Peru · Trekking

1-Day Short Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate

1 Day Round trip from Cusco Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Scenic train journey to KM 104 on the Short Inca Trail
02 Spectacular views of the Urubamba mountain range
03 Explore the impressive Inca sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna
04 Reach the Sun Gate for your first iconic view of Machu Picchu
05 Enjoy views of the Machu Picchu Inca site twice in one trek

Cover the Short Inca Trail, an excellent option for travellers who do not have much time to explore the full Inca Trail. This trek takes you along the best part of the route, with a scenic train journey, impressive Inca ruins, and spectacular views of the Urubamba mountain range. It also gives you the chance to enjoy views of the iconic Machu Picchu twice, including from the Sun Gate.

Start the four-hour hike up to the Wiñay Wayna Inca site, where we will stop for photos and lunch.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Cusco, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Wiñay Wayna

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Follow the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Get picked up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 5:30 am and drive by private bus for two hours to Ollantaytambo train station.
Catch the train to KM 104 on the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, where we disembark and cross the Urubamba River.
Pass through a control point to enter the National Park, then explore Chachabamba, the first Incan ruins of the tour.
Start the four-hour hike up to the Wiñay Wayna Inca site, where we will stop for photos and lunch.
Continue gently uphill for another couple of hours to the Sun Gate entrance to Machu Picchu.
Make another stop for some iconic photos, then hike for 40 minutes back down to the main Machu Picchu site, from where you will catch a bus down to Aguas Calientes town, where you stay overnight.

Where this trip takes you

KM 104, Chachabamba ruins, Sun Gate, Machu Picchu

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Cusco 4 cities · 1 Day

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Professional English-speaking tour guide service
Assistant tour guide for groups of 9+
Pick-up from your hotel
Private van from your hotel to Ollantaytambo
Private van from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Water (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek, when you need to bring your own)
Entrance fee
Round-trip bus tickets for both days
Train tickets
1 breakfast, 1 lunch, afternoon snacks, and 1 dinner. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food, please let us know.
Oxygen bottle
First aid kit