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The short version of the classic Inca Trail. Take the train to Km 104, hike about 12 km through cloud forest and the Wiñay Wayna ruins, enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, and enjoy a guided tour of the citadel the next morning.
The Short Inca Trail lets you walk a genuine stretch of the ancient Inca road without spending four days in a tent. Day one begins with an early hotel pickup in Cusco and a drive to Ollantaytambo. From there, travelers board a train that stops at Km 104 (Chachabamba, approx. 2,000m) and cross the Urubamba River. The hike winds through cloud forest and subtropical jungle, with a gentle climb followed by a steeper stretch beside a waterfall, up to the Wiñay Wayna ruins (approx. 2,600m), where lunch is served. A mostly flat trail then leads to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), with its famously steep stone steps, and the first view of Machu Picchu opens up. Travelers descend to the citadel in the afternoon light, then take a bus down to Aguas Calientes for the night in a 3-star hotel. On day two, after breakfast, a bus climbs to the citadel for a guided tour of about two hours, and in the afternoon travelers return to Cusco by train and transfer.
Trip details:
- Hiking distance: approx. 12 km, about 6 hours
- Altitude: from 2,000m (Km 104) to approx. 2,600m (Wiñay Wayna)
- Difficulty: moderate; the final descent is steep but manageable
- Small group
- The trail is closed in February
Day 1: Cusco → Km 104 → Wiñay Wayna → Sun Gate → Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes
- Approx. 4:00 AM hotel pickup in Cusco
- Transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station
- Train ride of about one hour to Km 104
- Hike of about 12 km through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna
- Lunch near the ruins
- Continue on a relatively flat trail to the Sun Gate, with the first view of Machu Picchu
- Descent of about one hour to the citadel
- Bus to Aguas Calientes, hotel check-in and dinner
- Optional: hot springs
Day 2: Machu Picchu → Cusco
- Early breakfast at the hotel
- First bus up to the citadel
- Guided tour of about two hours
- Bus down to Aguas Calientes and lunch
- Train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco (evening arrival)
What's Included:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco
- Round-trip train (to Km 104 and back to Ollantaytambo)
- Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance ticket
- Buses: down from Machu Picchu on day 1, up and down on day 2
- Licensed guide and guided tour of the citadel
- One night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, breakfast included
- Lunch on day 1
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen
What's Not Included:
- Breakfast on the first day
- Lunch on the second day
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Good to Know:
Trail permits are limited in number and sell out months in advance, especially between June and August. Passport details must match the booking exactly, and permits are non-transferable.
What to Bring:
- Original passport (the name must match the booking)
- Small daypack
- 1–2 liters of water
- Hiking shoes with ankle support
- A warm layer
- Rain jacket
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Snacks
- Camera
- Cash
Clothes for day two and personal items can be sent ahead in a separate bag.
