Cusco: Machu Picchu Bike, Raft & Jungle Trek 4-Day

Four Days of Biking, Rafting & Hiking to Machu Picchu from Cusco

You bike down a mountain, paddle a river, walk across a cable car, soak in hot springs, trek through jungle on ancient Inca paths, zipline across a canyon, and finish with a guided tour of Machu Picchu: all in four days with a small group, expert bilingual guide, and all meals included. The return train ticket and transport from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco are part of the package, so you don't arrange those separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Bike, rafting, and hike to Santa Maria

• Pick up at 6:20 AM in Cusco
• Drive to Ollantaytambo
• Briefing and safety gear for biking
• Bike 3-hour descent to Huamanmarca
• Bus 30 minutes to Santa Maria
• Lunch in Santa Maria
• Optional rafting on Urubamba River
• Drive 30 minutes to hiking start
• Hike 1 hour 15 minutes to La Casa del Mono
• Settle in and have traditional dinner

Day 2: Coffee tour and Inca Trail hike

• Coffee tour and breakfast
• Guide explains local culture
• 9-hour, 13 km Inca Trail hike
• Lunch and rest at Quellomayu
• Cross river by bridge and cable car
• Soak 1.5 hours in Cocalmayu Hot Springs
• Drive to Santa Teresa and dinner

Day 3: Zipline and trek to Aguas Calientes

• Breakfast at 7:00 AM
• Zipline adventure in Santa Teresa
• Drive to Hidroeléctrica and lunch
• Hike 3 hours, 10 km to Aguas Calientes
• Settle in and dinner in Aguas Calientes

Day 4: Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco

• Early start to Machu Picchu by bus or hike
• 2.5-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Return hike to Hidroeléctrica
• Bus transfer to Cusco, arrive around 9 PM
• Tour ends at San Francisco Square

The experience

You start at 6,220 feet in Cusco and end at one of the world's most remote Inca cities, but the route between them is nothing like the standard trail. Instead of a straight hike, this 4-day jungle trek to Machu Picchu mixes biking down a 55-kilometer mountain, paddling through river canyons, walking across cable cars, and soaking in natural hot springs. The pace is fast and the activities change every few hours, which is what keeps it from feeling like a single long walk.

Day one kicks off with a 6:20 AM pickup in Cusco, then a drive to Abra Málaga where the biking starts. The downhill descent takes about 2 hours and covers 34 miles through a climate shift from cold mountain air to humid jungle heat. Safety gear (helmet, gloves, vest, knee pads) comes with the tour. If you don't want to ride, you can travel in the support vehicle instead. After the bike section, you reach Santa María by midday, grab lunch, and then move into the optional rafting on the Vilcanota River (about 1.5 hours, level 2–5 depending on season). By late afternoon, a 1-hour 15-minute hike uphill brings you to La Casa del Mono, a family-run lodge where you sleep the first night.

Day two is the cultural and endurance core. Before breakfast, the guide walks you through coffee production using local methods, then you taste what you've just made with a meal built from regional ingredients. After that comes the main trek: 9 hours and 13 kilometers through the original Inca Trail, the actual ancient paths that locals still use. You'll cross the Vilcanota River twice, once by bridge and once by cable car, which adds a jolt of exposure to an otherwise steady hike. Around the 5-hour mark, you stop at Quellomayu for lunch and a 45-minute rest. By 4:30 PM, you reach the Cocalmayu Hot Springs and soak for 1.5 hours in the thermal water. A short drive takes you to Santa Teresa for the night.

Day three opens with breakfast at 7 AM and a ride on one of South America's longest ziplines: four cables strung across the landscape with views that justify the adrenaline. After that, a car takes you to Hidroeléctrica, where you eat lunch and then hike 10 kilometers (about 3 hours) along the train tracks toward Aguas Calientes. The trail is flat and lush, and on clear days you can see Machu Picchu in the distance. You arrive in Aguas Calientes by evening and sleep there.

Day four is the Machu Picchu visit itself. You can reach the entrance by bus (30 minutes) or hike it (1 hour 30 minutes, 30 minutes flat, then an hour uphill). Once inside, a 2.5-hour guided tour covers the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, and the Sacred Plaza. After that, you either hike back down or take the bus back to Hidroeléctrica, where a transfer meets you by 1 PM for the 6-hour bus ride to Cusco, arriving around 9 PM at San Francisco Square.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Cusco at 6:20 AM.
• 3 nights accommodation (La Casa del Mono, Santa Teresa, Aguas Calientes).
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
• professional bilingual adventure guide.
• entrance to Machu Picchu Archaeological Park.
• 2.5-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• minibus transport to the biking starting point and to Santa María.
• safety gear for biking (helmet, gloves, vest, knee pads).
• return bus transport from Hidroeléctrica to Cusco (approximately 6 hours).
• 24/7 customer support and pre-departure briefing.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:20

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (4 to 17 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Encuentros Peru Adventure

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to reach Machu Picchu but find the standard trek repetitive: the mix of biking, rafting, zipline, and hot springs means you're rarely doing the same thing twice, and the small-group format with a bilingual guide handles all logistics so you just show up and move through the itinerary.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

150 verified traveler reviews

5 ★150

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 17 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What's the fitness level required for this trek?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Day two is the most demanding (9 hours of hiking), but the pace is set by the group and you can rest at Quellomayu. The biking section on day one is optional. If you don't want to ride, you travel in the support vehicle.

Is the rafting included in the price?

No. The rafting on day one costs 100 Soles and is optional. It runs April to November and is level III–IV difficulty. The zipline on day three is also optional.

What's included in the accommodation?

Three nights: one at La Casa del Mono (a family-run lodge), one in Santa Teresa, and one in Aguas Calientes. All are basic but comfortable.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included every day. Day two breakfast includes a coffee-making experience with local ingredients.

How do I get back to Cusco after Machu Picchu?

You hike or bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, then either hike or bus back to Hidroeléctrica. A transfer meets you by 1 PM for the 6-hour bus ride to Cusco, arriving around 9 PM. The train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is included.

What should I bring?

Biking gear (helmet, gloves, vest, knee pads) is provided. Bring rain jackets, sturdy hiking boots, sun protection, and a change of clothes. The climate shifts from cold mountain to hot jungle, so layers are essential.

When does the tour start and end?

Pickup in Cusco is at 6:20 AM on day one. The tour ends around 9 PM on day four when you arrive back at San Francisco Square in Cusco.

What if I want to skip the biking or zipline?

The biking on day one is optional. You can ride in the support vehicle instead. The zipline on day three is also optional. Both are designed as add-ons, not mandatory parts of the trek.