Cusco: Machu Picchu Biking, Rafting & Zipline 4-Day Tour

Four Days of Biking, Rafting, and Trekking to Machu Picchu from Cusco

You bike down from high altitude, raft Class II-III rapids with safety backup, trek through cloud forest and hot springs, zipline over the canopy, and end at Machu Picchu with a guide who knows the history. The tour handles all transportation, meals, equipment, and lodging for four days. You just bring a light backpack and show up at pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Biking and rafting from Cusco to Santa Maria

• Early pickup around 6:00 AM
• Drive 3 hours to Malaga Pass
• Mountain bike descent to Huamanmarca
• Bus transfer to Santa María
• Lunch and short break
• 2-hour rafting adventure
• Dinner and overnight in Santa María

Day 2: Trekking from Santa Maria to Santa Teresa

• Breakfast
• Begin trek to Santa Teresa at 6:00 AM
• Uphill climb with flora and fauna stops
• Visit local family home for rest and fruit
• Hike historic Inca Trail section
• Descend to Quellomayo for lunch and rest
• Relax at Cocalmayo hot springs
• Walk 40 minutes to Santa Teresa
• Dinner and overnight in Santa Teresa

Day 3: Trekking and zipline to Aguas Calientes

• Early breakfast
• Start 3-hour trek to Aguas Calientes at 6:00 AM
• Pass Intihuatana sector and government post
• See ancient Inca sundial and structures
• Lunch en route
• Arrive in Aguas Calientes
• Overnight at hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 4: Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco

• Early breakfast
• Board morning bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel
• Optional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
• Return to Aguas Calientes for rest
• Lunch (not included)
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Private van transfer to Cusco

The experience

What happens if you try to fit a mountain bike descent, a river rapid, a zipline, and Machu Picchu into four days? You end up starting at 6 AM in Cusco and not stopping until you're standing in front of the citadel. The Inca Jungle Tour does exactly that. It chains together biking, rafting, trekking, and ziplining in a way that sounds chaotic on paper but actually works because each piece feeds into the next. You pick up early, drive three hours to Malaga Pass at 4,350 meters, then spend three hours descending by full-suspension mountain bike through villages and orchards to Huamanmarca. The altitude drop is real. You go from thin air to lush cloud forest in a single morning.

After lunch in Santa María, you're on the Urubamba River for two hours of Class II and III rapids with a professional safety kayaker watching the whole thing. That night you sleep in a basic lodge in Santa María, and the next morning you trek toward Santa Teresa. The walk is steep at first, but you stop at a local family's home for fresh tropical fruit and water, then follow an actual section of the Inca Trail: the one that used to connect Machu Picchu to Vilcabamba. Your guide explains how the Incas communicated across these valleys, and you can see the Huancarccasa Canyon from the ridge. By afternoon you're soaking in the Cocalmayo hot springs, which is the kind of detail that makes a hard day feel earned. Day three is a three-hour trek through the Aobamba Valley to Aguas Calientes, where you stay in a three-star hotel and actually sleep before the main event.

Day four is Machu Picchu itself. You take a morning bus up to the citadel with your guide, who walks you through the temples, terraces, and storage structures and tells you what they were actually for. If you've booked the extra ticket in advance (and you should, because Huayna Picchu sells out fast), you can hike up either that peak or Machu Picchu Mountain for a view of the whole site from above. After the tour you have time for lunch in Aguas Calientes (not included), then you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and a private van back to Cusco. It's a long day, but you've already done the hard part.

What’s included

• Early morning pickup from Cusco around 6:00 AM.
• full-suspension mountain bikes with helmets and gloves.
• three-hour mountain bike descent from Malaga Pass.
• two-hour Class II-III rafting on the Urubamba River with professional safety kayaker.
• all rafting equipment.
• two nights in basic hotel accommodation (Santa María and Santa Teresa).
• one night in three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.
• bilingual adventure guide for the full four days.
• guided tour of Machu Picchu with in-depth historical explanation.
• zipline activity with all equipment.
• all transportation including buses, train from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, and private van transfers.
• meals on days one, two, and three (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
• one-way bus ticket to Machu Picchu.
• all safety equipment and first aid kit.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 05:30 and 06:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Inkayni Peru Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to reach Machu Picchu through activity rather than just hiking: the mix of biking, water, and trekking keeps the four days varied, and the guide handles all logistics so you don't coordinate transport, meals, or equipment yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Under 12: they can't be included in the booking.

What time does the tour start from Cusco?

Pickup is around 6:00 AM on day one. Exact time is confirmed closer to your departure date.

How much elevation do you lose on the bike descent?

You start at Malaga Pass (4,350 meters) and descend to Huamanmarca (1,800 meters) over three hours of riding: a drop of 2,550 meters.

What class of rapids are in the rafting section?

Class II and III rapids on the Urubamba River. A professional safety kayaker supervises the entire 2-hour section.

Do you need to book Huayna Picchu separately?

Yes. Huayna Picchu tickets sell out quickly and are not included in the tour price. Contact the operator as soon as you book to pre-reserve if you want to do that hike.

What's included in the accommodation?

Two nights in basic hotels (Santa María and Santa Teresa) and one night in a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Is lunch included on day four at Machu Picchu?

No. Lunch in Aguas Calientes on day four is not included, though all other meals are covered.

Can you bring a large backpack?

Yes, but only pack what you need for four days. Your main luggage stays in storage at your Cusco hotel or the tour operator's office.

Is this tour suitable for someone with average fitness?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it involves sustained climbing, biking, and trekking over four days. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or if pregnant.