Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 2 Days

If you don’t feel like doing the whole Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, or you don’t have the time, then our short Inca Trail trek (two days and one night) could be an excellent option for you. Physically speaking, it’s a far less strenuous trek than the classic four-day hike, but it still gives you a taste of what it’s like on the Inca Trail.

You’ll also be able to experience some of the main highlights of the Inca Trail, including the beautiful Wiñay Wayna archaeological site with its spectacular series of agricultural terraces, as well as Inti Punku Machu Picchu’s famous Sun Gate. And then, of course, there’s Machu Picchu itself, one of the most sublime sights on the planet.

Our Machu Picchu adventure begins in Cusco, as we pick you up from your hotel in the morning (the exact time will depend on the train schedule). We then head to the train station and board the train for a scenic 2.5-hour journey to a point known as Kilometer 104. This is where we start our short Inca Trail trek.

From here, we have a walk of about four hours up to the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’), at about 2,680 meters (8,792 feet) above sea level. Wiñay Wayna is an impressive Inca ruin built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. It consists of an upper and lower section of housing or storage, connected by an Inca staircase and a cascade of water channels and fountains. Beautiful Inca agricultural terraces cover almost the entire hillside above and below the structures. As well as being a farming center, Wiñay Wayna was also a religious or ceremonial site.

After exploring Wiñay Wayna, we’ll continue our trek to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). You’ll have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. It is believed that Inti Punku was once the main entrance to Machu Picchu. The site was dedicated to Inti, the Inca sun god, and was positioned on a ridge near Machu Picchu at just the right location to allow the rising sun to pass through the gate each year on the summer solstice.

We’ll continue our trek down towards Machu Picchu, moving tantalizingly close to the famous citadel. But before we reach Machu Picchu, we’ll take a side path off the trail and head down to Aguas Calientes, leaving our exploration of Machu for the following day, when we’ll have more time to explore. Aguas Calientes is the town below Machu Picchu, and this is where we’ll have dinner and take you to your hotel. You’ll probably want to have an early night as we wake up early the next day for our exploration of Machu Picchu.

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.
We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide.

Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, and other vital locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views across the agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour, you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge.

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Ollantaytambo and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you can think back to your incredible tour of one of the world’s most famous and most impressive attractions.

• Pre trek briefing (briefing at the hotel).
• Pick up from your hotel on the morning of departure.
• Transfer from hotel to train station the first day.
• Inca Trail permits and admission tickets.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu $ 80 extra).
• English / Quechua / Spanish professional guide speak.
• Second Tour Guide over 12 people.
• Overnight in Aguas Calientes in a Hotel.
• Local foodservice (1Lunch Box, 1 Dinner 1 Breakfast )
• Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu round trip (second day).
• Expedition train ticket to the head of trail (104 Km.).
• Expedition train ticket Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo.
• Transfer from the train station to downtown Cusco.
• Guided visit to Machu Picchu and the ruins along the trail.

• Extra expenses.
• Breakfast – Day 1.
• Lunch and dinner – Day 2.
• Travel and health insurance (bring copies with you).
• Huayna Picchu entrance US$ 80 extra.
• Walking sticks (it can be rented from us for US$ 10).
• Porter, to carry your personal stuff. – Extra Porter (Full Porter 12kg) US$75 – Extra Porter (Half Porter 6kg) US$35
• Entrance to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes town (US$5)
• Tips (optional).

• Original Passport.
• Original Student Card (if you book as a student) – Note ( you have to bring your student card to Machu Picchu because you are going to be required to show up at the Machupicchu control point
• A travel insurance card is essential.
• Walking sticks.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants) or poncho. Plastic ponchos can be purchased for about $ 2 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots are recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Warm clothes.
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun.
• Sunblock.
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
• Toilet paper.
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Your own special medicines you may need, paracetamol, second skin blisters, etc.
• Bathers/swimsuit (if you think swimming in the hot springs)
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Eager and adventurous spirit to enjoy your hike.

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 2 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

• Extra Porter (to carry your personal stuff 7kg/person)
• Entrance to climb Huaynapicchu Mountain or Machupicchu Mountain.
• Bus Ticket (Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes).
• Lunch in Machupicchu or Aguas Calientes.
• 02 Waking Poles per Person.
• 1 Duffel Bag to carry all your clothes.
• Vistadome Train (First Class train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo).
• Hotel 3 Stars (At Aguas Calientes Town).
• Tour Guide to explore Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu all day. And of course, we pay a little more to our Staff and Guide.

We offer 3 kinds of service, each with different price ranges and you can book in any of these services according to your convenience, we just need you to be a minimum of 02 people to organize your trip on the date that suits you, all our services are 100 % guaranteed.

We are a direct TOUR OPERATOR that never passes clients to other agencies as most agencies do it here in Cusco to save operating costs with poor quality.

We will make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.

Can I be picked up from the Sacred Valley?
Yes, let us know in advance to organize your pick-up time.