Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 2 Days

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 2 Days

2 days / 1 night

Experience the most memorable section of the Inca Trail without committing to several nights of camping. We travel by train to Km 104, hike past Chachabamba and through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna, then continue to the Sun Gate for a first view of Machu Picchu. After descending to Machu Picchu Pueblo for a hotel night, we return to the sanctuary the next morning for a guided visit. This two-day format suits active travelers who want the trail experience at a more manageable pace, with our assistance coordinating permits, hotel, entrance circuit, trains and transfers.

Quick Facts

Tour Location: Km 104, Short Inca Trail, Machu Picchu Pueblo and Machu Picchu

Tour Type: Two-day guided trek with hotel stay

Good For: Active travelers wanting the Inca Trail without multi-day camping

Duration: 2 days / 1 night

Difficulty: Moderate; steady ascent, stone steps and approximately 12 km of hiking

Maximum Altitude: 2,730 m / 8,957 ft

Good to Know: Permit, hotel, train and Machu Picchu entrance must be confirmed together

Best Season: April–October; the route operates March–January and closes in February

Hike the original Inca Trail from Km 104 without overnight camping
Explore Chachabamba and the terraces of Wiñay Wayna
Reach the Sun Gate for a memorable first view of Machu Picchu
Stay one night in Machu Picchu Pueblo after the hike
Return to Machu Picchu the next morning for a guided visit

Day 1: Train to Km 104 and hike to Wiñay Wayna

We meet you at the train station for the ride to Km 104, where the Short Inca Trail begins. After a permit check, we cross the Urubamba River and start climbing through cloud forest, passing the Chachabamba archaeological site along the way. The trail continues uphill over original Inca stonework to Wiñay Wayna, one of the best-preserved sites on the route, before a final push to the Sun Gate for your first view of Machu Picchu in the afternoon light. We descend into Machu Picchu Pueblo for a hotel night.

Day 2: Guided Machu Picchu visit

After breakfast, we take the shuttle bus up to the sanctuary and begin a guided tour through the citadel's main sectors, connecting what you saw from the trail the previous afternoon with the history and engineering of the site. You'll have time afterward to continue exploring on your own before we descend for the train back to Ollantaytambo and onward transport to Cusco. We return you directly to your hotel in Cusco (or the Sacred Valley, if that is where you are staying) — hotel drop-off is included with our operator's service.

What's included

Hotel pickup and private transport to Ollantaytambo train station
Short Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance
Licensed English-speaking trekking guide and private guided tour of Machu Picchu
Return Expedition Train, Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes ↔ Ollantaytambo
One night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast
Bus tickets, Machu Picchu ↔ Aguas Calientes (both days)
First-aid kit with emergency oxygen

Not included

Breakfast on day 1 in Cusco
Lunch on day 2 in Aguas Calientes
Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain ticket (available as an add-on)
Vistadome train upgrade (available as an add-on)
Hotel category upgrade
Tips for guide and staff

Is this the same trail as the classic 4-day Inca Trail?

It covers the final, and most photographed, stretch of the same historic route — without the camping portion or the earlier mountain passes.

Is camping equipment needed?

No. This itinerary stays in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, so no tent, sleeping bag or camping gear is required.

Can I add the Huayna Picchu hike?

Yes, subject to permit availability on your date; we recommend confirming this add-on as early as possible.

Prices — Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days

Every price below is per person, in US dollars, with no hidden fees at checkout.

Total trip price

Total trip price: US$ 519.00 per person

Choose how to pay

Option 1 — Deposit + balance: pay US$ 250.00 today to confirm your booking (non-refundable, credited toward your total trip price). The remaining balance of US$ 269.00 is due 5 days before departure.
Option 2 — Pay in full: pay the full US$ 519.00 today at booking — no balance, nothing further due.

Balance payment methods (if you choose Option 1)

Cash in Peru: no additional fee.
Card via PayPal or Izipay: a 5% processing fee applies.

Exclusive discounts

Students 18–25: US$ 30.00 off. We need a copy of a valid student card showing your name, photo, university and expiry date. Required at booking for government approval.
Children 12–17: US$ 30.00 off. Please send a copy of the passport when you book.
Children 3–11: US$ 45.00 off. Please send a copy of the passport when you book.

Optional add-ons

Hiking Poles Rental (EX003): US$ 15.00 per person.
Huayna Picchu Mountain Ticket (EX006): US$ 70.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain Ticket (EX007): US$ 70.00 per person.
Vistadome Train Upgrade (EX004): US$ 69.00 per person.

Meeting point

Your hotel lobby in central Cusco is the primary meeting point. If your accommodation is on a restricted or narrow street, we confirm a nearby alternative meeting point in advance.

Pick-up information

We pick you up from eligible hotels in Cusco's Historic Center and nearby areas. Exact pickup time is confirmed the evening before departure, once your permit and reservation are validated.

Return / drop-off

We return you directly to your hotel in Cusco (or the Sacred Valley, if that is where you are staying) — hotel drop-off is included with our operator's service.

What to bring the day of your trek

Original passport used at booking
Daypack (25-30L)
Comfortable hiking shoes
Rain layer
Small overnight bag (max. 5 kg, sent ahead by train)

Booking recommendation

We recommend booking as early as possible — permits are limited and issued against a specific date and passport number.

How to pay

Choose to pay a US$ 250.00 deposit today and the remaining balance 5 days before departure (cash in Peru with no fee, or by card via PayPal or Izipay with a 5% processing fee) — or pay your total trip price in full today.

If a reservation is made after the applicable balance deadline, it may require immediate full payment; this rule applies only where explicitly confirmed for your travel date.

Cancellation Policy — Limited Capacity

Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and the Salkantay routes depend on permits, entrance tickets and train seats that we purchase on your behalf well in advance and that are non-transferable once bought. Because of this limited capacity, our refund schedule is tied to how far ahead of your departure date you cancel.

8 or more weeks before departure: full refund of your balance paid, minus your US$ 250.00 deposit (which is never refundable).
Between 4 and 8 weeks before departure: 40% refund of your balance paid.
Between 5 and 27 days before departure: 20% refund of your balance paid.
Between 48 hours and 5 days before departure: 10% refund of your balance paid.
Less than 48 hours before departure, or a no-show: no refund.

Changes: a 10% administrative fee per person applies to each confirmed change request, subject to availability.

Entrance tickets, train tickets and government-regulated permits are 100% non-refundable and non-transferable once purchased, regardless of when you cancel.

Read the full changes, cancellation and refunds policy

BEST VALUE

US$529 / person

Select Date

Passengers

Maximum 15 passengers per booking.

Total US$529.00

Secure Payment

Moderate; steady ascent, stone steps and approximately 12 km of hiking

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A local team behind every adventure

Itineraries built by locals Not copied from TripAdvisor. Designed from years of guiding.
Groups of max 12 You get a guide, not a crowd.
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FAQ

Everything You Need to Know

You can book directly through our website by selecting your tour, date, and group size, then completing payment online. Once payment is processed and availability is verified, we send your booking confirmation with the details you need for your trip. If you would prefer help planning your itinerary, you can also reach out to us directly before booking.

Our higher-altitude tours, such as Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain, include a first-aid kit and emergency support, and our guides are attentive to how the group is coping with the conditions. If you have a pre-existing health condition or are concerned about the effects of altitude, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking a high-altitude experience.

Some of our services depend on limited or externally controlled inventory, such as Machu Picchu entrance tickets and Inca Trail permits, so a date can occasionally be unavailable. If that happens, we let you know as soon as we verify availability and help you find the closest alternative date or itinerary that works for your trip.