Trek Day 1 : Cusco to Santa Maria:

Inca jungle trek tour begins with pickup at 6:30 am in your hotel (reception). Leave your bags in our luggage storage and hit the road! Sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you are driven to over 4,350 meters above sea level to the top of Abra Malaga. (Picture mtn.) Take a deep breath, strap on the protective gear provided and take in the majestic mountain before hitting the pavement on brand new mountain bikes. Feel the wind whip your face as you cruise down winding mountain roads, past waterfalls, mountain villages and the occasional road dog. Almost three hours and a 2,000-meter decent of white knuckled excitement brings you to the lunch stop in huyro.

Strip off layers and slap on insect repellent as you enter the pre-jungle climate. After lunch and some time to relax (to let the heat of the afternoon melt away) a short van ride takes you to the start of your first short trek. About 35 minutes penetrating the jungle takes you to your accommodation for the evening. A family owned jungle lodge provides the perfect backdrop to recover from the trek and recount the excitement of the day. Keep an eye out for the family mongoose and parrot!

Trek Day 2: Santa Maria – Santa Teresa:

A 7 am wake up finds you shrouded in the mists of the jungle. After a hearty breakfast your day starts with a short but intense climb to start your section of an authentic Inca Trail. As you wind up and down precipitous cliffs over a stunning valley your guide will transport you to the time of the Incas, revealing some of what little we do know from this ancient and amazing culture.

The trail descends to Quellomayo where the group will stop for lunch and have some time to relax in hammocks. Keep an eye out for natural fruit, especially the taste explosion that is maracuya (passion fruit). After lunch the trek continues along the surging Urubamba river, crossing it at one point in a cart and pulley (safe yet thrilling!). Your day of trekking (around 16km) concludes with a visit to the Santa Teresa immaculate  hot springs. Sink into the warm water and let the aches of the trail melt away. Dinner and a comfortable hostel in Santa Theresa rounds out the day.

Trek Day 3: Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes:

A choice waits at the outset of the third day: either continue trekking, or choose to fly through the air 150 meters above the ground over rivers and jungle! The zip line option includes transport to the zip line facility and 6 zips. Are you brave enough to lean back into the upside down monkey position? Or spread your wings and dive head first in the incredible superman position.

Make sure you book your zip line ahead of time to ensure the safest, highest, fastest zips (there are several other zip tours of lesser quality).The group will re-form at the Hidrolectrica station for lunch before continuing the trek. Another three hours trekking along the train tracks and the raging river brings you to the tourist town of Aguas Calientes. Travelers have the option to visit the local hot springs or relax and explore the town before dinner. Make sure you make it an early night to be awake for the ascent to the jewel of the tour: Machu Picchu!

OPTIONAL ZIP LINE TOUR IN SANTA TERESA, US$ 40

Trek Day 4: Machu Picchu / Huayna Picchu to Cusco:

Your climb to Machu Picchu begins before the sun is up. Ascend step by step for approximately an hour up the Inca staircase to the formerly lost stronghold of Machu Picchu. A 4 hour guided tour reveals mysteries and poses questions of how the Incas lived and were able to achieve such marvelous feats of engineering.

After the tour you have the option to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for an even more incredible view of the ruins and the surrounding sheer cliffs of the Andes. Take your time exploring the wondrous ruins and get that perfect picture before making your descent back to Aguas Calientes. You will have time for some food before catching your return train at 9:30, taking you back to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo there will be van transport to take you back to Cusco, arriving by approximately 11:30 pm.