This Short Inca Trail hike is perfect for those who want to get a taste of the Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu in a shorter amount of time. It includes tickets, transport, accommodation, and dinner, and features many of the traditional Inca ruins and magnificent mountain views, as well as some lesser-known ruins and a waterfall.
The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek is one of our most popular treks, as well as incorporating many of the highlights of the Classic Inca Trail, it is completed in a much shorter amount of time! This makes it perfect for those explorers who want to experience this world-famous trail, as it is one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. However, you only have a limited amount of time in the area.
In addition to many of the traditional Inca ruins and magnificent mountain views that the Inca Trail is famous for, our route also takes us to the lesser-known ruins of Chachabamba, and past the most magnificent waterfall this area has to offer. It really is a short itinerary that packs a punch!
Our short Inca Trail trek includes all tickets and transportation, overnight accommodation in a nice and comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes, and dinner at an excellent local restaurant (drinks not included).
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We will pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (about 4 a.m.) and then transfer you in one of our mini-vans to the train station at Ollantaytambo.
Our train journey lasts about an hour before making a short stop at KM 104, the trailhead of the Short Inca Trail and the start of our adventure to Machu Picchu.
Passing through the Inca Trail checkpoint we immediately see our first archaeological center, the magnificent ruins at Chachabamba. These ruins were one of the last shelters used by the Inca pilgrims before they reached Machu Picchu. Used for generations as a religious and administrative center, the site features several fascinating buildings, and our expert guide will be delighted to share the history with you.
Our trek begins with a steady ascent for around 3 hours climbing the original Inca stone steps. The ecosystems in this area are quite unique, and your guide will help you identify the different types of flora and fauna along the trail.
After passing the most spectacular waterfall we arrive at the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Named after an orchid and meaning “Forever Young” in Quechua the site provides incredible views far across the Sacred Valley. We will enjoy a well-deserved lunch at the top of the ruins or somewhere around it, taking in the breathtaking scenery around us.
Wiñay Wayna is a fascinating place to visit as it is built into a mountainside and features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different types of crops. During our tour you will visit a temple with 7 windows that was dedicated to the rainbow as well as observing the incredible engineering of the water channels that still function today.
Once the tour is complete we continue our hike for another 1-2 hours on a relatively flat section of trail. At around 4 p.m. we will reach the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. This is the original entrance to the sacred city, and is called “Intipunku” in Quechua. Intipunku provides our first views of the magnificent Machu Picchu. It is difficult to put into words the impact of seeing this ancient, sacred and world-famous site for the first time. Suffice to say you will want to have your cameras at the ready!
After taking some time to enjoy the views, and take those amazing photos, we make a final short walk down to the main entrance of the ruins from where we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes.
Arriving in Aguas Calientes we will take you to check in at your hotel. The town of Aguas Calientes is a thriving tourist town, with plenty of hustle and bustle to keep you entertained! The natural hot springs in town are also an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if there is time available before dinner.
Dinner will have been arranged at one of the local restaurants in town, and we will all dine together, sharing the excitement about the day ahead.
The hotel will prepare an early breakfast for you before we meet to take a very early bus (5:30 a.m.) 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 a.m. (the price for hiking Huayna Picchu Mountain is not included in the trek price). If you are not climbing the mountain you will have some time to be at Machu Picchu on your own before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes we board the expedition train to either Poroy or Ollantaytambo. From the train station we will transfer you in our minivan to your Cusco hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket, but is generally between 7 and 8 p.m., when your adventure on the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will be complete.
We want to ensure that you are fully prepared for your trek, so we provide a comprehensive pre-trek briefing at our office in Cusco. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the trek itinerary.
Pre-trek briefings are typically scheduled for the morning or afternoon of the day before your trek starts. If your trek starts on a Monday, the briefing will be scheduled for the Saturday before. Please keep this in mind when making your travel arrangements to Cusco, and make sure to arrive in time for the briefing.
We have you covered! We will email you as items in your order ship, or if there are updates on the status of your order. Can’t find the email?Click here to check the status of your order.
We have you covered! We will email you as items in your order ship, or if there are updates on the status of your order. Can’t find the email?Click here to check the status of your order.
We have you covered! We will email you as items in your order ship, or if there are updates on the status of your order. Can’t find the email?Click here to check the status of your order.
We have you covered! We will email you as items in your order ship, or if there are updates on the status of your order. Can’t find the email?Click here to check the status of your order.
We have you covered! We will email you as items in your order ship, or if there are updates on the status of your order. Can’t find the email?Click here to check the status of your order.
