Short Inca Trail: Comfortably through the Andes to Machu Picchu

The wait is worth it!
The first day is a beautiful hike without much difficulty, but the views make the Inca Trail experience truly worthwhile.

On the second day of the Machu Picchu hike, we’ll have an early breakfast and take a bus up to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll see the Vilcanota River — the same one you saw on the first day.

Upon arrival at the citadel, you’ll present your passport at the third control point located at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Once check-in is completed, we’ll continue with a short hike leading to the site.

According to the updated Machu Picchu regulations for 2025 and 2026, the Inca Trail permit does not include the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. Therefore, when you book the Short Inca Trail, our sales department will reserve an additional ticket to explore Machu Picchu, based on the circuit availability at the time of your reservation.

If our sales department confirms Circuit 2 for Machu Picchu, your guide will lead you to the corresponding entrance gate, and you’ll begin your guided tour, exploring the entire Inca citadel.

Our tour guide will take you around the circuit for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, explaining the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the site. Along the way, you may see llamas, birds, and other native wildlife. After the tour, you’ll return to the main gate and take the bus down to Aguas Calientes.

If you want to make the most of your visit, we recommend booking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain in advance. These optional hikes allow you to climb above the citadel to take breathtaking panoramic photos. Huayna Picchu takes around 2 hours, while Machu Picchu Mountain takes about 3 hours. Please note that these hikes are not included in the guided tour and have an additional cost.

After finishing your mountain hike, we will continue the descent to Aguas Calientes. When you arrive, you’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo. Our representative will be waiting there to transfer you to Cusco. The two-day Inca Trail tour ends at your hotel, Airbnb, or near the main square, depending on your preference. During your pre-trek briefing, it’s very important to let us know where you would like to be dropped off. Otherwise, your guide can suggest the most convenient location.

Important note:

If Circuit 2 is sold out, our sales team will recommend Circuits 1 or 3 instead, and your guide will give you a private tour according the route.

• Pre-trek briefing with a Tour Guide;
• Transfer by private vehicle to the railway station;
• Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes Town (1 night);
• Inca Trail Permit and entrance fee to Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 1x breakfast, 1x box lunch, 1x dinner (please advice us in advance if you are a vegetarian; this option is for NO additional cost);
• Experienced bilingual Tour Guide;
• A shuttle bus round trip to Machu Picchu on the second day;
• A train round trip Machu Picchu;
• Transfer by tourist van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

• Breakfast on the first day and lunch in Aguas Calientes Town on the second day
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu Mountain ($80)
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru, however, it is not obligatory)
• Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on the first day
• Travel Insurance.

Meal budget: Please allow USD 10 for meals not included.

Solo Traveller: If you like a single room for the trek, please choose the "Solo Traveller" option during your booking.

Local flights: No local flight is included in the trek´s price!. If you need the local flight, let us know please, we can get the best price for you!

Our guide will visit you a day prior to the trek in your hotel to brief you about the 2-day hike. For this reason, it is very important to let us know in advance where you stay in Cusco.

All Tierras Vivas trekkers are accompanied by our Tour Guide. The objective of our guides is to take the hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The guides provide details on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat, and introduce his/her colleagues. Our guides have a broad general knowledge of each place visited during the tour, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects.

Tierras Vivas is operating the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu since 2006!

Accommodation During the Short Inca Trail
The following hotels are used to accommodate our customers during the tour:

Hotel Casa de Luz

You spend a night in a small locally owned hotel where you will have a room (twin or matrimonial) with a private bathroom and breakfast. All of the hotels we use in Aguas Calientes are located within walking distance of the railway station.

Single Accommodation: If you are traveling on your own, we pair you with another trekker of the same gender, so there is no extra cost. In case, you prefer a single room for yourself, there is a surcharge of USD 50 that needs to be paid in advance.

If you like to upgrade any service of train or accommodation or you prefer to stay an extra night in Machu Picchu, please contact us directly at info@tierrasvivas.com and await our confirmation.

IMPORTANT NOTE! 

You must present your passport including the TAM immigration slip (copy) at every hotel! The national sales tax (18%) is charged to all Peruvian citizens and foreigners staying over 60 consecutive days. In case the room is shared by both a taxable and non-taxable guest at the same time, the sales tax will be applied to the whole room. So please take every caution to not lose this piece of paper. You need to bring it to our Cusco office for your check.

MACHU PICCHU HIKE UPGRADE HOTEL: If you would like to stay in a 3* hotel or higher, you have to pay extra.

• Sanctuary Lodge Machu Picchu: The above prices correspond to the "Standard Patio" type of accommodation.
• Casa Andina Machu Picchu: The above prices correspond to "Standard Traditional"
• Tierra Viva Hotel Machu Picchu: The above prices are for "Standard"
• Ferre Machu Picchu Hotel: The above prices are for "Standard".

The Short Inca Trail starts in Cusco, but if you spend a night outside of Cusco, then please check the below table to see possible starting points and pick-ups.

Meeting Point before the Short Inca Trail

Departure Point: We pick you up from your hotel (please check the Starting Point & Pick-Up section under the Essential Info bookmark).

Briefing Point: Our guide will be meeting in your hotel 2 or 1 day prior to the trek. 

Briefing Time: Between 5:00 - 6:00 pm.

Return Point: Cusco - our driver will drop-off at your hotel/hostel/Airbnb apartment.

The following train services are included in the trail: 

PeruRail - Expedition Train

Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu - Cusco

IncaRail - The Voyager Train

Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu - Cusco

• On the Expedition and The Voyager, an extra service inside the train is not included.
• Our driver will drop you off at your hotel.

Train Service Upgrade:

If you prefer a "Vistadome" train service or a "Machu Picchu Train 360" service during the trek, it is US$ 50 extra. Let us know before booking your service please.

Vistadome - PeruRail:

The Vistadome train has panoramic windows allowing you to appreciate the beautiful scenery along the route. Live an unforgettable experience of magic connection with nature along the Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo route. 

Vistadome Service Includes: 

a) Long-distance (from Poroy, Cusco):

• Panoramic windows;
• Outbound: snack;
• Inbound: snack;
• Hot or cold non-alcoholic beverage upon your choice (one hot drink and one cold drink per person).

b) Short distance (from Ollantaytambo):

• Panoramic windows;
• Outbound: Light snack;
• Inbound: Light snack; 
• Hot or cold non-alcoholic beverage upon your choice (one hot drink and one cold drink per person).

Machu Picchu Train 360 - Inca Rail

The only train in Peru having an entertainment app aboard allowing you to learn more about the train journey and the Inca civilization. Experience a unique way to travel to Machu Picchu exploring the Andean landscape like never before with wider and higher panoramic windows. Its observation outdoor carriage includes even a bar. Treat yourself with their appetizing selection of cold and warm drinks, prepared using fruit juices and Andean herbs, as well as delicious and organic goodies made of products originating from the Sacred Valley.

Machu Picchu Train 360 Service Includes: 

• Comfortable seats with front tables;
• Higher and wider panoramic windows;
• Outdoor carriage to enjoy the landscape, having a bar;
• Delicious and organic goodies made of products originating from the Sacred Valley;
• Train entertainment app.

If you like to go ahead and book the Short Inca Trail, you will need to send us your passport details such as full name, passport number, nationality, and date of birth in order to be able to process it. Once you arrive at the trailhead, the archaeological park rangers check your Inca Trail permit along with your original passport and compare your personal details.

Important notice: if you fail to send correct details, you will be denied entrance to the Inca Trail!!!

If you still like to get on the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, you would need to pay a new permit (US$ 100.00). So, we would like to kindly ask you to be very careful when sending us your personal information.

Can you use your old passport to book the permit and then exchange it with your new passport?

Yes, it is possible, BUT it is very important to bring a copy of your old passport with you too! When on the Inca Trail, you can present your current passport along with a copy of your old passport.

If you have extra luggage, it can be store safely in your hotel in Cusco or at the Ollantaytambo railway station or at our Tierras Vivas luggage storage. When you decide for the latter, our driver picks your luggage on the day of your trail departure and leaves it at our office. When you return to Cusco, we give you your luggage back.

Yes, the 2-day Inca Trail is the best option for those with limited time to do the 4-day Inca Trail. You can view a part of the traditional Inca path.

BOOK ONLINE with a hotel or camping. Choose the best option for you! 

Minimum Altitude: 2,100 m / 6,900 ft.
Highest Altitude: 2,730 m / 8,792 ft.
Walking Distance: 12 km / 7.46 miles
 

How Hard Is to Hike the 2 Day Inca Trail?

The Machu Picchu Mountain, also known as the 'Old Mountain', is the mountain on which the Inca citadel was built. It is located at an altitude of 3,082 meters, which almost 600 metres above the Inca city. Machu Picchu was denominated after this mountain.

At present, the Machu Picchu Mountain is able to receive 800 tourists daily, who ascend the wide mountain path while experiencing breathtaking views of the entire geography of the place. The path is ideal for family visitors since it is neither steep nor has vertiginous gorges, unlike Huayna Picchu.

To be able to visit the mountain, you need to acquire a Machu Picchu + Mountain Ticket in advance!

Huayna Picchu, or the 'Young Mountain', is a mountain situated north of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It is the summit that stands out in the classic postcard of the Wonders of the World and lies at an altitude of 2,693 metres, 300 metres higher than the Inca city. On the way up, there is the Temple of the Moon, Temple of the Moon, a religious site carved in the stone of a cave.

The Huayna Picchu climb is requested by most of the adventurous visitors as they enjoy taking selfies there. To reach its top, one must ascend a narrow path till the margins of vertigo cliffs to be rewarded by splendid views of the New Wonder of the World at the end. The climb is considered one of the most incredible short walks in the world. However, only 400 visitors can enter it daily.

In order to hike Huayna Picchu, you need to buy a Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket (USD 80/person) beforehand!

In case, it is sold out, Tierras Vivas books the Machu Picchu Mountain for you.

Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, completed by sweaters, fleeces, and waterproof jackets. It is very necessary to have light raingear available at your daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful as well as a fleece sweatshirt and a jacket. During the day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are handy as they can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. For more complete advice, please see the below section “Short Inca Trail - Suggested Items”.

Generally speaking, you should pack as lightly as possible since you will carry your luggage from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes Town. We recommend keeping the weight under 5 kg/10lb (including personal clothes). Remember that you take your daypack with you. As you spend a night at a hotel in Machu Picchu, you do not need to bring a sleeping bag.

Do not forget to bring a cover for your backpack, because the weather on Inca Trail is changeable a lot, so it is hard to predict rain. If you do not have any, we recommend putting your clothes and other belongings inside a plastic bag.

Suggested Items

• Original passport;
• Original ISIC (an international student card if applicable);
• Travel insurance;
• Pocket money in Nuevos Soles;
• A small rucksack;
• Raingear (a rain-jacket and waterproof trousers);
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended;
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a hotel/campsite);
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights in case of camping);
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold);
• Sunscreen or sunblock;
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body;
• Insect repellent – a recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!);
• Mobile phone/camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions);
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper;
• Small towel and toiletries;
• Sufficient reserve of underwear;
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes);
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.);
  Please note: we provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taking your own snack applies only to customers who like a specific snack that might not be on our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refilled;
• Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us;
• Please note: we provide filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

Cusco's Weather

The high-mountain region of Cusco has well-defined winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June - August) are very sunny, dry, and warm, but the temperature drops to near freezing at night. Summer (January to March) is characterized by rain. December and January are two of the nicest months for trekking with only occasional rain shower while observing blooming flowers.

The heaviest rainfalls usually occur between January and March.

October is still dry, but colder, with temperatures dropping to 0 degrees at night.

Inca Trail Weather

The rainy season from November to April gives the feeling of a tropical downpour. Heavy rain, but rain showers usually do not last long or rain is often at night.

From May to September (which is the high tourist season), temperatures alongside the Short Inca Trail range from 20 - 35º C during the day when is sunny to 10 - 20º C during the day if it is cloudy and 5 - 15º C at night (either spend in the Aguas Calientes Town or the Puente Ruinas campsite). At Wiñaywayna and Machu Picchu, where altitudes are lower, temperatures are usually warmer (warm clothes are still recommended at night, anyway).

February - the Inca Trail is closed due to maintenance all the month which falls into the so-called "low season". At that time, you can still enjoy hiking to Machu Picchu though. For instance, you might do the Salkantay Trek, Short Salkantay trek, or the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu without struggling with crowds of hikers.

Landslides are an occasional problem. Although this was rare, it happened that visitors got stuck on Machu Picchu or between Aguas Calientes and Cusco, because a driver blocked the road. However, the mud was quickly removed and travel continues without further problems.

• Daily departures (except for the month of February, when maintenance of the Inca Trail takes place).
• At the time of booking, all of the personal details must match with those in your passport or identification document!
• It is mandatory to take with you the original passport (identification document) which you made the booking with, during the entire Inca Trail!
• If you are a student, it is mandatory to carry the original ISIC card along with the passport during the Inca Trail.
• In case of finding a fraudulent and/or expired ISIC card, the entrance to the Inca Trail will be denied without any refund!
• The return train schedule may vary according to availability.
• Tips for Guides, Cooks, and Porters are not included in the tour price.

Book your space now for the Short Inca Trail 2026! Remember that the famous  Inca Trail has only 250 spaces per day. The beginning of the sale of spaces for March, April, May, June, July 2025 begins in March 2025. Take advantage of the Inca Trail experience now! Or, book 6 months in advance. Email at: info@tierrasvivas.com

Short Inca Trail Availability

If you are planning to go the Short Inca Trail, we recommend you book in advance, as there are limited spots available. The Short Inca Trail is very popular among trekkers, so it is important to check availability before booking.

How To Get the Inca Trail Permits 2026?

You can check the 2-day Inca Trail Real-Time Availability for 2026 with our sales executives by contacting us via WhatsApp or Telegram at +51 984004472. Our staff will quickly reply the availability of the permits, and once confirmed, you can BOOK ONLINE. Don't wait until the last minute.

Important Note: It is very important that you complete all details correctly to obtain your Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets! Once you arrive at the trailhead, you need to present your original passport and Inca Trail permits. If any details are incorrect, you will need to book and buy a new ticket to the trail!

Tierras Vivas is a fully licensed tour operator and has 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. The copy of our 2 Day Inca Trail Tripadvisor reviews below proves our experience and enthusiasm to offer our customers the best trip to Machu Picchu. 

> Check our Short Inca Trail Tripadvisor comments below:

Once in a lifetime

Review of: 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Jenn Wrote: Viva tours made our group’s(8 females) trip to Peru unforgettable. From a hike with amazing views to the natural hot springs to the beauty of Machu Picchu, we had a great time and connected with one another. Our guide EVELYN was amazing! Really good support on our hike and very…

Perfect split of hiking/touring Macchu Picchu

Review of: 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Flyer360715 wrote:  The entire excursion was wonderful. Pickup coordination was clearly explained, with all tickets handled for us at every step of the journey. The trail was incredible. We had amazing weather for some truly breathtaking views, and our tour guide Daniel was 100% pure quality. Super…

Amazing experience

Review of: 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Yadira V comment: Our experience was amazing! Our guide Ana Maria was so knowledgeable and she answered all of our questions. She also made sure to go at our pace and was very patient. We will definitely be booking again with this agency in the future. They took care of all the tickets for us which made our vacation even more relaxing.

All tours with Tierras Vivas include sustainable and responsible travel practices.

Tierras Vivas collaborates with the Responsible People Foundation, which works with communities in the Andean mountains, particularly in areas where the Peruvian government has limited reach and where poverty and malnutrition are high. Responsible People listen to the needs of these communities and then provide assistance.

Social Initiatives and Health

Every year, Responsible People visit these communities with specialists in health, economics, and other fields.

Native Plants

Tierras Vivas partners with Responsible People to reforest the Andean mountains with native plants, helping to restore the local flora and fauna. This includes adopting a nature-positive approach, ensuring that our adventures give back more to our planet and its ecosystems than they take.

Part of your payment for the Short Inca Trail goes towards these projects. We believe that travel should enhance the lives of the people and places we visit.

If you would like to learn about our foundation, please click at Responsible Travel.

• Difference between camping vs hotel
• Short Inca Trail FAQs
• Difference between a large and small group
  
• Climb up to Huayna Picchu
• Inca Trail Booking Policies
• Booking Terms and Conditions
• How to book and send a payment
• Why travel with Tierras Vivas
• 2 Day Inca Trail Train (VISTADOME Perurail or 360° Inca Rail)