About the Short Inca Trail

If you book to join this trek you must be in Cuzco the day before the trek starts for a briefing. You will be notified of the time and venue for the briefing before you arrive in Cuzco.

On the day of your trek, we will meet you at a central location in Cuzco around 5:00 am and transfer by private vehicle to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From Ollantaytambo, we will catch a train to KM 104, the starting point for our trek where we will need to show our permits and passports.

After crossing the Rio Urubamba, the trail heads towards our first Inca ruin, Chachabamba. Archaeologists believe that Chachabamba was once an important religious site. Chachabamba is also thought to have played a secondary role protecting this entrance to Machu Picchu. After leaving the site, the trail begins to ascend and enters the cloud forest. We continue trekking uphill, crossing a grassy hillside before reaching a spectacular waterfall. From here it is a short trek to the impressive Inca site of Wiñay Wayna where we will stop for lunch. Approaching from the lower terraces of the ruins, we will climb a long stone staircase to reach the upper levels of Wiñay Wayna. Here we meet the main Inca Trail and will continue walking for 1-2 hours through cloud forest to the Sun Gate, the entrance to Machu Picchu. At this time of day there will be few tourists around and there will be plenty of time to soak up the view before we catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay at a hotel.

• Elevation: from 3400 metres to 2750 metres to 2050 metres
• Trekking distance: 10 kilometres
• Trek time: 6-7 hours

An early start is required as we catch the bus back up to Machu Picchu. You will be given a guided tour of the site, which will last for around 2½  to 3 hours. There is an option to climb Huayna Picchu, the famous mountain behind the ruins, but you will need to book a permit in advance.  In the afternoon, we will catch the train from Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where you will be met by our driver who will transfer you back to Cuzco.