OVERVIEW
The standard accommodation included in all Inca Jungle tour packages consists of comfortable countryside lodges at Santa María and Santa Teresa and a hotel in Aguas Calientes. These are not luxury properties in the resort sense, but they are well-maintained, clean, and genuinely representative of hospitality in the cloud forest communities they belong to.
For travelers who want to upgrade the accommodation component of their trek without moving to a fully premium package, a range of options is available at each stop on the route from standard guesthouse rooms through mid-range boutique properties to the best hotels that each location offers.
QUICK FACTS
- Standard accommodation: Included in all Inca Jungle tour packages
- Room type: Double or twin room with private bathroom and hot water
- Meals included: As indicated in the daily itinerary
- Upgrade options: Available at all stops, must be requested at booking
- Single supplement: $40 USD per night for solo travelers requiring a private room
- SANTA MARÍA — Night 1
Santa María is a small agricultural town sitting at approximately 1,500 meters above sea level in the upper Urubamba valley. It is the first warm night after the high-altitude start of Day 1 and the accommodation here reflects the agricultural character of the town, simple, clean, family-run properties that are comfortable without being elaborate.
The standard accommodation included in the tour package is a double or twin room with private bathroom and hot water, served dinner included. For travelers who want something beyond the standard, a small number of more comfortable properties exist in the area and can be arranged at the time of booking.
- SANTA TERESA — Night 2
Santa Teresa is a slightly larger and more touristically developed town than Santa María, positioned in the valley of the Santa Teresa River at approximately 1,600 meters. The hot springs at Cocalmayo are nearby and the town has a more established range of accommodation options than its neighbor down the valley.
The standard accommodation at Santa Teresa is a comfortable guesthouse with private bathroom, hot water, and the included dinner. Upgrade options at Santa Teresa include several boutique properties with better rooms, improved facilities, and in some cases views over the surrounding valley that make the upgrade genuinely worthwhile.
- AGUAS CALIENTES — Night 3
Aguas Calientes is the most developed town on the entire route and the one with the widest range of accommodation options. As the gateway town to Machu Picchu, it hosts travelers from every budget level and the accommodation market reflects this diversity, from basic backpacker hostels through mid-range comfortable hotels to several genuinely good upscale properties positioned along the river.
The standard hotel included in the tour package is a comfortable three-star property with private bathroom, hot water, good beds, and breakfast included. The location is within easy walking distance of the bus station for the early morning departure to Machu Picchu.
Upgrade options in Aguas Calientes are the most varied on the route. Travelers who want a premium hotel experience at the end of the trek have several excellent choices, including properties with river-facing rooms, spa facilities, and breakfast included. These upgrades must be requested and priced at the time of booking.
