SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS

2 Days
Price From $0.00
Duration 2 Days
Group Size 2 - 6 people
Difficulty Moderate

SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS

At SACRED VALLEY TOURS, we organize the Short Inca Trail as the most compact version of the classic route to Machu Picchu, allowing travelers to walk the same path used by the Incas five hundred years ago. The two-day format includes both a scenic hike and a full guided visit to the citadel.

This Short Inca Trail 2 days begins at Km 104 and covers 12 kilometers through Andean cloud forest, passing the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna before entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Since travelers stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, this trek offers the rare chance to see the citadel at both sunset and sunrise.

This Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu suits travelers who want a physically engaging experience without committing to the full four-day classic route. At SACRED VALLEY TOURS, we coordinate transportation, train tickets, permits, one night of accommodation, and guiding throughout the two-day trek.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Chachabamba – Wiñaywayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

We begin with pickup from your hotel in Cusco or Ollantaytambo, transferring by private vehicle to the Ollantaytambo train station before boarding the train for a one-hour ride to Km 104 (2,150 masl), where we cross the checkpoint bridge and reach Chachabamba, the first Inca site along the trail, after a short five-minute walk. From Chachabamba, we begin a gentle ascent through cloud forest scenery filled with orchids and river views, reaching the Wiñaywayna ruins (2,650 masl) after approximately three hours, an impressive Inca construction featuring a cascade and dramatic surrounding landscapes, before continuing about twenty minutes further to the lunch spot. After lunch, we continue for another two hours along a flatter, less exposed section of trail, passing through the Sun Gate after about an hour and descending toward Machu Picchu (2,430 masl), where we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

After breakfast, we take a 25-minute bus ride back up to Machu Picchu to begin the guided tour, during which your guide explains the history of the Incas as you visit the citadel's main groups, with plenty of time for photographs and breaks throughout the visit. Travelers who booked tickets in advance can also climb Huayna Picchu Mountain during this second visit, subject to availability, before descending by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch on your own ahead of the train departure. We continue by train to Ollantaytambo, where private transportation meets you for the transfer back to your hotel in Cusco (3,399 masl), concluding the Short Inca Trail tour.

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