Santa María to Machu Picchu Trek 4 Days

Duration
Difficulty
Driving Distance
Trekking Distance
Min Elev.
Max Elev.
Max Elev. Chg
Type
To Do

4 Days 3 Nights
3 of 5
70km/43.5mi.
20km/12.4mi.
1138m/3800ft
3256m/10682ft
2118m/6882ft
Basic Hostals
Hiking Rafting Zipline Ruins

Day 1    Cusco - Abra Malaga - Santa Maria
We leave from Cusco at 7 and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We'll pass through Chincheros, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo until we reach Abra Malaga (4350m/14272ft) or nearby Alfamayo (to be decided according to weather). Here bikers will change into the kit provided by us (gloves and helmets) then we'll have a 20 minute briefing with our experienced tour guide. Then we'll begin our bicycle tour to Santa Maria for about 4 to 5 hours. Along the way we will see the ruins of Huamanmarca (1st archeological site) surrounded by a natural landscape with tropical birds, medicinal plants and fruit plantations of mango, pineapple, papaya, avocado, coffee, and coca. We can also see local families in their daily routine. When we arrive in Santa Maria around 3 pm we'll have lunch at a delicious local restaurant and afterwards settle into our hostal. Then we'll begin our group rafting trip in the afternoon which lasts about 1 1/2 hrs followed by dinner and return to our hostal.

Meals LD

Day 2    Santa Maria to Santa Teresa
At 6 am we'll have breakfast and start our walk along the banks of the Vilcanota River where we will begin our walk through the jungle and Inca trails. From San Pablo we will go up to Inca Jail where we will see waterfalls, and Incan archeological centers. On this hike we will be surrounded by the indescribable beauty of the jungle. Here we will have the opportunity to see exotic fruits, such as pineapple, mangos, oranges, avocados as well as butterfly clouds and other animals from the high jungle. We will also pass by coffee and coca leaf plantations and learn about a plant used by the Incas at rituals. We will pass by the local pueblos experiencing their serenity and peace. After 6 - 7 hrs we'll reach the Cocalmayo Hot Springs where we can clean off before reaching Santa Teresa where we will stay at a small familiar hostel.

Meals BLD

Day 3    Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes
We will wake up early to have breakfast then cross the river by a cable bridge called an Oroyathe then take a 40 minute transport reaching the community of Lucmabamba. The scenery begins to become more tropical. There we will walk the Inca Trail to the forgotten archeological site of Patallaqta where we will get the first view of machu-picchu. Then we will walk 2 hours crossing the river twice more until we arrive to the Hydroelectric train station where we will have lunch. After a siesta we'll continue for another 2 hours walking. We'll take in the beauty and tranquility of the river until we reach the town of Aguas Calientes where we will have dinner then spend the night in a comfortable but basic hostal with hot water.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Machu Picchu - Train to Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Today we visit Machu Picchu. We'll begin by bus until we reach he entrance. After we meet up with our guide we'll tour these ruins for 2 hrs followed by 2 hrs Free Time to explore or take photos. Around noon we'll descend again to Aguas Calientes where we are on our own for lunch until our train departure time. We'll also have Free Time to see Aguas Calientes before we embark on a 1.5 hr train ride through the Peruvian jungle and along the Urubamba "Vilvcanota" river. After reaching Ollantaytambo your bus transfer will be waiting at the station ready to take you back to Cusco arriving at night.

Meals B (Boxed Lunch)