Inca Jungle — 4 Days
Downhill biking from Abra Málaga, walking through cloud forest and a guided visit to Machu Picchu.
- Duration
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Maximum altitude
- 4,316 m
- Group size
- Maximum 10 people
- Acclimatisation needed
- 1 day in Cusco
- Best season
- April to October
A four-day adventure route combining a downhill bike ride, cloud-forest walking and a guided visit to Machu Picchu. No trail permit is needed: the only quota is the citadel entrance on the last day.
Day one descends by bike from Abra Málaga, at 4,316 m, down to the Santa María valley, with a support vehicle alongside the whole way. The following days follow the old road on foot between coffee and banana plantations, with hot springs on the way, and reach Aguas Calientes along the Hidroeléctrica line.
It is the cheapest of the routes that arrive at Machu Picchu on foot, because it carries no camp and no pack equipment and the base return is overland. Rafting and the zip line are additional activities and are charged separately.
Next departures
Daily departures
These are the dates this route runs, worked out from its schedule. Availability is confirmed when you enquire: in high season some departures are already closed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Abra Málaga and the bike descent
Early departure from Cusco by road up to the pass at 4,316 m. Around 60 km of paved downhill riding with a support vehicle behind, losing close to 3,000 m of altitude down to Santa María. Optional rafting in the afternoon.
4,316 m above sea level
Day 2
Santa María – Santa Teresa
Around seven hours of walking on cloud-forest trail between coffee and banana plantations, including stretches of the original Inca road. Free afternoon for the Cocalmayo hot springs or the zip line.
2,000 m above sea level
Day 3
Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
Transfer to the Hidroeléctrica power station and a three-hour walk following the railway line into town. Night in a guesthouse.
2,040 m above sea level
Day 4
Machu Picchu
Early bus up to the citadel, a guided visit of around two hours, and the return to Cusco via Hidroeléctrica.
2,430 m above sea level
What's included
- Transport from Cusco up to Abra Málaga
- Mountain bike, helmet, gloves and elbow pads
- Support vehicle for the whole descent
- Certified professional guide
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
- Three nights of accommodation in Santa María, Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket with a guided visit
- Shuttle bus up to the citadel
Not included
- Rafting on the Urubamba river: charged separately
- Zip line in Santa Teresa: charged separately
- The Cocalmayo hot springs
- Return train — the base return is overland via Hidroeléctrica
- Tips
What to bring
- Your original passport
- A 25 litre day pack
- Hiking shoes
- Strong insect repellent — from day two you are down in cloud forest
- Swimwear for the hot springs
- Rain poncho
- Light clothing as well as the warm layers for day one
Frequently asked questions
Are the rafting and the zip line included?
No, and it is worth knowing when you compare prices. Nearly every agency sells them as extras paid on the route, but many put them in the photos as though they came with it. We keep them out of the base price and tell you what they cost before you leave, not once you are already there.
Do I need to be a good cyclist?
Being able to ride is enough. The descent is on sealed road with a continuous gradient and no technical sections, and a support vehicle follows in case anyone would rather get in. What it does take is sensible braking, because it is 60 km downhill.
Is this a real trek or an adventure tour?
It is an adventure tour with one long walking day. You descend from the puna into the jungle, sleep in lodgings every night, and the weight of the programme sits on the activities rather than on the walking. There is no camping and no chain of mountain days.
Why is it so much cheaper than the other routes to Machu Picchu?
Because there is no camp, no porters and no cook, and the base return is overland via Hidroeléctrica rather than by train. If you would rather take the train back from Aguas Calientes, we add it to the quote.
How much altitude do you lose on day one?
Close to 3,000 m, from the pass down to Santa María. That is why almost nobody has altitude trouble on this route: you start high but drop quickly and sleep low.
When not to go: January and February — the downhill ride in the rain stops being fun and there is landslide risk