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Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days

Cusco, Machu Picchu, Agua Calientes

From: $ 457Group Price
per adult

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This is the perfect itinerary for those who want to walk part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, but who are short on time, are not able to trek the complete Inca Trail or who prefer hotels to camping. The 2-day Short Inca Trail covers the last one third of the Inca Trail. The highlights of the trail are the stunning Inca ruins such as Wiñay Wayna, primitive lush vegetation and striking water falls. The “Ancient Inca Road” takes you through the Sun Gate directly into Machu Picchu Citadel where you can get your perfect photos of Machu Picchu. Persons hiking the short Inca Trail have the privilege of visiting the famous Machu Picchu Citadel twice: once when they trek through the guards’ gate on day 1, and when they return to Machu Picchu the following the morning for sunrise and a fully guided tour.

Duration: 2 Days - 1 Nights
Max. Altitude: 2730 M.S.N.M
Travel Style: Adventure, Hike
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate
Type Service: Private or Group
Group Size: Up to 8 People

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days map - Spider Travel Peru Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days map

Trip Details

Itinerary for the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days

Our exciting day begins with a hotel pick up at 4:00am in our private van in Cusco or 5:30am in Ollantaytambo.  From Cusco, we drive towards the Ollantaytambo train station to catch the 6:10am Expedition Train.  After an hour and ten minutes, we disembark at KM 104 (elevation 2,100m/6,927ft). This is where our trek begins! From here, we begin a moderate climb for about three hours towards the breathtaking Inca ruins of the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna (2,650m/8,747ft).

After being at this impressive Inca ruins and enjoying our gourmet boxed lunch, we continue towards the Sun Gate (2,730m/9,007ft). Following this remote ancient Inca trail, we get our first stunning view of Machu Picchu in all its radiance and majesty after passing through the Sun Gate. As we trek down the hill to the Majestic Inca citadel, you will have many opportunities to take stunning photos as you pass through the Guards Gate. After admiring Machu Picchu from the upper section, we take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you spend the night in your hotel.

  • Meals included: Picnic lunch & restaurant dinner
  • 3* Accommodation: Hotel Ferre´ Machu Picchu
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Today, you get to enjoy exploring Machu Picchu and experience its magical presence and energy. We take the first bus at 5:30AM to Machu Picchu archeological site to enjoy the early morning sunrise. 

Your guide will escort you through the alluring Inca ruins and its impressive main streets. Then, you will have a little time on your own, wander around the town square of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom, as well as, climb the intricately carved stone stairways. Stand still and take in the splendor of its presence and enjoy the pure bliss of the moment.

Afterwards, you will return to Aguas Calientes, enjoy a bit of lunch or explore the market. You board the Expedition Train at 2:55pm or 3:20 for your return to Cusco.

Here are a few extra activities that you might wish to indulge on your own: Climb up Huayna Picchu (not included in your tour price and must be booked in advance. Books out fast!) Or in Aguas Calientes include: a visit to the local museum or the hot springs (entrance fees required). These depend on your train time if there is enough time. 

  • Meal included: Breakfast at your hotel
  • Difficulty: Easy

***IMPORTANT:

  • You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
  • Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
  • The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time. $75 USD

What’s included?

What is Included?

  • Hotel pick up
  • Private transport to and from Cusco
  • 3 Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
  • English speaking professional guide experienced in trekking
  • Private guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Expedition Train from Ollantaytambo to KM 104 – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
  • Entrance Tickets for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Archeological site
  • One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (hot shower, bathroom, private room and breakfast included)
  • First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
  • Taxes

Excludes

  • Wayna Picchu Mountain: $75 USD
  • First breakfast (served in your hotel), last lunch at Machu Picchu
  • OPTIONAL UPGRADES: hotel or train
  • Vistadome Train: $67 USD per person
  • Hiram Bingham Train: $397 USD per person
  • Tips for your staff (Spider Travel Peru staff receives a fair and decent salary for their amazing work. Tips are optional but appreciated.)

Prices & Availability for the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days.

The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is available on any day that suits your schedule as long as permits are available (Inca Trail closed in February for repairs) – we only need a minimum of two people in order to book.  

Price

  • Pirces from: $497 USD per person

Extras

  • Huayna Picchu Mountain$75 USD per person
  • Machu Picchu Mountain: $75 USD per person
  • Single supplement for hotel $40 USD per person

Discounts

  • 18 to 25 years old:$30 USD. Information required from the student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date, etc. A copy of the card is required at booking to obtain government approval for the discount.
  • Under 18 years old:$30 USD. Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
  • Under 11 years old:$40 USD.  Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

Important Information 

Please read the following information carefully as it will help answer all of your questions about our services and the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days. 

You will be welcomed at the airport in Cusco and taken to your hotel. Please ensure that you inform us of your flight details at least 14 days prior to your trek. Look for our representative holding a board stating: Spider Travel Peru at the arrivals terminal. You must exit the terminal in order to find our representative waiting outside.

Your briefing will take place the night before your trek. It will be held at our office at 6 or 6:30pm, depending on your confirmation email details.  The office is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.

Of course! During the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.

To avoid the excessive credit card fees in Peru, you can pay in cash at our office (we accept US dollars or Peruvian soles) in Cusco. There are many ATMs within the historical center.  You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address:  info@spidertravelperu.com to complete the payment.

Unfortunately, the answer is No. Once the permits/tickets have been bought, the Peruvian government does not allow any changes. We can’t change any departure date after the permit/ticket has been paid for. Permits/Tickets are also not transferable or refundable.  If you cancel your 2-day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the deposit is non-refundable!

Yes! You have to bring your original passport as it is very important, in order, to gain entry onto the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and other sites.  It must be the original passport that you have used to book with us from the start. 

In case, you are renewing your passport or changing your name, send us your old passport information to secure your permit and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 USD per person.  We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make this change.

If you do not wish to pay this fee, you will need to bring both your old and new passports with you.  You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both old and new passports to be able to enter into Machu Picchu and other sites.  If you do not have both, you will not be allowed to enter into these amazing sites.

If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek.  It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry.  Of course, you are free to tip as much as you feel, depending on your perception on the quality of service and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and its people.onsible tourism operator that  incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect these places and the local people.

Packing List for the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days,

The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu DOES NOT INCLUDE an extra porter so you will have to carry all of your things in a daypack. Please try to pack as light as possible, which is the key to enjoying this amazing trek.

  • Original passport (it has to be the same as the one you have used for booking your trek)
  • Good daypack (25 to 30L)
  • Reusable water bottles 2-3L (Camelbaks are encouraged).
  • Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
  • Polar or sweater for early mornings and evenings
  • Jacket- if cold season / rain jacket in rainy season
  • Toilet paper
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Sun Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Wool hat – if cold season
  • Snacks (chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruit)
  • Rain plastic poncho
  • Camera
  • Any medications you need during the day
  • Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips

What to leave in your small luggage that will be delivered to Aguas Calientes by train.

  • Clothes for visiting Machu Picchu the second day
  • Personal toiletries
  • Personal medications

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 days From 457 USDGroup Price
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Regards From Travelers

Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024
Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024
Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024
Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024
Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024
Thousands of Steps And Laughs

Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:

Amanda A

January 19, 2024

Our guides

All our guides have many years of experience in the industry and come highly recommended. They are fully versed in the values and vision of Spider Travel and will provide a service inline with those values. Our guides are knowledgeable and passionate about Inca Heritage and culture and in Peru as a whole. They dedicate themselves to continuous professional development and growth to ensure that you receive the most recent accurate and recognized theories about Inca and Andean culture. They are well educated, usually holding a degree in more than one field of study and can therefore hold a conversation on a broad spectrum of issues. Finally, expect to have an amazing time while trekking, our guides are fun loving and great sportsmen.

Our Porters

Our porters personify hard work. We employ about 90 porters from local communities. They are mostly farmers by trade and are native Quechua speakers. They mainly come from the indigenous communities around the trail. We refer to our super porters as ¨Red Machine¨. This is because they work hard during the treks but carrying duffel bags, camping gear, and more! It is important to us that we employ porters from local villages because we are supporting them to become self-efficient and helping communities grow their economy to better the quality of lives.

We provide the following items to our porters and cooks for free: Working insurance, Jacket, sun hat, warm hat, t-shirt, pants, hiking boots, comfortable duffle bags, canteen, girdle for protecting their spine, sleeping bags, mattress.

Our porters are what make everything look seamless and smooth. They have your tent ready before your arrival in your tent and most importantly they significantly lighten that camping gear load.

The Best food on Inca Trail

This is where youth comes in handy. Our chefs are fully trained to provide the most scrumptious, abundant and simply mouthwatering meals in the outdoors with limited equipment. Our chefs prepare the best of fusion cooking that includes Peruvian and International dishes, using organic local and exotic ingredients. Our chefs are very versatile, serving even better specialty dishes for those with food allergies and specific dietary requirements. It has been a highlight for a majority of our hikers and we have yet to disappoint a trekker. Enjoy a complete and immersive culinary experience while trekking through the rugged Andes Mountains.

The Best Camping Equipment

Enjoy a good night sleep in our 4 season igloo waterproof, spacious and professional EUREKA tent. All our tents are 4 person tents. ONLY 2 people will sleep in each, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bag. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking poles so you don’t have to bring the dirt inside. We also bring our own portable camping toilet, so you can use our clean facilities instead of the ones provided by the government. Our dining tent is spacious, with room to hangout during meal time and get to know your fellow hikers and guide.