Inca Jungle Adventure: Biking, Rafting & Machu Picchu

Four days of adrenaline and ancient stone, not just a hike to the ruins

A 4-day multi-activity trek from Santa Teresa to Machu Picchu combining downhill mountain biking, whitewater rafting, jungle hiking and optional zip-lining, with professional guide, all transport, accommodations and meals included. You start by biking down from 4,400 meters to 1,200 meters in a single day, then hike original Inca paths through coffee and coca plantations, soak in natural hot springs, and finish with an early ascent to Machu Picchu before the crowds. The itinerary lets you choose between a motorized transfer, a 2.5-hour hike, or a 7-cable zip line across 2,500 meters of jungle on day three.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Biking adventure down Abra Malaga Pass

• Pick up from hostel or hotel
• Travel through Sacred Valley via Ollantaytambo
• Disembark and gear up at Abra Malaga pass
• Downhill mountain biking from 4,400m to 1,200m
• Optional whitewater rafting or walk in Santa Teresa
• Overnight at hostel in Santa Teresa

Day 2: Hiking through the Inca Jungle with stop at Thermal baths

• Hike uphill through valleys and plantations
• Continue through Huancar Casa Canyon and bathe feet
• Lunch stop in Quellomayo with vegetarian options
• Relax in Cocalmayo hot springs
• Overnight at rural lodge or hostel

Day 3: Choose between 3 activities

• Option 1: Motorized transport to Hydroelectric
• Option 2: Hike from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric
• Option 3: Zip line adventure in Santa Teresa
• Transfer to Hydroelectric Station
• Overnight at hostel in Aguas Calientes

Day 4: Visit the iconic Machu Picchu

• Early hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu checkpoint
• Climb 1,700 Inca steps to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins
• Free time to explore or hike Inca Bridge or Sun Gate

The experience

The trek opens with a pickup from your hotel around mid-morning, timed to your train arrival. You'll head toward the Sacred Valley through Ollantaytambo, then climb to the Abra Malaga pass at 4,400 meters: the highest point of the program. From there you descend nearly 60 kilometers on a mountain bike, mostly freewheeling downhill through highland and jungle terrain. The ride itself is not strenuous. You'll use your brakes more than your pedals. By late afternoon you reach Santa Teresa, where you can choose to raft Class III-IV rapids with a professional kayak company (helmets, life vests and gloves provided), or walk through the town and rest with the group.

Day two is the most intense hiking: two challenging uphill hours through valleys where your guide points out coffee and coca plantations along an original Inca path. The trail connects Machu Picchu to other Incan villages and follows part of the historic Vilcabamba route. After a break you descend into the Huancar Casa Canyon, where the air turns humid and warm, and stop in Quellomayo for lunch, including some of the best avocado you'll eat on the trek. The day ends at the Cocalmayo hot springs, fed by natural thermal water, where you can soak your legs while the sun sets.

Day three gives you three choices. The relax option is a 45-minute motorized transfer to Hydroelectric (10 Soles extra) to rest before Machu Picchu. The hiking option is a 2.5-hour walk from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric along the road, with views of the Urubamba River and the new hydroelectric plant. The thrill option is the zip line: seven separate cables spanning 2,500 meters across two jungle-filled valleys, with the highest section at 150 meters and speeds up to 60 km/h in the fastest stretch. The whole experience takes 2 to 3 hours depending on group size. Afterward you transfer by vehicle to Hydroelectric and your hostel in Aguas Calientes.

The final day starts at 4:00 am from Aguas Calientes. You hike 1.5 hours to the checkpoint at the base of Machu Picchu, then climb nearly 1,700 Inca steps, about 45 minutes, to reach the ruins before the buses arrive. Your guide leads a tour through the temples, houses, agricultural terraces and patios. Afterward you have free time to explore on your own, take photos, or hike two optional trails: the Inca Bridge, a narrow log crossing above a vertical drop on the western cliff face, or the Sun Gate, a 2.5-hour round trip from the main entrance along the original Inca Trail.

What’s included

• Professional adventure guide in English or Spanish.
• private transportation throughout.
• accommodations in hostels and a rural lodge with private bathrooms and hot showers.
• all meals including lunch daily and dinners.
• mountain biking equipment.
• entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
• medical kit.
• train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo after the trek.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 06:30

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: 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.Operator's directions: “In the middle of the main plaza of Cusco: Plaza de Armas, right beside the Inka Statue.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ukukus Travel***

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English or Spanish. Choose the language at checkout. If you speak either fluently, you'll follow the commentary on the Inca paths, the plantations, and the history of the sites without strain. If you're less confident in one language, pick the other and the guide will deliver the same information clearly.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the mountain biking like on day one?

You descend nearly 60 kilometers from the Abra Malaga pass at 4,400 meters down to 1,200 meters through highland and jungle terrain. The ride is not strenuous. You'll mostly freewheel downhill and use your brakes more than your pedals.

Can I skip the rafting and just hike instead?

Yes. On day one, after the bike descent to Santa Teresa, you can choose to walk through the town and rest with the group instead of rafting the Class III-IV rapids.

What are the three options for day three?

Day three offers a motorized transfer to Hydroelectric (10 Soles extra) if you want to rest, a 2.5-hour hike from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectric along the road with river views, or the zip line across seven cables spanning 2,500 meters of jungle ($30 USD extra), which takes 2 to 3 hours and reaches speeds up to 60 km/h.

How early do we start the hike to Machu Picchu on day four?

You leave Aguas Calientes at 4:00 am and hike 1.5 hours to the checkpoint at the base of Machu Picchu, which opens at 5:00 am. From there you climb nearly 1,700 Inca steps, about 45 minutes, to reach the ruins before the buses arrive.

What's included in the trek?

The trek includes a professional adventure guide, all transport by vehicle and on foot, accommodations in hostels and a rural lodge, meals (lunch daily and dinners), biking equipment, entrance fee to Machu Picchu, a medical kit, and your train ticket from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo after the trek ends. Hotel pickup on day one is included. Optional activities like rafting, zip-lining and the train from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes cost extra.

Do I need to be very fit for this trek?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Day two is the most intense with two challenging uphill hours, but the biking descent on day one is mostly freewheeling, and you have rest days built in. The trek is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.