Photo gallery
Short Inca Trail photos
Tour overview
Short Inca Trail at a glance
The Short Inca Trail is the best way to arrive at Machu Picchu on foot when you only have two days. You hike about 12 km from Km 104, climb through cloud forest to the terraces of Wiñay Wayna and reach the Sun Gate in the afternoon, when most day visitors have left. You sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and return for a full guided visit the next morning.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Short Inca Trail
- The best of the Inca Trail in one day of hiking
- Wiñay Wayna terraces and the Sun Gate
- Hotel night in Aguas Calientes
- Guided visit of Machu Picchu on Day 2
Detailed itinerary
Short Inca Trail itinerary: day by day
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 1 — Km 104 to the Sun Gate
An early transfer takes you from Cusco to Ollantaytambo for the train to Km 104, where you get off beside the Urubamba River and pass the Inca Trail checkpoint. The walk starts gently at Chachabamba, a small Inca ceremonial site with stone fountains. Then comes the hardest part of the day: a steady climb of 2–3 hours on Inca stairs through the cloud forest, with orchids, waterfalls and views down the canyon. At Wiñay Wayna ("forever young"), a set of terraces and temples hanging over the valley, you stop for your box lunch and a guided visit. The last 1.5 hours run along a level Inca path to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the original entrance to Machu Picchu, where the citadel appears below you. You walk down to the classic viewpoint for photos, then take the bus to Aguas Calientes and check in at your hotel.
Day 2 — Machu Picchu
After breakfast you return to Machu Picchu on an early bus for a full guided tour of the citadel, including the royal sector, the temples and the Inca engineering behind the site. With the add-on you can also climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. In the afternoon you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and a transfer to Cusco.
What's included
What's included in the Short Inca Trail
Included
- permit and Machu Picchu ticket (Circuit 3, route 3B, on Day 2)
- transfers
- train to Km 104 and return train
- box lunch on Day 1
- 1 night hotel with breakfast
- bus
- guide
Not included
- dinner on Day 1
- lunch on Day 2
- Huayna Picchu
- tips
Compare your options
Short Inca Trail, One Day or Classic?
If the 4-day trek is too long or sold out, the Short Inca Trail gives you the two moments most hikers remember: Wiñay Wayna and the walk through the Sun Gate. Compared with the One Day Inca Trail, which walks the same section and returns to Cusco the same night after an 18-hour day, the 2-day version adds a hotel night and a full guided visit of Machu Picchu the next morning. Compared with the Classic Inca Trail, you skip the three nights of camping, the 4,215 m Dead Woman’s Pass and the high Inca sites of Runkurakay and Sayacmarca.
| One Day Inca Trail | Short Inca Trail | Classic Inca Trail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | 12 km, 1 day | 12 km, 1 day | 40 km, 4 days |
| Night | None | Hotel in Aguas Calientes | 3 camping |
| Highest point | Sun Gate | Sun Gate | 4,215 m |
| Full guided visit | Extra ticket | Yes, on Day 2 | Yes, on Day 4 |
| From | US$ 469 | US$ 559 | US$ 789 |
Compare your options
How hard is the Short Inca Trail?
The first hour from Km 104 is gentle, past the small Inca site of Chachabamba. Then comes the hardest part: a steady 2–3 hour climb on stone stairs through the cloud forest up to Wiñay Wayna. After lunch, the last 1.5 hours to the Sun Gate are on a mostly level Inca path. Most people take 6–7 hours with stops. The trail stays below about 2,720 m, lower than Cusco, so altitude is rarely a problem, but you should be comfortable walking uphill for a couple of hours. Active children from age 10 do it well.
Optional extras
Ways to tailor this trip
- Vistadome return train +US$ 55
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on Day 2 +US$ 75
- 3★ or 4★ hotel upgrade on request
Optional services are subject to availability. Mention your preferences in the booking form notes; your quote will list the selected extras and final total.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Entrance route
This tour uses Circuit 3 (route 3B) and Circuit 3, route 3B, confirmed in your quote. See Machu Picchu circuits explained.
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport (and student ID if applicable)
- Daypack of 20–30 liters and a refillable water bottle (2 liters)
- Hiking shoes with good grip, rain jacket, light fleece, sun hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent: the cloud forest has sand flies
- Snacks and cash in soles for tips and dinner
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Short Inca Trail FAQs
Is the Short Inca Trail good for kids?
Yes, from age 10, for active children who enjoy walking. The steep section before Wiñay Wayna is the hardest part; we go at the family's pace.
Can I camp instead of staying at a hotel?
Our version includes a hotel in Aguas Calientes, which most travelers prefer after the hike.
Short Inca Trail or Classic?
The Short trail gives you the Sun Gate arrival and Wiñay Wayna in one day. The Classic adds three nights of camping, the high passes and many more Inca sites.
Do I need a permit for the Short Inca Trail?
Yes. Like the 4-day trail, it needs a personal permit issued with your passport details, from a separate allocation. Permits are limited, cannot be changed and the trail is closed every February.
What do I carry on the hike?
Only a daypack with water, snacks, a rain jacket and sun protection. Your train ticket allows one backpack of up to 8 kg or one carry-on of up to 12 kg; that bag travels by train and is collected by hotel staff in Aguas Calientes.
Which Machu Picchu circuit do I visit?
On Day 1 you walk down from the Sun Gate to the classic viewpoint for photos. The full guided visit on Day 2 is on Circuit 3 (route 3B), through the royal sector and the temples.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes, on Day 2 for US$ 75 per person, subject to availability.
What meals are included?
A box lunch on Day 1 and breakfast at the hotel on Day 2. Dinner on Day 1 and lunch on Day 2 are not included, so you can choose a restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about the Short Inca Trail
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
★★★★★
Inca Trail - best thing we did in all of Peru
“The Inca Trail hike turned out to be the absolute highlight of our entire 3 week trip to Peru.”
