Group trek
FromUS$585per person
- Vistadome train back
- 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
Trekking & Hiking
Short Inca Trail 2 Days with Vistadome Train and Hotel
Machu Picchu
- Duration
- 2 days
- Physical level
- Moderate
- Max. altitude
- 2,720 m
- Group size
- Group or private
- Accommodation
- 1 night in a 3-star hotel
- From
- US$580
A day on the Inca Trail, a 3-star hotel and Machu Picchu at sunrise
The short Inca Trail with comfort: a day of hiking from Km 104 past Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, a night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, sunrise at Machu Picchu with a private tour and the Vistadome train back.
The short Inca Trail is designed for travellers who want to experience the magic of the Inca Trail without the time a longer trek requires. It is only one day of hiking (about 6 hours) with a comfortable hotel night, which makes it great for families with children.
Along the way you see the flora and fauna of the cloud forest and some of the most cherished Inca sites, including Wiñay Wayna. Above all, the hike ends at the Sun Gate, with the most spectacular first view of Machu Picchu from above. On day 2 you go back into the citadel with your guide to discover its history.
The trek at a glance
Type: hiking, adventure, history and culture. For: people with moderate fitness. Difficulty: moderate. A permit is required. We can depart any day of the week as long as permits are available; the permit is only needed for your start date.
Your luggage: a duffel bag that travels for you
There are no porters on this trek, so you carry your own daypack. At the briefing we give you a duffel bag (up to 5 kg) for your overnight things: you hand it to your guide at Ollantaytambo station and it travels by train to your hotel in Aguas Calientes. On day 2 you leave it in hotel storage, pick it up after the tour and take it on the train back to Cusco.
Optional extras
Huayna Picchu (US$75): a 45-minute climb with incredible views of Machu Picchu, after your tour. The way down is steep, so think twice if you are afraid of heights, and book at least a month ahead.
Vistadome Observatory train (US$75): upgrade on the way back for panoramic views.
- Only one day of hiking (about 6 hours): great for families
- Wiñay Wayna and the first view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
- A night in a 3-star hotel and Machu Picchu at sunrise
- Vistadome train back, with views of the river and mountains
short Inca Trail with Vistadome route map
← Swipe →© OpenStreetMap
01
Hiking to Machu Picchu
Train to Km 104, Wiñay Wayna, the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu without the crowds.
Overnight: Aguas CalientesLunch, dinner12 km · 6 h
short Inca Trail with Vistadome itinerary
Aguas Calientes
Lunch, dinner12 km · 6 h2,720 mDay 1: Hiking to Machu Picchu
Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco between 04:00 and 04:20 and drive to Ollantaytambo for the 06:10 train along the Urubamba river — one of the sources of the Amazon — with views of farmland and snow-capped mountains. At Km 104 (2,000 m) we hand out snacks, take a group photo and visit our first Inca site with a short orientation. Then we hike up towards the Classic Inca Trail, with great views of the Urubamba river and the surrounding Inca sites. After three hours we reach Wiñay Wayna ("forever young", 2,600 m), the most beautiful Inca site on the trail, with water fountains, temples and terraces above a dramatic cliff. A few minutes away, at the campsite of the Classic Inca Trail, our chefs serve a hot homemade lunch and you can refill your water. From Wiñay Wayna we walk to the Sun Gate for the famous view of Machu Picchu and descend to the citadel — by then the day visitors have left. Bus down to Aguas Calientes, check-in at your hotel and dinner at a restaurant (included). The hiking route is the same as the 2-day Inca Trail with camping. Accommodation: Hotel Intipunku (or similar).
Machu Picchu
Breakfast2.5 h2,430 mDay 2: The "Lost City of the Incas" – Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel, pack your duffel bag and leave it in hotel storage. A 5-minute walk takes you to the bus station to be among the first in line: the first buses leave at 05:30 and arrive around 06:00. Remember your original passport for the checkpoint. Your guide takes you to the best spot to watch the sunrise over the mountains (weather permitting), followed by a 2.5-hour private walking tour of the citadel and its history. If you booked Huayna Picchu, the climb starts at 09:00. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes at least 2 hours before your train, to have lunch (not included) and pick up your duffel bag. Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo between 14:55 and 16:43 (about 1 h 45, with views of the river and mountains), and private transfer to your hotel in Cusco (about 2 hours).
Customize this journey
Change the pace, upgrade hotels, add days — this itinerary is yours to shape.
What's included
Included
- Professional guide in Spanish, English or Portuguese, a local graduate in tourism from the University of Cusco
- Inca Trail permit, with entrance to Machu Picchu
- 1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes (confirmed 7–15 days before; upgrades on request)
- Hotel pick-up in Cusco (04:00–04:20) and transport to Ollantaytambo
- Train Ollantaytambo – Km 104
- Round-trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
- Vistadome or Prime train back from Aguas Calientes and private transfer to your hotel in Cusco
- Hot lunch at Wiñay Wayna, dinner in Aguas Calientes and breakfast at the hotel
- Boiled and filtered water from the first lunch to the last breakfast
- Duffel bag for your overnight things (up to 5 kg), sent by train to your hotel
- Briefing at our office the evening before (18:00)
- First-aid kit, oxygen and satellite phone
Not included
- Breakfast on day 1 (ask your hotel for a to-go breakfast, or buy something at Ollantaytambo station)
- Lunch on day 2
- Huayna Picchu ticket (US$75)
- Vistadome Observatory upgrade (US$75)
- Walking sticks (US$10 a pair)
- Porters (you carry your own daypack)
- Satellite phone calls for non-emergencies
short Inca Trail with Vistadome prices
Private trek
US$1,000per person
For 2 people
The more of you, the less you pay: from US$580 per person in groups of 8 or more.
| 2 people | US$1,000 |
|---|---|
| 3 people | US$910 |
| 4 people | US$850 |
| 5 people | US$770 |
| 6 people | US$710 |
| 7 people | US$650 |
| 8 or more | US$580 |
- Private service: only your group
Before you go
Passport
Bring your original passport — it is checked at the trail and at Machu Picchu — and your student card if you booked as a student.
Permits
Permits are for a specific date and in your name, and cannot be changed once confirmed (only your passport number can be updated). Book well in advance.
Your daypack
The smaller the better. Pack hiking boots, a hiking shirt and trousers, a waterproof jacket or poncho, a sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal medication, a small first-aid kit, a camera, a flashlight with spare batteries and cash for souvenirs, drinks and tips.
Water
Bring water for the start of the hike — we refill at lunch. A CamelBak or bottles for about 3 litres is ideal.
Your duffel bag
Up to 5 kg for one night: 2 sets of underwear and hiking socks, a nice outfit for your Machu Picchu photos and a swimsuit if you want to visit the hot springs.
short Inca Trail with Vistadome FAQs
G
As early as possible. Inca Trail permits are limited, issued for a specific date and in your name. We buy yours as soon as we receive your details and deposit.
The route is the same, but this version adds comfort: a 3-star hotel, a hot lunch at Wiñay Wayna, sunrise at Machu Picchu with a 2.5-hour private tour, the Vistadome train back and a duffel bag that travels to your hotel.
Yes. It is only one day of hiking (about 6 hours) at a moderate level, with a hotel night instead of camping, which makes it great for families with children.
There are no porters: you carry your daypack. Your overnight things go in the duffel bag we give you (up to 5 kg), which travels by train to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
It depends on group size: US$1,000 per person for 2 people, down to US$580 per person for groups of 8 or more. The group tour is US$585 per person.
We plan a gradual ascent, starting in the lower Sacred Valley. Our guides carry oxygen, monitor how you feel and adjust the pace whenever needed.
What our travelers say
- ★★★★★
“Fast, honest answers on WhatsApp before we booked and real support during the trip. When a train was delayed, everything was rearranged before we even noticed.”
Laura & James P., United KingdomPeru Essentials in Style - ★★★★★
“Walking the Inca Trail had been on my list for twenty years. The team handled the permits, the porters were incredible and arriving through the Sun Gate was pure emotion.”
Michael K., AustraliaClassic Inca TrailGoogle - ★★★★★
“Travelling with three kids could have been stressful, but the pace was just right. The llama trek and the chocolate workshop were the highlights for our children.”
The Harrison family, United StatesFamily Adventure in the AndesTripadvisor - ★★★★★
“The perfect honeymoon. The Hiram Bingham train, a private sunrise at Machu Picchu and three nights in the Amazon — Giovanni designed something that felt completely ours.”
Emma T., United KingdomRomantic Peru HoneymoonGoogle - ★★★★★
“Our guide on the Salkantay trek knew every plant, every story and exactly when we needed a break. Crossing the pass at sunrise is a memory we will keep forever.”
David & Claire R., CanadaSalkantay Trek to Machu PicchuTripadvisor - ★★★★★
“Every single detail was taken care of, from the airport pick-up in Lima to a quiet table overlooking the Sacred Valley. We never once had to think about logistics — we just enjoyed Peru.”
Sarah M., United StatesPeru Essentials in Style
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