The Short 2-day Inca Trail is a hiking route from Cusco. As its name suggests, it lasts two days. Take the last part of the trails built by the Incas (Qhapac ñan) to get to Machu Picchu. 

Hike about 11 kilometers from km 104 of the railroad to Aguas Calientes. On the way, it passes through the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñayhuayna. It is an excellent light option if you do not have the time or availability to make the 4-day Classic Inca Trail.

What is the Short Inca Trail?

The Short Inca Trail is a 2-day version that crosses the last kilometers of the Classic Inca Trail (4 days).

It starts at kilometer 104 of the train track that connects Ollantaytambo with Aguas Calientes (approximately 1 hour by train). Then the hike begins uphill for 13 kilometers until reaching Machu Picchu through the Puerta del Sol (Intipunku), just as the Incas did hundreds of years ago.

Because the Inca Trail travels trails built by the Incas (Qhapac ñan), no one can travel this route without a permit granted by the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Only tourism agencies manage this permit and offer visitors an all-inclusive tour.

What can buy the Short Inca Trail tour a few days or weeks in advance?

Route description

How is the Short Inca Trail?

The Short Inca Trail lasts 02 days, during which the following activities do carry out:

First day – The adventure begins with the trip (by minivan and then by train) to kilometer 104 of the railway to Aguas Calientes. The route starts there with a visit to the Inca site of Chachabamba. Then you walk 13 kilometers uphill until you reach Wiñayhuayna (archaeological site), where you have a ‘box lunch.’ Finally, you walk to Machu Picchu, where you take the bus to Aguas Calientes. In this town, the night does spend in a tourist lodge.

On the second day – You have breakfast at the tourist hotel very early. Then you go up to Machu Picchu by bus. In the Inca city, you will tour the constructions of the world’s wonders in the company of a tour guide. Finally, you return by bus to Aguas Calientes, taking the train to Ollantaytambo. Then, you return by minivan to the city of Cusco, where the adventure ends.

Tour guide and entrance to Machu Picchu

The 2-day Inca Trail tour includes a tour guide throughout the hiking tour. Shared tours include guidance in English or Spanish. Tour guides in another language hire a private service (exclusively for the tourist and his group of friends, family, or partner).

The entrance to Machu Picchu does also included in the Short Inca Trail tour. The ticket is ‘Machu Picchu Only.’ In other words, it only consists of a visit to the archaeological site. If you are looking for a complete adventure, you can choose the entrance ‘Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu’ or ‘Machu Picchu + Mountain.’ These last two options have an additional cost of approximately 85 dollars.

Lunch and hotel

The 2-day Inca Trail tour offers one breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It does not include breakfast on the first day and lunch and dinner on the 2nd. Day, What should note is that lunch on the first day is a ‘box lunch’ on the route (in Wiñayhuayna). At night, dinner does hold at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes. The following day (the second day), you have breakfast at the tourist hotel.

The tourist hotel included in the tour is a 2-star service with the necessary comfort and cleanliness at the tourist’s request; what can improve the hotel service to a better one (03 stars, 04 stars, or even 05 stars)? Of course, an additional payment does require for this superior service.

Other services included

The Short Inca Trail tour includes round-trip transportation (minivan and Expedition train). Likewise, the round trip ‘Consettur’ bus trip doe included. In addition to what is mentioned in the trip to the Inca Trail for two days, it does include a first aid kit and the ‘briefing’ service one day before the route.

Helpful tips for the Short Inca Trail

If you are lucky enough to go this route, do not forget to bring comfortable clothes for hiking and perfect shoes. Also, do not forget to bring a suitable backpack with snacks, rehydrating water, extra clothing, insect repellent, sunscreen, personal cleaning utensils, and a rain poncho.

You can purchase the tour online through a tourism agency. However, getting a day tour in the same city of Cusco (a few days in advance) is also possible.