Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Short Inca Trail Hike Itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO – KM 104 – WIÑAY WAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

• Your Inca Trail Trek Begins!

Wake up early and start the adventure of a lifetime! The guide will pick you up at the Cusco hotel at 4am. Rest or even sleep in our comfortable, private transportation to Ollantaytambo. Arrive at the train station and the guide will have a lunchbox to put into your daypack. The train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included).

Get off the train at the famous Km104, where the trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, show your passport at the checkpoint and visit the first Inca site nearby. The first hour and a half are a gentle upward climb. Along the way, stop at several outlooks with expansive view of the Urubamba River. Pass through several microclimates, including cloud forests, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. For the next hour and a half the walk is slightly steeper with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end!

When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to take some photos and find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. This close to Machu Picchu, you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. The guide will talk about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this area.

Take your time to enjoy your hearty, gourmet lunch and admiring the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, Though the hour-long walk is a gentle up and down path, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca, known as the Gringo Killers. As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy the first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide opportunities to take photos of Machu Picchu. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, ask your guide questions about these historical places on your way to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu. Arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in the shots. Enjoy this magical experience before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into the hotel. Have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to the hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals included: Box Lunch, dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
• Distance: 12 kms/7.5 miles
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• 3* Accommodations: Ferre Hotel Machu Picchu or similar 
• 4* Accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu upgrade (superior room)
• Difficulty: moderate

***You can leave an overnight bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes (Up to 5 kilos per person).

DAY 2: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

• The Full Machu Picchu Experience!

Today is the day, Machu Picchu. After an early breakfast at the hotel, take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something to miss! The guide will give you a tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. 

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on the train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Expedition train will take you to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. See Wiñay Wayna from the train looking up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to travel back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. Arrive at your hotel at 7:00pm.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel

After the tour those who have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu, this is not a guided tour.

***IMPORTANT:

• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requeste and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.
• On the 2 day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is now way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu like the circuit #2 for US$55 per person.
• OPTIONAL extra tickets for Machu Picchu (Circuit #2 ) will cost US $55 per person.