Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days

The short Inca trail to Machu Picchu is the best alternative for people who do not have much time, families with small children, people who are not used to long walks and who do not like camping. This incredible 2-day tour to Machu Picchu consists of a day of hiking with a night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes and a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the second day.

It is important; that you know that  there will be tourists with different walking paces and different languages ​​in your Inca Trail group. Our guides are highly experienced and will work to meet the needs of all of our tourists in a safe and friendly manner. However,  if you and your friends or family have the same level of fitness and you prefer to trek in a private group, contact us today to book a private service for your Inca Trail adventure!

Important; The first day of this trek includes a Box lunch (cold lunch) that generally consists of a sandwich, fruit and some cookies. As part of our commitment to ecological sustainability, your box lunch comes in a specially designed reusable cloth bag, which you can store at the end of your tour or return to your tour guide for recycling. Please note that you must bring your own box lunch during the trek. The bags are ideal to be placed in or on a backpack and weigh no more than two kilos when full

Short Inca Trail Itinerary to Machu Picchu 2 Days

DAY 1 CUSCO – KM 104 – HOT WATERS

The short Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu starts from the pick up at your hotel or hostel (4:00 am approx.) We will travel for an hour and a half to Ollantaytambo where we will stop for breakfast (not included in the price of the tour). After our stop we will drive you to the train station where you will board the train that leaves the Ollantaytambo train station heading to Km 104 (start of our walk). The train trip lasts an hour and a half, on this journey you will be able to appreciate beautiful landscapes and different ecosystems.

When you arrive at km 104 and then cross a suspension bridge to reach the checkpoint, you must present your passport or document with which you made your reservation. At the end of the respective controls we will start with the uphill walk for 4 hours until we reach the Inca Wiñaywayna site, which in Quechua means (forever young) Wiñaywayna has a height of 2680 meters above sea level and is considered one of the most attractive sites of this tour. . After your guided tour we will stop to eat our box lunch or snack.

After recharging our batteries, we will continue our walk for an hour and a half until we reach the Intipunku (Sun Gate) where you will be able to enjoy the first panoramic views of Machu Picchu.

Finally we will continue walking along the last section of the Inca trail until we reach the place where you can take the classic photo (postcard photo) with the ancient citadel. After this short break, we will go down to the main entrance, here we will get on the bus that will take us to Aguas Calientes to spend the night. Once we arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will have some time to relax in the hotel before your dinner and then plan the tour in the citadel on the last day of the tour.

• ➡ Tour Type : Hike, Adventure, Camping
• ➡ Travel distance : 10 kilometers
• ➡ Level of Difficulty : Moderate but can be difficult if you are not prepared for the walk

DAY 2 AYAPATA – WARMIWANUSCA – CHAQUICOCHA

This will be the most difficult and at the same time the most rewarding day of the Inca Trail, we will find spectacular Andean landscapes and local vegetation. We will start the day at 5:00 a.m. and after a good breakfast, we will begin the 4-hour climb to the highest point of the road, the Abra de Huarmihuañusca or “Paso de la Mujer Muerta” with a height of 4,200m. During this tour we will be able to appreciate that the vegetation is varied with native plants and trees such as Polilepys or Q’ueuña, which grow in the cloud forest at a height of 3,650m. After traveling the 4 hours of climbing, we will celebrate together having reached the highest point.

After a short break we will begin the descent for an hour and a half to the second point where we will have lunch (Pacamayo at 3,550m). After lunch we will start with the last part of the climb for 2 hours towards the Runkuraqay pass at a height of 3900m. Once at the pass and after a break we will continue the descent for 1 hour and a half until we reach our Cachi cocha camp (3600m).

• ➡ Distance to travel: 16 km
• ➡ Hike Time: From 9 to 10 hours including rest and stop for lunch
• ➡ Camp height: 3,600 meters above sea level.
• ➡ Difficulty: Difficult.
• ➡ Temperature: Cold and windy in the afternoon

Includes

✓ Professional guides and tourism certificates, university graduates and fluent in several languages, with knowledge of the Andean culture, prepared in first aid and rescue courses (trained to use the first aid kit, we have an oxygen balloon that they always carry with them).

✓ Transportation; We will pick you up from your hotel/hostel and transfer you to the Ollantaytambo train station. We use private buses and minivans; very comfortable and with all the security accessories according to the number of tourists, our driver has many years of experience and a transfer that will help you with whatever you need.

✓ One way train ticket to km 104, the place where you start your walk

✓ A snack and drink on the first day. It will be served after our guided tour in Wiñay Wayna.

✓ A private room for 2 people in Aguas Calientes (with private shower and bathroom.)

✓ A bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Caliente on the 1st day and 1 ticket up on the 2nd day.

✓ Train ticket and transportation back to Ollantaytambo at the end of your Inca Trail (Expedition class) and transportation back to Cusco.

Does not include

❌ Breakfast on the first day of the tour.

❌ Lunch on the last day after visiting Machu Picchu.

❌ Walking sticks (These can be rented at our office.

❌ Income for the thermal baths the cost is 20 soles (optional).

❌ (Bring swimwear and a towel.)

❌ Bus down to Aguas Calientes on the second day (You can buy the ticket if you want US$12. Or walking back down takes 45 minutes and you will have a complete experience)

❌ Lunch the second day.

❌ Drinks, snacks, or water

❌ Porter for this Inca trail

❌ Tips for your guide, it is optional.

What you need to take to the Short Inca Trail:

➤ We recommend that you take only what is necessary to enjoy your tour and leave the rest of your things at the hotel.

➤ The original passport or document with which you made the tour reservation, the authorities on the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are very strict and will not allow you  If you do not have them with you, you must bring an Original Passport or Identity Document, Cédula, Canet ISIS. The authorities do not accept any type of photocopy of the aforementioned documents.

➤ A personal backpack for the day that allows you to introduce all the things you will take with you, we recommend about 20 to 30 liters

➤ Appropriate clothing for hiking: waterproof and comfortable shoes for long walks, shorts and long pants, dry fit sports shirts, rain jacket or rain poncho.

➤ The use of a water bottle is mandatory throughout the  Inca Trail authorities will not allow the use or entry of plastic bottles

➤ A canteen with water for the first day of the trek (2 liters)

➤ Personal hygiene items a small towel, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, toilet paper, hand sanitizer gel. These last two items are very important.

➤ Personal medications, within this list also includes muscle relaxants, tablets for pain and blessed for scratches, blisters on the feet that can be generated after several hours of walking.

➤ Items to protect you from the sun and mosquitoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat or caps, and mosquito repellent.

➤ Extra battery for the camera

➤ Extra money in cash, for your personal expenses such as the first breakfast, lunch on the last day, those of the porters, cook, guide, and other eventualities.

Is KUNTUR’S ANDEAN ADVENTURES   a certified company to offer tours to the Camino a Machu Picchu?

Being part of CAMINOS DEL PERU E.I.R.L. All duly registered on the official website of the Peruvian Government: www.machupicchu.gob.pe.  We have the certified support to offer the services of the tour to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in its different varieties. It is important to know that all tourism companies that wish to be operators on the Inca Trail network to Machu Picchu must be certified and have an Inca Trail operator license granted by the government of Peru. This process is very rigorous and strict; not everyone who participates can be successful. This authorization is renewed every 5 years, our associated companies have the authorization of operator of the Inca Trail valid until March 2025, we have a team that is only in charge of reserving all the income for the Inca Trail, and the walks such as Salkantay, Lares and Inca Jungle so that you can enjoy your tour with all the necessary tranquility.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if you renew your passport or Document?

If you renew or change the number or names of your passport or documents after having made the reservation of the tour/hike, you must send us a photograph of the new passport or document; we will make the change with the authorities before you arrive in Cusco; the extra cost to make the change is $20 that will cover expenses in the change of Entrance to the Inca Trail, Entrance to Machu Picchu and train tickets. If you do not wish to pay the $20 for the corresponding changes, you must bring your new and old passport or document to show it to the authorities (Inca Trail, Entrance to Machu Picchu, train tickets). If you do not have the 2 passports, you will have to buy a new entrance to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and the train on your own, the costs could be around $100.

Are all the bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu included?

No, the first two bus trips (from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon of the first day; from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in the morning of the second day) are included, but a bus ticket for your final descent from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on the second day is not included. This ticket costs approximately $12.00. It is also possible to walk to the city, which takes about an hour.

Can you pick us up if we are staying in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo?

Yes, however Ollantaytambo is the best place to stay other than Cusco. If you stay in Ollantaytambo, you will be able to sleep a little longer because we will pick you up approximately 1.5 hours after the normal pick-up time in Cusco. However, please note that the pre-trip briefing can only be done in Cusco. Which you can request to be done in advance

What kind of hostel is reserved for this tour?

In Cusco: we will book at the Mama Simona, Hatun Quilla and Ecopacker hostels. These hostels offer comfortable beds, hot water for the bathroom, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

In Aguas Calientes; We will book at the Tambo Inn or/u Tambo B&B hostels. These hostels offer comfortable beds, hot water for the bathroom, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

NOTE: We guarantee the hostel reservation mentioned only if you make your reservation in advance. Otherwise, we may have to offer alternative accommodation.

Can I change the hostel for a hotel in Cusco and Aguas Calientes?

Yes, each traveler has their own expectations of accommodations. That is why we offer you the option to book your own independent hostel.

Book it yourself or have us book it for you.

If you wish to book your own hostel independently we will offer you a discount of 10 dollars per person on the price of the trip. You can use this money to pay for an alternative hostel.

Refund: If we do not manage or fail to make your reservation for the Inca Trail, the payment of your deposit will be 100% refunded.

Health and Safety: All our participants must inform us if they have or have had any illness that may affect their personal or group progress during the walk. They will also need to bring their own medications. We recommend that you visit your doctor before making your reservation if you have any health problems.

Where to store your things: You can leave or store the things that you will not take on the Inca Trail at the hotel or hostel where you are staying. Most of these establishments have warehouses where they will store your things. If you do not trust the place where you are staying, we will gladly store your belongings in our office.

Where to store your things: You can leave or store the things that you will not take on the Inca Trail at the hotel or hostel where you are staying. Most of these establishments have warehouses where they will store your things. If you do not trust the place where you are staying, we will gladly store your belongings in our office.

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