The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Camino Inca/ Camino Inka/ Qhapaq Ñan) is a hiking trail that takes around five days to complete. The scenic, stone path takes you through high alpine and cloud forest landscapes to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) before descending to Machu Picchu. If you’re short on time but still want to hike, you can do the Short Inca Trail, which is roughly two days with an overnight stay in a campground or hotel.
What is the Short Inca Trail?
The Short Inca Trail is a variation of the classic Camino Inca that begins at KM 104. With my professional guide Shandira, I took a train from Ollantaytambo that went to Machu Picchu. While the train took most of the tourists to shuttle buses to ride to Machu Picchu, Shandira and I got off at KM 104 and started hiking toward the Sun Gate. We passed several Inca sites, including Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, where we stopped and Shandira explained their rich history and significance.
What’s the distance and elevation of the hike?
The hike is roughly 7.5 miles or 12 km, with an elevation gain of 480m or 1,574 ft. Please note that Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco in elevation at 2,400m or 7,873 ft, and the highest point you’ll reach is 2,730m or 8,957 ft at the Sun Gate before descending to Machu Picchu. It’s best to not start this hike until you’ve been in Cusco for a couple days to allow your body to adjust to the Andean altitude. You can chew coca leaves or drink muña tea to help with the process.
How do you get to the Inca Trail?
You will depart from the train station in Ollantaytambo, a town around 1.5 to 2 hours from Cusco. On the train, you must ask the train attendants to let you off at KM 104. From there, you will show your permits and passports to the staff at the beginning of the trail, and then start your hike toward the Sun Gate, and then down to Machu Picchu.
How do you make reservations for Machu Picchu?
Due to the popularity and historic significance of Machu Picchu, the Peruvian government only allows 500 visitors on the Inca Trail per day. It’s even fewer for the Short Inca Trail with just 250 tickets. It’s important that you make reservations well in advance to enter the site. If you want to climb one of the two mountains rising above Machu Picchu—Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu—you must make a separate reservation. You can make reservations directly with the Peruvian government, although most tour operators and guides will handle this for you. Please note that all visitors are now required to enter Machu Picchu with a tour guide, regardless of their route.
What to pack for the Short Inca Trail
You must pack your passport, or a government-issued ID, because a photocopy or picture on your phone is not allowed by the Peruvian government. I would highly recommend bringing a dry bag or other water-proof protection for your ID. My passport was almost water damaged when it rained during our hike, which could have hindered me from leaving the country or using my passport again in the US.
Other essentials
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Travel insurance
- Daypack/ small hiking pack
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- Phone/ camera/ power bank/ charger
- First aid kit with moleskin or bandages for blisters
- Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries (phone light is not a good alternative)
- Water (at least two liters) and camelback or reusable water bottle (plastic bottles are not allowed in some areas)
Clothing
- Warm jacket
- Sun hat/ ball cap
- Warm hat and gloves
- T-shirt/ long-sleeve shirt
- Hiking pants or comfortable pants
- Waterproof jacket and rain poncho (I would recommend having a poncho to cover your pack even if you have a raincoat/ waterproof jacket)
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking boots or trail runners (I used my trail running shoes, and they worked just fine for two days of hiking)
Optional items
- Shorts
- Extra cash
- Lightweight sandals/ flip-flops
- Walking sticks/ hiking poles (they need a rubber tip on the end as pointy tips are not allowed in some areas)
- Swimsuit and towel if you want to go to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes after the hike
Food
Most operators will have food included in the price of their tour, but you should have breakfast, lunch, and snacks. If you’re camping, make sure you have enough food for dinner, too. If you’re staying in Aguas Calientes, you can go to a supermarket or restaurant for dinner on the first day and also get breakfast and lunch in town on the second day.
Where to stay
You have two options for accommodation when hiking the Short Inca Trail: camping or staying in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Your tour operator will likely give you a choice between the two, along with the prices and list of things to bring. My guide Shandira and I stayed at a hotel since we were the only people on the tour. However, Shandira’s tour operator, Evolution Treks, offers a camping option at Machu Picchu’s municipal campsite, and it includes all camping gear including tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, along with camping food prepared by professional chefs.
What is Machu Picchu Mountain?
When you arrive at Machu Picchu, you have the option to also climb two mountains: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. This offers sweeping views of the ruins far below and is a great choice if you were unable to hike in from the Sun Gate and want a bird’s eye view of Machu Picchu. You will need to have separate reservations to access these areas, which you can talk to your tour guide about or make here. Huayna Picchu takes about 1.5 hours to complete while Machu Picchu Mountain is around three hours roundtrip.
When should you go?
The Inca Trail is closed to visitors during February for repairs. It’s best to hike the Inca Trail in the shoulder months (late April/ early May and late September/ early October) of the dry season. I did my hike in early May 2023, and Shandira and I had the trail practically to ourselves. We were also two of maybe 10 people climbing Machu Picchu Mountain that day.
Short Inca Trail itinerary
This is from the Evolution Treks website, the tour operator I chose:
Day 1
- Day one usually begins at 5:40 am. Shandira and I actually started at 3 am, because we were driving from Cusco and wanted to take the first train.
- We drove to the train station in Ollantaytambo and then took the train to kilometer 104.
- We had a scenic train journey (approximately two hours) to the starting point of the Inca trail, at KM 104 or Chachabamba.
- From there, we hiked around three hours to the Inca site Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) at 2,680m or 8,792 ft.
- After lunch, we kept hiking until we reached the Sun Gate, Inti Punku, at 2,730m or 8,957 ft. This is where we had our first dramatic panoramic view of Machu Picchu.
- We continued our hike toward Machu Picchu where we paused for a photo-op and then took a shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes.
- In Aguas Calientes, Shandira and I had dinner together and then went back to our hotel. There are also thermal springs you can visit, if you have time.
Day 2
- Day two began bright and early at 5 am where we caught a shuttle bus back to Machu Picchu. We started with a walking tour where Shandira explained the history of the site.
- After that, we climbed Machu Picchu Mountain, a hike that takes around three hours to complete. You also have the option to climb Huayna Picchu which takes around 45 minutes to reach the top.
- After Machu Picchu Mountain, we went back down to view more of Machu Picchu and take a few photos and videos.
- Next, we had lunch with Shandira’s friends in Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo.
- Finally, our driver picked us up at the train station and took us back to Cusco where I was dropped off at my hostel.
Alternative routes and options
The classic Inca Trail takes around four to five days and includes camping and traveling with guides and porters (local hiking experts who help carry and set up gear). Here are some alternative options to reach Machu Picchu:
- The Four-day Inca Trail
- The Five-day Inca Trail
- The Lares Trek + Short Inca trail
- The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu
- The Salkantay Trek + Short Inca Trail
- The Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail
- The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek (This is the trek I would do if I had over a week’s worth of time because it allows you to visit Choquequirao. This Inca site is larger than Machu Picchu but rarely visited and can only be reached by foot.)
For more information on any of these treks, visit here.
Tour Operators and Guides
Tour operators and professional hiking guides are everywhere in Cusco, and it can be difficult to decide which agency is best. I reached out to my tour guide Shandira after seeing her featured on the Instagram page of a US-based group I follow called Indigenous Women Hike. Shandira responded back immediately and told me she hadn’t led many tours since she’d given birth to her daughter but was working on setting up her own tour company: Mother Earth Treks.
She patiently answered all my questions and helped me set up my tour to Machu Picchu through Evolution Treks, a company she runs with her husband Miguel. Evolution Treks is an Indigenous-women led tour agency, and you can even book tours for women only, led by women guides and women porters. Even our excellent driver to Ollantaytambo was a woman.
When choosing a tour guide or operator, it’s important to make sure that porters are not carrying too much weight and everyone involved is being paid a fair salary. I would recommend finding a group led by Indigenous Peruvians who know the area, rather than foreign companies and groups. You can find tours through your hostel or hotel or by reaching out to local guides in the area. You can also message me, and I’ll put you in contact with Shandira directly.
Here’s a short clip from when we reached the Sun Gate and had our first view of Machu Picchu:
Overall, hiking to Machu Picchu was well worth the hype. Although you can take the train directly there, I think it’s worth it to spend some time on the Inca Trail if you’re physically able and have at least two days of hiking time. I’d also recommend climbing Machu Picchu Mountain if there’s clear weather. If you’re OK with vertigo and have less time, go with Huayna Picchu Mountain, which also offers stunning views of the ruins. To explore day tours that don’t involve Machu Picchu, visit here.