Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 2-Day Adventure with Night in Aguas Calientes

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: 24 hours
Highlights

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

Wiñay Wayna - Guests are picked up from their Cusco hotel early in the morning and transported by van to the train station at Ollantaytambo. The train journey takes about an hour before making an unscheduled stop at KM 104, the starting point of the Inca Trail and the beginning of…

What's Included
  • Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket
  • Inca Trail Permit
  • Round trip train tickets
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on day 1
  • Tour guide
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
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).
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes
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…

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(318 Ratings)
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Ognjene2025
Jul 10, 2025
Short Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu - We had an incredible experience with Action Peru Treks on our 2-day, 1-night short Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu. Everything was well-organized and ran smoothly from start to finish. A special shoutout to our guide, Hipo — he was kind, knowledgeable, and professional throughout the entire journey. His passion for the history and culture of the region truly enhanced our experience and made it even more memorable. Highly recommend Action Peru Treks — and if you get Hipo as your guide, you’re in for a fantastic trip!
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Chris
Jul 5, 2025
Amazing Machu Picchu Experience with Christian Pena - We had an amazing trip to Machu Picchu with our family of five, including three young adults. Our guide, Christian Peña, was absolutely outstanding. He was incredibly organized, had a calm and positive demeanor, and communicated clearly throughout the journey. His deep knowledge of the trail and the history of Machu Picchu made the experience both smooth and enriching. Christian did a fantastic job assessing our group’s fitness level and thoughtfully tailored the pace and approach of the hike to suit everyone. His ability to read the group and adjust as needed made a huge difference in how enjoyable and memorable the trek was. There are many companies and guides to choose from, but the key to a great experience is the personality and quality of your guide. If you want a truly top-notch experience, we highly recommend asking for Christian Peña.
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Mollyi983
Jun 28, 2025
2D/1N just enough challenge and REWARD - Incredible, amazing, well worth the hike!!!! Our tour guide always Ali, he was knowledgeable on the Incan culture! The hike up to sunbathe was challenging (even for us David hikers from Oregon, US) but he made sure to give us plenty of times for rest. He was prompt at all pick up times and made sure we felt know and elk informed on all the information regarding history! There’s so much more to the 2D/1n like, I would do it again in a heartbeat - “Tupananchiskama”
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Nicktp6563yc
Jun 28, 2025
BEST Machu Picchu Experience - Our tour guide on this trip was Ali! He was very friendly, professional and informative with so much information. Felt very lucky to have him as our Tour Guide. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!! Tupananchiskama!
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Sebastiandeepa
Jun 22, 2025
A once in a lifetime experience… - This was a challenging trek but the payoff at the end makes it well worth it! The first view of Mach Picchu through the Sun Gate gives you such a feeling of accomplishment. Our experience was heightened by our fabulous guide Lino. He was so encouraging and so informative. As my son said, I think we had the best guide on the mountain! Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
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Andrewgg2915sx
Jun 4, 2025
Awesome Trip to Machu Picchu - I completed the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2D/1N) and found it to be a great experience. The route offered a good balance of physical challenge, scenic views, and historical significance. Along the way, we encountered beautiful landscapes and archaeological sites such as Wiñay Wayna. Our guide provided helpful context and shared background on the Inca culture and the natural surroundings. Arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate added a memorable dimension to the journey. Visiting the main site the following morning felt even more meaningful after approaching it on foot. The organization of the trip, including meals and logistics, was smooth and well-managed. I’d suggest this route for travelers seeking a more engaging approach to visiting Machu Picchu.
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Flyer740975
May 19, 2025
Great company and amazing experience - We had a wonderful experience with Wily Jones on the short Inca Trail and Sacred Valley tour. He was so knowledgeable and helped us get to places during times that less people were there which made the experiences even better! Wily loves his job, land and people which is demonstrated by the way he interacts with everyone. Roxner also did a wonderful job coordinating everything and answering all of my questions. I have no regrets using this company to help with my bucket list trip!
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Kathleen
Apr 23, 2025
Amazing Machu Picchu Girls Trip - Hippo was an amazing guide on our 2 day trip. He was so knowledgable and accommodating to our groups needs. The switchbacks going up the mountain were very challenging and Hippo ensured we all made it in the time needed. He also has so much information about the native culture, Machu Picchu and floral/vegetation. Thank you for a fantastic adventure!.
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Leslie
Apr 23, 2025
Machu Pichu girl trip - Hipo was a great guide- so knowledgeable about everything! Would def recommend this trip with him to do with friends or family.
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Benhf4781ag
May 26, 2025
Short Inca Trail Review | 8.5/10 - (M 33 : F 36 | Montreal) Our time on the short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, with Action Treks Peru was all around pretty great and we were not disappointed. Our guide, Nilton, took great care to be engaging and educational as well as providing space for independent experiences. Nilton has the knowledge of an experienced guide and was happy present alternative perspectives and entertain all kinds of questions regarding the cultural history of the area. Truly a great guy, caring individual and went above and beyond to ensure we got the most out of the experience. There were some logistical hiccups but everything was taken care of quickly and had no major impact on our experience. Everyone we interacted with at Action Treks Peru was incredibly kind and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $600
up to 15 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).