For many travelers visiting the Peruvian Andes with a tight schedule or who prefer a less challenging route, the Short Inca Trail is the ideal choice. The journey includes a moderate climb toward Inti Punku (“the Sun Gate”), passing through the Wiñay Wayna complex before going down to the Machu Picchu citadel. Finally, travelers can choose to go down to Aguas Calientes by bus or by walking.
This short version successfully combines the most beautiful mountain landscapes of the region, where hikers enjoy panoramic views, thick forests, and a subtropical jungle, completed by the Inca engineering seen in old stone paths, farming terraces, fountains, and tunnels along the way.
The Short Inca Trail is the main recommendation for those who have little time or are looking for a less demanding route. Below, we detail the difficulty level and the experience of this hike toward the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Logistics and Accessibility: A route for everyone
The Short Inca Trail starts with a bus transfer from Cusco to the Ollantaytambo station, followed by a train trip to kilometer 104, the starting point of the hike. Unlike higher altitude routes in the Peruvian highlands, this area has a mild climate with an average temperature of 23 °C.
Along the 12 kilometers of the route, the path combines nature and archaeological sites until reaching the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, this version requires less physical stamina, being an inclusive option suitable for people with moderate physical condition.
2 day Inca trail difficulty
When 2 day Inca Trail tour operators speak to you, of what degree of difficulty, you have this or that walk, do not hesitate to give it medium, moderate or high, referring to the technical difficulty of course. But in reality, the 2 day Inca Trail difficulty, of each walk is in each one.
- First, 2 day Inca Trail tour operators considerate “The Physical State”, if you are a person who does not have health (weight problems, you have no problems with the knees and ankles, etc). If you have a healthy diet, do not overdo it, with alcoholic beverages, do not smoke, get enough sleep and exercise regularly; then the degree of difficulty of any walk, may be more bearable, because you are a healthy person, “fit”, to make the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, in a more bearable and less saturated.
- In second place, “The Preparation”, the short Inca Trail is a challenge due to the nature of its terrain, changes of altitudinal floors, steep trails, steep descents, many steps, etc. If you are a person who has been preparing periodically, you do exercises, short walks, sometimes, even with your backpack on your back, and you have been reporting how to do a long walk? have it for sure that you will know how to face, this challenge, called “Inca Trail Machu Picchu” and above all you will know how to enjoy it.
In the end, 2 day Inca Trail tour operators agree that the 2 day Inca Trail difficulty is moderate. The entire route to the wonderful short Inca trail requires moderate and difficult physical effort because the entire route is not easily accessible, due to the height of the route (2600 masl to 4000 masl) and the constant ascents and descents in the journey, the 2 day Inca Trail difficulty is greater.
In addition to this effort is worth the unique and unforgettable experience that will live in this great route of pure indescribable adventure only with words, to necessarily know you have to live them. Do not let the 2 day Inca Trail difficulty prevent you from reaching the majestic Machu Picchu, with a good acclimatization before the trip, you can make this walk without any problem.
Itinerary: 2 Day Hike through the Inca Trail
This route is a short version of the classic 4-day tour, ideal for those who have limited time or only want to do a hike without much physical effort, but still want to experience the arrival at the citadel through the “Sun Gate”. Below, we give you the itinerary for this trip:
Day 1: Cusco – Km 104 – Aguas Calientes
The day starts with an early pickup in Cusco and a train transfer to Km 104, the starting point of the hike. The route begins by visiting the archaeological site of Chachabamba before gradually climbing toward Winay Wayna, an impressive Inca complex famous for its farming terraces and its strategic location on the side of the mountain, surrounded by subtropical plants.
Afterward, the trail continues until reaching the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), where you get the first and most spectacular panoramic view of Machu Picchu. After enjoying the landscape and the first photos, you go down by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes to have dinner and stay overnight in the selected hotel, getting ready for the main visit the next day.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
After an early breakfast, you take the bus up to enter the citadel and, if the weather allows, see the sunrise over the ruins. The main tour consists of a guided visit of about two hours through the most important sectors, exploring key structures like the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the Intihuatana (to access this tour, the ticket with circuit 2 is needed).
Those travelers who have booked in advance can climb Huayna Picchu mountain (circuit 3A) or Machu Picchu Mountain (circuit 1A) to get aerial views of the site, as long as they have selected the correct circuit. The experience ends with the return by bus to Aguas Calientes, followed by the train trip and car transfer back to your hotel in the city of Cusco.
What is included in the 2 day hiking tour to Machu Picchu?
The inclusions for a Machu Picchu 2 day hike tour may vary depending on the tour operator you choose, but generally, the following are included:
- Transportation: pick up from your hotel in Cusco and transfer to the start of the trail, as well as transportation back to Cusco at the end of the tour.
- Entrance fee to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
- Professional bilingual guide.
- Meals: lunch on the first day, dinner, and breakfast on the second day. Snacks and water are also usually provided.
- Camping equipment: tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats.
- Porter service: porters to carry up to 5 kg of your personal belongings, such as clothes and toiletries.
It’s important to note that some tour operators may have additional inclusions or exclusions, so it’s best to check with them directly for a full list of what is included in their 2 day Inca Trail tour.
Not Included Inca Trail 2 days
The following items are typically not included in a 2-day Inca Trail tour:
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: If you wish to climb either of these peaks, you will need to purchase a separate entrance ticket.
- Sleeping bag and hiking poles: While some tour operators may provide sleeping bags and hiking poles, many do not. Make sure to check with your operator in advance and bring your own if necessary.
- Personal porters: If you require a personal porter to carry your belongings, this may not be included in the tour cost and may need to be arranged separately.
- Travel insurance: It is recommended to purchase travel insurance that covers the Inca Trail trek in case of any accidents or emergencies.
- Meals in Aguas Calientes: The tour may not include meals in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. You may need to budget for meals on your own.
- Gratuities: Tips for guides, porters, and cooks are not typically included in the tour cost, so you should plan to budget for these separately.