Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu

When you search ‘Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu’ on google, you will find thousands of Peruvian tour operators offering this hike. And why not, the Inca Trail hike is on top of every traveler’s to-do list in Peru. Also, unlike any other Peruvian hike, you can only do the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu through a guided tour.

What makes it the most sought-after hike, is the reward of witnessing the ever-stunning Machu Picchu at the end. This Incan sacred site and wonder of the world is said to be was built in 1450 AD for the Incan emperor Pachacuti. It was discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham III and over time it became famous as the Lost City of Inca.

Built at an incredible elevation of 2500 meters above sea level, together with the surrounding mountains that stand might tall, Machu Picchu delights every visitor to no end. The site looks mystical when visited during dawn. As the cloud cover slowly disappears with the rising sun, you truly understand the beauty in front of you. The view of this citadel surrounded by a panoramic view of mountains at sunrise is the most sought-after Peruvian adventure.

Our blog talks more about the 2 day / Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu and what to expect from your trip. If you have just started planning your Peru trip, we recommend starting from these two articles: Why Peru should be your next travel destination and our complete 2+ weeks itinerary for Peru.

We tourists in the current age are spoilt with options to visit Machu Picchu. The most famous one is the 4-day trek, also called the Classic Inca Trail hike. There are 1-day and 2-days trek also available, called the Short Inca Trail hike. The Salkantay trek is 4 to 6 days long hike is fairly difficult. And then there is an easy option for non-hikers as well i.e. to take a 30 mins bus ride from Aguas Calientes.

The Classic Inca Trail hike sells out 6 months in advance. If you haven’t planned well in advance or don’t have a lot of time in Peru and you are really interested in hiking, the Short Inca Trail hike is your best bet. You will still get the authentic Inca Trail experience, covering lesser distance and elevation Inca Trail experience. You will also get the unique opportunity of enjoying both sunset and sunrise at Machu Picchu.

As only guided tours are allowed for the Inca trail hike, there are too many tour agencies offering a multitude of options. We suggest shopping around a bit, before booking a tour operator. After much research, we went with Inkas destination, a reasonably priced and well-organized tour operator. Check out their website for more details on the treks.

Day 1 of the Short Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

On day 1 you will hike from a point called Kilometer 104 to Machu Picchu. Yes, you heard us right, you cover the entire 12km hike in just one day.

Your day starts early, as you will travel from your hotel in Cusco to the train station in Ollantaytambo. Then you take a one and half hour train ride to kilometer 104, from where your hike will start. After a quick check at the checkpoint, you will walk towards the first stop at Chachabamba archaeological center. From there you will gradually ascend for about 3 hours before reaching the next pit stop at Wiñay Wayna archaeological site. This hike is a little challenging as you are hiking with the sun directly hitting you. You will have lunch here and then proceed towards the Sun Gate.

The third leg of the hike is about 1 and half hours long and is relatively flat. This is the easier part of the hike as you will walk through the shaded rain forest. At Sun Gate you will get the first view of Machu Picchu before proceeding towards the ruins. Chances are, Machu Picchu will be absolutely empty bar a few hiking groups and loads of llamas roaming around.

After you have spent some time marveling at Machu Picchu, you will take a bus to Aguas Calientes town to rest for the night.

Also read out Guide to Peru’s Sacred Valley

Short Inca Trail hike — Just off 104km train stop

Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu — First ray of sunshine at Chachabamba archaeological center

Day 2 of the Short Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

On the second day, you will need to wake up early again, to catch a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. The aim is to reach Machu Picchu at opening hours i.e. 6 am before sunrise. After sunrise, the tour guide will give a 2 hours tour of the site.

After the tour, you will have a little free time to explore the site before returning to Aguas Calientes. You can ask the tour operator to book tickets for the last train back to Cusco. That way you have some time to get lunch and explore this small village.

What to carry for your hike

You will need to bring the below items with you for the hike.

Original Passport – This is a must and will be checked at the beginning of this hike and at the entrance to the site.
Good pair of hiking shoes – You will need a good pair of hiking shoes for this hike and any other hike like the rainbow mountain or Laguna 69 in Peru.
Clothing for all kinds of weather conditions – Be prepared, and bring a warm jacket and a raincoat. You never know how the weather will turn that higher altitude.
Sun cream and hat – Since part of the hike will be in full sun, at a higher altitude, you need to protect yourself from getting sunburnt.
Insect repellant – This is also a must as part of the hike will be through the rainforest.
Toilet Paper – There aren’t many places, where you can go to relieve yourself while on the hike. The only toilet we found was after Wiñay Wayna and it wasn’t very clean for that matter. So, it’s a good idea to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer on the trip.
Backpack – You will need to carry a change of clothes for the next day with you on the hike. Also, you will need to carry your own lunch pack and water provided by the tour operator.

Top tips for your time at Machu Picchu

Here are some of our top tips, based on our experience at Machu Picchu. Many people aren’t aware of the one-way system at the site among other things, so read on for more details.

Entering Machu Picchu

If you aren’t hiking and traveling independently, you can buy your tickets on the official website. However, you will need to hire a local guide to enter the site.
Since 2019, stricter rules were put in place while inside Machu Picchu. It is now a one-way system i.e. you need to follow a fixed route and you can’t retrace your path. Also, once you are outside the site you cannot reenter.
Machu Picchu has only recently reopened (Nov 2021) after it was closed in March 2020 due to Covid’19 pandemic. Since then, there are stricter rules in place and these rules are here to stay. You need to enter the site at your allocated time, else you won’t be allowed entry. The group size has also been reduced now.
Eating is not allowed inside and there are no restrooms as well. If you need to use the restroom, make sure you do it before entering the site.
Also, tripods are not allowed on the site. So, save yourself the hassle and don’t carry them on the hike.

Visiting Machu Picchu for Sunrise

We can’t stress enough, but visiting Machu Picchu for sunrise is absolutely worth it. Make sure you are on the first bus to the site. There will be a long queue at the bus stop, so remember to start queuing as early as possible.

The gates open at 6 am and everyone runs to the site to get the first glimpse of the beauty. So, even those few minutes between bus departure will make a huge difference. The earlier bus you are able to catch, chances are you will give a few additional minutes of uninterrupted beauty at the site.

Machu Picchu at sunrise — Before the sun hits Machu Picchu, it most likely will get covered by clouds

If possible, request your guided tour on day 1

If you are a smaller group, chances are that the tour guide will be more flexible with your itinerary. You can request the tour guide to provide the Machu Picchu tour on Day 1 after your hike. Sure, you will be tired by the end of the hike. But trust us, as this way you will be left with more time to enjoy Machu Picchu at your own pace on Day 2.

When we reached Machu Picchu in the afternoon, after the hike, it was hot with no shelter at the site. We spent a few minutes admiring the site and then took the bus down to the village. Since it was a one-way system when we visited, we regretted not having enough time to take photos on Day 2. Our tour guide gave us the option of doing the guided tour on the first day itself and we regretted not taking up on that offer later.

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Short Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu