Treks and routes to Machu Picchu
Short Inca Trail 2 Days / 1 Night
The final section of the original Inca Trail in two days, arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Includes permits, panoramic train, a night in Aguas Calientes and a full guided tour of the sanctuary.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup at your hotel in Cusco at 4 a.m.
Explanations in English or Spanish throughout the tour
Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna, the Intipunku and Machu Picchu
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Short Inca Trail: two days on the original trail and arrival at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
The 2-day Short Inca Trail covers the final section of the original trail and is the only alternative to the classic four-day trek that lets you walk into Machu Picchu through the Intipunku, the Sun Gate. We leave Cusco before dawn for Ollantaytambo and take the train to the Chachabamba checkpoint, where the hike begins.
The route passes the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna before reaching the sanctuary, which you explore that same afternoon with very few people around. You spend the night in Aguas Calientes and, the next day, go up at sunrise for the full guided tour of Machu Picchu, whose circuits and schedules are published by the Ministry of Culture on its official website.
The program costs US$ 845 per person and includes Inca Trail permits, the Machu Picchu entrance ticket, panoramic train, bus, one hotel night, a bilingual guide and one lunch. Permits are issued in your name and are very limited, so it is worth booking months in advance. If you prefer the full trek, we also run the 4-day Inca Trail; and if you are looking for an alternative route that needs no permits, there is the 4-day Salkantay Trek.
Arrival at Machu Picchu through the Intipunku
Walking into the sanctuary through the Sun Gate, as Inca pilgrims did, is the big difference compared with arriving by bus.
Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna
Two archaeological sites on the original trail, surrounded by a rich variety of high-jungle plants and wildlife.
Machu Picchu twice
On the first afternoon you explore the sanctuary almost without crowds, and the next day you go up at sunrise for the full 2- to 3-hour guided tour.
Panoramic train and a night in Aguas Calientes
Vistadome or Inca Rail 360º train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, plus one night in town before the main visit.
Itinerary
Your 2-day program, step by step: from Cusco to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail
Day 1 · Cusco – Chachabamba – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- 4 a.m. · Meet your guide at your hotelWe leave Cusco in private transportation for Ollantaytambo.
- Train to ChachabambaA train ride of about 1 hour and 30 minutes, with the Urubamba River outside your window.
- Chachabamba checkpoint · Start of the hikeThe walk on the Inca Trail begins, with a visit to the Chachabamba archaeological site.
- Wiñay WaynaVisit to the archaeological complex, surrounded by a rich variety of plants and wildlife.
- Intipunku · Sun GateEntry to Machu Picchu through the Intipunku, with one of the most spectacular views of the sanctuary.
- Afternoon at Machu PicchuYou reach the sanctuary in the afternoon, with the chance to explore it almost without crowds.
- Aguas CalientesShort bus ride to your hotel, dinner and rest.
Day 2 · Machu Picchu – Cusco
- 5:30 a.m. · Bus to the sanctuaryBus ride up at sunrise, with views of the sanctuary along the way.
- Guided tour of Machu PicchuA full 2- to 3-hour tour with your guide through the main sectors of the citadel.
- Free time and optional hikesExplore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional tickets, not included).
- Back to Aguas CalientesBus ride down to town.
- Train and return to CuscoTrain back and transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
What's included in your 2-day / 1-night Inca Trail?
No surprises and no fine print: here is exactly what the service covers and what you will pay separately during the trip.
2 days / 1 night
4,215 m (13,830 ft) above sea level
Predawn departure; the adventure starts at 4 a.m.
English or Spanish
Included
- Private transportation from your hotel to the start of the hike and from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
- Inca Trail and Machu Picchu tickets and a guided tour of the Historic Sanctuary
- Panoramic train tickets (PeruRail Vistadome or Inca Rail 360º) Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes and round-trip bus to the sanctuary
- 1 lunch and 1 night of lodging in Aguas Calientes
- Bilingual professional guide (English-speaking guides) and first-aid kit
Not included
- Trekking poles
- Meals not listed in the program
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (optional add-on)
- Travel insurance (recommended), personal expenses and tips
Note: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets are optional and booked separately, with limited spots that are worth reserving ahead. Before buying this tour, please contact us to confirm Inca Trail permit availability.
Frequently asked questions
Here we answer the most common questions so you can book with peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the 2-day Inca Trail?
Yes. Although this section is much shorter than the classic 4-day trek, you hike at altitude with ups and downs. We recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before departure and doing an easier tour first.
How difficult is the trail?
Moderate. The first day’s hike goes from Chachabamba to Machu Picchu, via Wiñay Wayna and the Intipunku, with steady climbs and stone stairs. No technical experience is required, but you need reasonable fitness.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu tickets are already included. Only the optional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are extra, if you decide to add them.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
The adventure starts at 4 a.m. with pickup at your hotel in Cusco. The program lasts 2 days and 1 night, with an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes and a return to Cusco by train on the second day.
What should I bring?
A small backpack, layered clothing and a windbreaker, a rain poncho, hiking boots, insect repellent, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and snacks, a change of clothes for the night in Aguas Calientes and, without fail, your original passport (it is checked at the Inca Trail entrance).
How do booking and payment work?
Inca Trail permits are limited and issued in your name, so it is worth booking several months in advance. Contact us before buying to confirm availability for your date; then we arrange the passport details and logistics with you.
What happens if the weather affects the departure?
The Inca Trail is open year-round except in February, when the trail network closes for maintenance. In the rainy season, bring a rain poncho. If there are operational or weather issues, we work out the best possible alternative with you.
How much does the 2-day Short Inca Trail cost?
The price is US$ 845 per person. It includes Inca Trail permits and the Machu Picchu entrance ticket, the guided tour of the sanctuary, the round-trip panoramic train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes, the bus up and down, one night of lodging in Aguas Calientes, one lunch, private transportation and a bilingual professional guide. Optional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are not included.
What is the difference between the 2-day and the 4-day Inca Trail?
The 2-day trek covers only the final section of the trail (from Chachabamba to Wiñay Wayna and the Intipunku), you spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and there is no camping. The 4-day Inca Trail starts at Piscacucho, crosses Warmi Wañusqa pass at 4,200 m (13,780 ft), adds archaeological sites such as Llactapata, Runkuracay and Sayacmarca and includes three nights of camping. The short trek requires much less fitness; the long one is the full experience.
What do you visit on the Short Inca Trail?
The archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, the Intipunku or Sun Gate (the viewpoint where you first see Machu Picchu) and the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu itself, which you explore on the afternoon of the first day and, with a full guided tour, on the second.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).