The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 1 Day
Hike the best section of the famous Inca Trail by embarking on an adventure of 1 day Inca Trail trek from Km 104 to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate & explore Machu Picchu right away!
- At 4:00 AM our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco or at 5:30 AM in Ollantaytambo, if you wish to start from there.
- We’ll transfer you in private transport to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train at 6:00 AM
- Departing on the Expedition train, enjoy the spectacular views and natural scenery along the sacred Urubamba River to the head of the Inca Trail, called Km 104.
- At 7:30 – 8:00 AM, you’ll pass the Inca Trail checkpoint and then you and your guide will start hiking up on Inca Trail following the footsteps of the Incas till Inti Punku “Sun Gate” to get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu. The exact time depends on the walking pace
- You will see expansive mountain views, lush subtropical vegetation, extraordinary ecological varieties, and explore amazing Inca cities along the Inca Trail, especially the beautiful archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna
- You will have time to enjoy box lunch after exploring the Wiñay Wayna Archaeological Site, usually around noon.
- An hour or so after lunch you will arrive at Inti Punku, best known as Sun Gate where you will get your first view of Machu Picchu!
- By 14:00 you will start exploring the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Your guide will explain all the history of this amazing and mysterious Incan city.
- By late afternoon, enjoy the sunset and take the iconic photo of Machu Picchu when it is empty of tourists before heading out to catch a bus.
- At 17:00 take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, with time for a quick dinner in a restaurant, or to buy a take out dinner to eat on the train. (Dinner is not included).
- The Expedition Train departs at 6:20 pm take the train back to Cusco then we will drive you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van.
One Day Inca Trail Hike Highlights
- This itinerary is designed for travelers who don’t have much time but want to enjoy the best and famous Inca trail.
- Walk the best section of the Inca Trail and enjoy the first sights of Machu Picchu from the gateway of the sun
- Experience the Inca Trail in Peru, in just a day, without doing one of the multi-day Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay, or other trails.
- Travel and walk through of cloud forest, feel the power of majestic mountains, forests, and rivers of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and discover ancient archaeological sites.
- Hike the historic Inca trail with your private guide at your side and enhance your experience of visiting Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world.
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Day 01: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu – Cusco
ready for this 1 day Inca Trail experience by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 am and we will transfer you in our private transportation to Ollantaytambo train station (If you prefer to start in Ollantaytambo, we will pick you up at your hotel at 5:30 am). for that we would have to arrange 1 day or 2 days in advance
Before boarding the Expedition Class train at 6:10 am in Ollantaytambo, remember to bring something to eat on the train as your breakfast is not included and we will also provide you with your box lunch, which you will carry in your backpack. Then, you and your tour guide will take the train for 1 hour and 30 minutes to the beginning of the Inca Trail, called km 104 (2,000 m / 6560 ft above sea level).
After passing the Inca Trail checkpoint, your guide will take you to visit the first archaeological center, called Chachabamba. This site was one of the last refuges used by the Inca pilgrims before reaching Machu Picchu. The Inca site of Chachabamba has several fascinating buildings, and your guide will be happy to share the history with you.
Then, your hike along the Inca Trail begins with a steady ascent for about 3 hours, climbing up the original Inca stone staircase, with several viewpoints where you will stop to have a wide view of the Urubamba River. If you are lovers of flora and fauna this stretch will be very special as there is a great variety of orchids and also very oriunos hummingbirds of this place will be totally enchanted. After passing a spectacular waterfall, you will arrive at the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna, located at (2,650 m / 8,694 ft above sea level). Most hikers stop here to marvel at its exquisite architecture.
At the amazing archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna, you will see many water fountains for rituals, sacred places dedicated to natural deities such as the Temple of the Rainbow, and beautiful agricultural terraces overlooking the Urubamba River. Wiñay Wayna (which in Quechua means “always young”) is the perfect place to learn a little more about the impressive history of the Incas, take time to relax, be in silence and connect with Mother Earth through birdsong or the refreshing touch of the wind.
After exploring the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna, you will walk for 5 minutes to the lunch spot and have time to eat your delicious box lunch provided by our company, admiring the surrounding tropical flowers, then relax and recharge energies. You will also see the campsites where people doing the classic Inca Trail spend the night before reaching Machu Picchu. You will also have access to the toilets but they are very rustic.
After lunch, you will have a mostly flat hike to Inti Punku, (gate of the sun), from where you will have your first view of the impressive architecture of this majestic Inca City. Although the one-hour hike is a gentle up and down, it ends with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Incas. Once you reach the stairs you will know you are almost at Inti Punku.
The Sun Gate, also called Inti Punku in Quechua, is located at (2,720 meters/2,924 feet above sea level) is one of the most incredible and mystical sights because when you get to this place you feel an indescribable peace, it is difficult to express in words the impact of seeing this ancient, sacred and world famous site.
After being in this mystical place, you will walk down the Inca Trail for approximately 1 hour until you reach Machu Picchu, once there enjoy the time and take pictures for your memories, then you will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours where you will visit the most incredible and important places of this magical place.
Once we finish this magical experience in one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, we will walk down to the main entrance of Machu Picchu from where we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo. In the afternoon, we will take the Expedition train back at 6:20 pm to the train station in Ollantaytambo and private transportation back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 10:00 pm. If you upgrade to the Vistadome, you will leave Aguas Calientes at 6:10 pm. End of the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 1 Day.
DETAILS FOR THE ONE DAY HIKE MACHU PICCHU
- Meals: Box lunch
- Hiking distance: 12 km / 7.46 miles
- Walking time: 6–7 hours
- Lowest elevation: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft.
- Highest elevation: 2,720m / 8,924 ft.
- Physical rating: Moderate
L , D Meals6 hours Walking Time12 km / 7 miles Walking Distancemoderate and difficult Level of Difficulty2000 masl / 8534 feets Starting Altitude2900 masl / 12845 feets Highest Altitude
What’s Included For the 1 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
- Briefing the night before the trek at your hotel to answer any questions
- Pick up at your hotel in Cusco on the morning of the 1-day Inca Trail trek
- English speaking professional guide experienced in trekking
- Private transport to the train station in Ollantaytambo
- Expedition Touristic Train from Ollantaytambo to 104 kilometer “Chachabamba”
- 01 Box lunch
- Admission Ticket to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu Archeological site
- Private guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins
- Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train Back Expedition from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo train station
- Private Transfer from Train station to Cusco
- First-aid kit including an emergency oxygen tank
What Is Not Included For the 1-Day Inca Trail Trek?
- Flights
- Hotel before/after the trek
- First breakfast & Dinner at Aguas Calientes
- Energy snacks will be very useful as chocolate bars, dried fruits
- Tipping for the guide (the tipping is optional but of great appreciation for them)
- It is not possible to do the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb due to time restraints
Prices: one day Inca Trail hike machu picchu
Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2023 through January 2024. All prices quoted are $USD
- Group service $380 per person
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
Discounts Student Discount 20$ dollars
- Under 15 years will pay as a student: US$20.00
- Under 7 years Discount: US$35.00
Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):
- Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance)
- Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance)