- A.h. Arahuay LL - 1, Cusco, Perú.
- machupicchuperutravel@hotmail.com
Okay, so everyone knows the Classic Inca Trail, right? It’s like, on a million bucket lists. But what if you wanna see Machu Picchu without that whole four-day hiking commitment? Good news! There are some really great other ways. One of them is this Short Inca Trail. It actually uses the same paths as the Classic one for a bit, and the end part? Totally the same. The big difference is you’re only really hiking for one full day. Plus, you get to sleep in a comfy hotel instead of a tent. And you still get a whole day to check out the Machu Picchu ruins. Not bad, huh?
This short version, it’s a fantastic choice if you’re a bit tight on time, or maybe watching the budget. Or hey, maybe you’re just not feeling up to the whole fitness challenge of the full Inca Trail. Totally fine! You still get all the amazing bits of the classic trek. That first peek of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate – wow! The incredible Andes views, those cool Inca ruins, and that awesome feeling when you finally walk into Machu Picchu. But, you don’t have to trek for four days or sleep in a tent. Pretty sweet deal.
Alright, so for the Short Inca Trail, you’ll be up early for a bus and then a train ride from Cusco. After that, it’s a hike – uphill, for about three to four hours – to get to these amazing Inca ruins called Wiñay Wayna. You’ll have your packed lunch there. Then, you keep going for another couple of hours until you hit Intipunku, that’s the Sun Gate. And boom! Your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. So cool. From there, the path goes down for about an hour and a half to reach the ruins. But, instead of going right into Machu Picchu then, you hop on a bus to Aguas Calientes, a town nearby. You’ll stay in a hotel there for the night. Next morning, it’s back to the ruins for a proper guided tour. Later that afternoon, on day two, it’s the train and bus back to Cusco, and you’ll get in by the evening.
Besides just, you know, soaking in beautiful Andean views all day (which is awesome!), there are some really interesting spots on the Short Inca Trail. Your guide will point out cool plants and animals, plus some Inca ruins like Chachabamba, Choquesuysuy, and the Inca terraces at Inti Pata. After you get through the toughest bit of the hike – that’s the three-hour uphill part – you’ll make it to Wiñay Wayna. Man, these are some of the most gorgeous Inca ruins in Peru! They’re built on this super steep hillside, and you’ll see all sorts of terraces, baths, and even waterfalls. Pretty incredible.
Look, it’s a pretty long day of hiking, and yeah, it’s at high altitude. But it’s definitely doable if you’re in reasonably good shape. You’ll always have some folks who walk faster and some who are a bit slower in the group, that’s normal. Your guide, they’ll sort of adjust the pace so everyone’s comfortable. The hardest part of the day? That’s the first three hours, going uphill pretty steeply from the Urubamba River up to Wiñay Wayna. Oh, and if you really don’t like heights – like, serious vertigo – this trail might not be the best one for you. Just a heads up.
So, the Short Inca Trail starts at about 2,000 meters (that’s around 6,560 feet). Then it climbs up to 2,700 meters (about 8,860 feet) at the Sun Gate. After that, you go down to Machu Picchu, which sits at 2,400 meters (around 7,870 feet). Your guides will have basic first aid stuff with them, but just so you know, you’re in pretty remote mountain areas, so there aren’t any fancy medical places nearby.
The Short Inca Trail runs from a place called Chachabamba – it’s at km 104 by the Urubamba River – all the way to Machu Picchu. The distance is about 14 kilometers (that’s roughly 8.7 miles). On that first day, you’ll be walking for about seven hours in total. Don’t worry, it’s broken up into three main parts, and you get plenty of breaks. Then on the second day, you’ve got most of the day to wander around the ruins before you catch the train and bus back to Cusco in the afternoon.
Good question! Your entrance tickets for the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary and the Short Inca Trail itself? Yep, they’re included. So are your transfers. Getting to the start of the trail is by bus and train, that’s covered. The bus ride from Machu Picchu down to the train station, and your return trip to Cusco on the Expeditioner train – all in. When you get back to Cusco, we’ll get you to your hotel. You’ll also get a packed lunch for the hike. If you want extra snacks for the trail, best to buy them in Cusco beforehand. Oh, and lunch on the second day isn’t included – you can grab that at a restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
Weather-wise, April to October is usually pretty nice. Days are generally warm and a bit humid, think around 20-25 °C (that’s 68-77 °F). Night-time temps hover around 15 °C (about 59 °F). The dry season is roughly March to November, but the weather can be a bit more up and down then. Rainy season is December to February – and yeah, it can really pour down then. But honestly? It can rain any time of year up there. For more details, probably best to check out our page on the “Best Time to Visit Peru.”
Super important: please, please make sure you have good medical insurance for the Short Inca Trail. Most of your luggage, you’ll just leave it at your hotel in Cusco. For the trail itself, all you need is a daypack. That’s for your lunch, a water bottle, and whatever else you need for the day. We definitely suggest packing a change of clothes, just in case it rains while you’re hiking – it happens!
Here’s a quick list of what to bring:
Hmm, good question. If you love the idea of actually walking to Machu Picchu, but the thought of a four-day hike is a bit much, then our Short Inca Trail is a really great option. Honestly. But, if you’re dreaming of that full-on camping experience, trekking through amazing scenery for four whole days, then you should totally go for the Classic Inca Trail. It’s a classic for a reason, right? Can’t miss it if that’s what you’re after.
Oh, for sure! Hiking isn’t the only way. You can take a train ride right through the Andes – the views of those snowy peaks are just stunning as you go down into the beautiful Urubamba Valley. Or, if you want something a bit fancy, there’s the luxury Sacred Valley train. It’s this charming old-style train with an observation car, an outdoor deck, and even a posh dining car where they serve three-course meals. Nice! And if you want another trek that’s not quite as busy as the Inca Trail, the five-day Salkantay Trek is an amazing choice. It’s more for folks looking for something a bit different, more off-the-beaten-path. You go over mountain passes and through high-altitude jungles, and it kind of brings you to Machu Picchu through the back door. Super cool.
