4.7 4 Days Inca Jungle Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights + Biking+Rafting+Zipline
- Challenging
- 4,350 m · 14,270 ft
From
US$410
per person
Inca Jungle Tours
Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu: Biking, Rafting, Zipline and Hiking
Adventures to Machu Picchu
Ride a mountain bike down from the Abra Málaga pass, raft the Vilcanota River, zipline in Santa Teresa and walk to Aguas Calientes before a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Choose the 3-day tour from US$390 or the 4-day tour from US$410, which adds a hiking day on an Inca-era path. No Inca Trail permit is needed.
4.7 4 Days 
4.7 3 Days Inca Jungle Trek Machu Picchu 3 Days / 2 Nights + Biking+ Rafting+ Zipline
- Moderate
- 4,350 m · 14,270 ft
From
US$390
per person
What is the Inca Jungle trek?
The Inca Jungle trek is the multi-sport way from Cusco to Machu Picchu: a mountain-bike descent on the road from the Abra Málaga pass, rafting on the Vilcanota River, a zipline in Santa Teresa and a walk beside the railway to Aguas Calientes. Our Inca Jungle tours cost from US$390 (3-day/2-night) and US$410 (4-day/3-night), with hotels, the Machu Picchu ticket and the train back included. No Inca Trail permit is needed; the longer tour adds a hiking day on an Inca-era path.
- US$3903-day/2-night Inca Jungle tour, per person
- US$4104-day/3-night tour, with an extra hiking day
- 4,350 m14,270 ft at Abra Málaga, the bike start (sources differ: 4,200–4,350 m)
- ≈48 kmdownhill by bike on a paved road, about 2 hours
- 2 hoursof rafting, class III–IV rapids in the dry season
- No permitneeded for the Inca Trail; Machu Picchu ticket included
The 3-day and 4-day Inca Jungle tours, side by side
Both tours share the first day and the Machu Picchu finale. The 4-day tour adds a long walking day and one more hotel night.
| Day | 3-day/2-night tour · US$390 | 4-day/3-night tour · US$410 |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pickup at 6:30 a.m., van via Ollantaytambo to Abra Málaga (about 11:00 a.m.). Bike about 2 hours (≈48 km) to Huamanmarca for lunch, van to Santa María, 2 hours of rafting from the Chaullay bridge. Night in Santa Teresa. | Pickup at 6:30 a.m., about 3 hours by van to Abra Málaga or Alfamayo (start chosen on the day). Bike about 2 hours (≈48 km), lunch at Huamanmarca, 2 hours of rafting from the Santa María bridge. Night in Santa María. |
| Day 2 | Zipline in Santa Teresa, van to Hidroeléctrica, walk of about 2 hours beside the railway. Night in Aguas Calientes. | Hiking day: about 16 km, 7–8 hours, 800 m of climbing on an Inca-era path to Quellomayo, a cable-car river crossing and the Cocalmayo hot springs. Night in Santa Teresa. |
| Day 3 | Machu Picchu: up at 4:00 a.m., guided tour, free time, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco. | Zipline, van to Hidroeléctrica, walk of about 2 hours beside the railway. Night in Aguas Calientes. |
| Day 4 | — | Machu Picchu: bus up (included) or a 1 hour 30 minute walk, guided tour of about 2 hours, train to Ollantaytambo and road to Cusco. |
| Hotel nights | 2: Santa Teresa, Aguas Calientes | 3: Santa María, Santa Teresa, Aguas Calientes |
| Meals | 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners | 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners |
| Bike and gear | Front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, helmet, gloves, elbow and knee pads, jacket | Scott full suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, helmet, gloves |
| Our rating | Moderate | Challenging |
Both include a bilingual guide, bike, rafting and zipline, the Machu Picchu ticket and guided tour, the bus up and the train to Ollantaytambo with the transfer to Cusco. Not included: first breakfast, lunch after Machu Picchu, Cocalmayo hot springs (S/10), drinks, tips, and Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Inca Jungle trek difficulty: which tour fits you?
The 3-day tour is moderate: its effort comes in short blocks (a mostly downhill ride, rafting, a flat walk and the Machu Picchu morning). The 4-day tour is challenging because of day 2, about 16 km on narrow paths with 800 m of climbing; in return it has the only real trekking section of the route. Neither asks for bike or rafting experience, but you should ride confidently and control your speed downhill.
Route and altitude: road, Inca path or railway?
The route mixes road, river, footpath and railway, and only the hiking day of the 4-day tour follows an Inca-era path, which is not part of the permit-controlled Classic Inca Trail.
| Section | How and on what | Time and distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco → Abra Málaga | Van, paved road via Ollantaytambo | About 3 hours |
| Abra Málaga → Huamanmarca | Bike, downhill on a paved road shared with traffic | About 2 hours, ≈48 km |
| Huamanmarca → Santa María | Van, road | About 30 minutes |
| Rafting | Raft on the Vilcanota River, with a safety kayak | About 2 hours |
| Santa María → Quellomayo → Cocalmayo (4-day only) | On foot: footpath with an Inca-era section, river crossing by cable car | About 16 km, 7–8 hours |
| Santa Teresa → Hidroeléctrica | Van, road, after the zipline | Short drive |
| Hidroeléctrica → Aguas Calientes | On foot, beside the railway | About 2 hours |
| Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu | Bus on the road, or on foot | Walking: about 1 hour 30 minutes, 350 m up |
| Aguas Calientes → Cusco | Train to Ollantaytambo, then road | About 2 hours, then 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours |
The altitude profile is the reverse of most Cusco treks: the highest point comes in the first hours, and then you sleep low.
| Stage | Altitude |
|---|---|
| Cusco, start | About 3,400 m / 11,150 ft |
| Abra Málaga, bike start | 4,350 m / 14,270 ft |
| End of day 1, lowest point | 1,430 m / 4,690 ft |
| Hiking day (4-day tour) | 1,800–2,650 m / 5,910–8,690 ft |
| Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes | 1,800–2,100 m / 5,910–6,890 ft |
| Machu Picchu day | 2,100–2,450 m / 6,890–8,040 ft |
Our itineraries give Abra Málaga 4,350 m. Other sources say 4,200 m, about 4,300 m or 4,316 m, and we found no official figure, so read it as roughly 4,300 m. You are there only at the start of the ride, and Cusco is higher than any night on the route, so the city is where you acclimatize. See the elevation of every stop from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
Is the Inca Jungle trek safe?
The bike descent is on a highway, not a trail. From Abra Málaga you ride down the paved Cusco–Quillabamba road, open to buses, trucks and cars, with tight bends and frequent cloud on the pass. In August 2022 a tourist minivan fell about 100 m off this road at Abra Málaga in fog, and four people died, as reported by Andina, Peru’s state news agency. It was not a bike accident, but it is the same road.
- Equipment: hydraulic disc brakes, helmet and gloves on both tours; the 3-day tour also lists elbow and knee pads and a jacket.
- Support van: our van travels with the group, and if you feel tired or unsure you can ride in it instead.
- Start point: on the 4-day tour the ride starts at Abra Málaga or lower down at Alfamayo, chosen on the day.
- Your part: ride at the guide’s pace in single file at the edge of the lane, never overtake on a blind bend, and tell the guide if your brakes feel wrong.
Rafting. Tourist rafting in Peru is regulated by Supreme Decree 006-2016-MINCETUR (amended in 2017 and 2019), which sets rules for operators, guides and equipment. Our tours run 2 hours on the Vilcanota (the same river as the Urubamba) with a rafting guide and a safety kayak. The class III–IV grading is for the dry season. From roughly November to April the river runs higher, so ask us how it is running for your date.
Railway walk. The walk from Hidroeléctrica is flat, but trains use the line: walk beside the rails, not between them, and step well aside when a train comes. We also recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation and emergency medical evacuation.
Your Machu Picchu entrance
The ticket included in both tours is not open-ended: it is for a set entry time and one circuit inside the site, and the guided tour follows that circuit. Under Ministerial Resolution 000408-2026-MC, the Ministry of Culture allows 5,600 visitors a day in high season (in 2027: 1–3 January, 25–28 March, 19 June to 2 November and 29–31 December) and 4,500 the rest of the year; the only official sales site is tuboleto.cultura.pe. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are separate tickets with their own quotas. Train times are confirmed once the tour is fully paid. See Machu Picchu circuits, Machu Picchu tickets in 2027 and getting back from Machu Picchu.
Inca Jungle or Inca Trail?
Choose the Inca Trail to walk an original Inca road all the way and arrive on foot through the Sun Gate; choose the Inca Jungle trek for variety, lower sleeping altitudes and dates without a permit. The full comparison is in Inca Trail vs Inca Jungle Trek: Trekking or Multi-Sport to Machu Picchu?
See also our Inca Trail treks and other alternative treks such as Salkantay.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Inca Jungle trek safe?
It is guided but not risk-free: the main risk is the bike descent on a public road with traffic, bends and fog. Our support van travels with the group.
How difficult is the Inca Jungle trek?
We rate the 3-day tour moderate and the 4-day tour challenging, because of its hiking day: about 16 km, 7–8 hours and 800 m of climbing.
Do I need mountain-bike or rafting experience?
No, but you should ride a bike confidently and be able to brake on a long descent. Rafting is with a rafting guide and a safety kayak.
Can I skip the biking or the rafting?
Yes: you can ride in the support van instead. If you prefer not to raft or zipline, tell us when you book.
Is the zipline included?
Yes, on both tours, in Santa Teresa: day 2 of the 3-day tour and day 3 of the 4-day tour.
Do I need an Inca Trail permit?
No. You only need a Machu Picchu ticket, which both tours include.
What is the maximum altitude?
4,350 m (14,270 ft) at Abra Málaga in our itineraries; other sources give 4,200 to 4,350 m. All nights are below 2,100 m.
When is the best time to go?
May to September, the dry season. From November to April the river runs higher and rain is more frequent.
How much does an Inca Jungle tour cost?
US$390 per person for the 3-day/2-night tour and US$410 for the 4-day/3-night tour, with hotels, most meals, the activities, the Machu Picchu ticket and the train back.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, as separate tickets subject to availability. Ask for them when you book, because these tickets sell out too.