- Tours›
- Unique Experience
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Private - 2 days/1 night
This is a beautiful 16km hike from the Urubamba river to Machu Picchu, via the captivating Wiñay Wayna Inca ruins. A fantastic option if you don’t have the time or energy to do the Classic 4 day Inca Trail. Also perfect for families with children as it is not too challenging.
Enjoy some of the best bits of the full Inca Trail condensed into a one day walk. You’ll be hiking the same final path and along the same network of Inca trails.
Meeting Point
At your hotel
DAY 1: Cusco transport and hike
You will be picked up from your hotel at 4 a.m. to go to the train station in Ollantaytambo and leave on the 6:10 a.m. train. Along the train journey, 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 km104 (altitude of 2,100m), we will begin our trek. Once you have everything you need, we will provide you with a packed lunch and take a group photo, before visiting our first Inca site. After a tour and first introduction to the Incas, we will begin hiking upwards, as we head for the Inca Trail. If the weather is clear, we'll have tremendous views of Machu Picchu, the Urubamba River and other surrounding Inca sites.
After hiking for thee hours, we will reach the most beautiful Incan site on the Inca Trail, Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) at 2,700m. Most people do not get the opportunity to see an elaborate water fountain, temples and some agricultural terraces, which provide a perfect opportunity to learn about the history of the Incas. The backdrop of this site drops off a cliff, with views of the beautiful mountains surrounding the area. From Wiñay Wayna, we will walk to the Sun Gate, where we will see the picturesque landscape of Machu Picchu. After taking in these once-in-a-lifetime views, we will begin our descent to Machu Picchu.
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 to yourself. After taking photos, we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and head to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Accommodation: Twin or double room in hotel at Aguas Calientes.
Transport: Private minibus to Ollantaytambo, train.
Day 2: Machu Picchu
We will wake up early in the morning in order to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu. You will have a guided tour with your expert English speaking guide who will bring the Lost City of the Incas to life for you. When we are done exploring, and after time for plenty of pictures, we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for a free afternoon before your train which will depart later that afternoon back to Ollantaytambo and then we will drive you back to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: Train to Ollantaytambo, private minibus back to Cusco.
Ending Point
At your hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
Meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 packed lunch.
Accommodation: 1 night in a double or twin room in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Activities: Entrance to Machu Picchu, Inca Trail permits.
Transport: Train to and from Aguas Calientes, bus to and from Machu Picchu, private minivan.
Expert guide: Professional, English-speaking, Inca Trail qualified guide.
First Aid Kit: To deal quickly with immediate basic first care.
Hiking poles (but you can rent them from us if you want).
Tips for crew and guide.
Air travel.
Any extra personal expenses and optional activities.
Tour Important Information
Keep in mind Inca Trail permits are limited and tend to sell out months in advance, though we see good availability at the moment. Get in touch as early as possible to secure your preferred date.
We will walk at a much lower altitude than on the Classic Inca Trail, so acclimatizing won’t be as difficult, but you may still feel out of breath faster than you’re used to.
There will be early morning starts.
You will need to bring suitable clothing for walking: comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing, maybe some warm waterproof gear. Also bring a day pack with a water bottle.
Depending on your level of fitness, this walk will be easy to moderate. We start at 2,100m then climb to 2,700m before descending to 2,400m.
There is no camping involved, we will stay in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Important message from the guide
During weekends I’m usually at Machu Picchu now so we can discuss that too. Middle of the week I am in Cusco.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Cusco Tour Reviews
Rachel G.
Live Virtual Tour Machu Picchu Peru, New Wonder of the World
“Virtual Tour of Machu Picchu”
Wow! What an amazing experience! I booked this as an opportunity for our students to "travel" and learn about a place we are unable to visit in person. Michael did an excellent job on this tour. He created a truly unique educational experience for our students and families. I have received many notes of positive feedback stating how much they enjoyed this experience. Michael was communicative through the whole process ensuring that the tour would meet the needs of our group. He was patient as we worked through some technical difficulties on our end. I would 100% recommend this tour. Thank you Michael for bringing the beauty of Peru and Machu Picchu to our homes.
Michael L.
(1 reviews)Thank you so much Rachel for your review, I'm really happy to hear everyone enjoyed it. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your students virtually at Machu Picchu!
