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This trail is a shortened version that takes you to Machu Picchu passing by one of the most beautiful archaeological sites near Machu Picchu, Wiñaywayna, which is known as the “baby Machu Picchu” due to its similar characteristics.
DAY 1 – CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES VILLAGE
Walking distance: 15km
Starting elevation of the trek: 2000m/6560 ft.
Lunch elevation: 2700m/8800 ft.
Difficulty of trek: moderately challenging
Climate: warm
Archaeological sites to visit: Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Sun Gate (Inti Punku), and Machu Picchu.
DAY 2 – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO TRAIN STATION – CUSCO CITY.
Walking distance: 3km. City Tour in the citadel of Machu Picchu, with an approximate duration of 2 hours.
Elevation of Machu Picchu: 2400m/7800 ft.
Difficulty of the hike: easy
Climate: warm
Archaeological sites to visit: Machu Picchu.
This trail is a shortened version that takes you to Machu Picchu passing by one of the most beautiful archaeological sites near Machu Picchu, Wiñaywayna, which is known as the “baby Machu Picchu” due to its similar characteristics.
DAY 1 – CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES PUEBLO
Our guide will pick you up from your hotel in our private transportation at 4:00 a.m. Then we will go to the town of Ollantaytambo for breakfast (not included). After breakfast, we will go to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the train that will take us to kilometer 104 of the railway line, which is the starting point of the 2-day and 1-night short Inca Trail. The train ride will last 1 hour and 15 minutes, during which you can enjoy a beautiful landscape full of trees, lots of vegetation, and spectacular views of farmland, snow-covered mountains, and the powerful Urubamba River, which is one of the sources of the Amazon River.
Upon arriving at kilometer 104, we will disembark from the train and head to the control point. We will pass the main control showing our original passport and then use the restrooms and prepare for our hike. Once ready, 5 minutes from the control is the first archaeological site, Chachabamba, which was a checkpoint in the Inca era. After the guided tour, we will start our 3-hour uphill hike towards the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna, which in Quechua language means “forever young”. This site is located at an altitude of 2600 meters/8500 feet. We will have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the Incas, as our guide will give us complete information about the place and its purpose in the Inca era. Then, we will walk for 20 more minutes and arrive at the lunch spot, which is a campsite that bears the same name as the previously visited archaeological site, Wiñaywayna. This campsite is the third campsite where hikers who do the 4-day and 3-night Inca Trail sleep. We will have the opportunity to see how it is organized. After lunch, we will pass the second checkpoint and walk for one more hour on a rolling but not very dangerous path until we reach the archaeological site of the Sun Gate or Inti Punku, where we will see the citadel of Machu Picchu. We will have time to appreciate one of the 7 wonders, take many photos, and then we will start to descend on a gradual downhill path towards Machu Picchu. The hike will take us 45 minutes to reach the citadel up to the top, near the guardian’s house. We will take many photos and then we will descend to the exit gate of Machu Picchu to board the bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes. From there, we will go directly to our hotel to take a hot shower and rest until 7:00 p.m., which will be the indicated time to go to dinner in a tourist restaurant. After dinner, our guide will give us information about the next day, which is the most important day: the visit and city tour in Machu Picchu. Then, we will go to sleep.
Hiking distance: 15 km
Starting elevation of the hike: 2000 m/6560 ft
Elevation: 2600 m/8600 ft
Hiking difficulty: moderate challenge
Climate: warm
Food to carry that each tourist will bring with them.
DAY 2 – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO TRAIN STATION – CUSCO CITY
After breakfast, we will board one of the first buses to take us to the Machu Picchu citadel. The bus ride will take approximately 30 minutes. Once we arrive at Machu Picchu, we will embark on a tour of the entire Inca citadel, which will last around 2 hours. After the tour, we will board the bus again to return to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch and to bid farewell to our guide. During lunch, our guide will provide us with information on how to return to the city of Cusco and will give us our train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo train station. We will have some free time in the afternoon depending on our train schedule, but we recommend arriving at the train station 30 minutes in advance. Once we arrive at the Ollantaytambo train station, our driver will be waiting for us to transport us back to the city of Cusco and drop us off at our hotel.
Walking distance: 3km for the City Tour in the citadel of Machu Picchu, which will last around 2 hours.
Elevation of Machu Picchu: 2400m/7800ft
Hiking difficulty: easy
Climate: warm
Archaeological sites to visit: Machu Picchu.
VERY IMPORTANT:
TOILETRIES:
Informative meeting or briefing:
A briefing meeting will be held the night before the trek begins, lasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes. During the meeting, information about the tour will be provided. If you are unable to attend, please contact us by email to arrange a meeting with the guide at another date or time.
Season: The Inca Trail is open from March 1 to January 31.
Trail closed: The Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance.
Payment of the balance of the trek (in Cusco):
The balance of the trek must be paid at the time of the meeting or one day before. We prefer payment in cash, and you can withdraw money at ATMs located in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco or on Avenida El Sol, the commercial street of Cusco where banks and ATMs are located. We do not accept bank checks or traveler’s checks.
Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain:
The citadel of Machu Picchu is most beautiful when seen from above, so hiking up one of the mountains next to the ruins is recommended.
Huayna Picchu: This is the most popular option and should be booked in advance, as tickets sell out very quickly. The hike takes approximately 45 minutes to ascend and another 45 minutes to descend. Tickets are sold in time slots, indicating when you can start this hike.
First session: 7 AM to 8 AM. Second session: 10 AM to 11 AM.
These sessions indicate the time period in which you can start your hike. Normally, we reserve the second session so that you can enjoy the visit to the citadel of Machu Picchu with your guide. Afterwards, you will be able to hike Huayna Picchu on your own, but your guide will tell you where to start.
Machu Picchu Mountain: This hike is slightly longer than Huayna Picchu. The ascent takes 1.5 hours to reach the top and another 1.5 hours to descend.
First session: 7 AM to 8 AM. Second session: 9 AM to 10 AM.
Peru Infinite Travel will provide the second session for this tour.
Strikes / Demonstrations:
Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked and trains are stopped. We will make sure that your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before the start date. In extreme circumstances, tours may need to be cancelled. Our operations department will coordinate with you in such situations, and your safety will always be our primary concern.
Lost and Found:
Each client is responsible for their own belongings throughout the tour. Please be mindful of where you leave your belongings and remember to pick up all your items from our vehicles and tents.
