2 Day Inca Trail Hike – Short Inca Trail Machu Picchu

We will start our first day with an early morning pick-up from your accommodation in Cusco at around 0430 AM. We will board a private bus that will take us on a scenic 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo. It is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Upon arriving in Ollantaytambo around 5:30 AM, we’ll have a quick breakfast. After breakfast, we will board the train at 6:10 AM. This train journey will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. It covers a distance of 43 kilometers (27 miles) to reach Km 104 (2,100 meters or 6,890 feet above sea level).

We’ll disembark the train at Km 104 at around 7:55 AM, where we’ll begin our hike. The first stop on our trail is the archaeological site of Callacancha. We’ll spend about an hour exploring this fascinating site before continuing on our trek.

After leaving Callacancha, we’ll hike for approximately 3 hours. We will be ascending around 600 meters (1,968 feet) to reach the breathtaking Inca ruins of Wiñay Wayna. We’ll break for lunch at Wiñay Wayna around 1:00 PM and then spend time exploring the magnificent terraces and structures.

Once we’ve soaked in the beauty of Wiñay Wayna, we’ll resume our hike around 2:30 PM. We will be heading towards the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), which stands at 2,720 meters (8,924 feet) above sea level. The hike to the Sun Gate will take about 2 hours. Upon reaching there at around 4:30 PM, we’ll be rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of Machu Picchu.

After capturing unforgettable photos of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, we’ll start our descent. We will be leaving around 5:00 PM towards Aguas Calientes. This will take approximately 30 minutes. 

Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes around 6:30 PM, we’ll check into our accommodations. Later in the evening we will enjoy a well-earned dinner. You will then get a good night’s rest in anticipation of visiting Machu Picchu on the following day.

On the second day of the tour, we’ll rise early to prepare for our visit to the world-famous citadel. We’ll leave our accommodations in Aguas Calientes around 4:00 AM and make our way to the bus station. 

Boarding the first bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 AM, we’ll embark on a 30-minute drive. We will be ascending 400 meters (1,312 feet) up a winding road to the entrance of the archaeological site.

Upon arriving at Machu Picchu around 6:00 AM, we’ll start our guided tour. We will begin by exploring the incredible Inca ruins for approximately 2 hours. Our knowledgeable guide will lead you through the citadel. You will understand the insights and stories about the history and significance of the site. 

During the tour, you will witness the impressive stonework, terraces, temples, and plazas. You will understand why this is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage site. After the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore on your own. You can even climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for an unparalleled view of the surrounding landscape.

Once we’ve completed our time at Machu Picchu, we’ll head back down to Aguas Calientes by bus. You’ll have some time to relax, grab a bite. You can also pick up any souvenirs before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. 

The train ride will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. We will transfer to a private bus for the final leg of our journey. We’ll arrive back in Cusco by 9:00 PM. This will be  bringing our unforgettable Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu adventure to a close.