Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
Ollantaytambo - After picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 am, we will drive to Ollantaytambo town, located in the Sacred Valley. Here we will board a train to the 104 Kilometer, the starting point of our adventure.
Chachabamba - We will leave the train at Kilometer 104. After passing the security checkpoints we will start our hike at around 8:00 am.
Our first stop will be at the Chachabamba ruins. During Inca times, Chachabamba was a temple dedicated to the water. Due to its strategic position on the Inca Trail, this place was also used to guard the entrance to Machu Picchu.
After taking a short tour of Chachabamba, we will continue our hike for around 3 hours, until we reach a nearby waterfall.
Winay Wayna - We will take a short rest near the waterfall. Then we will walk until we reach the Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna.
Wiñay Wayna is a Quechua expression that means “Forever Young”. The site consists of two main sectors, which are connected by a long stone stair. The lower sector is the largest, but both sectors have agricultural terraces and stone buildings.
We will have lunch at Wiñay Wayna, and then we will walk the final segment of the trek.
Machu Picchu - After leaving Wiñay Wayna, we will arrive at the Inti Punku or “Sun Gate” of Machu Picchu. During the Inca era, Inti Punku was the most important entrance to the citadel. It was reserved just for the ruler class.
Nowadays, Inti Punku is the first part of Machu Picchu that travelers see when they walk on the Inca Trail. This point also constitutes a great spot for admiring Machu Picchu, given its height.
Aguas Calientes - After spending some time near Inti Punku, we will take a bus to Aguas Calientes town. There, we will take to your hotel. You will have plenty of time to relax and prepare for the next day.
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Machu Picchu - On our second day, we will explore the citadel of Machu Picchu. After waking up early, we will take a short bus ride to the citadel. Once there, our guides will assist you at the security checkpoints. Then our two hours guided tour will begin.
Machu Picchu is an impressive Inca monument built in the middle of the southern jungles of Peru. The real purpose of Machu Picchu is still unclear, however historians think that the citadel was a religious sanctuary, due to its remote location.
After the tour, you will have free time to explore the citadel. If you have purchased tickets to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, our guides will take you to their respective entrances.
Finally, after exploring Machu Picchu we will return to Aguas Calientes, and then we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo. Once there, we will drive back to Cusco.
- Bus tickets
- Inca Trail Permit and Machu Picchu entry
- Train tickets
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Private transport to starting point
- First-aid kit and oxygen available
- Bilingual tour guide (English-Spanish)
- Pre-trip briefing
- Domestic flights
- Cusco and Sacred Valley tours
- Breakfast on the first day
- Personal items like individual gear, sleeping bag, medicines, laundry, telephone calls, etc.
- Travel Insurance
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu Mountain (optional)
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu Mountain (optional)
The Short Inca Trail offers an opportunity for those with limited time to journey through a portion of the iconic Classic Inca Trail. Whilst the full Inca Trail cannot be completed in a single day, it enables you to discover the magnificent Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna ruins. Moreover, you’ll gain entrance to Machu Picchu via the famed Inti Punku, offering a peerless viewpoint to witness the splendor of Machu Picchu as the sun dips below the horizon.
If you cancel at least 4 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
