Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
c2 Days from $ USD 339
Amazing Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days
Short Inca Trail 2 Days short version of the great Inca Trail of the Inca Trail network of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a subtle experience of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days of exploring impressive ruins throughout the trek experience; this short adventure is for everyone; We all achieved the goal of reaching Inti Punku and observing Machu Picchu splendidly in the distance.
The Inca Trail 2 Day Trek begins in Cusco to transport us by land to Ollantaytambo to continue the trip to km 104 of the railway and start the 2 Day Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu with overnight in Aguas Calientes so that the day 02 let’s explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu on a guided tour.
For the 02-Day Inca Trail Hike, we ascend the mountain for 3 hours to conquer and discover the Wiñaywayna ruins. The rest of the Short Inca Trail is semi-flat until reaching the Puerta del Sol “during the walk, we have incredible panoramic views of the Andes with cloud forest of the Aobamba Valley” from Inti Punku, and we already see Machu Picchu; our first photographic views.
We recommend booking 2 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in advance to secure your entrance tickets to the Short Inca Trail so you can enjoy a vacation amid landscapes accompanied by beautiful flora and fauna on your adventure tour Cusco region in Peru. Additional NOTE for people who do not want to leave Cusco early, we recommend staying in Ollantaytambo, “Sacred Valley.”
Overview
Short Inca Trail 2 Days Summary
CUSCO, PERU, SOUTH AMERICA, LATAM, “Latin America”
The Short Inca Trail adventure begins with the transfer service from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, board the train to head towards kilometer 104 of the railway. Arriving at KM 104, we register at the control with our original passports to start the walk along the Short Inca Trail and explore impressive Inca ruins such as Wiñaywayna and Inti Punku. From the Inti Punku, we have fascinating views of Machu Picchu and its surroundings. Spend the night in Aguas Calientes so that the next day, we explore Machu Picchu in a 2-hour guided tour, visiting temples, Inca buildings, and the full functionality of Machu Picchu.
Trip Summary: Short Inca Trail 2 Days
- Day 1: Cusco-Ollantaytambo Train Station-Short Inca Trail
- Day 2: Machu Picchu Tour | Return to Cuzco by train and by road
AVAILABILITY OF THE SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS PERMITS
- Short Inca Trail March 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail April 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail May 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail June 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail July 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail August 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail September 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail October 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail November 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail December 2025: Available
- Short Inca Trail January 2026: Available
Photo Gallery Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
Short Inca Trail 2 Days Highlights
Memorable Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
- Experience the unique national park of Machu Picchu! Get ready to be amazed by the beauty of the Andes Mountains as you hike along the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
- We will hike a fantastic walk through the Andes Mountains on our way to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
- Experience the Short Inca Trail on a two-day tour from Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Discover the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu on unforgettable hiking through Peru’s Short Inca Trail.
Why You´ll love the Short Inca Trail 2 Days
This active excursion covers excellent short distances every day. Rely on hiking for up to five hours! But not every day is on tour. The pace is sometimes challenging, especially on the second day of the Inca Trail Express to Machu Picchu, for customers who choose to do the optional Huayna Picchu trek.
Participants must be physically healthy to compete in the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days. Further training is recommended before departure. You will encounter uneven surfaces, stairs, steep steps, rocky and unpaved terrain, and marked slopes. If you climb the Inca Trail from Machu Picchu, you cannot turn back and must complete the trek until you reach the town of Aguas Calientes. When visiting Machu Picchu, remember that canes are not allowed; hiking poles are permitted on the Inca Trail as long as they have rubber tips. Also, selfie sticks are prohibited, and only folding umbrellas are allowed.
Cusco is 3,500 meters – 11,000 feet above sea level, which may be a consideration for those with heart problems or those affected by altitude. We recommend our explorers consult their doctor before signing up for this adventure. Final routes and activities might change due to weather conditions, etc. For the 2-Day Inca Trail Express, we recommend purchasing personal travel insurance to cover accidents or events.
Short Inca Trail 2 Days Itinerary
The 2 Day Inca Trail Hike program is designed to have a short trek to the Inca Trail of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu; the walk itself through dense vegetation from the ruins of Wiñaywayna to Inti Punku and Machu Picchu. In this section, we show you the service of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days; If you have any questions when booking the tour, do not hesitate to write to us.
BRIEFING Short Inca Trail 2 Days
World Walker – Please note that you will need to attend the pre-hike briefing at 6:00 p.m. the day before the first day of the hike. We organize the informative talk at the hotel reception where the travelers are staying.
We recommend arriving at least a day before your excursion to acclimate to the altitude before your hiking adventure. Spending a full day in Cuzco (3,249 m/10,659 ft) relaxing and drinking plenty of water is usually enough to acclimate most people.
PRESENTATION OF SHORT INCA TRAIL 2 DAYS
Cusco – Ollantaytambo Train Station – Short Inca Trail
At 05:15, transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo after 1.5 hours of travel.
Information about the train service from OLLANTAYTAMBO TO KM 104
- Railway company: PERU RAIL
- Service route: OLLANTAYTAMBO to KM 104
- Train class: EXPEDITION 83
- Train departure time from Ollantaytambo train station: 07:45
- Visitors must be inside the railway premises At 07:15—otherwise, you will not be allowed to board the train.
- Arrival time at the Aguas Calientes train station: 08:55
After the train service, we will cross the suspension bridge to reach the official control of the 2 Day Inca Trail Hike. At the Chachabamba control station, we show our original passports, entrance tickets, and the corresponding permits to walk within the Short Inca Trail network. We begin the walk with a three-hour ascent until we reach the Wiñaywayna ruins. These three hours of walking are pretty sunny, with little shade, so bringing excellent sunscreen and plenty of water to hydrate appropriately is vital.
Between kilometers 104 of the railway to Wiñaywayna, we find two spectacular viewpoints to observe nature and the cloud forest landscapes with the impressive mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. The hiking route from Wiñaywayna to Inti Punku “is a 1 hour and a half walk”; the path is semi-flat, always finding steps. The entire Short Inca Trail is paved with stones from the area; during this beautiful adventure, we find abundant vegetation typical of the cloud forest, such as bromeliads, ferns, lichens, orchids, etc.
From the ruins of Inti Punku, we have impressive views of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the entire panorama surrounding it. The last section of the Short Inca Trail is to descend the Inti Punku mountain to reach the official viewpoint of Machu Picchu, which is “40 minutes of walking.” Once we get to the Inca guardian’s house viewpoint, we take the classic panoramic photos of Machu Picchu. After the walk along the Short Inca Trail, we go to the outskirts of Machu Picchu to board the bus service that takes us to Aguas Calientes, “30 minutes of travel.”
Brief information about the 2-Day Inca Trail Hike
- The start of the walk, “Km 104 of the railway,” is at 2,250 m/7,240 ft.
- Total walking distance: 11 km (6.14 mi)
- Walking time: 5 hours
- The maximum “Inti Punku—The Sun Gate” elevation is 2700 m (8540 ft).
- Hike Difficulty: Moderate, Challenging and Easy
- Meals: Lunch “Box lunch.”
- Bus service from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes: 1 bus ticket.
Food
Box Lunch
Physical Level
Moderate
Walking Distance
11 km (6.14 mi)
Hiking Time
5 hours
Min Altitude
2,250mt/7,240ft.
Max Altitude
2700mt /8540 ft.
Map Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
Visit Machu Picchu | PM Return to Cusco
The hikers of the Short Inca Trail 2 Days choose the time of visit to Machu Picchu since the choice is free for the walkers of Short Inca Trail. You only enter Machu Picchu once for the guided tour.
In the morning, we board the bus service from the town of Aguas Calientes to go to Machu Picchu to have a great guided tour experience for 2 hours visiting the sacred temples of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, such as the temple of the sun, the royal house, the tomb of the emperor of Machu Picchu, the temple of the three windows, the water mirrors, etc. In the afternoon, we have the train service from Aguas Calientes to the Poroy train station; In Poroy, we board our private vehicle to go to the city of Cusco to the respective hotels of the travelers. Thank you for choosing us to walk through the sanctuary of Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail 2-Day Trek, Cusco, Peru, South America.
Synthesis of the hiking and tour
- Bus service to Machu Picchu (up and down)
- Two-hour guided tour inside Machu Picchu.
- NOTE: NO FREE TIME according to the new regulations of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary since 2015. If you require more time, book a new entrance ticket
AFTERNOON, board your train service to POROY and Return to Cusco City.
Information about the train service from MACHU PICCHU TO POROY
- Railway company: PERU RAIL
- Train Travel Route: MACHU PICCHU TO POROY
- Class: EXPEDITION 34
- Train departure time from Aguas Calientes train station: 15:20
- Travelers must be inside the train facilities: At 14:50; otherwise, you will not be allowed to board the train.
- Arrival time at POROY train station: 19:05
When you arrive at the POROY train station, go to the waiting area where our staff will wait for you. Look for a sign with your name on it.” Group Name: Short Inca Trail 2 Days
Private transfer service from Poroy train station to Cusco “Hotel.”
Cusco Overnight: Travelers organize and reserve their hotels
Food
Hotel Breakfast, Box Lunch
Physical Level
Easy
Walking Distance
Stroll
Hiking Time
2-hour guided tour
Min Altitude
2,065m/6,774 ft.
Max Altitude
2,430m/7,972 ft.
Map Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
What to Bring
- You must bring your original passport to show to the train service, Inca Trails, and Machu Picchu
- Daypack
- A small travel bag for Machu Pichu (You can store your main suitcase safely at Hotel Cusco.)
- Water bottle: “It is forbidden to introduce non-recyclable plastics in Machu Picchu; take precautions and bring reusable bottles.”
- Good, sturdy shoes or walking boots
- Warm fleece jacket
- Layers of warm clothing “In Cusco, get some baby alpaca wool.”
- Hats (to protect yourself from the sun and also to keep warm)
- Rain gear, Waterproofing
- Essential Sunglasses
- High SPF sunscreen “In cream.”
- Insect repellent “In cream allowed inside the citadel; let’s conserve flora and fauna of the seventh world wonder.”
Short Inca Trail 2 Days Price Information
PRICES PER PERSON [U.S Dollar] 2025
Private Tour: Private tours are available and priced based on group size.
1 participant, $799.
2 participants, $563.
3 participants, $473.
4 participants, $429.
5 participants, $411.
6 participants, $391.
7 participants, $377.
8 participants, $367.
9 participants, $377.
10 participants, $369.
11 participants, $368.
12 participants, $353.
13 participants, $349.
14 participants, $345.
15 participants, $342.
16 participants, $339.
Short Inca Trail 2 Days Upgrade
TRAIN SERVICES
By PeruRail / PER PERSON
+ $35 Vistadome train (one way: OLLANTAYTAMBO-MACHUPICCHU) Outbound Journey
+ $55.00 Vistadome train (round trip: OLLANTAYTAMBO-MACHUPICCHU-POROY)
+ $65.00 Vistadome train (back and forth: Ollantaytambo-MachupICCHU-Ollantaytambo) + Transfer to Cusco from Ollantaytambo
+ $445.00 Hiram Bingham train (Train MACHUPICCHU-POROY) Inbound Journey
EXTRA TICKETS
+$75 Huayna Picchu
+$75 Montaña
+$60 RE-ENTRY TO MACHU PICCHU
DISCOUNTS
- This applies to the following services:
Machu Picchu Fee
Short Inca Trail 2 Days College students: $20 off
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Faqs Short Inca Trail 2 Days to Machu Picchu
How do you prepare for the Short Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is not a challenging trek, but it stands out for its steep ascents and descents. However, the primary key to successfully preparing for this hike is to acclimatize your body before you set out.
Even if you are an experienced hiker, spending 2-3 days in the city of Cusco is recommended to get used to the altitude. Furthermore, this ancient road will take you to places more than 4,200 meters above sea level.
How to prevent altitude sickness?
Due to the high altitude of this place, some travelers may experience dizziness, tiredness, headaches, and shortness of breath.
This condition affects most travelers above 2,500 meters, regardless of whether they have lived at higher altitudes or sea levels.
- Drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated is key to not getting sick.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco at all costs. Alcohol is a dehydrating agent, and smoking can cause or worsen shortness of breath.
- Relax the first days. If traveling at a high altitude, ensure you do not engage in strenuous physical activity for the first few days.
- Drink coca tea or chew coca leaves. This medicinal plant is known for its healing properties and helps with acclimatization.
How challenging is the Short Inca Trail?
You don’t need a high fitness level or an experienced hiker to complete them.
Can you make the Short Inca Trail alone?
Unfortunately, you cannot make the Inca Trail alone, as the Inca Trail permit can only be obtained through a certified travel agency.
How far in advance should I reserve the Short Inca Trail?
To reduce human impact on the trail, the Peruvian government has restricted entry to 500 people per day, including hikers, porters, cooks, and guides.
It should be noted that the Inca Trail permit is non-transferable and is closed for maintenance during the rainiest month of the year (February).
When is the best time to make the Short Inca Trail?
The climate of this region is characteristic of the Peruvian Andean region, with a dry winter and a rainy summer. However, light rains can also be expected during the dry season due to the geographic location.
- Rainy season: starts in December and ends around April. However, heavy rains are expected between January and March. Temperatures vary between 15°C and 5°C.
- The dry season is considered the coldest year, although it is much hotter during the day. However, temperatures are noticeably more relaxed in the early morning and at night.
We want to mention that the rainforest has different climatic conditions, and even if you travel during the dry season, there may be occasional rain showers. Consult this guide and learn everything about the climate in Peru.
What is the difference between the Short Inca Trail and the Classic Inca Trail?
The Short Inca Trail only takes two days and one night. It begins at kilometer 104 of the Ollantaytambo railway and passes through the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna.
On the other hand, the Classic Inca Trail lasts four days and three nights, passing through different archaeological sites and unique natural environments.
The Inca Trail is on almost every traveler’s wish list, not only because it is the most impressive trail in South America but also because it has great historical value. Dare to discover the mysteries of the Inca civilization on this famous walking tour. Don’t forget to check out our Peru travel packages while you’re here!
KONDOR PATH TOURS is the operator of all the tourist circuits of tours and hikes.
That means that KONDOR PATH TOURS will never transfer it to another company or a third party. All departures are 100% guaranteed.
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