Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu: 2 Days

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS INCA TRAIL EXPEDITION:

• Permit to hike the Inca Trail and entrance ticket to Machu Picchu: These permits and entry tickets for Circuit 1 are required for all travelers, and they are included in the price of this excursion (If you’d like to explore the site more thoroughly, an additional ticket is required: we recommend Circuit 2 for a full revisit, or Circuit 3 to explore the lower part of the archaeological complex. Both options are subject to availability and have an extra cost).
• High quality service: Our Peruvian guides, professional drivers, and lodging hosts all have extensive experience in their occupations to ensure your health, safety, and comfort. It is extremely important for us that we have you, our guest, in good hands.
• Professional guide in English and Spanish: Our Peruvian-owned company hires local, educated, and experienced guides to facilitate our tours. Our trekking and environmental knowledge, as well as our inherited knowledge of the local people and culture, will provide you an authentic and well-connected experience along our ancestral lands.
• 24/7 WhatsApp support for assistance during your trip
• One-night hostel stay in Aguas Calientes (hotel upgrade available)
• Box lunch on Day 1
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes on Day 1,
• Breakfast on Day 2
• All transportation, from the moment when we pick you up from your stay in Cusco to when we drop you off there again at the end. This includes:
• Private transport: Cusco → Ollantaytambo (Day 1) & Ollantaytambo → Cusco (Day 2)
• Expedition train: Ollantaytambo → KM 104 & Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo
• Round-trip bus tickets: Machu Picchu ↔ Aguas Calientes

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Water and snacks during the hike
• First breakfast on Day 1
• Lunch and dinner in Aguas Calientes on Day 2
• Tips for Our Staff: Tipping is customary on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Typically, our small groups pool tips and then distribute them together to our porters and cooks near the end of our trek.
• Additional costs or delays beyond our control, including unforeseen weather events, schedule changes due to personal safety, political instability, etc.

To fully enjoy the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, it’s essential to be well-prepared. This short but impactful journey requires attention to logistics, health, and travel documentation. Below are key points to keep in mind before starting your adventure:

✔️ Book in advance

Permits for the 2 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are limited and controlled by the Peruvian government. They tend to sell out quickly, especially during the dry season (May to October). We recommend booking at least 2–3 months ahead of your travel date.

✔️ Stay in Cusco before your trek

Although the altitude is not extreme on the trail itself, spending at least one night in Cusco (3,399 m) or the Sacred Valley before the hike will help your body adjust and minimize the risk of altitude sickness.

✔️ Physical preparation

The Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is considered moderate in difficulty. You’ll hike around 12 km (7.5 miles) with some steep ascents. A basic level of fitness and confidence walking on uneven terrain is recommended.

✔️ Required documents

You must bring your original passport (the same one used to book your permit). If you booked with a student discount, a valid international student ID (ISIC) must also be presented. These documents are checked at the trailhead and at Machu Picchu.

✔️ Best time to go

The best months to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu are from April to October, when the weather is drier and conditions are safer. The trail remains open during the rainy season (November to January), but we recommend bringing appropriate rain gear.

✔️ Travel insurance

Having travel insurance is highly recommended. It should cover trekking activities, medical emergencies, cancellations, and transportation disruptions.

WHAT TO BRING FOR YOUR TWO DAY INCA TRAIL TREK

• Official Passport (not a copy!): This is a requirement enforced by the Peruvian government. When you book with us, we will ask you to share your passport information with us so that we can purchase your entrance tickets and permits. Please bring the official passport that you shared with us (and not a different one) because your passport number will be printed on your entry ticket. 
• Valid Student Card (if booked as a student)
• Cash: There are no ATMs along the Inca Trail. Bring enough money for tipping, lunch in Aguas Calientes, and bathrooms, drinks, and snacks along the route.
• Personal Medication: You can bring personal medication and over-the-counter medicines, provided that they are in their original packaging, and that the medication is legal in Peru. It is a good idea to bring printed copies of prescriptions for medicines, eyeglasses/contacts, and other medical supplies. 
• First Aid Kit: We recommend that you assemble a small first aid kit that includes handy supplies like bandages, antibiotic ointment, and antiseptic wound cleaner. 
• Sunscreen: The sun is much stronger where the atmosphere is thin like this, and it is much likelier to experience sun burns. SPF 50+ will offer you the most protection.
• Insect Repellent: Machu Picchu is situated in a tropical mountain forest that is also home to insects. If bugs and mosquitoes love you, consider packing some anti-itch gel or cream in addition to insect repellent.
• Hand Sanitizer and Extra Toilet Paper: While our trek is well-equipped and prioritizes your comfort, we are, after all, camping! Some sections of our route have fewer services, and you will want to clean your hands and body with hand-sanitizer or wipes.
• Personal Hygiene Products, like toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
• Reusable Water Bottle or Camelbak
• Comfortable Hiking Boots: Each day, we will walk on the famous stone highway built centuries ago by the Incas. Although this path is robust and stable, some sections are hilly and rugged, and you will need a decent amount of tread on your hiking shoes. A lightweight hiking shoe with good soles/tread will help keep your attention on beauty and history around you, rather than any pain in your feet. 
• Comfortable Camping/Hangout shoes: After hiking, you will want to change into a light-weight, comfortable pair of sandals or “hang-out” shoes. 
• Comfortable hiking clothes: We recommend bringing additional pairs or layers of clothing, in case things get dirty or wet, and to to add on or take off to adjust to the changing temperatures. Include items like:
• 1-2 sweat-wicking T-shirts
• 1-2 pairs of hiking pants
• 2 sets of underwear
• 2 sets of hiking socks
• 1 rain jacket and a pair of rain pants, or durable poncho: Weather can be quite capricious in the Andes, and rain and high winds can occur at any time of the year. No matter the season, waterproof layers are a must.
• 1 warm coat or down jacket: We do recommend bringing another warm coat or down jacket — in addition to your fleece jacket and waterproof layer — because it can get quite cold in the nights and early mornings.
• 1 sun hat to protect yourself from any sunburns or sun poisoning
• 1 wool hat to protect your head and ears from any high-altitude chills
• Optional, Bathing Suit and Towel: Once we arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes on the final day of our excursion, you have the option to visit the town’s thermal hot springs. This activity is not included in the price of our package, though many of our guests choose to go to relax their muscles after completing this epic trek!