Short Inca Trail + Machu Picchu 2 Days / 1 Night

This tour consists of a guided day hike and a day tour to Machu Picchu (2 days – 1 night). Joining the Inca trail at KM104, our route takes us into the heart of the majestic Andes through breathtaking vistas of the Andes mountains. It is also a great day hike for learning about the ancient Inca ruins and walking through the fascinating wild flora and fauna. This Short Inca Trail culminates with the arrival to the 7th World wonder ; Machu Picchu and 25 minute bus to the town of Aguas Calientes.  After the hike on day 1. You rest and relax overnight at your comfortable hotel room booked in advance by our team, dining together at the top Peruvian restaurant in town; Indio Feliz, while sharing stories of our hike and the excitement of the day to come.

On our second day, you will tour Machu Picchu with one of our top guides who are specially selected for their knowledge of Incan culture and history, so you can be assured of a fascinating and informative tour.

With all transfers and tickets booked in advance, we believe this tour offers the perfect combination of an authentic Peruvian hiking adventure and tour of Machu Picchu, making it an ideal Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike with our passionate local guides who have hiked the Inca trail more than 500 times and guided Machu Picchu more than 1000 times and love hiking as much as our guests
• Enjoy a night hotel in Aguas Calientes town
• Follow the original Inca trail and explore all the Incan sites while hiking
• Enter the most sacred city of the Inca, Machu Picchu, through the Sun Gate
• The scenic train ride back to Cusco will make the end of your trip memorable.
• Taste the great peruvian food at INDIO FELIZ restaurant

• Type of tour: Historical, guided trip, train ride, trekking, lodge-based
• Distance covered: 12 km (7.4 miles)
• Duration: 2 days / 1 night (Short Inca Trail 2 days – one-day hike and one day Machu Picchu tour)
• Lowest elevation: 2150m (7,053 ft)
• Highest elevation: 2670m (8,759 ft)
• Level of difficulty (1 to 10): 6-7  (10 being impossible)
• Group size: The group size for this hike is very important to guarantee the quality of our service by giving you personalized service, which is the reason we run with an average of 2 to 8  hikers. Could you imagine trying to hike silently along an isolated trail, carefully not disturbing shy wildlife, with 15 or 20 other travelers? Or walking in a remote area to explore the pristine wilderness with dozens of other tourists at your side? We know meaningful nature encounters must be undertaken in small groups, which also makes the trip flexible.
• Accomodation:  This hike includes one-night at HATUN INTI CLASSIC,  hotel in Aguas Calientes town in a double room occupancy. If you are a solo traveler, advise us to put you in a single room.
• Our guides:  Peru by Locals has a group of top guides among men and women who have a professional degree and receive refresher training every year. We invest in our guides because we believe they are the main ingredient of any trip.
• Location: This trip starts in Cusco city or Sacred Valley at your request. Make sure you stay in Cusco or Sacred Valley before the hike. Also, this hike does not need adjustment to the altitude since it is in a lower location so, sign up when sign  for any time you want to hike.
• Departures: This hike is operated by PERU BY LOCALS 100%. When you book the hike  with us, you go with us. We don’t rearrange it  we depart on any date you want. Join us and reach us for any questions you have on our 24/7 number +51 989585967 or email us at info@perubylocals.com

PRE-TRIP MEETING

At PBL, we believe it’s important that all of our guests get answers to last-minute questions they may have about the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (the itinerary, the challenges, what to bring, etc.) before we start the lifetime adventure. Your guide will provide a full pre-trek briefing at your Cusco hotel at 5:30 pm the day before the start of the hike.

DAY 1.  TRAIN RIDE TO 104

To ensure that we have plenty of daylight hours for the hike ahead and that we arrive at Machu Picchu in good time, we will collect you from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (the exact time will be confirmed at your pre-hike talk). Taking the 1.5-hour drive  from Cusco to the train station in Ollantaytambo, we join the train service that takes us to the trail head. The train journey of around 1.5 hours provides a unique perspective of the surrounding area. Carving along the valley floor, there are photo opportunities galore as we pass by majestic snow-capped peaks, eerie cloud forests, and traditional Andean villages.

Arriving at KM104, our path immediately takes us onto the Short Inca Trail, leading us away from the bustle of the train station and into the most beautiful mountain countryside, and the fresh Andean air.

The first half of our hike is a moderate 3-hour climb to the Incan ruins of Wiñaywayna, which is considered the most beautiful Inca ruins  along the Inca trail. Your guide will set the pace of the hike to suit the whole group, taking breaks to rest whenever needed. Wiñaywayna is a beautiful and well-preserved ruin on this section of the trail. Your guide will provide comprehensive history lessons about the site as you rest and take in the views. We will have prepared a boxed lunch for you, which we will enjoy around noon. The afternoon begins with a couple of hours hike that brings us breathless with anticipation to Inti Pinku or the “Sun Gate”. Nothing really prepares us for our first views of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas! Without question, one of the most famous ancient sites in the world, these are images that are instantly unforgettable. We will have plenty of time to take them all in. Our hike on the Short Inca Trail then concludes with a 40-minute downhill trail to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. Here our hike ends, followed by 25 minute  bus ride  to Aguas Calientes, which is an interesting town to explore.

Quick Facts

• Distance Covered: 12 km / 7.4 miles
• Walking Time: 6 to 7 hours
• Lowest Elevation: 2150m (7,053 ft)
• Highest Elevation: 2670m (8,759 ft)
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 2: MACHU PICCHU TOUR AND BACK TO CUSCO

Day 2 starts earlier. Your hotel will provide a buffet breakfast at 5am, so that we can take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu in a 25-minute journey. We enter the site for a fascinating tour for around 2 hours. The tour is guaranteed to bring the spirit and history of Machu Picchu to life. Your guide will pick a route that avoids the biggest tourist groups, ensuring that all of the best photo opportunities are covered.

After touring Machu Picchu, we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to collect your bags from your hotel. Taking the train back to Ollantaytambo train station around 3pm, for a 1.5-hour train ride where you will be met by one of our representatives who will transport you back to your hotel in Cusco or Sacred Valley. It is the perfect journey to relax and reflect on the experiences of the last 2 days.

OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS

Why Peru by Locals

• Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours, and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour
• We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
• We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
• Our staff consists of members who have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
• All the management and staff in Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
• Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
• We are committed to protecting our environment.
• We are committed to creating jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
• We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
• We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit
• We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to the education of those in need.
• Our trips are designed carefully to your needs and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length, and we offer a wide range of tours and treks. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
• Peru By Locals organizes worry-free trips for you to enjoy fully.

Peru small group specialists

Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography for all ages, whether you are traveling alone, with friends, in couples, or family. At Peru by Locals, there is not

Small groups are the best and the average tour or trek group is around 2 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.