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Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days Trek

Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days, Cusco, PERU
Excellent
Duration

2 Days / 1 Night

Tour Type

Specific Tour

Group Size

8 people

Languages

English, Espanol, Português

Overview

Hiking the Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu 2 days

iHIKE THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU, Short Inca Trail 2 Days

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Cuzco – Peru 

Trekking the Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu 2 days

This is the short version of the famous and stunning Inca Trail, for those who have less time available but do not want to loose this unique trek. We start at km. 104 and we walk till the ruins of Wiñahuayna. After a visit to the ruins, we go to Inti punku from where we will have a fabulous view over the Lost City of the Incas. From here we take the bus down to the village of Aguas Calientes where we will stay for the night. Next day we depart very early, with the first bus, to visit Machu Picchu, at 2,650 kms above sea level. Around 3:30 we take the train back to Cusco.

Begin from: Cusco / Km 104

End in: Machu Picchu / Cusco

Duration: 02 Days/ 01 Night

Physical Rating: Moderate

Accommodation: Tourist Class 

 

Program Itinerary

Day 1 SHORT INCA TRAIL: CUSCO/KM 104/CHACHABAMBA/WIÑAY WAYNA/MACHU PICCHU.

You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the train station where you will take the train to kilometer 104. Arriving at Km. 104 at around 10:40 A.M., you will begin your hike. Shortly you will arrive at the archaeological site of Chachabamba were you will have lunch. After lunch you will continue hiking to the archaeological site of Wiñay Huayna. Then you will continue on to the Inti Punku (Door of the Sun), from where you will be able to observe the Machu Picchu ruins. You will then take the bus down the mountain to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

Day 2 SHORT INCA TRAIL: MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO

You will have an early breakfast in order to take an early bus up the mountain to the Machu Picchu ruins. Your guided tour will last for around 2 hours, during which you will visit the plazas, temples, sacred fountains, the sundial, and many other important places. After the guided tour you will have free time to explore the ruins on your own. In the afternoon you can take a comfortable train back to Cuzco, or as an option, you may stay overnight in Machu Picchu – which we highly recommend.

SHORT INCA TRAIL INCLUDED:

• Pick up from the hotel
• Round trip train tickets
• Professional bilingual guide
• Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
• Cold Lunch
• Bus ticket for the way down, first day
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes, breakfast included
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle
• Bus ticket up and down for the second day
• Pick up from the train station and transfer to your hotel in Cusco

SHORT INCA TRAIL NOT INCLUDED:

• Bus down from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes on 2nd Day US$ 12 pp
(or a down hill walk for 45 minutes to Aguas Calientes town.)
• Hot spring pools 10 soles
• Dinner on the 2nd Day
• Ticket for Huaynapicchu mountain. Extra $85 per person.

You Must Bring:

Your Original passport. (ISIC student card if you’ve booked as a student).
Comfortable back pack. (There are no porters in this trek).
Water to drink (2 liters, no plastic bottles)
Camera, binoculars
Rain jacket in rainy season -Dec to Jan
Change of clothes
Basic personal toiletries: Deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, small towel, handky, Anti bacterial wet wipes.
Hat or cap for the sun is essential, Sunscream with maximum UV Protection.
Insect repellent for mosquitoes (Malaria or Yellow fever have not been reported)
Comfortable hiking boots, runners or sturdy shoes.
Money in soles or dollars. (ATM´s or cash machines and travellers cheques in Aguas Calientes are more expensive to change.)

Accommodations

We work with the following Hotels, at the time of your reservation you will be indicated the hotel where you will spend the night, since there are days when there are not enough spaces, and you will be assigned another hotel but of the same category.

IMPORTANT: Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory.
A maximum of 500 people per day, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the Trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.
NOTE: That the Trail is closed every February for cleaning.

 The inca Trail Availability and Permits: 2022 – 2023

*This information is provided courtesy of the Regional Directorate of Culture of Cusco.

Highlights

  • Exploring the 2 day Inca trail hike to Machu Picchu will take you to the most sacred citadel of the Inca Empire “Machu Picchu”.
  • Take the best postcards of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, and the next day early in the morning, watch the sunrise from the guardian’s house.
  • Visit the citadel of Machu Picchu in small groups, along the longest circuit, with the best local guides of the short inca trail who will explain everything about Machu Picchu and its mysteries.
  • Enjoy the best landscapes of the cloud forest that hide Inca constructions of great beauty as the real residence of “Wiñayhuayna”.
  • Travel on one of the most beautiful train journeys in Peru, from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes the landscape offers you an infinite number of beautiful agricultural landscapes, snow mountains and typical villages of the Andes.
  • Connect your senses with nature in the short inca trail, and enjoy the beautiful flowers of orchids, waterfalls and the aroma of pure air.
  • Bird watching on the 2 day Inca Trail hike is very special, it is something unique. Since then, very few places in the world can generate these emotions.
  • The great variety of colors and shapes that we see. Certainly, they create experiences that captivate all those who take a break to enjoy the richness of the 2 day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.

Itinerary

Expand All
Pre-tour briefing: Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days

We’ll meet you at your hotel lobby in Cusco the night before the “Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days” to go over the itinerary and you’ll able to take this opportunity to ask final questions and make any final preparations. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trek begins. In case you can´t at this time “please let us know” to coordinate another time.

Day 1 Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days:

OLLANTAYTAMBO - KM 104 CHACHABAMBA - WIÑAY-WAYNA- MACHUPICCHU -AGUAS CALIENTES.

Maximum Altitude: 2680m/8792ft
Minimum Altitude: 2100m/6888ft
Distance Travelled: 7 Km aprox.
Approximate Walking Time: 6 - 7 Hours

We`ll pick you up from your Hotel at 4:00 am to transfer you for a 2 hour journey by private van to the Train Station in Ollantaytambo then we`ll board a Tourist Expedition Train with reserved seats for 1 hour and 45 minutes to the kilometer 104 start of the hike. (This is the best train service time and itinerary to start the hike by 08:00 am and have plenty of time to enjoy this fantastic trek) so please sleep early the night before) As soon as we arrive to this point we will cross a bridge to the check out point and show your passports then we will start a soft walk into the other side of the Vilcanota river the trail heads off to the right towards the ruins of Chachabamba. After a visit in Chachabamba, we`ll continue the trail heads south and begin climbing the mountain, before entering the cloud forest. Then the trail leaves the forest and goes west while continuing the uphill hike in open grassland. After hiking in the sun for about three hours, the trail descends into a shaded forest. This is where trekkers can enjoy a beautiful waterfall. After leaving the waterfall and forest, trekkers will arrive at the lower part of the incredible ruins of Wiñaywayna. It is recommended that you start the trek with at least 2 litres of water.
After lunch in Wiñaywayna we continue through a cloud forest full of bromelias, orchids and fern trees. You will walk the last part of the original trail with amazing features stone steps and tambos “resting places” and climb the 60 steps before arriving to the Inti Punku or "Sun`s Gate". From this point you will be able to contemplate and observe this marvelous place, last 45 minutes to be on front of this wonder, where you can feel an inner peace. Spend a short time for pictures and views, with luck you can observe a magnificent sunset on this wonder place. After this magnificent arrive to Machu Picchu we walk down for 30 -40 minutes to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
At dinner time your guide will inform about plans for the next big day.
Meals: L D

Day 2 Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days:

AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHUPICHU - WAYNA - PICCHU - OLLANTAYTAMBO- CUSCO
Accommodation: 2 person Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Maximum Altitude: 2400m/7872ft
Minimum Altitude: 2100m/6888ft
Distance Travelled: 9 km approx
Approximate Walking Time: 3 - 4 Hours

Early wake up at 04.30 am ... and after a good breakfast, re-live the history and the mysterious world of Machu Picchu and the Incas, fuse with the mystic of this fascinating and unique place, discover yourself the perfect symbiosis and harmony created by nature and the Incas people. We take the first bus up at approx 05.20 am (or walk for 45 minutes) and arrive at the Sanctuary control before 06.00 am when the Park is open. This time is still not so crowded yet so we take advantage of the tranquility of this sacred site ; Guided Tour of Machu Picchu. This enigmatic city is explored for Approx 2 hrs and their mysteries and archaeological information will be explained by your expert guide, ( you generally have approx 6 hrs extra free time but depends on train timetables in high season.)
Climbing to Huayna Picchu.-see additional info if you want to purchase a permit for this.
Around 3-4:00 pm bus down to Aguas Calientes for your Train return. ( $12 pp not included, most people like to walk this old inca trail down to Aguas Calientes )
The train departs Aguas Calientes late in the afternoon. ( 15.00 Hrs or 5:00 pm to Ollantaytambo then a 2 hours transport to Cusco arriving at 9:00 pm approx. )
Meals: B L

We recommend that you bring to Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days:

Your Original passport. (ISIC student card if you've booked as a student).
Comfortable back pack. (There are no porters in this trek).
Water to drink (2 liters, no plastic bottles)
Camera, binoculars
Rain jacket in rainy season -Dec to Jan
Change of clothes
Basic personal toiletries: Deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, small towel, handky, Anti bacterial wet wipes.
Hat or cap for the sun is essential, Sunscream with maximum UV Protection.
Insect repellent for mosquitoes (Malaria or Yellow fever have not been reported)
Comfortable hiking boots, runners or sturdy shoes.
Money in soles or dollars. (ATM´s or cash machines and travellers cheques in Aguas Calientes are more expensive to change.)

*IMPORTANT NOTE

While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, e.g, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.

Included/Excluded

  • Pre-departure briefing at your Hotel.
  • Pick up from your Hotel at 04:00 am (Private transport to Ollantaytambo Train Station (2 Hrs)
  • PeruRail Turist class train to Km 104 (starting point of the hike)
  • Entrance fees for the trail and Machupicchu sanctuary
  • Permits and fees for the 2 Day Inca Trail park
  • Walk with an excellent English speaking guide for 4 hours before Lunch
  • Guided visit of Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna and Choquesuysuy
  • Guided Tour in Machupicchu on the second Day
  • 1 Box Lunch, 1 Dinner, 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch ,1 snack and drink for the 1st Day
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes, breakfast included.
  • 1 bus tickets (Machupicchu-Aguas Calientes -Machupicchu only the 2nd Day)
  • PeruRail Turist class train return to Cusco or train to Ollanta and transport to Cusco
  • Walk to the Inca Bridge after your tour.(Optional)
  • Bus down from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes on 2nd Day US$ 12 pp
  • (or a down hill walk for 45 minutes to Aguas Calientes town.)
  • Hot spring pools 10 soles
  • Dinner on the 2nd Day
  • Ticket for Huaynapicchu mountain. Extra $85 per person.
  • Additional Services
  • Insurance
  • Drink

Tour's Location

Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 2 Days, Cusco, PERU

FAQs

WHERE IS THE SHORT INCA TRAIL HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU 2 DAY?

The main starting point of the 2 Day Inca Trail Network for the conventional journey of 2 days and 1 night. It is located at the Chachabamba checkpoint km 104, Machu Picchu district, Urubamba province, Cusco region.

ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF THE SHORT INCA TRAIL HIKE 2 DAY

The Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu has a moderate difficulty level and we classify as difficulty in # 3 from #1 to #5. It demands a good physical condition since it starts early from Cusco and also you can start from Ollantaytambo, then a train trip to Kilometer 104 on the way Cusco – “Aguas Calientes” route.

The travelers will start the hike for approximately 5 to 6 hours on ascending Inca roads and then on Inca steps surrounded by abundant flora and fauna until reach the 400 steps that cross the archeologic site of Wiñayhuayna which demands good physical condition.

Then from there continue with the last part of the Classic Inca trail of 4 days for about 1 hour then will reach the sun gate (Intipunku) and finally the next day we visit Machu Picchu and finish with the guided tour in the citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy the sunset in your Machu Picchu tour.

WHO DISCOVERED THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU?

The Inca Trail, Inca Trail or Capaq Ñan, is one of the most classic treks in the world. It was built by the Inca emperor Pachacuti to connect Cusco, capital of the Inca empire or Tawantinsuyo with the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. Hiram Bingham, archaeologist and Yale professor who discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, was also the one who discovered the Inca Trail, as well as all the archaeological sites along its length. This route opened for trekking in 1970, by the Peruvian archaeologist Victor Ángles.

HOW LONG CAN I BE INTO MACHU PICCHU CITADEL?

The visiting time in the citadel of Machu Picchu is an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. This time is the maximum that is used to be able to make the main circuit that contains the most outstanding sites of the Historic Sanctuary.

You should know that there is no free time to visit on your own after the guide. Unless you buy one of the extra hiking tickets (Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Montaña) so you can re-enter the attraction.

Huayna Picchu: The average time is 1 hour up and 45 minutes down. The path is steep and has small steps, so traveling with minors is not a good idea.

Machu Picchu Mountain: The average time is 1 hour and 30 minutes up, and about 1 hour down. It is more recommended for people traveling with minors. This option is not so recommended, since on the first day of hiking you will walk along part of the path that leads to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain.

WHERE TO LEAVE MY BELONGINGS WHILE VISITING MACHU PICCHU

Also, once arrived at the town of Aguas Calientes on the first day. You will have the opportunity to leave your belongings at the hotel reception or storage before going to Machu Picchu on the second day. And on your return to Aguas Calientes, before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo, you must pick it up.

You should not forget the restrictions that exist for entering Machu Picchu. Among them is the prohibition of luggage or backpacks that exceed 8 kilos or measures 40 x 35 x 20 cm.

The state provides a place where you can store your belongings at no cost. There is also another place, but it has a cost of S / 5.00 per person. Most visitors prefer to store in this second option, since they think that if they pay, it is because there will be much more security than the one that is free. However, both places are suitable for storing your things.

NOTE: Both Storages are located at the entrance to Machu Picchu.

HOW TO VISIT MACHU PICCHU AND HUAYNA PICCHU IN 1 DAY?

Huayna Picchu is one of the most requested tourist attractions by visitors from all over the world. The entrance ticket to this place includes the entrance to the Inca Citadel. This ticket allows you to know both tourist attractions in just one day.

CAN YOU TRAVEL BOTH MOUNTAINS IN ONE DAY?

If possible. The Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket is designed so that the visitor has enough time to visit ‘Machu’ and ‘Wayna’ in 1 day.

The ticket has 3 shifts that give the tourist time to fully enjoy the Wonder of the World.

The first group enters Machu Picchu at 6 a.m. The second, at 7 a.m. The third, at 8 a.m.

All schedules allow a maximum of 6 hours to visit Machu Picchu and Waynapicchu. If you visit the so-called Temple of the Moon of Huayna Picchu, the time is 7 hours.

HOW LONG DOES THE TOUR OF HUAYNA PICCHU TAKE?

Both the ascent and descent through the Huayna Picchu mountain take an average of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The ascent time depends on the physical condition of the tourist.

In Huayna Picchu you can visit the Temple of the Moon and have an incredible experience at the top.

This is the ideal place to get the best photographs of the Inca City. A suitable visit takes 3 hours.

HOW LONG DOES THE TOUR OF MACHU PICCHU TAKE?

The tour of Machu Picchu delays the time of the tourist guide. This takes 2 hours on average. Today it is mandatory to enter the Inca City with a guide.

The visit includes a tour of the main tourist attractions of the place, such as: the Temple of the Condor, the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Intihuatana and more.

The visit will also leave time for the tourist to appreciate the Wonder of the World on their own.

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