OVERVIEW
Camping on the Inca Jungle route is not roughing it in the way that phrase usually implies. The campsites used on the route are established sites with basic but functional facilities, and the camping equipment provided by our team is designed for comfort in Andean conditions rather than survival. What camping offers that no lodge or guesthouse can replicate is the experience of falling asleep in the cloud forest with nothing between you and the sounds of the night, and waking up in a place that is genuinely remote.
For travelers who have never camped in a mountain environment, the Inca Jungle camping experience is an accessible and well-supported introduction. For travelers who have camped extensively, it is a chance to do it in one of the most extraordinary environments on earth.
QUICK FACTS
- Available on: Classic and Extended tours (optional)
- Nights: 2 nights on the Classic route, 3 nights on the Extended
- Campsite altitudes: approximately 1,500 m in Santa María area and 1,600 m in Santa Teresa area
- Temperature at night: 8 to 15 degrees Celsius
- Provided: tent, sleeping mat, dining tent, meals, toilet facilities
- Not provided: sleeping bag (available for rent at $15 USD per night), personal items
- WHAT IS PROVIDED
A two-person tent is provided for each participant or couple, set up by the support team before your arrival at camp. The tent is a quality expedition model appropriate for the temperature and weather conditions of the cloud forest altitude band. A sleeping mat is included. Sleeping bags are available for rent if you do not have your own.
The campsite includes a dining tent where meals are prepared and served, a basic washing area with water available for cleaning up at the end of the day, and toilet facilities. The meals served at camp are prepared by the cook on the support team and are substantially better than most travelers expect. Three-course dinners at altitude, using fresh ingredients carried from the valley, are a feature of the camping experience that consistently surprises first-time trekkers on this route.
- WHAT TO EXPECT
Temperatures at the camping altitudes on the Inca Jungle route range from approximately 8 to 15 degrees Celsius at night during the dry season and can feel colder during the rainy season due to humidity. A quality sleeping bag rated to at least 0 degrees Celsius is recommended. Thermal base layers worn to sleep add significant warmth without bulk.
The sounds of the cloud forest at night are part of the experience. Insects, birds, and the movement of water in the surrounding terrain create a constant but not disruptive background. Most travelers report sleeping well once the physical tiredness of the day’s activities combines with the fresh mountain air.
