, especially due to weather conditions.
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains surrounding the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider and visually less frightening trails than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket, which we can arrange for you if we have time in advance.
If you feel tired after the trek from Llactapata to Hidroelectrica, you can take the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes.
Tipping is the norm on any trip to Machu Picchu. Although we pay our entire team well, a little extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they put in. Typically, group members collect their tips to share with the drivers and cooks.
Landslides, bad weather, changes in itinerary due to safety concerns, illness, pandemics, changes in government policy, political instability, strikes, acts of God, etc.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and worry free as possible. In this section you’ll find the answers to all your questions about travelling with Tunqui Expeditions in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions you may have about our services.
Is it for me?
The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail trek and is better suited for more adventurous trekkers who can handle higher altitudes and longer distances.
Plastic-Free Inca Jungle Trek
Join us on this journey toward a plastic-free Inca Jungle Trek, where the beauty of the landscape is matched only by our commitment to environmental stewardship. Together we will pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible adventure through the heart of history.
How many days do I need to acclimatise in Cusco before the Inca Jungle trek?
It’s very important to be well acclimatised to the altitude before embarking on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the start of the trek to help you acclimatise and avoid any problems with altitude sickness during the trek.
You may have been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Cusco. If this is the case, we still recommend that you spend a full day in Cusco to rest, recover from the journey and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before starting the trek.
Here are some suggestions for activities to do around Cusco before starting your adventure trek:
Briefing or information meeting
All information meetings and briefings are held at our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 17:00 the night before the tour starts. These meetings last between 30 and 45 minutes. If you can’t make it, you will need to arrange another time by email, phone or in person at the Tunqui Expeditions office.
Trek balance payment (in Cusco)
If you have an outstanding balance, you must pay it 2 days before your trek. Otherwise your reservation will not be confirmed.
If possible, we would appreciate it if you could pay the balance for the trek/tour in cash, either in US dollars or local currency, at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw money from several ATM’s along the Avenida Sol, which offer both US Dollars and Peruvian Soles.
Alternatively, you can pay by credit/debit card or PAYPAL, either online or in person, but please note that a 5% service charge will be applied by our payment gateway (Niubiz) and PAYPAL. We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept bank drafts or traveller’s cheques as payment for the balance.
Duffle bag or canvas bag
You’ll be given a duffel bag or canvas bag during your briefing. Our team of porters will carry it with you throughout the trek and hand it to you at each camp. They measure 60 x 24 x 22 cm (23.6 x 9.45 x 8.66 in).
A maximum of 6 kg / 13.2 lb is allowed for each duffel, including the weight of your sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes and other personal items.
Can I store my luggage in your office?
Of course you can! During the trip your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can arrange this with us on the day of the briefing or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment you don’t need on the trek can be safely stored at your hotel. Almost all hotels offer this service. Don’t leave anything of value with your luggage; put it in the hotel safe and get a detailed receipt (in the unlikely event of theft, many insurance companies require a copy of the receipt detailing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards in a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Collecting guests
Please note:
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, therefore physical conditions and ages may vary. By agreeing to join a group tour, you accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, everyone will be able to move at their own pace.
There may be occasions when a group wishes to make changes to the tour, but it is up to the guide to decide, in consultation with all participants, whether such changes are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may interrupt some of our tours. Roads may be blocked and railway lines may be occupied. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if this means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Tours may be cancelled in these circumstances. In the event of a change or cancellation, our Operations Department will liaise with you. Your safety is our number one priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost items
Please be careful where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything with you when you leave your transport, accommodation or restaurant. You are responsible for your belongings while you’re on the tour.
BASICS
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
The porters will carry up to 7kg of your personal belongings. This should include your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you are bring/renting one). In our case these two items weigh 3.5kg.
RECOMMENDED
“Classic Inca Jungle 4 Days” is available any day of the week, from March to January. We do not operate this itinerary in February due to the rainy season and route maintenance. In addition, during this month, our Tunqui Expeditions team – guides, cooks, porters and muleteers – receive training and plan the year to ensure that you, our travelers, enjoy the trekking experience with us to the fullest.
Cost
Group Price: US$ 560.00 per person.
Required Pre-payment : US$ 200.00 per person.
Balance (Cusco): US$ 360.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after briefing).
This small group tour is guaranteed to operate with just 2 people.
Please note that PayPal charges a 5% fee, which we ask the client to cover as it is due to the use of their service. This tax is only for online deposits so you will pay the rest in cash (on the day of the briefing in Cusco) without charge.
Extensions and Offers
There are several extensions that can be included in your Peru Adventure.
Additional Equipment
There are additional items that you can include in this trip. Below is a quick list of prices.
Price guarantee
Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. So, before you book, please make sure you have read all our important information about the tour.
Student Discount
Student discounts apply to anyone 17 years of age or younger. To receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of your passport at the time of booking. It must be current and not expire within the dates of travel. Please send it to info@tunquiexpeditions.com.
