2 DAY INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU
The 2 Day Inca Trail Tour is a short route to Machu Picchu that combines hiking with visits to important Inca sites. Starting at Km 104, the trail passes through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna before reaching the Sun Gate. Along the way, you walk through Andean cloud forest and scenic mountain landscapes.
The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu covers approximately 12 kilometers and takes about five hours of hiking. From the Sun Gate, you can catch your first views of Machu Picchu before continuing to Aguas Calientes by bus. The night in town gives you time to rest before your visit to Machu Picchu the following day.
Your 2-day trek also includes a guided visit to Machu Picchu, where you can learn about the history and significance of the Inca citadel. With a private tour and local guides, the route offers a shorter alternative to the classic multi-day Inca Trail while still including key archaeological sites and the Sun Gate.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Aguas Calientes
The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins when we pick you up from the hotel in Cusco or Ollantaytambo. Our private vehicle will transfer you to Ollantaytambo train station. Here we board the train and travel for one hour to KM.104. As soon as we cross the bridge, we find the check point and show our Inca trail tickets. Only five minutes walking from here, we visit the first Inca site of Chachabamba.
From here, we start a gentle ascend to the second Inca site. The Short Inca Trail 2 days hike offers a great chance to see orchids, rivers and spectacular vistas. After three hours, we reach the Wiñaywayna Inca ruins. This is a beautiful ancient construction with a cascade and gorgeous landscapes. You will have a history lesson as you visit different parts of the Inca dwelling. From here, continue your hike for about twenty minutes to the campsite and use this spot to eat your lunch box.
After our lunch, we will continue for another 2 hours to Machu Picchu. This part of the trail is flatter and less sunny in comparison to the first section. After one hour, we go through the sun gate and walk down to Machu Picchu. Most part of this section is downhill and on arrival to the main gate of Machu Picchu, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. Here you stay in a hotel.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
After your breakfast, we will take the bus for 25 minutes to Machu Picchu and start the guided tour. Your guide will explain the history of the Incas as you visit all groups of interest. During this private tour of Machu Picchu, you have plenty of time to take photographs or breaks. Also, if you booked the tickets, you can climb the Wayna Picchu Mountain (based on availability).
Later, you take the bus to return to Aguas calientes and eat your lunch (on your own) before you board the train. Your guide will not be with you, but you will be provided with all the necessary information one day before. So, you take the train to Ollantaytambo on time, and from there our private vehicle picks you up and transfers you to your hotel in Cusco. This is how our Short Inca Trail tour ends.
Photo Gallery
