Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu 3D/2N

It's the Inca Jungle Trek in three days and two nights, a multisport route from Cusco to Machu Picchu. On Day 1, you ride a mountain bike down from Abra Málaga, raft the Vilcanota River and relax at Cocalmayo Hot Springs. On Day 2, you zip-line near Santa Teresa and walk from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes. On Day 3, you tour Machu Picchu with your guide. You sleep in hotels, not in tents.

Choose the 3-day trip if you're short on time and want the adventure sports and Machu Picchu in one day less. Our 4-day Inca Jungle Trek adds a full day of hiking on an Inca path from Santa María to Santa Teresa, with a visit to a coffee-growing family, at a more relaxed pace. Both include biking, rafting, the zip line and a guided Machu Picchu tour.

The Inca Jungle Trail is a multisport adventure at lower altitude: biking, rafting, zip-lining and a short hike, with nights in hotels. The Salkantay Trek is a pure high-mountain hike that crosses a 15,190 ft (4,630 m) pass, with nights in camp. Both end with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

No. The Inca Jungle Trail is a different route that reaches Machu Picchu through the jungle valleys of Santa María, Santa Teresa and Hidroeléctrica, and it doesn't need an Inca Trail permit. The Classic Inca Trail is a camping trek that enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. If you'd like to walk a stretch of Inca path on the Inca Jungle route, choose the 4-day version.

It's a moderate trip that suits active travelers in good health. Day 1 is the longest, with an early start, the bike ride and rafting; the bike ride is downhill on a paved road, and the van follows the group the whole way. Day 2 includes about three hours of walking on flat ground beside the railway. Some walking or cycling at home in the weeks before will help you enjoy every day.

No experience is needed for rafting or the zip line: the specialized guides and instructors give you a safety briefing and all the gear first. For the bike ride, you should feel comfortable riding and braking on a downhill road. If you'd rather skip any activity, you can travel in the support van or wait for the group and join again right after. Being able to swim is recommended for rafting.

The highest point is Abra Málaga, at 14,272 ft (4,350 m), where the bike ride starts. You reach it by van and spend only a short time there before riding down to warmer, lower valleys. The rest of the trip stays below the altitude of Cusco, with Machu Picchu at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). We recommend spending about three days in Cusco before departure to acclimatize.

The best time is the dry season, from April to October, especially June to August, when the roads are drier and the views are clearer. We run the Inca Jungle Trail all year: from November to March, rain makes the jungle greener and the rivers fuller. In any season, your guide and the activity staff check the weather, the road and the river each day before biking or rafting.

Light rain usually doesn't stop the activities: you'll ride and raft with a rain jacket and the right gear. If heavy rain, high water or the state of the road make an activity unsafe, your guide will adjust the plan, for example by moving the group in the van or changing the time. Your safety always comes first.

Rafting depends on the weather and the level of the Vilcanota River. It usually runs from about April to November, when the river is at a good level for rafting. In the rainiest months, especially from December to March, heavy rain can raise the river so much that the river guides suspend the activity for safety. They check the river every day and confirm rafting on the spot; when it isn't possible, you'll have more time to enjoy Cocalmayo Hot Springs.

We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco early in the morning on Day 1. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time at the briefing. On Day 3, the private van drops you back at your hotel in Cusco in the evening.

You stay two nights in hotels. In Santa Teresa, you stay at a functional, clean hotel close to the hot springs and the zip line. In Aguas Calientes, you spend the second night in a 3-star hotel, such as Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu or similar, before your guided tour.

You get two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners, served at local restaurants and at your hotels, with vegetarian, vegan and other special menus at no extra cost. On Day 1, have breakfast at your hotel if it serves it early, or buy it at a short stop on the way, and on Day 3, you have lunch on your own in Aguas Calientes after your tour. Along the route, you'll find small shops and markets for water, drinks and snacks.

Yes. Your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and guided tour are included on Day 3. We try to book Circuit 2 whenever it's available for your date, and we'll confirm your circuit before the trip. Your guide will lead you through the citadel on the circuit confirmed with your ticket.

Yes, you can add the Huayna Picchu ticket or the Machu Picchu Mountain ticket for US$85 each, subject to availability and an entry time that fits your tour. Both climbs are steep, so plan an extra two to three hours. Tickets sell out early in the dry season, so let us know when you book.

We include the private van from Cusco to Santa Teresa, with stops for the bike ride, rafting and the hot springs, the transfer to Hidroeléctrica, the Machu Picchu buses both ways, the return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (PeruRail or Inca Rail) and the private van back to Cusco. If you'd rather not walk from Hidroeléctrica, you can take the train on Day 2 for US$34 per person. You can also take the Vistadome on your train back for US$50 per person, subject to availability.

Bring a light backpack of 25–30 liters with what you need for the three days. The van carries your things on Day 1 and to Hidroeléctrica on Day 2; you only carry your backpack on the walk into Aguas Calientes, so keep it light and comfortable. You can leave the rest of your luggage at your hotel in Cusco or at our office, and your guide will help you plan what to take at the briefing.

Pack for both cold and heat: a warm jacket for the start at Abra Málaga, then light, quick-dry clothes for the jungle. Don't forget a swimsuit and sandals for rafting and the hot springs, strong insect repellent, sunscreen, a rain jacket and your original passport. Bring some cash in soles for snacks, the hot springs and tips. See the Packing List tab for the full list.

We recommend it for travelers aged 10 and over, as the trip includes biking, rafting and an early start on Day 1. Younger children can join with a parent or guardian, who supervises them, and they can ride in the support van or skip any activity that doesn't suit them. Child and student discounts are shown in the Prices tab. Tell us your children's ages when you book so we can plan the trip with you.

Our groups have 2 to 10 travelers, with an experienced bilingual guide and an assistant guide when the group has more than eight. Departures run daily with a minimum of two travelers.

Your guide carries a first-aid kit and is trained to give first aid. If you need medical care, the team will take you to the nearest health center and stay in touch with our Cusco office. The guide decides how the rest of the group continues, always putting everyone's safety first.

Yes. We recommend travel insurance that covers medical care and emergency evacuation, and that includes adventure activities such as mountain biking, rafting and zip-lining. Check the details with your insurer before you travel. Some providers you can look at:

• assistcard.com
• mapfre.com
• intermundial.es
• fiatc.es

Yes, you can charge your devices at your hotels each night, and a power bank is handy for the long first day. Phone signal is usually good in Santa María, Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes, and it comes and goes on the road and along the railway.

See the Prices tab for the current rates and discounts, and choose your date in the booking system. You reserve your place with a 40% deposit and pay the balance in Cusco, at your briefing.

At the briefing in Cusco, you meet your guide, go over the itinerary and the activities, check what to pack and confirm your pickup time for the next morning. It's also the moment to pay the remaining balance and ask any last questions.

The published 40% deposit helps Waman arrange the services listed in this itinerary, including:

• Entrance to the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu.
• Tour guide.
• Tourist transportation.
• Train
• Lodging
• Adventure activities (biking, rafting and zipline).

Waman states that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Before paying, confirm the final amount, booking conditions and any fees in the reservation system, as the amount shown at checkout is authoritative for that transaction.

Cash (Recommended): At Waman Adventures, we recommend paying the remaining balance in cash (during your briefing), preferably in Dollars, but can also be made in Soles (the exchange rate of the day applies).

Transfer/Deposit:

PayPal: You can use the PayPal option on our website by following the steps. Please note that PayPal charges a 6% tax per transaction (amount to be covered by the customer).

In case you decide to make the deposit directly from your account, do not forget to add the 6% tax. You can send the deposit to this account: info@wamanadventures.com

Visa: If you use the Visa option on our website, please note that VISA charges a 5% tax per transaction (amount to be covered by the customer).

Western Union: You can pay at their offices (they have offices abroad) or online (http://www.westernunion.com/):

• Receiver's first name: Alex Marco
• Receiver's last name: Huaman Levita
• Receiver's City: Cusco
• Country: Peru

If you use this method, please send an email confirming the deposit amount and the transaction number (MTCN) you have been given.

Note: It is very important to cancel the remaining balance at least 48 hours before the start of the tour, to ensure that all tourist services are properly coordinated. Likewise, in case we do not receive the payment of the remaining balance within the established term and without any communication from you due to eventual delays, we will unfortunately be forced to cancel your reservation.

You can read real reviews from travelers who have done the Inca Jungle Trail and our other tours on Waman Adventures on TripAdvisor.