Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 2-Day Adventure with Night in Aguas Calientes
5.0
278 Ratings
Embark on a 2-day adventure on the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Explore archaeological sites, hike through stunning landscapes, and enter the lost city via the famous Sun Gate.
Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Cusco – Chachabamba – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

Winay Wayna - We collect you from your Cusco hotel early in the morning and then transfer you in our van to the train station at Ollantaytambo.
Our train journey lasts about an hour before making an unscheduled stop at KM 104, the trailhead of the Inca Trail and the start of our hike.
Passing through the Inca Trail checkpoint we immediately see our first archaeological center, Chachabamba. These ruins were one of the last shelters used by the Inca pilgrims before they reached Machu Picchu.
After some hours we arrive at Wiñay Wayna. Named after an orchid and meaning “Forever Young” in Quechua the site provides incredible views far across the Sacred Valley.
Once the tour is complete we continue our hike for another 1-2 hours on a relatively flat section of trail. At around 4:00 pm we will reach the Sun Gate.
Intipunku provides our first views of the magnificent Machu Picchu.
Arriving in Aguas Calientes we will take you to check in at your hotel.
Dinner will be in a local restaurants in town.

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Machu Picchu - The hotel will prepare an early breakfast for you before we meet to take a very early bus (5:30 am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu. As we climb gradually to the sacred city we should be lucky enough to see the magnificent sunrise over the Andes.
All of our guides are experts and enthusiasts in the history and legends of Machu Picchu, and so the 2-hour tour of the site will really bring the city to life for you. Of course, there will be plenty of time to take photos, of the city….and of the wild Llamas roaming the terraces!
If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu mountain, you will begin the hike at 10 AM (Huayna Picchu is not included in the trek price).
If you are not climbing the mountain you will have some time to explore Machu Picchu before you return to Aguas Calientes.
Upon arrival in AC we board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo we will transfer you in our van to your Cusco hotel.

What's Included
  • Tour guide
  • One night in a B&B in Aguas Calientes
  • Meals included: Lunch and Dinner
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (Day 1)
  • Round trip train tickets
What's Not Included
  • Hiking poles (can be rented from us)
  • Tips
  • Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu on day 2 (US $24).
Additional Information

The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu offers a feasible option for those with time limitations or preference for a less strenuous journey. The trail begins at the 104 Kilometer point of the Machu Picchu railway line, leading to two archeological sites, Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna. This hike further presents an opportunity to access the hidden Inca city through the legendary Sun Gate, offering the first view of the ancient ruins to the trekkers. A night’s stay in Aguas Calientes is included before waking up on the second day for a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(278 Ratings)
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Ritchiesaund
Jun 4, 2024
Amazing Experience! - We had the best time doing the short 2 day Inka trail tour of Machu Picchu. Our tour guide Lino was very informative, catered for our every need and was a great guy! The hotel and meals included were great and good value for money. We hope to do the longer tour with Action Peru Treks in the future!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps52621105730
Jun 4, 2024
Inca 2 day trek - fantastic experience - We had a fantastic time on our two day Inca trek; we thoroughly enjoyed the hike, seeing Inca ruins, walking the Inca steps, learning about the history of the Incas, Cusco and Peru, and of course the amazing sights of Machu Pichu itself. Doing all of this with Action Peru Treks meant we didn’t have to think or stress about all the different logistics and tickets. We were booked into a lovely hotel (Hatun Inti) where we had a private double en suite room. I really appreciated that through all meals my dietary request (vegetarian) had been catered for; our packed lunch on the trek and dinner in Aguas Calientes were delicious with lots of fresh veg. Roxner was super clear with information beforehand and quick to answer queries. I can’t write a review without mentioning our fantastic guide (and photographer!) Lino. Lino really made our trip, he was super knowledgeable, kind and passionate - it was great to learn from and generally spend time with him. Thank you Lino and Action Peru Treks! We had an unforgettable experience and can’t think of a single aspect we would want to change.
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Priyanka
Jun 2, 2024
Best experience in Peru- Thanks to Action Peru - This was my first time to Peru and I’m so glad Action Peru had my back. Roxner was great about communicating and answering any questions we had before the trip and our guide Lino was hands down the best guide we could have had. We did the Inca trail hike with him and he was very helpful every step of the way. His knowledge and pride in Inca culture shone through our conversations. I highly recommend Action Peru to anyone visiting Peru. They offer many unique services.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rdj258
Jun 2, 2024
Sacred Valley, Machu Pichu & Rainbow Mountain tour - My family, friends and I would like to thank Action Peru Treks for an amazing Peru trip that included the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the Rainbow mountain. The customer service from the team (especially Roxner) was outstanding, with clear communication and a genuine commitment to providing a wonderful experience. Roxner helped us create two itineraries that suited our friends and us as there were some things that we wanted to do independently. Our guides Lino and Christian were phenomenal. Both are passionate about the history of Peru and kept us well informed. They were attentive to our needs as we were traveling with a toddler and ensured we were comfortable at all times. Their professionalism, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the region made it a rich experience. We highly recommend Action Peru Treks for people looking to visit and explore the history and beauty of Peru!
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Elegance_800
Jun 2, 2024
Best local company .. - We did the short inca trail and extended sacred valley tour with action Peru . I would highly recommend this company to anyone . Look no further than Action Peru. Lino- our tour guide for sacred valley and Inca trek was the best . He was extremely knowledgeable and always very informative about the Incan history at each site we passed along the way. He also took hundreds of amazing pictures for us and gave us several tips for our hike. Lino is very passionate about what he does and took care of us like his family throughout the trip. Roxner - the owner of this company was always available to answer all our questions and modify our tour as we needed . He also provided us with a complimentary airport drop off . Frank - our guide to rainbow mountain literally held our hands to come down the steep mountain slopes.. and we couldn’t have done this adventure without his help. All the van/ car drivers we came across during our trip were extremely skilled. Action peru is a local company who only takes small groups of about 4 to 6 people which is fantastic as most other American/ euro tour companies take too many people in one group . It’s one of the best local company who prides itself on the model of providing educational opportunities to children in the local villages in rainbow mountain and sacred valley .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
391bnk
May 30, 2024
Action Peru Treks is awesome! - We had an amazing time on the short Inca trail package with Action Peru Treks. All we had to do was show up and everything from logistics, transport, food, and stay was taken care of by the awesome team. The hike itself though challenging was highly rewarding. We are very grateful to our guide Hipolito who gave us the most amazing explanation of the Inka and Andean people history throughout the hike and showed us flora and fauna unique to the Andes. He encouraged us, especially me, during the extra difficult stairs, and had a very positive and motivating attitude throughout. We had a very special tour of Machu Picchu the next morning, Hipo planned our morning in a way that ensured we could enjoy the site without a lot of crowds. We now have memories and pictures to last a lifetime. Action Peru Treks were very quick to answer our questions when we were first deciding which trail package to choose. They gave us all the information necessary to pack and be prepared for the hike. The week and night before the hike they gave us more information pertaining to the transportation from Cusco to kilometer 104. For the hike itself we were provided the most delicious vegetarian food that satisfied our hunger and gave us energy to keep going. We also had a very delicious celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes. We are very pleased with the whole trip and would love to do this again with this group!
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Seaside658831
May 29, 2024
Best trip to Peru - thanks to Action Peru - Action Peru is the perfect group to book tours in Peru. The planning and coordination was fantastic from roxner and during the hike day, our guide, Lino was very helpful, patient and easy to work with. The hike can be brutal for some people but Lino did a great job in supporting and planning for us. I highly recommend action Peru especially for first timers. They are fantastic for all group sizes.
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Carolineld7589hq
May 29, 2024
Stunning hike with an excellent guide - This trip was well organised. From the pick-up, the train ride, food - it was so pleasant if someone is in charge. You can enjoy your only task - the beautiful hike! Our guide HIPO was excellent. He was perfectly prepared, could answer all our questions, he was patient with everyone's pace - just a cool, fun, awesome guide. 100% recommended!
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X3956qwantoiner
May 29, 2024
The real Machu Pichu experience !! - I can’t see how my Machu Pichu expérience could have been better ! I usually never spend that much money for tours but the organization of those 2 days was so convenient that I only had to walk with my hands in my pockets without worrying of anything! Our guide HIPO was super friendly and very professional, he allowed us to get a great 3 hours tour of the site, revealing all the secrets of this magic place. I am for ever grateful ! Thank you HIPO and thank you Action Trek !
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Casey
May 18, 2024
A perfect adventure !! - Everyone at Action Peru Treks were so kind, fast to respond, and helpful. Our guide Edgar for the Machu Picchu 2 day trek was a wealth of knowledge, full of energy, and so friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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