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Also known as the Inka Jungle Trail (as described in the Lonely Planet guide book)

highlight : a combination of hiking, and a thrilling downhill bike ride, t his is a very cool back door entry to the great citadel of Machu Picchu. The tropical Inca trail is recommended for people wanting something a little different.

description : also known as the jungle inca trail or the Inka Jungle trail, this trip is increasingly more popular. the Tropical Inca Trail leads you through beautiful landscapes with impressive panoramic views and a wide variety of flora and fauna. We can also enjoy a relaxing medicinal bath in Cocalmayu.

location : cusco - santa maria (6 hours from cusco) - santa theresa - machu picchu - cusco

duration : (4days/ 3 nights)

level:  easy

adventure rating: exciting downhill bike ride and a jungle entry to machu picchu.

top link: still looking! departs: any day with two people.

Lowest price: $385 - see price list below

Full itinerary & Inclusions

Prices

itinerary & inclusions the tropical inca trail / inca jungle trail

DAY ONE - CUSCO TO COLCAMAYU: You will be collected from your hotel in Cusco in private transport, and transported to the Abra de Malaga (or below, depending on the group). (approx 3 hrs drive) Here we will start an interesting and sometimes slightly hair-raising downhill ride on our mountain bikes. (depending on previous experience) This is suitable for people of moderate fitness, who like a bit of a challenge. approx cycling time is about 4-5 hours but you will be accompanied by a support car at all times, so if you want to retire, you can get into the car. For the hardy, we will cycle all the way to the small high jungle agricultural village of Santa Maria. Other groups prefer to end earlier. This road can be compared to the "Worlds Most Dangerous Road" heading to Coroico in Bolivia. We will have lunch en route, visit some Inca ruins, and in the afternoon camp in Santa Maria.

DAY TWO: Today we will hike from Santa Maria to Colcamayo, about 7 hours of hiking. We will follow the road out of Santa Maria for about half an hour. We will then hike through coffee and coca plantations and also pass through farms which grow tropical fruits like oranges. After climbing for a while we connect with a "tropical Inca trail" - that is, an Inca trail from the time of the Inca empire. There are great views along this section and we descend via impressive Inca Stairs while admiring the canyon of the Vilcanota River. We continue, crossing some small rivers and creeks and then we cross a bridge. It should be noted that this section of hiking is not great for people with a fear of heights!

After this we will walk along the shore of the river until we cross the river several times. We will arrive at the hot springs of Colcamayo where we will camp the night. Your meal will be prepared locally. See Colcamayu hot springs.

DAY THREE: After breakfast we start our hike to Aguas Calientes. We follow an easy road for about 2.5 hours, and then cross the Vilcanota River and continue for 2 more hours to the Hydroelectric plant. We have our boxed lunch at the Hydroelectric Plant. Here, time permitting; we will visit an unrestored small Inca ruin. In the afternoon we will follow the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, another 2 hours of hiking through the high jungle. We will stay the night at a Hostel in Aguas Calientes.

NOTE: An alternative for Day 3 is as follows:

Early in the morning a taxi will take us to the Cola de Mono zipline. For those who do not want to take on the challenge of the zip line you have the option of staying at Colcamayu or taking a forest walk at Cola de Mono. After lunch in Santa Theresa, we will drive to the Hydroelectric Station. Here you have the chance to see a small but interesting Inca ruin while waiting for the train. The train departs at 4.30pm and takes about one hour to arrive at Aguas Calientes. En route you can look up and see Machu Picchu above you. We spend the night at basic a Hostel in Aguas Calientes. NOTE: As Cola de Mono is an optional activity, the price is EXTRA to what is in the itinerary.

DAY FOUR : After breakfast we take an early bus up to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, where we have a guided visit of approximately two hours. After this you are free to explore this famous site, and if you feel energetic we recommend you to climb Huayna Picchu, however you must leave before 12 noon. This hike takes about 1 hour to climb, and less to descend and offers awesome views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding terrain. You have the option to walk down from Machu Picchu, or to take the bus. (Not included). We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train (leaves either at 2.30pm or 6pm) and are met by a driver at Ollantaytambo who will transfer you directly back to your hotel. You will arrive approximately 4 hours after your train's departure from Aguas Calientes.

Itinerary Notes

• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group and the guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has their own preferred route and it might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• This is an adventurous trip. You should be sure to bring an open mind, flexibility and a sense of humor. Most of all you should be prepared to go with the flow.
• If required, riding horses or horses to carry luggage can be arranged at a reasonable daily rate.
• An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged. We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. Please also note that your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for one day only, if you wish to visit the ruins on a second consecutive day you will need to purchase the ticket again, valued at approx $45 US.
  
• It is possible to start or finish your trip in either Urubamba or Ollayantatambo, in order to make it easier for you to visit the Sacred Valley.

What's included?

For complete facts about many aspects of Apus Peru tours, check out our FAQs page!

• Pre Trek Briefing
• Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure.
• Transport from Cusco to the abra de malaga
• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people).
• Mountain bike, helmet and gloves on day one
• Entry fees: Machu Picchu.
• Tents - 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks. All tents were purchased in 07/08.
• Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can hire you an inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest) for $5 per day.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). We do not take cooks on this trip and eat meals prepared in local restaurants.
• Porters (for equipment and personal items) . They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 5 kg per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire an extra porter at a cost of $9 per day.
• Tents for our staff to sleep in, sleeping bags & mattresses plus a budget for their meals.
• First aid kit
• Train ticket (Backpacker service) from Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo.
• 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in one star hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel, please check out the options listed on our Aguas Calientes accommodation page.
• Train from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes (valued at $8)
• Bus up and down to Machu Picchu (valued at $14 US)
• Celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes village
• Box lunch final day in Machu Picchu

What is not included?

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Entrance to the thermal springs
• Sleeping bags (can be hired from us for US$5 per day) If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
• Tips for the guide, cook and porters
• Additional porters for passengers luggage. If there are any substantial items or backpacks, passengers will need to hire an additional porters at a cost of $25 per day. this price includes their wages, food and transport costs.
• You should bring:
  

• A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek - prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature - this trip particularly has a range of different climate zones and it can get very cold one day and then hot the next.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk (these could be necessary for the descent down the Abra de Malaga).
• Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
• Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent - minimum recommended 20% DEET - although no malaria risk has been reported
• Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
  We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
• Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol etc.
• Small towel or sarong
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs)
• Cash - sufficient for your final lunch in Aguas Calientes, tips and souvenirs.
• Original passport & ISIC card (if you have one).
• Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
• Binoculars (if you have them)
  

optional extras We can hire the following.

• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5deg. ($4.00 per day)
• Deluxe Sleeping Bag suitable for -10deg. ($6.00 per day)
• Walking stick lightweight aluminum ($1.00 per day)
• Inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest) ($5.00 per day)
• Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Mule - $9.00 per day Most people carry their own day pack with up to 5-10kg of their things - a change of clothes and wet weather gear etc. However, if you think that you will have much luggage and you want a very light day pack (eg. just camera and water) then its advisable that you hire an extra mule .

"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." Daniel J. Boorstin

ALL NEW : scans of recent trip reports. Click on the link to view the pdf. After you have viewed it, click on back to return to this page.

2 june 2009 tropical inca trail/ inca jungle trek report 1/ report 2/ report 3

17 may 2009 tropical inca trail report 1/report 2

8 march 2009 Tropical Inca Trail report 1/ report 2

23 August 2008 Tropical Inca Trail

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - we support sustainable, responsible and ethical tourism...

366 Cuichipunco, Centro Historico, Cusco, Peru- Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005-2010. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.