Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 1 Day: The shortest version of the Inca Trail

We will pick you up from your hotel at 4:00 a.m. If you are staying in the Sacred Valley, we also offer pick-up. If you are in Cusco, we will drive for approximately one hour and thirty minutes to Ollantaytambo, where we will board the train to kilometer 104 (the trailhead). Here, you will need to show your passport, and the guide will show the necessary permits. Once we enter the Inca Trail, you will have time to use the restrooms and pack your backpacks. We will provide you with boxed lunches.

This trail will take us to the most beautiful section of the classic 4-day Inca Trail. We will pass through Inca sites, lush flora and fauna typical of this area, and enjoy incredible views of mountains and snow-capped peaks. Our trek begins at the archaeological site of Chachabamba and then continues to the impressive terraces of Wiñay Huayna before proceeding to the mystical site of the Sun Gate.

At Wiñay Huayna, we will enjoy a boxed lunch and then continue the trek through a lush green forest where you may see orchids and, if you are very lucky, some animals such as spectacled bears. After a couple of hours of hiking, we’ll reach the famous Sun Gate in the afternoon, where we’ll get our first magical view of Machu Picchu—a very special spot to take some memorable photos, definitely with fewer tourists. Then, after passing through the Sun Gate, we’ll continue our journey for 45 minutes until we reach Machu Picchu. Once there, we’ll have a 2-hour tour and then board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll catch the train to Ollantaytambo and then on to Cusco.

• Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Highest Altitude: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft
• Lowest Altitude: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
• Meals: Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel