Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days / 1 Night

The 2-day short Inca Trail tour begins early in the morning. We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the train station in Ollantaytambo, a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. During the train ride to Machu Picchu , you will see the Sacred Valley of the Incas, farmland, and snow-capped mountains. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, you will board the train to kilometer 104; the journey takes approximately 1 hour. It is here at kilometer 104 (2,200 meters above sea level / 7,217 feet) that we will begin our hike. We will cross the bridge over the Urubamba River, also known as Willkamayuc, which, translated from Quechua, means “Sacred River,” a river of great importance to the Incas. At the checkpoint, you will need to show your identification or passport. A 2-minute walk away is the first archaeological site, Chachabamba, located in the semi-tropical forest. After this visit, we will begin our hike along ascending trails to the next site. Along the way, we’ll observe the Sacred Valley, waterfalls, and various types of orchids in the semi-tropical forest. After a 3-hour hike, we’ll arrive at Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), which showcases the agricultural techniques of the Inca era. Numerous terraces line its slopes, where the Incas cultivated a variety of crops. The name “Wiñaywayna” comes from a beautiful orchid that grows abundantly in the area and whose name means “Forever Young” in Spanish. The site features more than 20 structures, including the “Temple of the Rainbow,” also known as the Temple of Fertility. The visit will last approximately one hour, after which you’ll enjoy a packed lunch to replenish your energy before continuing to the Wiñaywayna checkpoint.

In this second part of the tour, we’ll hike for two hours through the Andean landscape, up stone staircases, and past tambos (rest stops) until we reach Inti Punku – the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,923 ft), which, in Inca times, served as the entrance to the Machu Picchu Citadel. From here, you’ll have a breathtaking panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding valley. We’ll then descend for approximately 30 minutes to the Machu Picchu Citadel (2,490 m / 8,169 ft) and finally take the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,160 m / 7,086 ft); the bus ride takes 20 minutes. We’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel and have dinner at one of the town’s restaurants.

Night at the hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes.

This will be the most memorable day of your trip, as we will visit Machu Picchu. Your guide will be waiting for you very early at your hotel to take you to the bus station. The bus ride to the citadel takes approximately 30 minutes, arriving at Machu Picchu at 6:30 am to witness the sunrise. We will have a 2.5-hour guided tour to explore the most important sites of Machu Picchu: the Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Temple, the Sacred Plaza, the Intihuatana (a sundial used by the Incas for astronomical observations), terraces, plazas, and water fountains. Optionally, you can hike Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu (this has an additional cost of $75 USD per person).

Afterwards, we’ll board the bus from Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cusco. The estimated arrival time in Cusco is 6:30 PM. The tour concludes with a transfer back to your hotel.

End of our service.