The Short Inca Trail is a great way to hike to Machu Picchu in a short amount of time. It is essentially a one day Inca Trail hike followed by a Machu Picchu tour the next day, after spending a night in a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes.
On this 2 day Inca Trail adventure, you’ll get a taste of the “classic” Inca Trail hike, visit Wiñay Wayna and walk through Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, into Machu Picchu. Day 2 of this itinerary gives you a chance to fully explore the impressive Machu Picchu citadel with an experienced guide.
TREKKERS WANTED!
Final rates are based on the number of paying participants that enroll for this trip. Maximum group size is 8 people.
We are currently accepting deposits to secure space on the trek. Please be advised once the deposit deadline is reached, we will, at that time, determine how many paying participants have enrolled and adjust the final cost of the trip. This information will determine the final balance per person.
If you have any questions please ask prior to signing up.
ABOUT THE GROUP
Hello adventurers! We’re a NYC family of four, including two teenagers (17 & 18). We’d like to meet fellow travelers. While we hike, we have not done something at this level. We’re excited to explore together at a good pace, taking in our surroundings, and giving us time to catch our breath when needed. Join us!
PRICES
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy & Includes Vistadome train upgrade; option to add the Machu Picchu Mountain hike:
Group of 5 - 6 people: $884 USD per person
Group of 7 - 8 people: $844 USD per person
Machu Picchu Mountain: $60 USD
Single supplement room in Aguas Calientes: $60 USD
Final balance is due 7 days prior to your trek departure.
Hi Fellow Trekker,
This is your payment link for your upcoming 2-day Inca Trail trek. The price quoted here is for your one passenger. Please be sure to select the correct number of people for whom you are making this booking under the "number of participants" field!
Please make sure you read and understand our Booking Conditions before paying your deposit. Please also download and fill out this Passenger Details Form and this Medical Declaration & Insurance Waiver Form. You will be prompted to upload these documents when paying your deposit.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in Peru!
Lorena and the Apus Peru team
Applicable for any person travelling on their own.
A 3-hour round-trip hike at Machu Picchu that some group members will do BEFORE the tour of the ruins. Entry time is 7AM, while tickets last
· Total Walking Distance: 13 km (8 mi)
· Total Walking Time: 7 hours
· Minimum Altitude: 2050m (6725 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2700m (8858 ft)
Train to Km104, the start of the One Day Inca Trail Hike
We will travel by car from your hotel to the Ollantaytambo train station. You should ask your hotel in advance about preparing a box breakfast to take with you on the journey.
From Ollantaytambo, we travel by train on a very picturesque route for 1.5h until we reach kilometer 104, the start of the Short Inca Trail for us. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the Vilcanota River we visit the site of Chachabamba (2050m / 6725 ft), a lovely archaeological site with water channels and fountains.
From here, we will hike upwards for about 5km (3 mi), approximately 3.5 hours. This part of the Inca Trail is well established, but there are many stairs and the hike is mostly upwards! There are also some sharp drops down towards the river which can be challenging for those who don’t like heights. While this is one of the shortest treks around the Cusco region, it is definitely not the easiest, especially in the hot sun. You still need to have a reasonable level of fitness to complete it.
A steep climb to Wiñay Wayna, then Inti Punku to Machu Picchu
Following our upwards climb, we arrive at the Inca site Wiñay Wayna (“forever young”) (2700m / 8858 ft). This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector, and an urban sector. Many consider this the most impressive site on the whole Inca Trail!
After lunch, we continue for about another hour and a half across undulating terrain until we arrive at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (2730m / 8,956 ft). There is a final, steep climb up stone steps until we reach this point, where you will have your first dramatic view of Machu Picchu (2400m / 7,874 ft).
We’ll have a moment to capture those classic photos, then we will walk down the last part of the trail towards the ancient city itself. After taking in the views at the Guardian’s Hut, we will exit the ruins in order to catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes, as we will visit Machu Picchu on Day 2.
After checking into our Aguas Calientes hotel for the night, we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner and then it’s off to bed, in preparation for the next day’s early start.
Included:
Meals: L, D
Inclusions: Private transport; Expedition train to Km104; private English-speaking guide; Inca Trail permit and other entry fees; bus down to Aguas Calientes
Overnight: Standard hotel in Aguas Calientes included