Short Inca Trail
(2 Days / 1 Night)
This is a beautiful 16km trek from the Urubamba river to Machu Picchu, via the captivating Wiñay Wayna Inca ruins. A fantastic option if you don’t have the time or energy to do the Classic 4 day Inca Trail. Also perfect for families with children as it is not too challenging.
Enjoy some of the best bits of the full Inca Trail condensed into a one day walk. You’ll be hiking the same final path and along the same network of Inca trails.
At Papi’s Treks we specialize in creating memorable experiences. Our knowledgeable local guides will bring Machu Picchu to life for you. We want you to leave with wonderful memories but also with some knowledge of the history and culture of Peru and the ancient Incas.
Keep in mind Inca Trail permits are limited and tend to sell out months in advance, check the current availability in our FAQ: Inca Trail Info and Availability.
The trip at a glance
Start: Cusco Duration: 2 Days
Finish: Cusco Group size: Max 16
Maximum altitude: 2,730m
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
IS THIS TRIP RIGHT FOR YOU?
We will walk at a much lower altitude than on the Classic Inca Trail, so acclimatizing won’t be as difficult, but you may still feel out of breath faster than you’re used to.
There will be early morning starts.
You will need to bring suitable clothing for walking: comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing, maybe some warm waterproof gear. Also bring a day pack with a water bottle.
Depending on your level of fitness, this walk will be easy to moderate. We start at 2,100m then climb to 2,700m before descending to 2,400m.
There is no camping involved, we will stay in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Why book with Papi’s Treks?
Fast, Personal Communication & Customized Itineraries
100% Local and Sustainable Travel
Fully Equipped, Passionate & Experienced Team
Highly Rated - We Strive for Excellence
Experience the Real Peru
“A big thank you to Mike the founder of Papi’s treks for the outstanding service we received, we will be recommending you to anyone thinking of visiting Peru.
The 2 day trek is ideal for those who do not have the energy or the inclination to camp for 4 nights, but would like to get a real taste of the Inca trail. Day 1 involved being picked up at our hotel at 4.00am where as I had woken with a bad headache mike checked me out before leaving (one of his many qualifications is as a paramedic) we were driven to Ollantayytambo to catch the 6.00am train to KM 104 where we got off the train and started our trek to the Winay Wayna camp site (this is where the 4 day trekkers spend their last night) and then on to Machu Picchu via the Sun gate. We finally arrived in Machu Picchu around 4.00pm (our pace was on the slow side due my bad headache which lasted all day) so we had a quick look around before catching the bus down to Aguas Calientes where Mike showed us to our hotel and agreed a time to meet up for dinner in a local restaurant.
It’s a great idea not to have to take the guided tour of Machu Picchu after a long days trekking with a tired body and mind. it’s a much better idea to go down to Aguas Calientes spend the night there and get some rest before returning on an early morning bus to Machu Picchu for a 2-3 hour very informative guided tour of the site. After this we had a few hours to ourselves to carry on viewing Machu Picchu or to return to Aguas Calientes before catching our train back to Ollantaytambo where our taxi was waiting for us, we were then driven back to Cusco from there. As Mike did not travel back with us on the train it was reassuring to find that we had only been in the taxi 5 minutes when he was on the phone to the taxi driver to make sure all was well and we had been safely met.
The days trekking (16Km) is hard but achievable, we are 59 and 60 and moderately fit, I was suffering with a headache all day on the trek but Mike kept the pace slow and the encouragement going all the way, what with the amazing scenery and Mikes interesting and entertaining commentary along the way we managed to achieve the goal of Machu Picchu.”