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Inca Trail Hikes / Short Inca Trail · Private service
INKAYNI SIGNATURE · PRIVATE SERVICE
Private Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — 2 Days
2 days / 1 night · Your own travel partyFrom US$585 per person for 8–10 travelers
Check my datesPrivate service · Your own travel party
Hike from Km 104 to the Sun Gate with an English-speaking guide who walks only with your party. Sleep in Aguas Calientes, visit Machu Picchu the next morning on Circuit 3 and ride the Vistadome home.
US$585 to US$695 per person, depending on party size. The Vistadome return, a three-star hotel, both entrances and the buses are included.
From US$585
per person
The Private 2-Day Short Inca Trail in Brief
The private Short Inca Trail is a 2-day, 1-night hike to Machu Picchu for your own travel party. You take the Expedition train to Km 104, hike about 10 km (6.2 miles) in 6 hours to Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, and sleep in a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes. On day two you visit Machu Picchu with your guide on Circuit 3 and return by Vistadome to Ollantaytambo. The price is US$695 per person for 2 travelers and falls to US$585 per person for 8 to 10. It includes the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entrances, the hotel, listed meals, buses and trains, plus a briefing the day before, a first-aid kit with emergency oxygen and a 24/7 support line. Read our Short Inca Trail guide for the route in detail.
Your own travel party
Private guiding
Km 104 to the Sun Gate
One main hiking day
Three-star hotel
One night in Aguas Calientes
Vistadome included
Panoramic train home
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THE SHORT INCA TRAIL
The essentials, before you explore.Your trek at a glance
Follow the Urubamba River by train to Km 104, then enter the trail at Chachabamba. The route climbs through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna, about 10 km (6.2 miles) of walking on Day 1.
Beyond the terraces, stone paths lead to Inti Punku at 2,730 m. In clear weather, the first view opens across the valley toward Machu Picchu.
Spend the night at a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes. The next morning your guide leads you through the circuit on your Machu Picchu ticket.
The Vistadome takes you back to Ollantaytambo, where your driver meets you for the return to Cusco.
Explore the two-day itinerary →- Duration
- 2 days / 1 night
- Starts at
- Km 104
- Highest point
- Inti Punku / Sun Gate, 2,730 m
- Hiking
- About 10 km (6.2 miles) · 6 hours (Day 1)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Departs from
- Cusco
- Returns to
- Cusco
- Hotel
- Three-star, Aguas Calientes
- Travel party
- Your own travel party
Get to know your local team
View all tour details
| Tour detail | Included experience |
|---|---|
| Service | Private: only your party |
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
| Starts at | Km 104 (Chachabamba) |
| Main stops | Wiñay Wayna, Inti Punku (Sun Gate), Machu Picchu |
| Hiking | About 10 km (6.2 miles) · 6 hours on Day 1 |
| Highest point | Inti Punku, 2,730 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate (Day 2: easy, guided) |
| Hotel | Three-star, Aguas Calientes |
| Trains | Expedition to Km 104 · Vistadome back to Ollantaytambo |
| Machu Picchu | Entrance with Circuit 3 |
| Guide | English-speaking, both days |
| Safety and support | Briefing the day before · First-aid kit with emergency oxygen · 24/7 support line |
| Price | US$585–US$695 per person, by party size |
Private or small group?
Tour detail
Private
Small group
Who hikes with youOnly your partyUp to 8 travelers
Your guideDedicated to your partyShared by the group
Departure dateYour preferred date, subject to permitsSet departure dates
Price per personUS$585–$695By party sizeUS$585Fixed fare
Both tours follow the same route. Hike from Km 104 to the Sun Gate, stay in a three-star hotel, explore Circuit 3 and return by Vistadome. The same permit rules apply.
THE SIGNATURE DIFFERENCE
Why Choose a Private Short Inca Trail?
The route is the same as our group departure. What changes is who walks it with you and how the two days are run.
Your party, your day
Hike as a couple, a family or a group of friends without sharing the day with strangers.
A guide for your questions
Your guide stays with your party the whole way. Stop at Wiñay Wayna, ask about the terraces and the water channels, and decide when to rest on the climb.
A fare that drops as you add people
The more travelers in your party, the lower the price per person: from US$695 for two to US$585 for eight to ten.
Included in your private fare
The Vistadome return, a three-star hotel, both entrances and the buses between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes are part of the fare. You don't add them at checkout.
Take a closer look
This trek suits travelers who enjoy climbing stone steps and want a hotel night between the hike and the guided citadel visit.
Compare the short and classic routes ↗Prepared and supported
The day before the trek you get a briefing with your guide. A first-aid kit with emergency oxygen goes with your party, and a 24/7 support line is available throughout your trip.
A date that fits your plans
Choose the day you want to hike and our team checks permits before you pay. Permits are personal, non-transferable and non-refundable, so confirm your date before booking flights. Compare this trek with the 4-day route in classic vs short Inca Trail.
CLOUD FOREST. STONE STEPS. INCA SITES.
2-Day Short Inca Trail Route & Elevation
One route, two days. Select a day and a stop to see the altitude in context, from Km 104 to Wiñay Wayna (about 2,680 m) and the Sun Gate (about 2,730 m).
WalkTransferUnconfirmed stops between
Select a point, or use the stop list below. Arrow keys move between plotted stops.
View all route stops
Illustrative route profile · not a navigation map
About this profile
Horizontal spacing is schematic, not distance. Connecting lines are not measured terrain. Background mountains are decorative, not elevation data. Transfers are shown separately from walking. Stops without confirmed elevations remain in the stop list, never at zero.
Route and elevations
View elevations by stop
| Point | Altitude |
|---|---|
| Cusco | 3,350 m (10,990 ft) |
| Ollantaytambo | 2,700 m (8,858 ft) |
| Chachabamba | 2,200 m (7,218 ft) |
| Wiñay Wayna | 2,680 m (8,793 ft) |
| Inti Punku (Sun Gate) | 2,730 m (8,956 ft) |
| Machu Picchu | 2,400 m (7,873 ft) |
| Aguas Calientes | 2,050 m (6,726 ft) |
Hiking time on Day 1: 6 hours over about 10 km (6.2 miles). Difficulty: moderate.
YOUR JOURNEY, STAGE BY STAGE
Your Private 2-Day Itinerary
Walk in. Return to discover. Two days, one main hiking day and one guided morning at Machu Picchu.
01
DAY 1 OF 2
Day 1: Train, cloud forest and the Sun Gate
Expedition train · Chachabamba · Wiñay Wayna · Inti Punku · Aguas Calientes. Moderate uphill hike. Meals: boxed lunch and dinner.
- Start
- Cusco · train to Km 104
- Main stop
- Wiñay Wayna & Inti Punku
- Hiking
- About 10 km (6.2 miles) · 6 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate uphill hike
- Overnight
- Three-star hotel
- Meals
- Boxed lunch and dinner
Read the full day description
Day 1 at a glance
Cusco to Ollantaytamboabout 2 hours
Transfer
Ollantaytambo to Km 104about 1.5 hours
Expedition train along the Urubamba
Km 104 to Chachabambashort
Checkpoint, passport control and first Inca site
Chachabamba to Wiñay Waynaabout 4 hours
Steady climb on stone steps and forest trail
Wiñay Wayna
Boxed lunch and time at the terraces
Wiñay Wayna to Inti Punkuabout 1 hour
Gentler path and a final steep stone stairway
Inti Punku to Machu Picchu viewpointsabout 1 hour
First view of Machu Picchu, then a descent
Bus to Aguas Calientesabout 25 minutes by bus
Hotel check-in, dinner and a briefing for Day 2
Total hiking: about 10 km (6.2 miles), 6 hours.
The evening before. You meet your guide for the trek briefing: route, schedule, what to carry and your questions.
To the trailhead. Your driver takes your party from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where you board the PeruRail Expedition. The train follows the Urubamba and stops at Km 104, where hikers get off before it continues to Aguas Calientes. Keep your original passport within reach: it is checked at the trail entrance.
Chachabamba. After the checkpoint, your guide walks you to Chachabamba, a ceremonial site beside the river. It's a good place to adjust your daypack, drink water and look up the valley you are about to climb.
The climb to Wiñay Wayna. This is the longest sustained ascent of the trek, around four hours of stone steps and forest trail. With a private guide you set the rhythm: stop when you need to, take photos and ask what you see. Look back now and then. The Urubamba runs far below the path. Carry water and a rain layer for the humid climb.
Wiñay Wayna. The name means "forever young" in Quechua. Your boxed lunch is included. Take your time here: this is one of the best sites of the trek, and you have no group to wait for.
Through the Sun Gate. The path to Inti Punku is gentler at first, then ends in a steep stone stairway. On a clear afternoon the first view of Machu Picchu opens on the ridge below. Then walk down toward the viewpoints permitted for that afternoon. Tomorrow's ticketed circuit is when you explore the citadel itself.
Evening in Aguas Calientes. Take the downhill bus, included in your fare, and check into your three-star hotel. Have dinner, and review with your guide the meeting time for the next morning, which depends on your Machu Picchu entry time.
Day 1 tips
- Wear the shoes you have broken in.
- Cusco sits at about 3,350 m. If you can, spend two nights there before the trek to acclimatize.
- Read more: where the Short Inca Trail starts and how difficult the Inca Trail is.
02
DAY 2 OF 2
Day 2: Circuit 3 and the Vistadome home
Aguas Calientes · Machu Picchu · Vistadome to Ollantaytambo · road to Cusco. Guided visit, easy pace. Meals: hotel breakfast.
- Start
- Aguas Calientes
- Main stop
- Machu Picchu
- Activity
- Guided site visit, easy pace
- Return
- Vistadome to Ollantaytambo, then road to Cusco
- Meals
- Hotel breakfast
Read the full day description
Day 2 at a glance
Hotel breakfast
In Aguas Calientes
Bus up to Machu Picchuabout 25 minutes
Round-trip bus included
Guided visit on Circuit 32 to 3 hours
Your entry time is printed on the ticket
Lunch
Lunch is on your own
Bus down and Vistadomeper your train ticket
Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Road transfer
Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Back to Machu Picchu. After breakfast, ride the bus up with your guide to the visitor entrance. Keep your original passport and entrance ticket within reach. The ticket shows your entry time and Circuit 3.
Inside the citadel. Plan on two to three hours of guided walking. Yesterday the terraces looked like narrow bands on a mountainside. Today you see how much stonework it took to build one level surface, how walls fit against the rock and how the water channels worked. With only your party, you can stay longer at what interests you.
After the visit. Then take the bus down, have lunch on your own and board the Vistadome to Ollantaytambo. Through the panoramic windows you follow the river back through the valley where your walk began. Your driver meets you at the station for the road transfer to Cusco.
Day 2 tips
- Bring your original passport and the ticket. Both are checked.
- Plan your lunch around the departure time on your train ticket.
- Train times and your entry time set the final schedule.
Day 1 of 2
Walking pace, train times and the assigned entrance circuit shape the schedule for your departure.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE THE JOURNEY
Hotel, meals & train travel
From the trailhead to your return through the Sacred Valley, see how the two days fit together.
Swipe to explore →
INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
A night in Aguas Calientes
After your first-day approach, settle into a three-star hotel.
- ✓Dinner in town after the hiking day.
- ✓Hotel breakfast before the guided visit.
INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
Meals on each day
A boxed lunch fuels the first day on foot. In the evening, dinner is served in Aguas Calientes.
- ✓Day 1: boxed lunch and dinner.
- ✓Day 2: breakfast at the hotel.
INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
Expedition out. Vistadome back.
Take the train to the trailhead on Day 1. The panoramic ride follows your guided visit on Day 2.
- ✓Ollantaytambo to Km 104 by Expedition.
- ✓Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo by Vistadome, then road transfer to Cusco.
YOUR SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
What’s included
Review the guiding, entrances, overnight stay, meals, buses and rail services in your private fare.
Guides & organization
- Private English-speaking guide on both days
- Briefing the day before the trek
- First-aid kit with emergency oxygen
- 24/7 support line
Entrances
- Short Inca Trail entrance and Machu Picchu entrance with Circuit 3
Hotel night
- One night in a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
Meals
- Day 1: boxed lunch and dinner. Day 2: breakfast at the hotel
Machu Picchu visits
- Day 2: guided visit on Circuit 3
Buses
- Bus down from Machu Picchu on Day 1, and round-trip bus on Day 2
Trains & transfers
- Expedition from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 and Vistadome from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Road transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Rentals and personal expenses are separate.
Review optional extras and exclusionsA PRIVATE TREK. A CLEAR PRICE.
Price by Party Size
USD prices per person for the 2-day Short Inca Trail. Choose how many people will travel together, then share your preferred date. Permits and final arrangements are confirmed before booking.
2-day Short Inca Trail · Private service
Expedition to Km 104 · Three-star hotel · Circuit 3 · Vistadome return
Your guide accompanies your reservation on both days. Other visitors share the archaeological sites and trains.
Explore your inclusions ↗ Optional extras ↗Not included & optional extras
Not included
- Day 1 breakfast
Plan breakfast before the train to Km 104. Your boxed lunch and dinner are included.
- Day 2 lunch and dinner
Hotel breakfast is included. Budget for your meals after the guided visit.
- Personal expenses and tips
Allow for personal purchases and any gratuities you choose to give.
Travel insurance
Optional extras
- Single room
Ask about the supplement for your night in Aguas Calientes.
- Extra hotel night
Request an additional night when choosing your travel date.
- Additional mountain ticket
Ask which hike fits your Circuit 3 route and return train. Tickets and charges depend on availability.
DATES & PERMITS · A TRANSPARENT PROCESS
How Booking, Permits and Changes Work
Start with a date. Before confirming travel plans, understand how official Inca Trail permits work and what our local team must verify for your departure.
How to secure your preferred date
Permits are limited, personal and tied to a route and departure date. Check availability before arranging nonrefundable flights.
Choose a date and group size.
Share your preferred travel date, your party size and any flexibility.
We check official permits.
Our local team verifies permit availability and whether your private departure can operate.
Review your final terms.
Receive written confirmation of the price, permitted route, inclusions, deposit and restrictions before paying.
Secure your confirmed reservation.
A request alone does not hold a place or issue a permit. Follow the confirmed booking instructions.
Is the Private Short Inca Trail Right for You?
For couples, families and friends who want their own guide and time to walk at their own pace. A hotel night in Aguas Calientes makes this a practical choice if you have two days and prefer to skip camping.
First time hiking? Expect a sustained climb on uneven stone steps on Day 1. Day 2 is an easier-paced guided visit.
Your party carries a first-aid kit with emergency oxygen, and a 24/7 support line is available. Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended.
Get ready for your Short Inca Trail hike
Before the hike
Practice walking uphill and down uneven steps with your daypack. Wear the shoes you plan to hike in.
In your daypack
Keep your original passport, drinking water, trail snacks, a rain shell and sun protection within reach.
For the hotel
Pack a dry change of clothes and overnight essentials. Ask the team about luggage arrangements before leaving Cusco.
TRAIL PREPARATION
What to pack for the 2-day Short Inca Trail
Your daypack
Keep these within reach while you hike.
- DocumentsOriginal passport and student ID if applicable.
- Daily essentialsWater, snacks, personal medication, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
- Weather protectionRain jacket, warm layer, sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Trail equipmentPhone or camera, power bank, headlamp and optional rubber-tipped trekking poles.
Your overnight essentials
Pack for one night at your three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Change of clothesBring a dry shirt and socks for the evening after your hike.
- For the next morningSet aside a warm layer and your rain jacket for the guided visit.
- Personal itemsPack toiletries, a charger and any overnight medication.
- Luggage arrangementsAsk your guide where to leave larger bags before boarding the Expedition train.
First morning on the trail · Bring drinking water for the hike from Km 104. Confirm refill options with your guide at the briefing.
View the full Inca Trail packing list ↗BEFORE YOU COMMIT
Short Inca Trail FAQs
What to know before booking and what to expect on the trail.
Check your date ↗What is the private Short Inca Trail?
A 2-day, 1-night hike to Machu Picchu with your own guide and party. You hike from Km 104 to the Sun Gate, sleep in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu on Circuit 3. Read the Short Inca Trail guide
How much does the private Short Inca Trail cost?
US$695 per person for 2 travelers, US$665 for 3, US$635 for 4, US$615 for 5, US$599 for 6, US$589 for 7 and US$585 for 8 to 10. The Vistadome return is included. Optional extras are separate.
What does the price include?
A private guide on both days, the Short Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entrances with Circuit 3, one night in a three-star hotel, boxed lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast on Day 2, the Expedition and Vistadome trains, the buses between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes, and the road transfer to Cusco.
What is not included?
Breakfast on Day 1, lunch and dinner on Day 2, personal expenses, tips and travel insurance, plus optional extras such as a single room or an additional mountain ticket.
What is the difference between the private and the group tour?
The route, hotel, trains and Circuit 3 are the same. In the private tour you hike only with your party and choose your date, subject to permits. The group tour has a maximum of eight travelers and a fixed fare of US$585. See the group tour
Can I choose my own date?
Yes, subject to Inca Trail permit availability. We check permits before you pay. View the permit calendar
Can I change my date or cancel?
Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable, and once a permit is purchased the date cannot be changed. Only the traveler named at booking can hike. Confirm your dates before booking flights.
How long and how hard is the hike?
About 10 km (6.2 miles) and 6 hours of hiking on Day 1, with around four hours of climbing to Wiñay Wayna. Difficulty is moderate. Day 2 is an easy-paced guided visit. How difficult is the Inca Trail?
Is the Vistadome train included?
Yes. You take the Expedition to Km 104 on Day 1 and the Vistadome from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo on Day 2.
Does the private tour include a hotel?
Yes. One night in a three-star hotel in Aguas Calientes. There is no camping. Ask about a single room or an extra night.
Which Machu Picchu circuit is included?
Circuit 3. The entry time is printed on your confirmed ticket.
Do I need a permit, and what details do you need?
Yes. Permits are limited and personal. How Inca Trail permits work
What safety and support are included?
Your fare includes a briefing the day before the trek, a first-aid kit with emergency oxygen and a 24/7 support line during your trip.
Will other people be on the trail?
Your guide and party are private. Other visitors share the trail, Machu Picchu and the trains.
Is the private tour worth it compared with the group tour?
It suits couples, families and friends who want their own guide, their own pace or a flexible date. If you prefer a fixed fare and don't mind sharing the day, the group tour may fit better. Compare the short and classic routes
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
Plan your Short Inca Trail
Find out what to pack, how Inca Trail permits work and which route best fits your travel plans.
How difficult is the hike?
Understand the climb, the steps and the walking conditions.
Read the guide ↗PRIVATE DEPARTURES
Walk into Machu Picchu.
Choose your preferred date for this private Short Inca Trail tour.
Check dates and availability →From US$585per person
Private rate for 8–10 travelers
Confirm the final price before booking.