This 4-day trip is all about mixing adrenaline with the magic of the Andes and the jungle. You’ll bike down wild mountain roads, splash through river rapids, zip-line over treetops, and end with the jaw-dropping wonder of Machu Picchu. Perfect for anyone who loves action and wants to see Peru’s wild side!
Your day kicks off early—6:00 AM pickup from your hotel in Cusco. A van drives you up to Abra Málaga, a chilly mountain pass at 4,300 meters (14,108 feet). Here, you’ll hop on a bike and coast downhill for 3 hours, passing misty cloud forests, coffee farms, and fields of bright green coca plants. You’ll end in Santa María (1,450 meters / 4,757 feet), a cozy jungle town. After lunch, if you’re up for it, tackle the Vilcanota River’s rapids (rafting optional!). Spend the night in a simple guesthouse, swapping stories with your group.
• What you’ll do: Biking, optional rafting.
• Food: Lunch, dinner.
• Sleep: Guesthouse in Santa María.
Wake up at 6:30 AM to a hearty breakfast. Today’s hike starts with a steep 2-hour climb—don’t worry, your guide will point out wild orchids and maybe even tropical birds along the way. You’ll stop at a local family’s home to try juicy mangoes or papayas, then walk a hidden stretch of the Inca Trail with views of the Huancarccasa Canyon. Lunch is in Quellomayo, a tiny village, before heading to the Cocalmayo hot springs. Soak those tired muscles in the warm pools surrounded by jungle! Finish the day in Santa Teresa (1,811 meters / 5,941 feet), another guesthouse night.
• What you’ll do: Hiking, hot springs.
• Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Sleep: Guesthouse in Santa Teresa.
Feeling brave? Start the day with zip-lining over the treetops (optional but totally worth it!). Then, hike 2.5 hours through banana and avocado plantations, past waterfalls, to Hidroeléctrica (1,900 meters / 6,234 feet). After lunch, walk along train tracks for 2 hours to Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters / 6,693 feet), the town below Machu Picchu. Grab a beer, explore the market, or just relax at your hotel.
• What you’ll do: Zip-lining, hiking.
• Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Sleep: Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Up before sunrise! Catch the first bus to Machu Picchu for a guided tour—you’ll learn about temples, palaces, and why this place is so special. If you booked it, climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for crazy views (2-hour hike, no guide). After free time to wander, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Hop on an afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, then a van to Cusco. You’ll be back at your hotel by 10:00 PM, exhausted but buzzing.
• What you’ll do: Machu Picchu tour, optional hike.
• Food: Breakfast.
• Sleep: None—time to go home!
To qualify for the student discount on Inca Trail Permits, travelers must meet the following requirements:
Student IDs will not be accepted for the discount under the following conditions:
This information is crucial for travelers seeking to benefit from discounted permits for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
“ITAN Adventure” is a 100% Peruvian-owned tour operator based in Cusco, with extensive experience in hiking, adventure tours, and customized travel packages. As a completely local company, we’re dedicated to providing travelers with authentic, high-quality experiences.
Our vision as a local company is to deliver personalized travel and hiking journeys, managed exclusively by experienced local professionals, with a strong focus on HIGH-QUALITY and PERSONALIZED SERVICE.
We are proud of our reputation as a travel agency that upholds RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE practices benefiting both the environment and local communities.
We treat our team like family and ensure they receive fair wages. We are incredibly proud of each member of our team! Their dedication makes it possible for us to provide the top-notch service that our many travelers appreciate.
At “ITAN Adventure,” we understand that our reputation and the feedback from our travelers are essential for gaining the trust of future adventurers. You can check out honest reviews from our guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google to see why we’re a reliable choice for creating your Peruvian adventure.
To ensure a more personalized experience at “ITAN Adventure,” we keep our group sizes to a maximum of 8 travelers. This approach allows us to offer a tailored experience, unlike companies that operate with larger groups.
Our guides are our pride. They’re highly knowledgeable and professional, fluent in English, and deeply passionate about Inca culture and history. Each guide is committed to ongoing personal and professional development, allowing them to share accurate insights and fascinating theories about Andean heritage. They are friendly, athletic, and well-educated, with backgrounds in Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History, or Anthropology.
Hiking with “ITAN Adventure” ensures a fulfilling experience. Our porters are here to make your journey comfortable and memorable. They carry your equipment, prepare meals, set up camps, and attend to your needs so you can relax and enjoy the adventure. Along the way, you’ll connect with local people, explore stunning sites, and discover historic Inca villages.
We provide our porters with essential equipment at no cost: jackets, sun hats, warm hats, shirts, pants, hiking boots, comfortable bags, canteens, back support belts, sleeping bags, mattresses, and travel insurance. Our porters come from remote communities, and by hiring them, we help improve their economic conditions and support their children’s education. We treat our porters like family!
Our team—guides, cooks, porters, muleteers—and our equipment make “ITAN Adventure” stand out from the competition. During our hikes, we provide:
“ITAN Adventure” is committed to giving back to isolated communities. We support social projects and prioritize hiring local staff.
We are proud to support local communities not only by providing employment but also by offering assistance to their families. This holistic approach benefits our employees from the Peruvian Andes and their loved ones, strengthening our connection to the local heritage.
To book the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu, you need to make an initial payment of US$200 per person. The remaining balance can be paid online or at our office in Cusco with any card and without booking fees.
All travelers under 17 have a $40 discount. If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get the discount with your Student ID. Please send us an email to receive a code for the discount.
