The well-known route to Machu Picchu is by train, from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village). However, there is a less frequented and cheaper route, which is through Santa Teresa, but access is more difficult. Many of our clients ask us if there is an alternative way to enter Machu Picchu; As if you did not know, 85% of people enter Machu Picchu by taking a train from the city of Ollantaytambo, 10% enter the Inca Trail, but 5% decide to enter Machu Picchu by a little known route , but full of emotion and much cheaper. This alternative route is the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu through Santa Teresa.There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu and none is easy; the comfortable way is very expensive and the cheap one will take you a few hours (or days) more than planned. As always we tell you how to do it. First, it is best to book your ticket to Machu Picchu in Cusco (or online if you know the exact date). So don't worry our agency will do this task. We recommend you get an ISIC card, which in addition to Machu Picchu will allow you to enter a lot of museums and places with reduced or free price. If you are not a student, improvise. When you have the ticket, the next step is just enjoy. Your next destination is Hidroeléctrica, the entrance to the mountain. For this, we reserve transport in a private van to Hidroeléctrica, few meters from the ticket office in Cusco.
Day 01: Cusco - Abra Malaga - Santa Teresa
Day 02: Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes
Day 03: Machu Picchu - Cusco
Now we will describe in detail how to go to Machu Picchu without using the classic tourist routes, the Inca Trail, or the train through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
You can make an excursion to the hydroelectric power station Llactapata; It is a 6-hour ascent that passes through a mountain of the Inca Trail, and that provides a panoramic view of Machu Picchu and access to a half-cleared ruins. The path is well marked and the route can be done without a guide, although this is useful when it comes to understanding the ruins, flora and fauna of the route. It is recommended to leave early because then it is hot. until the beginning of the road in Lucmabamba. Then you can take a bus to return from the hydroelectric power station or continue to Machu Picchu.
These precious natural thermal springs of municipal management are an attraction of the first order. The pools, which disappeared with the floods of 2010, have been rebuilt, but not the camping areas. And if these huge pools of hot water with a natural shower directly in the jungle were not enough, you can buy beer and snacks. They are 4 km from the town.
Eco Quechua organizes 21/2 hour circuits that allow the coffee plantation of a family immersed in the local tradition (they raise the guinea pigs in the kitchen!) Tropical fruit can also be collected "see the operation of a fish farm. It is not a modern plant, but crops that follow the old methods but in the process of transition and introduction of new techniques to improve productivity. 50% of the fee paid for an interesting visit is intended to help local farmers.
Early in the morning we will pick you up at your hotel, to depart in our private mobility in the direction of the Sacred valley through the typical town of Chincheros and Ollantaytambo, then we will arrive at the Abra Malaga located at 4,230 m / 13,877,953 ft, where we will start the descent in bikes for 4 hrs. approximately. Along the route we can observe various archaeological centers such as; Inkatambo and Huamanmarca we can also observe small villages, fruit fields, rivers and streams; At opportune time we will enjoy our lunch outdoors after a brief rest we will continue until arriving at the town of Santa María located at 1,430 m / 4,691,601 ft, where the tour ends with the bicycles, from this point we will take a bus to Santa Teresa, in this place we will enjoy dinner and overnight in Lodge.
The day starts with a comforting breakfast, which will help us to start our 15 km hike for 6 hrs aprox, heading to Aguas Calientes, passing through the
Aobamba Valley to the Intihuatana, from where you can appreciate the Machu Picchu mountains and Huayna Picchu, and a wonderful jungle with great biodiversity until arriving at Hidroeléctrica, where we will have our repairing lunch, later we will continue with the walk this time next to the railway line, until arriving at the Town of Machu Picchu, better known as "Aguas Calientes", the tour ends with a delicious dinner, then we will go to rest in a cozy accommodation.
This day will only be dedicated to visit the wonder of Machu Picchu (2,430 m / 7,972,441 ft) we will have a guided tour of approximately 2 hours and then enough time to explore on our own or visit Huayna Picchu (not included in the tour). After your visit to Machu Picchu we went to the town of Machu Picchu. In the village you will find many restaurants and you can choose to your liking, you will have to go to the train station and board for about 2 hours to Ollantaytambo station, there the transport will be waiting for you with your name and you will be transferred to the City of Cusco the trip lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes approximately.
