Inca Jungle FAQs

At Salkantay Trekking, we rate the Inca Jungle Trek as moderate to challenging. This difficulty level is based on the fact that you’ll be covering some rough terrain, starting at a high altitude, and enduring different activities along the way. Despite the rating, most people can complete the trek comfortably.

The distance covered varies more on the Inca Jungle Trek than others because of the cycling and rafting activities. To get a detailed overview of each day, check out our itinerary. Below, we’ve put together a brief summary of the distance traveled each day of the Classic Inca Jungle Trek.

• DAY 1: 55 km / 34.18 mi (cycling) 9 km / 5.59 mi (rafting)
• DAY 2: 7 km / 4.35 mi
• DAY 3: 25 km / 15.53 mi
• DAY 4: No exact distance as you’ll be wandering around Machu Picchu at your own pace.

The cost of the Inca Jungle Trek will be different depending on who you book with. At Salkantay Trekking, we have two options for the trek. Here’s an overview of the prices per person on a group tour when you travel with us.

• CLASSIC INCA JUNGLE TRAIL 4 DAYS — $450 USD
• IMPERIAL INCA JUNGLE TREK 4 DAYS — $450 USD

For all of our hikes, we ensure you have accommodation and a sleeping mat. However, if you would like to hire other equipment, we have some items available.

All our rentals are top-of-the-line equipment and can be reserved in advance or at the briefing. Available rentals are:

• A sleeping bag for -15°C and a sleeping bag liner.
• Thermarest luxury air mattress.
• Adjustable walking sticks.

Of course, if you already have these items, you can bring them along with you. Just remember to keep the weight restrictions in mind. You have 7kg per person.

The Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu is moderately challenging, and there are a variety of physical activities you’ll endure. For this reason, you need to be in good shape and can do a few things to help you prepare beforehand. This way, you’ll enjoy the trip as much as possible. Here are a few prep tips:

• Before you leave home, incorporate cardiovascular exercise, like going on regular hikes across varied terrain and over a few days and long bike rides.
• Make sure you eat a healthy balanced diet to keep your body in top condition. On the trek, we’ll provide you with highly nutritious and varied meals to give you the energy you need each day.
• Spend 2–3 days in Cusco to acclimate before the trek. If you don’t do this, you’ll have a much higher risk of suffering from altitude sickness while on the route, which could mean you have to stop and come back to Cusco.
• Not so much physical, but assuring you have worn-in hiking boots is a must. New shoes on the trek can produce a lot of unwanted pain.

Yes, it is. Make sure you take enough to get you through the first morning, but after that, we’ll ensure you have boiled water for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to fill your bottle or pouch with. The water is clean and safe to drink, so you don’t need to concern yourself in that matter.

You’ll need to bring your own water bottle or Camelbak to refill. We don’t recommend plastic bottles, as we believe in sustainable tourism and take great care of the routes we trek along.

If you do need extra water at any stage or any other drink, you’ll find the occasional shop or kiosk along the way that sells them—as well as snacks.

Many people who’ve joined us on treks say that the food is one of the highlights of their trip. Our chefs are professionally educated and do an outstanding job of making the most incredible food in the middle of the mountains.

We understand how important nutrition is along the route to give you the energy you need each day. This is why we’ve worked closely with our trained chefs and top nutritionists to put together the best menu possible for the Salkantay Trek.

At every meal, you’ll find there are an assortment of options for you to pick from that incorporate all food groups with fresh, local ingredients.

Do you suffer from any allergies or have a preferred diet? Don’t worry. As long as you let us know before your trek, we’ll ensure you eat just as well as everyone else and are well-nourished all the way.

In addition to the amazing meals, we’ll provide you with a cloth bag and snacks to fill it with each day. You’ll also enjoy “tea time” at every camp around 5 pm every evening with a selection of hot drinks and snacks to keep you going til dinner.

As you can see, you certainly won’t go hungry and will also get the chance to savor many local and traditional Peruvian dishes.

Yes. We recommend taking an extra 300 soles or so. This is because there are spots along the way where you might want to buy extra snacks or water. It’s also always a great idea to take extra cash in the event of an emergency. You should take the cash in soles as dollars aren’t usually accepted in small villages in rural parts of Cusco.

It’s highly likely that you won’t need this money, or at least not all of it. However, in case of an emergency, it’s always best to take plenty of cash. There’s also the opportunity to board an extra train on day 3 if you feel tired.

No. You don’t need a permit to hike the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu. You’ll need a ticket to enter Machu Picchu, but before that point, you won’t need anything.

Yes. If your kids are fit and love to hike, then they can do the trek. We recommend they be at least 10 years old. Some parts are quite challenging and they need to be able to ride a bicycle for a few hours and have no issue with rafting. If you came with smaller children, you’d likely be carrying them a lot of the way.

Yes, at some points. There are a few small towns along the Inca Jungle route where wifi will be available. Please keep in mind that it’s often very slow—it’s best not to rely on it. Once you reach Aguas Calientes, you’ll have a decent connection.

Yes. You have the opportunity to charge your electrical devices each evening at our accommodation. We do suggest you take a portable charger if you have one so you can charge in an emergency.

Yes. There are bathrooms where we spend each night and you’ll also find them every couple of hours along the route. We suggest you take a roll or two of toilet paper, as most of the bathrooms won’t provide this.

Yes. On the first two nights, there are showers available, but they tend to be cold. However, this isn’t usually an issue as the weather is very warm and cooling down in the water is often welcome.

Along the route, you’ll enjoy a variety of different accommodations. On the first night, you’ll spend the night in a comfortable lodge. On night two, you’ll sleep in our private and unique Jungle Domes campsite among the sounds of nature. The last night is in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.

The answer to this question changes depending on your preferences. If you want to visit Cusco during the dry season when there’s a much lower chance of rain, it’s best to come between May and October.

The rest of the year has showers most days and we can never guarantee a dry hike. June and July are the busiest months, so you’ll need to book well in advance. However, it’s also very cold during the nights at this time of year.

On the other hand, you might not be too worried about the weather and would prefer to enjoy the trek without many other visitors. In this case, traveling during the wet season means there aren’t many people on the trail. Do keep in mind, though, that January and February are particularly wet and the route can be slippery under foot.

In general, the best time of year to trek the Inca Jungle route is in May or October. The crowds aren’t too big and the weather is generally nice and you’ll get fantastic views of the landscape. This way, you enjoy the best of both worlds.

Yes, you can! Solo travelers join us almost daily for our treks. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely have to share the accommodation with another solo traveler of the same sex, of course. If you prefer to have a single hotel room, we can arrange it for you for an extra $30 USD.

Do keep in mind that Inca Jungle isn’t one of the busiest treks, so we don’t always have daily departures. If you’re by yourself, you’ll need to confirm we already have a group leaving on your preferred date. Unfortunately, we can’t start a new group with just one traveler.

As you can likely tell from the name, the trek goes through the Cusco jungle region. This means that most of the time, you’ll enjoy a warm humid climate. On day 1, you’ll start at a high altitude, but will be cycling downhill and soon enter the warm weather.

The rainy season in Peru is from the end of October to April, but there’s always the chance that it might rain. For this reason, we recommend you take a rain jacket or poncho as protection—whatever month you travel in.