2 Day Short Inca Trail Hiking Holiday in Cusco Region, Peru
Peru Hiking Holiday
Short on time? Peru Hike can work with your schedule to provide you with the same experience in a shorter time! This is simply the second half of the four-day Inca trail trek.
Highlights
- Daily hikes
- Visit archaeological site, temples, and Incan Bridge
- Explore Wiñay Wayna, Machu Picchu, and Puerta del Sol
- Incredible landscapes along the route
- Experienced guide
- 1 night accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Intermediate
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (US$ 20 per person)
Accommodation
You will share a double or triple room with your friend/s, partner, or other participants.
Program
- Maximum altitude: 2720 meters / 8924 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
Peru Hike will take you by bus and train to the starting point of the trek and then make your way by foot to the town of Aguas Calientes at Machu Picchu’s base. The two-day tour is well worth it and far more rewarding than simply taking the train all the way there as you can pause to enjoy your beautiful surroundings before ascending to the ruins. Many of their clients do not have the time to spend four days trekking along the fantastic and historic Inca Trail. This is why they offer the trek a two-day option as well.
They want to work with you to give you a hike that is personalized to your schedule and needs. This tour is for those looking for adventure, excitement, and a greater understanding of Peruvian history and culture. They welcome all individuals who are willing to adventure with them and have the experience of a lifetime. In addition to this, you will spend the night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes instead of camping. On both, however, you will get to see the incredible natural beauty and unique historical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Culture of Peru is the entity in charge of regulating the use of the Inca Trail and issuing entry permits. To access the Inca Trail, you must have a permit from the Ministry of Culture that matches the information in your passport exactly: name, passport number, nationality, and age. Only officially licensed tourism agencies can secure these permits, which are not transferable under any circumstances.
If you want to change the date of your excursion you have to make sure that there are spaces available on the new date and buy a new permit. There are rules of the Government of Peru that you all must follow. If there are no permits available for the date you want, there are other incredible options to walk to Machu Picchu. They will be happy to find the perfect excursion for you.
Why take the short two-day Inca trail?
This package allows you to visit the most beautiful archaeological site on the route, Wiñaywayna, while heading to the magical citadel of Machu Picchu. The world-famous Inca Trail is considered one of the best five treks in the world. Travel through the mystery of cloud forests, feel the power of majestic snow-capped mountains, and discover ancient archaeological sites.
Feel the powerful energy of one of the 7 Wonders of the World which is the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. This route is designed for travelers who do not have much time, but who want to enjoy the best of the traditional Inca Trail and a comfortable night’s rest in a hotel. You will cover 16 kilometers / 10 miles so this route is suitable for travelers of all ages or to enjoy as a family.
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - Ollantaytambo - KM 104 - Machu Picchu
Your adventure begins very early. They will pick you up from your hotel’s door at 4:00 a.m., and you will travel for approximately one and a half hours to Ollantaytambo. There you can make any last-minute purchases. You will head to the train station and board the train at 6:10 a.m. You will observe how the sun covers the immense Andean mountains in gold while the train crosses vast fields of cultivation and follows the Urubamba River’s course until reaching Km 104, the starting point of your trek.
There, they will give you a snack that you can enjoy in the middle of the route to recover your energy, and you will have a small orientation meeting to go over the last details. You will start your walk on the same path as the classic Inca Trail, surrounded by vegetation and always under the gigantic sacred mountains’ watchful eye. After walking for three hours, you will arrive at the most surprising archaeological site on the entire route (not including Machu Picchu, obviously), the Wiñay Wayna complex (meaning ‘always young’ in Quechua) located at (2,650 meters / 8,694 feet).
Most hikers do not stop here to be amazed by its exquisite architecture. You will discover a ritual water source, temples dedicated to nature’s forces, and beautiful agricultural platforms. Wiñay Wayna is the perfect place to learn a little more about the impressive history of the Incas. Again, take time to relax, be silent, and connect with Mother Earth through birdsong or the wind’s refreshing touches. A little further, you will see the camps where the people who do the classic Inca Trail spend the night.
You will have time to eat your delicious box lunch provided for your company, fill your stomach, and recharge your energies. You will continue your tour and walk to Puerta del Sol from where you will see, for the first time, the impressive architecture of Machu Picchu. The landscape seems as though it has come out of a dream. It is a magical place built by thousands of ancient Peruvians who have withstood the test of time, and it appears imposing right in the middle of the mountains and the start of the deep Amazon jungle.
Take the opportunity to capture some incredible photos and honor the memory of those who, through their deep relationship with nature, could lift such a wonder. You still have a long way to go until you reach the citadel itself. At that time, tourists will have already started to leave Machu Picchu, and you will be able to enjoy the magical golden light of sunset falling on those immense stone walls with tranquillity.
However, the best will come the next day. You will take an alternate path that will take you to the exit. There you will board a bus to the small city of Aguas Calientes where your hotel is located. Before you can rest comfortably, you will enjoy a delicious dinner in the town’s best restaurant. Try to get to bed early as you have to wake up before the sun rises.
- Meals: Snacks, lunch, and dinner
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Walking distance: 9 kilometers / 5.59 miles
- Minimum elevation: 2,040 meters / 6,693 feet
- Highest elevation: 2,720 meters / 8,924 feet
Day 2: The most important day - Machu Picchu - Cusco Hotel
After a well-deserved night of rest, the day you have waited for so long has arrived: today, you will stroll through the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu’s mysterious streets. Your day begins at dawn. You will board a bus that will take you for around 25 minutes to the Inca Citadel entrance, and you will enter just before the sun begins to paint this special place in gold. In Machu Picchu, you will take a guided tour for two hours, and then you will have plenty of time to explore Machu Picchu or feel free to climb up to Huayna Picchu (Be sure to book these tickets in advance).
Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than six hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes to catch the train at 4:22 p.m. (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up your group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 8:00 p.m. Rest your feet and your body now because they can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Walking distance: 6 kilometers / 3.72 miles
- Machu Picchu Site elevation: 2,430 meters / 7,972 feet
- Huayna Picchu Mountain elevation: 2,720 meters / 8,924 feet
- Machu Picchu Mountain elevation: 3,000 meters / 9,843 feet
Briefing or informative meeting
All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Peru Hike offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there, you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you will put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that will not be in your day pack.
Luggage storage
During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at the office (you can organize a briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge. Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Do not leave items of value with your bags; please put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Peru Hike can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it is in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. They strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Return to Cusco
Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but everything is included in your tour. In Machu Picchu, you will board a bus that will take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to your arrival. In Aguas Calientes, you will board a train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you are on the platform 30 minutes early.
The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes two hours. Once you arrive at the station, your representative, identified with the Peru Hike clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Plaza San Francisco, in Cusco. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Plaza San Francisco takes two hours. In San Francisco, depending on your hotel’s location, they will take you to a smaller car from the company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel in Cusco.
Group tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of their tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, they will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by their operations department. Your safety is their highest priority and their decisions will be made to protect it.
Location
The holiday will take place in Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Peru.
Food
You will be served daily vegetarian and vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
What's included
- Program
- 1 night accommodation
- 1 breakfast
- 1 lunch
- 1 dinner
- Pre-departure briefing
- English and Spanish-speaking experienced guide
- Medical kit with first-aid kit
- Customer service 24/7
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu circuit (1 or 2)
- Entrance ticket to Inca trail hike
- Private transportation from Cusco to Ollantaytambo train station
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to KM 104 Chachabamba
- Bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco
- Extra oxygen
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
- Tips for the staff
- Additional costs or delays out of control of the management
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport
75 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.