Overview
An unforgettable adventure through the Peruvian Andes, the 2 Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu takes you through highland landscapes with grand mountains, verdant subtropical vegetation, spectacular cloud forests and tropical rainforest.
Follow the path of the Inca through the Machu Picchu National Park and arrive on the afternoon of Day 1 at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. Here you will have your first view of Machu Picchu. Take in the wonder of the site before hiking down to the Guardhouse viewpoint. On Day 2, tour the citadel with an experienced guide and learn the legends and history of this fascinating site.
The 2 Day Inca Trail was created for travelers who are short on time but not short on desire to follow in the footsteps of the Inca. This itinerary features an overnight stay in the town below Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, with hotel, train and permits included.
This is a dual circuit itinerary. You get Circuit 1 panorama on Day 1 via Sun Gate and Circuit 3 royalty route on Day 2 inside the citadel.
Highlights of the 2 Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo
- Beautiful Andean scenery with waterfalls, valleys and canyons
- Small groups, maximum 8 trekkers, led by English speaking guide
- Licensed travel company with many years of experience
- The best guides on the Inca Trail, local and professional
- Spectacular Wiñay Wayna and Chachabamba ruins on original Inca stone paths
- Walk in the footsteps of the Inca on original Inca trail
- Classic postcard view only possible via Sun Gate
- Scenic train ride through the Sacred Valley
Itinerary for the 2 Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Day 1. Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu Circuit 1 – Aguas Calientes
A super early start to fit in all the exciting adventures of today. Your guide will be at reception at 4:00am. You will leave Cusco for a 2 hour ride to the train station in Ollantaytambo in our private van. Take the opportunity to sleep or rest in comfort.
On arrival at the station your guide will give you a box lunch which you will need to carry in your daypack. The train leaves Ollantaytambo station at 6:10am. Enjoy the wonderful views and in just over an hour you arrive at the start of your 2 day trek. Take time to eat breakfast, which is not included. You can ask your hotel in Cusco to prepare breakfast for you or you can buy it in Cusco the day before.
You leave the train at Km 104. This is where the adventure begins. First you will cross the bridge over the beautiful Urubamba River and show your passport to enter the trail. Visit your first Inca site, then start the slightly uphill hike for around 1 hour and a half. See several viewpoints with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Urubamba River. Be ready to get damp or even wet as you pass through cloud forest. Hike through lush subtropical rainforest and jungle.
Next the hike gets steeper for the next 2 hours before arriving at a beautiful waterfall. Reward yourself with a dip in the refreshing waters at the bottom of the waterfall. Be sure to take many photos from the bridge below before heading to the ancient Inca site of Wiñay Wayna at 2,680m / 8,790ft above sea level. Your guide will give you the fascinating history of this site located on the hillside. See how much of the site is still covered by jungle. Discover the vast array of flora and fauna that surrounds Wiñay Wayna.
It is time to enjoy the lunch you have carried in your daypack. The lunch spot is spectacular, surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical flowers. At the time of booking please tell our sales team about any food requirements.
When you are rested, continue on a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate. The walk is easy with a gentle up and down path. But do not get too comfortable as at the end there is a set of stairs known as the Gringo Killer steps. These steps are carved directly into the rock face and are very challenging.
Once past the stairs you arrive at the Sun Gate. Here you get your first view of Machu Picchu. Take your time and enjoy the breathtaking views and take photos before walking for another hour down. Along the way there are many opportunities to take photos and to ask your guide about the Inca sites you will pass between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.
You arrive at the viewing platforms above Machu Picchu, called the Guardhouse on your map. Here you will have time to take in the site and take spectacular photos. As you arrive in the afternoon the crowds will be starting to thin, so there will be fewer people in your shots. The afternoon light makes for great photos of Machu Picchu.
After you have soaked in all the energy of Machu Picchu take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, the pretty little town below Machu Picchu. Check into your hotel and take some time to explore the town before dinner in one of the many restaurants. If you have time visit the hot springs just outside town before resting after a spectacular day of hiking.
- Meals included: Box lunch, dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
- Distance: 12km / 7.5 miles
- Time: 6-7 hours approximately
- 3 star accommodation: Ferre Hotel Machu Picchu or similar
- 4 star accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu upgrade, superior room
- Difficulty: Moderate
Note: You can leave an overnight bag at Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes, up to 5 kilos per person.
Day 2. Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Circuit 3 Royalty Route – Cusco
An early bus ride up to Machu Picchu to catch sunrise over the ruins is on the agenda this morning. Make sure you have breakfast for much needed energy to enjoy this day of all days. Your guide will take you on a tour full of history and legends. Learn about the Inca on a tour that will last around 2 hours. Take photos from the many viewpoints and see the most important parts of Machu Picchu.
After your tour take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch, not included, in one of the wonderful restaurants in town. You may have time before your train to explore more of Aguas Calientes. Shop, sightsee or visit the museum, or go to the hot springs. For the zoo, advanced reservations are needed.
A fabulous Expedition train journey awaits you in the afternoon to Ollantaytambo at either 2:55pm or 3:20pm. The trip travels alongside the Urubamba River, through narrow canyons with sections of whitewater. Enjoy views of Wiñay Wayna high up on the canyon wall. On arrival in Ollantaytambo you transfer to the van for a drive through the Sacred Valley to Cusco. Expected arrival in Cusco is around 7:00pm.
- Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel
After the tour of Machu Picchu, those who have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu, please remember this is not a guided tour. You will need a separate entrance ticket.
Important Information for the 2 Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- The Short Inca Trail includes both Circuit 1 on Day 1 and Circuit 3 on Day 2, depending on availability. Circuit 1A is panoramic Guardhouse view, Circuit 3 is royalty route.
- You can upgrade to the Vistadome train for the same times at 2:55pm, 3:20pm, 4:22pm or 4:43pm. The cost is 67 USD per person.
- Early trains can be organized by request and must be requested at booking time.
- Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes depend on availability. Please let us know at booking time if you want to add them.
What’s Included in the 2 Day Machu Picchu Hike ?
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop off in Cusco
- Private transport from your hotel to the train station in Ollantaytambo and return to Cusco
- Permits for the 2 Day Short Inca Trail and entrance to Machu Picchu
- 3 bus tickets: 1 on Day 1 from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, 2 on Day 2 up and down
- Licensed guide experienced in trekking and fluent in English
- Private guided tour of Machu Picchu Circuit 1 on Day 1 and Circuit 3 on Day 2
- Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 and from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Admission tickets to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Archaeological Site, Circuits 1& 3 . The specific circuit will be confirmed at booking time
- One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes, 3 star hotel
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen
- Meals as indicated on the itinerary
Not Included
- Huayna Picchu Mountain, 75 USD per person
- First breakfast on Day 1 and last lunch in Aguas Calientes on Day 2
- Tips for trekking staff, optional
Optional Upgrades and Extras
- Walking poles, 15 USD per pair per trek. These are professional poles that can be extended
- Vistadome train upgrade, 67 USD per person return only
- Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, 75 USD per person. Please request when you book your trek
Note: Huayna Picchu Mountain and other optional treks around Machu Picchu do not include a guide. These hikes are usually done on your own after the guided tour. If you require a guide please request in advance. There will be an extra cost for this guided tour.
Pricing for 2 Day Short Inca Trail 2026
The 2 Day Machu Picchu Hike is available year round except February when the trail is closed for maintenance. This trek enters Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate as in ancient times, with amazing Inca ruins along the way like Wiñay Wayna. If you are a single traveler, please check with our office for groups already scheduled on your dates.
Price – Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days
2 to 8 people. Permits, train, guide, bus tickets and meals as per itinerary included.
- Without Hotel – You have your own hotel in Aguas Calientes$477 USD
Permits, train, guide, bus tickets and meals as per itinerary included
- With 3 Star Hotel$497 USD
Ferre Hotel Machu Picchu or similar, private room with breakfast
- With 4 Star Hotel$597 USD
El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu, superior room with breakfast
What you need to pack for 2 Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo
12km from KM 104 to Sun Gate 2,720m – Hotel night in Aguas Calientes – No camping
- Original Passport Required
You must carry the original passport used for your booking. Peruvian authorities check it at KM 104 at the start of the Short Inca Trail and again at Machu Picchu. The name and number must match your permit exactly. If you renewed your passport after booking, bring both the old and new passport. Our licensed guides verify your documents before boarding the train in Ollantaytambo.
- Daypack and Overnight Bag
For this 2 Day Short Inca Trail from Ollantaytambo you hike with a small daypack only. Pack water, your box lunch, rain jacket, camera and passport. You can leave an overnight bag of up to 5 kilos at Ollantaytambo train station. Peru Rail transports it directly to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. This service is included. There is no camping and no personal porter on this route, so keep your daypack light and comfortable for 12 kilometers of stone steps.
- Clothing for Moderate Trekking
The Short Inca Trail is moderate. The highest point is Sun Gate at 2,720 meters, much lower than Dead Woman Pass on the 4 Day trail. Our local guides recommend layers. Bring a quick dry t shirt, one long sleeve shirt, a fleece or light down jacket and two pairs of hiking pants. Temperatures change quickly from humid cloud forest at Wiñay Wayna to sunny and windy at Machu Picchu. For Day 2 sunrise tour of Machu Picchu Circuit 3, bring a warm layer for the early bus.
- Footwear for Inca Stone Steps
Comfortable waterproof hiking shoes or light hiking boots with good traction are ideal for original Inca stonework. The most challenging section is the Gringo Killer steps carved into rock just before Sun Gate. Your feet will thank you for broken in shoes. Do not bring new boots. Bring sandals or comfortable shoes to wear at your hotel in Aguas Calientes after the trek.
- Rain Protection for Cloud Forest
This trail passes through a subtropical cloud forest with high humidity and frequent mist. Our guides experience rain here even in dry season from May to September. A lightweight waterproof jacket and a rain poncho are essential. The waterfall section near Wiñay Wayna at 2,680 meters is particularly wet. An umbrella does not work on narrow stone stairs, so use a jacket with a hood.
- Sun Protection at High Altitude
Sun exposure is strong at 2,720 meters at Sun Gate. The afternoon light from the Guardhouse viewpoint is perfect for photos because crowds are smaller, but UV is high. Bring a wide brim hat, sunglasses with UV protection and high SPF sunblock. Reapply after the waterfall section. Our guides carry extra sunblock in the first aid kit.
- Water and Meals
Bring a reusable bottle with at least 1.5 liters of water. You cannot buy water on the trail between KM 104 and Machu Picchu. On Day 1 our team provides a box lunch at Ollantaytambo station which you carry to Wiñay Wayna. Breakfast on Day 1 is not included. Ask your Cusco hotel to prepare an early breakfast or buy it the night before. Breakfast on Day 2 is included at your hotel in Aguas Calientes. Dinner on Day 1 is included at a local restaurant.
- Money and Entrance Tickets
Bring small bills and coins in Peruvian Soles for personal expenses. You will need cash for breakfast on Day 1, lunch on Day 2 in Aguas Calientes, hot springs entrance which costs 20 Soles, and souvenirs. Your tour includes permits for Short Inca Trail, Machu Picchu Circuit 1 on Day 1 and Circuit 3 on Day 2, and three bus tickets. If you want the classic postcard photo from Circuit 2, you need an extra ticket at 75 US dollars. Request it at booking.
- Insect Repellent and Trekking Poles
Mosquitoes are common around Wiñay Wayna and Chachabamba in the lower cloud forest. Bring insect repellent with DEET. Trekking poles are optional but helpful for the steep descent from Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. You can rent professional poles from us for 15 US dollars per pair. Rubber tips are mandatory to protect the original Inca stonework. We do not provide porters for personal gear on this 2 day trek.
- Portable Charger and Extras for Hotel Stay
Bring a 10,000 mAh power bank. There is no charging point on the trail. Your hotel in Aguas Calientes has electricity for overnight charging. Also pack a swimsuit for the local hot springs, energy bars for the uphill sections, and a camera with extra battery. Day 1 Circuit 1 panorama from the Guardhouse is the only opportunity for the classic wide view of Machu Picchu. Our licensed guides know the best photo spots and quiet corners.
