Overview
Duration
Type tour
Difficulty
Altitude
Acomodation
Group size
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Short Inca Trail – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- 3:45 a.m. Transfer from your hotel in Cusco to the Ollantaytambo train station.
- 6:10 a.m. Train departure from Ollantaytambo to Km 104, the official starting point of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
- 8:00 a.m. Begin the hike along the Inca Trail.
- 11:30 a.m. Brief stop for a picnic lunch.
- 3:00 p.m. Arrive at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) with panoramic views of Machu Picchu.
- 3:30 p.m. Bus descent to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town).
- 6:30 p.m. Dinner in a local restaurant.
- Overnight in Aguas Calientes in a 3-star hotel.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
- Early breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit Machu Picchu in the early morning to witness the magical sunrise and enjoy a guided tour of the citadel.
- 2:55 p.m., 3:20 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. Board the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a tourist bus transfer to Cusco.
Itinerary Short Inca Trail 2 Days
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Inca Trail – Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
Begin your rewarding adventure on the all-inclusive 2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 3:45 a.m., or at a pre-arranged time, and transfer you by tourist van to the Ollantaytambo train station. Board your train and embark on an epic journey to Km 104, the official checkpoint for the Short Inca Trail.
After passing the checkpoint, you’ll be guided by a professional, licensed trekking guide. Start your adventure by visiting the mysterious archaeological site of Chachabamba, then follow an ascending stone trail until you reach Wiñaywayna, a breathtaking archaeological complex strategically located with panoramic views. Here, take a short break to enjoy your lunch.
Continue your hike through the lush cloud forest, surrounded by abundant biodiversity (flora and fauna), until you reach the highest point of the Short Inca Trail — the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at 2,720 meters / 8,922 feet.
From the Sun Gate, take in the stunning panoramic views of Machu Picchu, perfectly blending with the surrounding landscape. Then, descend to the Guardian’s House (Classic Viewpoint) for your iconic postcard-perfect photos of the citadel.
After your photo session, board the bus to Aguas Calientes. At 6:30 p.m., enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the town’s top restaurants with your guide, and spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 2: Tour of Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco (B)
Day 2: Tour of Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco (B)
After breakfast, together with your expert trekking guide, take the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Once you pass through the checkpoint, explore the urban sector of the citadel and visit highlights such as the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Inca House, the Sacred Water Mirrors, and many other significant sites.
After the guided tour, bid farewell to the Lost City of the Incas. Take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have lunch on your own. Later in the day (at 2:55 p.m., 3:20 p.m., or 6:20 p.m.), board your return train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our staff and continue the journey back to Cusco in a tourist minivan.
Note: If you have booked a ticket to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you can begin the ascent after the guided tour. The round-trip hike takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Includes
- Pre-tour briefing the day before the trek
- Round-trip tourist transportation between your hotel in Cusco and the Ollantaytambo train station
- Round-trip train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
- Entrance tickets to the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- 3 bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- 1-night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (3-star hotel)
- Professional local tour guide (English and Spanish speaking)
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen tank
- Meals: 1 lunch box, snacks, and 1 dinner
- Vegetarian option available (at no extra cost)
No Incluye
- Breakfast on the first day
- Personal porter (optional, available upon request)
- Travel insurance – You must purchase travel insurance for the duration of your adventure
- Personal items and medication, especially altitude sickness pills (soroche)
- Trekking poles
- Accommodation in Cusco
- Tips for guides, cooks, or drivers (optional)
Packing list Short Inca Trail 2 Days
- A small personal backpack for the hike (max. 25 liters)
- All tickets provided in Cusco (entrance tickets, train, and Consettur bus tickets)
- The personal ID document used for your booking (passport, DNI, student card, or other)
- Rain jacket or poncho, especially during the rainy season (November to April)
- Hat and cap for sun and cold protection
- Sunscreen (especially between April and October)
- Mosquito repellent
- Water in a canteen or Camelback
- Personal medication and altitude sickness pills (soroche)
- Proper hiking shoes and clothing
- A change of socks, shirts, and other personal items for your hotel stay
- A pair of trekking poles (optional)
- Extra cash in Peruvian Soles (PEN)
- Camera and other electronic devices
Recommendations
- Book your 2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu at least 2 months in advance, especially if you plan to hike between May and September, which is high season. Tickets for the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and the train often sell out quickly.
- For last-minute reservations, the Peruvian government system allows bookings up to 3 days before the tour. Bookings 2 days in advance are not possible and also depend on availability.
- Arrive in Cusco 1–2 days before the trek to acclimatize properly.
- Upon arrival in Cusco, take altitude sickness pills and drink coca leaf tea, which helps reduce headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes, as they hinder oxygen absorption.
- Wear warm clothing in Cusco, especially in the early morning and at night.
- Leave heavy luggage at your hotel in Cusco. Train companies allow only personal luggage. If you wish to bring heavy baggage, you must pay extra to the train company and go through a complex process to send it by cargo train.
Prices Short Inca Trail 2 Days
Price per Person
USD $525.00
Overview
Duration
Type tour
Difficulty
Altitude
Acomodation
Group size
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Short Inca Trail – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- 3:45 a.m. Transfer from your hotel in Cusco to the Ollantaytambo train station.
- 6:10 a.m. Train departure from Ollantaytambo to Km 104, the official starting point of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
- 8:00 a.m. Begin the hike along the Inca Trail.
- 11:30 a.m. Brief stop for a picnic lunch.
- 3:00 p.m. Arrive at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) with panoramic views of Machu Picchu.
- 3:30 p.m. Bus descent to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town).
- 6:30 p.m. Dinner in a local restaurant.
- Overnight in Aguas Calientes in a 3-star hotel.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
- Early breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit Machu Picchu in the early morning to witness the magical sunrise and enjoy a guided tour of the citadel.
- 2:55 p.m., 3:20 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. Board the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a tourist bus transfer to Cusco.
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Inca Trail – Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
Begin your rewarding adventure on the all-inclusive 2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 3:45 a.m., or at a pre-arranged time, and transfer you by tourist van to the Ollantaytambo train station. Board your train and embark on an epic journey to Km 104, the official checkpoint for the Short Inca Trail.
After passing the checkpoint, you’ll be guided by a professional, licensed trekking guide. Start your adventure by visiting the mysterious archaeological site of Chachabamba, then follow an ascending stone trail until you reach Wiñaywayna, a breathtaking archaeological complex strategically located with panoramic views. Here, take a short break to enjoy your lunch.
Continue your hike through the lush cloud forest, surrounded by abundant biodiversity (flora and fauna), until you reach the highest point of the Short Inca Trail — the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at 2,720 meters / 8,922 feet.
From the Sun Gate, take in the stunning panoramic views of Machu Picchu, perfectly blending with the surrounding landscape. Then, descend to the Guardian’s House (Classic Viewpoint) for your iconic postcard-perfect photos of the citadel.
After your photo session, board the bus to Aguas Calientes. At 6:30 p.m., enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the town’s top restaurants with your guide, and spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 2: Tour of Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco (B)
Day 2: Tour of Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco (B)
After breakfast, together with your expert trekking guide, take the 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Once you pass through the checkpoint, explore the urban sector of the citadel and visit highlights such as the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Inca House, the Sacred Water Mirrors, and many other significant sites.
After the guided tour, bid farewell to the Lost City of the Incas. Take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have lunch on your own. Later in the day (at 2:55 p.m., 3:20 p.m., or 6:20 p.m.), board your return train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our staff and continue the journey back to Cusco in a tourist minivan.
Note: If you have booked a ticket to hike Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you can begin the ascent after the guided tour. The round-trip hike takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Includes
- Pre-tour briefing the day before the trek
- Round-trip tourist transportation between your hotel in Cusco and the Ollantaytambo train station
- Round-trip train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
- Entrance tickets to the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- 3 bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- 1-night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (3-star hotel)
- Professional local tour guide (English and Spanish speaking)
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen tank
- Meals: 1 lunch box, snacks, and 1 dinner
- Vegetarian option available (at no extra cost)
- Breakfast on the first day
- Personal porter (optional, available upon request)
- Travel insurance – You must purchase travel insurance for the duration of your adventure
- Personal items and medication, especially altitude sickness pills (soroche)
- Trekking poles
- Accommodation in Cusco
- Tips for guides, cooks, or drivers (optional)
- A small personal backpack for the hike (max. 25 liters)
- All tickets provided in Cusco (entrance tickets, train, and Consettur bus tickets)
- The personal ID document used for your booking (passport, DNI, student card, or other)
- Rain jacket or poncho, especially during the rainy season (November to April)
- Hat and cap for sun and cold protection
- Sunscreen (especially between April and October)
- Mosquito repellent
- Water in a canteen or Camelback
- Personal medication and altitude sickness pills (soroche)
- Proper hiking shoes and clothing
- A change of socks, shirts, and other personal items for your hotel stay
- A pair of trekking poles (optional)
- Extra cash in Peruvian Soles (PEN)
- Camera and other electronic devices
Recommendations
- Book your 2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu at least 2 months in advance, especially if you plan to hike between May and September, which is high season. Tickets for the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and the train often sell out quickly.
- For last-minute reservations, the Peruvian government system allows bookings up to 3 days before the tour. Bookings 2 days in advance are not possible and also depend on availability.
- Arrive in Cusco 1–2 days before the trek to acclimatize properly.
- Upon arrival in Cusco, take altitude sickness pills and drink coca leaf tea, which helps reduce headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes, as they hinder oxygen absorption.
- Wear warm clothing in Cusco, especially in the early morning and at night.
- Leave heavy luggage at your hotel in Cusco. Train companies allow only personal luggage. If you wish to bring heavy baggage, you must pay extra to the train company and go through a complex process to send it by cargo train.
