2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at 4 a.m. and we will drive to the train station and leave on the 6:10 a.m. train from Ollantaytambo. The train follows the Urubamba sacred valley River, until we reach Km 104, where we’ll begin our trek. Along the way, you will see spectacular views of the farmlands, snow-capped mountains and the mighty Urubamba River, one of the sources of the Amazon River. At Km 104, we will begin our trek. Once you have everything you need, we’ll take a group photo, before visiting our first Inca site. After the orientation and tour of the Incan site, we will begin the hike upwards, as we head for the Classic Incan Trail. If the weather is clear, we’ll have tremendous views of Machu Picchu mountain, the Urubamba River and other surrounding Incan Sites.

After hiking for 3-hours, we will reach the gorgeous Inka ruins on the Inca Trail, Wiñay Huayna (Forever Young) at 8,500 ft (2600m). Most people do not get the opportunity to see the elaborate water fountain, temples and agricultural terraces, which provide a perfect opportunity to learn about the history of the Incas. The site is bordered by steep drops, allowing you to see the stunning mountains surrounding the area. From Wiñay Huayna, we’ll walk to the Sun Gate, from where we’ll see the picturesque landscape of Machu Picchu. After taking in the once-in-a-lifetime views, we will begin our descent to Machu Picchu itself.

A big advantage of this hike is that, by the time we reach Machu Picchu, most of the day travelers will have returned home, so you will have the area nearly to yourself. After taking photos in Machu Picchu Circuit 1, you can either take a bus, or walk, down to Aguas Calientes for dinner. We then recommend going to bed early to make the most of the next day!

We will wake up early in the morning in order to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu. You will have a two-hour guided tour by your private English-speaking guide. After that, you will have time to explore Machu Picchu by your own. Those who have tickets to Huayna Picchu will have time to climb the mountain, which takes approximately an hour and a half, round-trip. When you are done exploring, you can either take a bus, or walk, down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Following this, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then transfer to Cusco, where you will be brought back to your hotel.