This trek is an excellent combination of hiking and sports such as mountain biking. This 4-day hike takes us from the ancient city of Cusco to Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll pass through different typical villages as well as Incan archaeological sites. We start in a valley over 4,000 meters above sea level before descending for 3 hours on a mountain bike through a tropical forest.
We’ll also pass by beautiful mountains that offer splendid views. Over the next few days, we’ll walk towards stunning landscapes filled with mountains and tropical vegetation, passing through small picturesque villages where you will have the chance to harvest coffee plantations, local fruits, or coca leaves. Near the end of the trip, we may be lucky enough to enjoy a magnificent view over the Inca Trail, used by the Incas in ancient times. To finish, in the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo, you can enjoy the hot springs before heading to Machu Picchu.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 6:00 a.m. with our private transportation and take you to the village of Chinchero. This typical village, which still has many Inca ruins, is one of the main sites of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From this village, we will follow the Vilcanota River to reach the village of Ollantaytambo (2,700 meters above sea level). This village had an important fortress during the reign of Manco Cápac, especially when the Spanish began to gain lands in this region (1535).
From Ollantaytambo, we will ascend to the Abra Málaga Pass (4,350 meters above sea level). We will arrive at this pass around noon. At this pass, mountain bikes will be provided for you to descend along paved roads through the jungle. (If the weather does not permit, we will complete this part of the hike by car). We will ride our mountain bikes until we reach the small community of Carrizales, where we will enjoy interacting with the local people and rest for a while.
After our well-deserved rest, we will continue the descent with our mountain bikes through charming villages in the tropical forest, which will take approximately 3 hours. On the way, we will visit the archaeological site of Wamanmarka (1,890 meters above sea level). After this, we will offer you time to enjoy the beautiful landscape with its typical vegetation and wonderful fauna.
Upon reaching Maranura (1,110 meters above sea level), we will stay in a family home, and this afternoon you will remain in contact with a local rural family from the forest, where you will have the opportunity to witness the cultivation and processing of coffee and coca leaves, depending on the season.
Optional: Rafting in Santa María, 30 dollars.
We will wake up around 6:00 a.m. to taste the delicious local coffee and fruit juices (depending on the season), as well as the succulent breakfast prepared by a local family (7:30 a.m.). We will walk along the Vilcanota River’s edge, and where the landscape becomes a bit steeper, one of the ancient Inca paths begins. Here, there are also cliffs up to 800 meters deep. We will have lunch in the village of Qellomayo, and after that, we will hike for one more hour.
We will be able to see local wildlife up close, particularly hummingbirds, parrots, eagles, among others. We will also have the chance to pick local fruits such as oranges, mandarins, pacay (Andean fruit), mangos, cacao, and coffee. We will continue along the river’s edge until we reach the Cocalmayo hot springs, near the village of Santa Teresa. After enjoying these hot springs, we will continue towards Santa Teresa (1,850 meters above sea level), where we will have dinner and stay overnight.
In the morning, you will have the opportunity to try zip-lining (with an additional cost; reservations must be made directly with your agency when booking the entire tour). This is a unique and adventurous experience, full of adrenaline, crossing from one side of the valley to the other on a cable car. The zip-line activities begin at 7:00 a.m. and last until 10:00 a.m. At this time, a bus will take us to the Hidroelectric Station (1,900 meters above sea level), where we will have lunch.
We will continue our hike along the Urubamba River for about 3 hours until we reach Machu Picchu Pueblo (2,050 meters above sea level), a small town at the foot of Machu Picchu. On the way to this town, we will visit the Mandor natural park, where we will discover a wide variety of local flowers and, if we’re lucky, regional birds as well. In the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo, we will have dinner and stay overnight. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the Machu Picchu Pueblo hot springs (additional cost).
Optional: Zip-line in Santa Teresa, 30 dollars – third day.
We will leave our hotel early in the morning after breakfast and immediately take the bus to Machu Picchu (2,400 meters above sea level) at 5:30 a.m., which takes about half an hour. On the bus, we will be amazed by the breathtaking view of the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
Our guide will offer you a guided tour of approximately 2 hours, and after that, you will have time to visit Machu Picchu and, possibly, Wayna Picchu (optional, must be booked in advance) at your own pace. Once you have survived the challenging climb of this mountain, you will be rewarded with the stunning view of Machu Picchu.
A trail will offer the descent back to Machu Picchu Pueblo, from where we will take the train to Ollantaytambo, and a bus will bring you back to Cusco (3,400 meters above sea level).
Optional: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, 70 dollars.
Accepted Payment Methods
Salkantay Treks
Salkantay Treks
Alternative Treks
Inca Trail
