2-Day Short Inca Trail Tour from Machu Picchu: Cusco, Wiñay Wayna & Aguas Calientes | Meals Mentioned Included

Our Machu Picchu adventure begins in Cusco when we pick you up from your hotel in the morning (the exact time will depend on the train schedule). We then head to the train station and board the train for a 1:30-hour scenic drive to a point known as kilometer 104. This is where we begin our short Inca Trail trek.

From here, we have a hike of approximately four hours to the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna ('Forever Young'), at approximately 2,680 meters (8,792 feet) above sea level. Wiñay Wayna is an impressive Inca ruin built on a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. It consists of an upper and lower part of a dwelling or deposit, connected by an Inca staircase and a cascade of channels and water sources. Almost the entire slope above and below the structures is covered by beautiful Inca agricultural terraces. In addition to being an agricultural center, Wiñay Wayna was also a religious or ceremonial site.

After exploring Wiñay Wayna, we will continue our walk to Inti Punku (the Puerta del Sol). From the Puerta del Sol, you will have your first and spectacular view of Machu Picchu. Inti Punku is believed to have once been the main entrance to Machu Picchu. The site was dedicated to Inti, the Inca sun god, and was placed on a hill near Machu Picchu in just the right place to allow the rising sun to pass through the gate each year at the summer solstice.

We will continue our trek to Machu Picchu, temptingly approaching the famous citadel. But before reaching Machu Picchu, we will take a side road off the road and head towards Aguas Calientes, leaving our exploration of Machu Picchu for the next day, when we will have more time to explore. Aguas Calientes is the city below Machu Picchu, and this is where we will have dinner and take you to your hotel. You will probably want to stay overnight early as we are up early the next day for our exploration of Machu Picchu.

To better appreciate Machu Picchu, we will wake up early in the morning to be able to reach the citadel on time. You will have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel around 5:40 am. Then we will walk to the starting point of the bus for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.

Then we will go through the gates to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Here you will start your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly trained guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last approximately two hours and will take you to see all the most famous and spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. And while we walk, we will have spectacular views of the agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains and deep gorges. After the guided tour, you will have time to explore Machu Picchu at your leisure, perhaps walking to some less visited parts, such as the Inca Bridge.

Once we have finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can relax and have lunch (own expense) before boarding the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.