Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Discover the magic of the Andes on this unforgettable 2 day Short Inca Trail adventure to Machu Picchu. This experience is perfect for travelers who want to hike part of the legendary Inca Trail while enjoying stunning scenery, fascinating history, and the incredible reward of arriving at Machu Picchu on foot.
Your journey begins with a scenic train ride through the Sacred Valley to the starting point of the trek at Km 104. From there, follow ancient stone paths through lush cloud forest and explore remarkable Inca sites such as Wiñay Wayna. The highlight of the day is reaching the famous Sun Gate, where you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu as the ancient Incas once did.
You will visit Machu Picchu twice: first in the afternoon when the site is quieter, and again the next morning for a guided tour of the full circuit. Travel in a small group for a more personal and relaxed experience.
Finish your adventure with a comfortable return to Cusco aboard the panoramic Vistadome Train.
Group Services
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days / 1 Night
Experience a magical of Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in an adventure of two days. It’s perfect for those who want a quicker yet beautiful trip. Walk stunning paths, explore ruins like Wiñaywayna. Get to Machu Picchu going through Sun Gate and enjoy the amazing lost city.
Tour highlights
- Visit Machu Picchu twice, at special times of the day when there are fewer people in the afternoon and the full circuit.
- Enjoy the most iconic views of Machu Picchu from the famous Sun Gate.
- Return by Vistadome train, which offers panoramic views of the mountains and valleys on the way back.
- Travel in a small group and enjoy a more personal and relaxed excursion.
Machu picchu short inca trail
Day 1: Cusco – Km 104 – Machu Picchu
The day begins by getting to Km 104, Ollantaytambo by train to the start of the trek. Passing through Chachabamba y Wiñayhuayna to finally you’ll get to Machu Picchu. There, you’ll have take to enjoy the view and explore. Then head down to Aguas Calientes and spend the night there.
Day 2: Machu Picchu – Cusco
In the morning, get a guided tour of Machu Picchu. After, go back to Aguas Calientes to take the train to Cusco, concluding your Short Inca Trail experience.
Optional Hikes After the Machu Picchu Tour
After your guided visit to Machu Picchu, you can choose to add one of these optional hikes for even more incredible views:
- Huayna Picchu – $70 per person (about 2 hours round trip). This is the famous peak that rises behind Machu Picchu and offers spectacular views of the citadel.
- Machu Picchu Mountain – $70 per person (about 3 hours round trip). A longer hike with wide panoramic views of the entire sanctuary.
Please note that you can choose only one of these hikes, and they take place after your guided tour of Machu Picchu.
Advance booking is required, as permits for both mountains are limited.
Short Inca Trail Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - Km 104 – Machu Pichhu
Your adventure starts early. A person of our team picks you up at your Cusco hotel. It winds down to Ollantaytambo station. You board a scenic train. Soon you reach Kilometer 104, the official start of the Short Inca Trail.
Your bilingual guide is waiting. The hike kicks off with a quick stop at Chachabamba ruins From there, the trail dips into the cloud forest. Trees drip with moss and the path stays cool under your feet. Before long you step out at Wiñay Wayna. The terraces and stonework here always stop people in their tracks. It is easily one of the best stops on the whole hike.
About halfway along, you find a flat spot and open your box lunch. A few minutes to eat and stretch, then you are back on the move. The trail keeps climbing, but nothing too tough. At last you round a corner and hit the Sun Gate. Machu Picchu sits right below you, quiet and huge, the way it has for hundreds of years.
You do not go inside the citadel yet. Instead you hop on the shuttle bus that zigzags down the hill to Aguas Calientes. Dinner is at a small restaurant in town. Later you check into your hotel, something comfortable like the Pisonay Mapi Boutique or another in the same range. The river runs past your window all night.
Day 2: Machu Pichhu - Cusco
Start with coffee and bread in the hotel. Catch the Consettur bus outside and ride up the twisting road to Machu Picchu. Pachacuti ordered this place built back in the fourteen hundreds.
A guide waits by the entrance and walks you through the stones. First comes the Temple of the Sun. The walls bend in perfect arcs. Then the Intihuatana sits ahead, a single rock cut to follow the sun. Pass the narrow terraces that held homes and crops. Pause in the wide plazas where ceremonies took place beneath open sky. The guide explains the drainage systems, the angled doorways that resist earthquakes, and the careful placement of every wall to catch water and light. Stories follow of priests, rulers, and daily life in a city that served as temple, palace, and government seat.
When the visit ends, take the bus down the mountain to Aguas Calientes. Eat lunch in a small restaurant or stroll the streets beside the river. Later, find your seat on the train. The cars glide through the valley and stop at Ollantaytambo station. A driver waits to carry you back to Cusco.
The Short Inca Trail ends here, with fresh memories of stonework and sky.
Included/Not Included
Included
- Briefing at your hotel before departure to the trak
- Professional bilingual guide
- 01 hotel night in Machupícchu Town (Pisonay Mapi Hotel Boutique) or similar category
- Box Lunch first day (sandwich, fruit, juice and snacks), Dinner Fisrt day/Breakfast second day. (Vegetarian option)
- Transfers from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, round trip.
- Train to Km 104 (Expedition or Voyager)
- Return on the panoramic Vistadome Train
- Entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Entrance to the Inca Trail
- Consettur Bus Ticket on the first day
- Consettur Bus Ticket Round trip second day.
Not Included
- Water
Recommendations
- Comfortable clothes for hiking
- Small backpack with personal items; Extra changes of clothes, bottle of water, sunscreen, insect repellent and rain poncho.
Prices
GROUP SERVICE
$ 580 USDPRIVATE SERVICE
- 01 people 860 USD
- 02 people 670 USD
- 03 people 640 USD
- 04 peoples 620 USD
- 05 people 610 USD
- 06 peoples 600 USD
- 07 or more peoples 580 USD
DISCOUNTS:
- Students under 25 years of age with a Student ID that includes the name of the university, a student photo, and an expiration date no older than one year, have a discount of USD 30.00.
- Under 17 years old up to 12 years old has a discount of USD 50.00
Travel Info
A little about the history of the Inca Trail
The Incas built the Tawantinsuyu empire that translates to four regions joined as one. From a valley near Cusco they spread across western South America in under a century. Roads made it possible. These roads formed the Qhapaq Ñan. Stone paths, rope bridges, and way stations linked the land. The Short Inca Trail is part of that network. You walk the same stones past old farms and small temples. Five hundred permits go out each day. Book months. The lasts six hours and you sleep in Aguas Calientes. Next morning a guide shows you around Machu Picchu with some history about the place.
Short Inca Trail Permits, Passports & Booking Confirmation
The Short Inca Trail requires a government-issued trekking permit, which is limited and often sells out weeks or even months in advance. To secure your permit, we must book it using the exact passport details of each traveler. For this reason, it is important that the passport you bring to Peru is the same one used during the reservation.
Your passport will be checked several times during the journey, including at the train station and at the entrance of Machu Picchu. Once your permit and Machu Picchu entry are confirmed, you will receive a confirmation with the final itinerary, train schedules, and meeting details for the start of your adventure. Inca Trail permits
Altitude, Fitness & Health on the Short Inca Trail
The Short Inca Trail is considered a moderate hike, suitable for most travelers who enjoy walking and outdoor activities. The trail reaches an elevation of approximately 2,700 meters (8,860 feet) above sea level. Although this is lower than many other treks in the Andes, altitude can still affect some visitors.
To help your body adjust, we recommend spending at least 1–2 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before starting the trek. Staying hydrated, eating light meals, and avoiding alcohol during your first days in the Andes can also help reduce the chance of altitude discomfort.
Weather on the Short Inca Trail & What to Wear
The trail passes through a beautiful cloud forest ecosystem, where the weather can change quickly. Mornings can be cool, midday temperatures can be warm, and occasional rain showers are possible at any time of the year.
Because of these changing conditions, the best approach is to dress in layers. Bring a light waterproof jacket, comfortable hiking clothes, sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for sun protection. Even during the dry season, having rain protection is always recommended.
Short Inca Trail Pickup, Train Travel & Tour Timing
Your adventure begins early in the morning with a pickup from your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. From there, you will travel to the train station and enjoy a scenic journey through the Sacred Valley to Km 104, the starting point of the trek.
During the hike, you will explore impressive archaeological sites such as Wiñay Wayna before reaching the famous Sun Gate, where you will see your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. Afterward, you will descend to Aguas Calientes for the night. The next morning, you return to Machu Picchu for a guided tour before taking the train back to Cusco.
Short Inca Trail Daypack, Luggage Storage & Packing Plan
Since this is a 2-day trek, you only need to carry a small daypack with the essentials. Recommended items include water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, a rain jacket, camera, and a change of clothes for the evening.
Your main luggage can remain safely stored at your hotel in Cusco, as you will spend the night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco the following day.
Meals, Water & Dietary Needs on the Short Inca Trail
During the hike, you will enjoy freshly prepared meals and snacks designed to keep you energized throughout the day. Guides usually carry extra water and snacks to make sure everyone stays comfortable during the trek.
If you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, please inform us when booking so we can make the necessary arrangements. We aim to ensure that every traveler enjoys a pleasant and worry-free experience.
Machu Picchu Entry Rules & Optional Hikes After the Short Inca Trail
Visits to Machu Picchu are organized through designated visitor circuits, which help protect the archaeological site while allowing travelers to explore its most important areas. During the guided tour on the second day, your guide will explain the history, architecture, and cultural significance of this extraordinary Inca citadel.
For travelers seeking an additional challenge, it is possible to reserve an optional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. These hikes offer spectacular panoramic views but require advance permits, which are limited each day.
Short Inca Trail Safety Rules & What Not to Bring
Machu Picchu is a protected historical sanctuary, and certain rules help preserve this incredible place. Large backpacks, drones, tripods, and professional filming equipment are not permitted without special authorization. Walking sticks are allowed only if they have rubber tips to protect the stone paths.
For safety and conservation reasons, visitors must stay on marked paths and follow the instructions of their guide at all times. By respecting these rules, we help ensure that this extraordinary site remains preserved for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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During the Inca Empire, their territory extended across six modern countries. Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, even a slice of Colombia. They built different paths that connected everything and named it Qhapaq Ñan. Over thirty thousand kilometers of road. Stone in the highlands. Rope bridges over rivers. Rest stops every day’s walk.
The Inca Trail is a historic footpath that leads straight to Machu Picchu. It follows part of the old Qhapaq Ñan.
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Yes, it is absolutely necessary to book the short Inca Trail 2 days several months in advance, both in high and low season.
It is subject to strict quotas: 500 people in total (including guides and porters), so there are only 300 spots for travelers. As trekking is very popular, these few spots fill up quickly.
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It is important to know that you have to walk between 5 and 7 hours a day. You don’t have to be a great athlete, but you do need endurance. The humidity and altitude can make the climb a little more complicated. It is best to train with your hiking boots and your backpack with some weight.But don’t worry, even the most inexperience hikers arrive at the camps before nightfall and the guide always walks with the last person.
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The porters carry tents, food and cooking equipment. You will have to bring your personal belongings, as well as the sleeping bag (provided by the agency). You will only have to bring what you need during the day (camera, water, sun cream, etc.). Large pieces of luggage (suitcases) will stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. The vast majority of hotels will take care of your luggage without any problem during the tour to Machu Picchu, but if not, your agency can take care of it.
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The highest point of the best 2-day Inca Trail tour is Warmiwanusqa, at 4200 m.a.s.l. We arrive there on the second day of the trail, after 4 hours of uphill hiking, which is the -most difficult part of the 2-day short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, then we descend to the Pacaymayo River to reach the Runkurakay site at 3924 m.a.s.l. From here it is a gradual descent.
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Yes, there are several toilets with running water have been placed along the 2-day Inca Trail, including the main camps.
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Of course, it is your responsibility to inform the agency in advance of any health-related problems before booking the Inca Trail (allergies, heart problems, etc.). Guides always carry a first aid kit, including oxygen, and are trained to respond quickly. It is very rare that a person has to be evacuated, but if necessary, the team will take you back to Cusco.
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Depending on there service you chose, a private service (1 up to 8 people) or a group service (up to 16 people).
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Tipping is never mandatory in Inca Trail 2 day trek and is at your discretion, but it is highly recommended. They work very hard to make your trip easier and offer you an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, they come from humble families in the area and the tip they receive really makes a big difference.
Group Services
If you would like private service, you can contact our advisor inquire about our prices.
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