4-Day Trek to Machu Picchu with Accommodation from Cusco
Overview
This 4-day trek takes you from Cusco to Machu Picchu by the jungle route, an alternative to the classic Inca Trail. You cross the Malaga high pass, ride a downhill mountain bike stage, walk through cloud forest and river valleys, spend three nights in an eco house and two hostels, and visit Machu Picchu with your entrance ticket included. A bilingual guide leads the group, and meals are provided on the trek. It suits active, adventurous travellers who want more than a day trip.
Highlights
- Trek to Machu Picchu by the jungle route, an alternative to the classic Inca Trail
- Cross the Malaga high pass and ride a downhill mountain bike stage
- Sleep in an eco house, a hostel in Santa Teresa and a hostel in Aguas Calientes
- Enjoy 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners along the trek
- Visit Machu Picchu with your entrance ticket included
- Return by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and by bus to Cusco
- Travel with a bilingual guide, a first-aid kit and safety gear for the biking stage
Full Description
The Malaga pass and the downhill mountain bike stage
The trek starts from the main square of Cusco, where a vehicle takes you over the Malaga high pass, at more than 4,000 metres, and down towards the town of Santa Maria. From here the road drops through cloud forest, with a big change of climate and vegetation in a few hours. The pass is the gateway to the jungle side of the Andes.
The first stage on the trek is a mountain bike descent. You are provided with a bike, a helmet, elbow and knee pads, gloves and a rain jacket, and you ride downhill with your guide. Even if you rarely cycle, the stage is mostly downhill, but you should be confident on a bike. A briefing takes place the day before or by video call.
Trekking through Santa Maria and Santa Teresa
The next days follow trails and valley roads through coffee and fruit farms, small villages and forest, down towards the Urubamba and Santa Teresa. The first night is in an eco house in Pispitayoc, and the second night is in a hostel in Santa Teresa. This is a physical trek, with several hours of walking a day, but the pace is set for a mixed group.
Santa Teresa is known for the Cocalmayo hot springs, where you can rest tired legs, although tickets are not included and are paid separately. The jungle route is warmer and more humid than the classic Inca Trail, so bring insect repellent, light clothes for the day and a warm layer for the night. This is what many travellers mean by an Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu.
Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
On the third day you continue to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, where you sleep in a hostel. The next morning you visit Machu Picchu with your entrance ticket included, a citadel of Inca terraces, temples and plazas at about 2,430 metres. You can hike up to the entrance or take the bus, which is optional and paid separately.
Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and entry is timed. Your guide explains the site and helps with the practicalities, and you should carry your passport. The return train leaves from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon, and a bus takes you from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. The first breakfast and the last lunch in Aguas Calientes are not included.
Preparing for the 4-day trek
The tour begins at 07:00 with pickup from the main square of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas, and the whole trek lasts 4 days. Spend a couple of days in Cusco first to acclimatise. Bring broken-in walking shoes, a daypack, a rain jacket, warm layers for the night, sun cream and a water bottle. Pack light, since the trek carries little luggage.
The best time to do the trek is the dry season from May to September, although the trail can be wet at any time. Note that the classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked far ahead, while this route is easier to book at shorter notice. If you are comparing a Machu Picchu trek from Cusco with the classic trail, this route offers variety, jungle scenery and adventure activities.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Cusco to Santa MariaMeet at the Plaza de Armas at 07:00, cross the Malaga pass and ride a downhill mountain bike stage, then stay in an eco house.
- Day 2: Trek to Santa TeresaWalk through forest and farmland to Santa Teresa, with a chance to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs, and sleep in a hostel.
- Day 3: Journey to Aguas CalientesContinue along the valley to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hostel.
- Day 4: Machu PicchuVisit Machu Picchu with your entrance ticket and guide, then take the afternoon train back.
- Return to CuscoTrain from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, then a bus back to Cusco.
What's included
- Briefing the day before or by video call
- Pickup from the main square of Cusco
- Transport from Cusco via the Malaga high pass to Santa Maria
- Mountain bike with helmet, elbow and knee pads, gloves and rain jacket for the biking stage
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
- 1 night in an eco house in Pispitayoc
- 1 night in a hostel in Santa Teresa
- 1 night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Return train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
- First-aid kit
- Return bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Not included
- First breakfast and last lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tickets to the Cocalmayo hot springs
- Bus up and down to Machu Picchu (optional)
Not suitable for
- People who are not able to trek for several hours a day
- Guests who are not confident on a mountain bike
- Travellers with heart or respiratory problems, pregnant women or those who have not acclimatised
Meeting point
Pickup is from the main square of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas, at 07:00. A briefing is given the day before or by video call. Please arrive a few minutes early.
Important information
- Bring your passport, which is needed for Machu Picchu and the train
- Bring broken-in walking shoes, a rain jacket, insect repellent and sun cream
- The first breakfast and last lunch in Aguas Calientes are not included
- Tickets for the Cocalmayo hot springs are not included
- The bus up and down to Machu Picchu is optional and paid separately
- Pack light in a small daypack
- Spend some days in Cusco to acclimatise before the trek
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the 4-day trek to Machu Picchu cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for the trek.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pickup is from the main square of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas, at 07:00 on the first day, rather than from your hotel.
How long is the trek?
The trek lasts 4 days and 3 nights, ending with the return by train and bus to Cusco on the fourth day.
Is the trek suitable for children?
It is a physical trek with a mountain bike stage, so it suits active teenagers and adults. Please contact us before booking with children.
What should I wear and bring?
Bring walking shoes, a rain jacket, warm layers, insect repellent, sun cream, a water bottle and your passport.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, depending on availability, because this route needs no permit booked far ahead. Choose a date in the booking panel to see the earliest departure.
Is this the classic Inca Trail?
No. It is the jungle route to Machu Picchu, with a downhill bike stage and hot springs, and it does not use the classic trail permit.
What is included in the trek?
It includes the briefing, transport, mountain bike gear, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners, three nights of accommodation, the Machu Picchu ticket, the return train, a guide and a first-aid kit.
Where do we sleep?
You spend one night in an eco house in Pispitayoc, one in a hostel in Santa Teresa and one in a hostel in Aguas Calientes.
When is the best time to do the trek?
The dry season from May to September has the most stable weather, but expect some rain and mud at any time on the jungle side.
