CUSCO TOURS

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days

Price $ USD 580

Duration Two days and one night

Physical Level Moderate

Max Altitude 4,630 m (15,190 ft)

Accommodation Hotel in Aguas Calientes, double or twin room

Departures Daily, subject to availability and route access

Cusco

Resumen

The Short Inca Trail gives you something the train alone cannot: the approach to Machu Picchu on foot through the Sun Gate. You climb from the Urubamba valley, pass Chachabamba, cross a long stairway beside Wiñay Wayna, and reach Intipunku with the citadel below.

Machu Picchu Premium builds the route around a legal permit, careful pacing, a well-prepared box lunch, a hotel night in Aguas Calientes, and a second guided entry the next day. You carry only a daypack and sleep in a real bed, yet still walk one of the strongest sections of the Inca road network.

This route has limited named permits, fixed entry controls, and train logistics that cannot be improvised at the last minute. Spaces sell quickly, especially from May through October. Early booking protects your date and gives our team more room to secure suitable trains and a compatible Machu Picchu circuit.

Detalles del Tour

Duration: Two days and one night
Start and finish: Cusco hotel
Trail start: Kilometer 104 on the Cusco–Machu Picchu railway
Main hike: Approximately 12 km / 7.5 mi
Highest trail point: About 2,720 m / 8,924 ft near the Wiñay Wayna sector
Difficulty: Moderate; sustained stone stairs and humid conditions
Lodging: Hotel in Aguas Calientes, double or twin room
Meals: Box lunch on Day 1 and hotel breakfast on Day 2
Transport: Private road transfer, tourist train, shuttle buses, and walking
Permit: Personal, date-specific, and non-transferable
Closure: The Inca Trail normally closes during February for annual maintenance

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Kilometer 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Aguas Calientes

Pickup begins before dawn for the road transfer to Ollantaytambo. After boarding the tourist train, you follow the Urubamba River to Kilometer 104, where passport and permit controls take place.

The hike begins near Chachabamba in warm, humid air. Stone steps rise through forest where orchids, ferns, butterflies, and birds may appear. The ascent is sustained, and sweat can build quickly even under cloud. Your guide sets a measured pace and schedules meal and water pauses around control rules.

Wiñay Wayna arrives as a wall of terraces above the valley. From there, the trail joins the final section of the classic route. Stone paving, narrow edges, and the steep steps often called the “gringo killer” lead toward Intipunku.

At the Sun Gate, Machu Picchu appears across the ridge system. You descend to the permitted panoramic sector, then take the shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes. After hotel check-in, the evening is free for dinner and rest.

Day highlight: Walking through Intipunku and seeing Machu Picchu at the end of the trail.

Technical details

Distance: Approximately 12 km / 7.5 mi
Walking time: About 6–7 hours
Elevation gain: Approximately 600 m / 1,969 ft
Highest point: About 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
Surface: Original stone paving, long stairways, compact forest path, and exposed edges
Difficulty: Moderate
Transport: Private vehicle, train, hiking, shuttle bus

DAY 2

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

After breakfast, the shuttle climbs to Machu Picchu for your confirmed circuit. The second entry gives your guide time to focus on temples, plazas, homes, water channels, terraces, and the site’s relationship with the surrounding peaks.

Walking is easier than Day 1 but still includes stone steps and one-way route controls. After the guided circuit, you return to Aguas Calientes, board the train to Ollantaytambo, and continue by road to Cusco.

Day highlight: Returning with rested legs and enough time to read the urban and ceremonial sectors with your guide.

Technical details

Guided walking: About 2–3 hours
Altitude: Approximately 2,040 m in Aguas Calientes and 2,430 m at Machu Picchu
Surface: Stone steps, paved access, and regulated one-way paths
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Transport: Shuttle bus, walking, shuttle bus, train, private vehicle

Pricing List

Private Service Prices

Proposed 2026 rates per person in US dollars. These prices retain the full permit, train, hotel, and entry costs required for the two-day route.

Travelers	Price per person
1	US$950
2	US$735
3–4	US$650
5–8	US$590

Private service gives your party its own Inca Trail guide, a pace shaped around your walking ability, closer attention on stairs, and more control over explanations and photography. Permit controls and entry periods remain fixed for every service.

Optional additions

Single hotel room supplement: from US$55
Vistadome or panoramic return-train upgrade: from US$70 per person
Waynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain entry: from US$90 per person, subject to space and circuit compatibility
Extra hotel night in Aguas Calientes: from US$85 per room
Personal porter, only when current permit rules authorize the service: quoted after route review

Group Service Price

US$580 per person

The shared departure carries 4–8 travelers from different countries. The group follows one trail pace, fixed permit controls, and the selected train plan. Travelers who walk faster wait at agreed points; those who need repeated long stops may be asked to consider private service for safety.

The price includes permit, Machu Picchu entries stated in the confirmation, transport, hotel, guide, Day 1 box lunch, and Day 2 breakfast. Private service offers stronger pacing control and a guide focused only on your party.

Recommendations

Four to six months before: Reserve for high-demand dates and send a clear passport copy. Permits are personal and limited.
Several weeks before: Walk hills and stairs with the daypack you plan to carry.
Two or three days before: Acclimatize in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
A few days before: Confirm passport, pickup, train, hotel, and dietary details. Permit data cannot be casually changed.
Carry soles for drinks, dinner, tips, or small purchases in Aguas Calientes.
Keep your pace steady on original stone stairs and tell the guide about pain or dizziness early.
Respect control staff, local workers, trail rules, and one-way movement inside Machu Picchu.
Ask permission before photographing residents or railway workers.
Prepare mentally for humidity, sweat, rain, steep steps, and a long first day. Reaching the Sun Gate is worth patient effort.

Included

Pre-departure briefing in Cusco
Cusco hotel pickup and private transfer to Ollantaytambo
Tourist train to Kilometer 104
Official Short Inca Trail permit
Licensed English-speaking Inca Trail guide for both days
Machu Picchu entries stated in the booking confirmation
Shuttle buses required by the itinerary
One hotel night in Aguas Calientes, double or twin room
Day 1 box lunch and Day 2 breakfast
Return tourist train and road transfer to Cusco
First-aid kit and emergency oxygen
Walking-pole loan in private service

What to Bring

Original passport used for the permit
Small daypack that meets route rules
Waterproof jacket and pack cover
Quick-dry hiking layers
Light fleece for morning and evening
Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm
Broken-in hiking shoes with grip
Refillable water bottle or hydration bladder
Insect repellent
Personal medication and blister care
Cash in Peruvian soles and a bank card
Toiletries for one hotel night
Change of clothes and dry socks
Camera or phone with spare battery
Trekking poles with rubber tips

Tell reservations far in advance about mobility limitations, medical devices, service animals, food allergies, or professional filming equipment. Protected-area rules are strict, and some requests may require permits or may not be possible on this trail.

How to Book

HOW TO BOOK YOUR AMAZON RAINFOREST EXPEDITION WITH WILDFOREST PERU:

Select Your Destination & Tour: Choose from our specialized expeditions in Manu Cultural Zone, Manu Reserved Zone, Tambopata National Reserve, Birdwatching, or Wildlife Photography tours.
Contact Our Naturalist Planners: Click “Inquire / Book Now” or reach out directly via WhatsApp (+51 924 705 589) to confirm date availability and permit allocations.
Provide Participant Details: Send full legal names, passport numbers, nationalities, and any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) or medical notes.
Submit Deposit to Secure Permits: Make a secure online deposit using PayPal or major credit cards. Because SERNANP permits and exclusive eco-lodge spaces in Manu and Tambopata are limited, early deposits guarantee your departure.
Receive Instant Confirmation Voucher: Our reservations desk will issue your official booking voucher with a complete packing list, meeting points, and pre-departure naturalist briefing details.
Final Balance: The remaining balance can be settled online prior to departure or in Cusco / Puerto Maldonado at our operations office.

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