Two Day Inca Trail Trek

Please update your Flash Player to view content.

Two Day Inca Trail Trek

Peru Tour package to Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
We offer a price guarantee for Peru vacation packages
Top testimonials, safety, and comfort
Daily departures and fully customizable Latin America tours

Take a step back in time and explore the mysterious Machu Picchu citadel on an exciting Peru travel adventure. Declared one of the Seven New Wonders of the World and teeming with fascinating legends and history, Machu Picchu is without a doubt the highlight of any traveler’s trip to Peru. But reaching the famed citadel by foot along the original Inca Trail brings a whole new perspective to this mystical experience.

The 2-day Inca Trail trek offers a less demanding option than the regular 4-day trek, perfect for visitors who wish to arrive to the ruins by foot, the same way the Inca originally did, while retaining their comfort. This trail starts towards the end of the 4-day trek and follows the final leg of the famous route.

While walking along the beautifully preserved trail you will see ruins carved out of solid rock as well as enjoy the jaw dropping scenery of the stunning Andean mountains. The 2-day route offers a perfect taste of a Peru trekking adventure, with the added comfort of a night in a quality Machu Picchu hotel.

Day 1 : Inca Trail - KM. 104 to the Sun Gate
Day 2 : Machu Picchu Tour

Day 1 : Inca Trail - KM. 104 to the Sun Gate

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your Cusco hotel and transferred to the train station. You’ll take the train through the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley to the station at kilometer 104. Here you will begin your hike following the original path of the Incas through the beautiful Andean mountains.
The first Inca ruins you will encounter are those of Chachabamba, a small archaeological complex believed to have once been a guard house to Machu Picchu. From here the trail ascends for three hours until you reach 8,690 feet (2,650 meters). You will visit the site Wiñay Wayna, which means “Eternal Youth” in the indigenous Quechua language. The name comes from the perennial orchids that speckle the landscape, making Wiñay Wayna perhaps the most beautiful place on the Inca Trail. It is also the last urban center before Machu Picchu.
Wiñay Wayna consists of 4 main sectors: the urban sector, located in the lower part and containing more than 20 buildings; the ritual sector; the terraced sector for crops; and the tower sector, which boasts the site's finest architecture and was probably a place of religious or social importance.
After touring the site and lunching, you will continue on to the Inti Punku or the "Sun Gate," from where you can see Machu Picchu in all its majesty and grandeur. From Inti Punka you will hike downhill toward town for roughly 30 minutes. You will then take a bus into the mountain town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

Hike Distance: 7.5 (12 km)
Minimum altitude: 7,380 feet (2,250 m)
Maximum altitude: 8,690 feet (2,650 m)
Approximate time: 7 to 8 hours
Gradient: Moderate

Day 2 : Machu Picchu Tour

Rise early and head to the bus station for the 20-minute drive up to the entrance of Machu Picchu, where you will be given a 2-hour guided tour of the citadel. If you choose to breakfast at 5 a.m. or pack a breakfast box, you can reach the citadel for sunrise.
The magnificent Inca handiwork is abundantly evident even centuries after first creation by its genius engineers. The precisely carved walls contrast sharply with the wild, verdant mountains and steep highlands. The city itself can be divided into 3 areas: the urban, agricultural, and adjacent zones. In the urban sector you can find the Temple of the Sun, Royal Tomb, ceremonial fountains, Royal Palace, Temple of the Three Windows, Main Temple, Intiwatana and more. The agricultural sector includes the cemetery and the Funeral Rock. Finally, the adjacent zones include Intipunku, the Temple of the Moon, Huayna Picchu, and the Drawbridge.
You may want to take advantage of Machu Picchu’s spiritual setting to meditate and relax. But the more adventurous can take a 90-minute climb up the nearby peak of Huayna Picchu. On the way down from Huayna Picchu, take the trek past the Temple of the Moon, once a retreat for Inca nobles and priests. The extra trek is not for the faint of heart and must be done with extreme caution. However, the opportunity to see Machu Picchu from another angle is often enough to draw the more adventurous visitor. Note that park officials limit the number of visitors to Huayna Picchu to 400 per day and tickets need to be purchased in advance. See our FAQs page or below for more information.
After your day in Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to collect your belongings from your hotel and return to Cusco by train, where you will be met for a transfer to your hotel.

See our Machu Picchu Guide for more information on what see and do, as well as Machu Picchu restaurants that we recommend for tasty dining.

Check our Trekking & Adventure FAQs to help you prepare for your Inca Trail Trek and contact your travel advisor for any additional questions.

Included

Transfer from your Cusco hotel to the train station
Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Transfer from the train station to your Cusco hotel
Meals for the tour (one lunch and one dinner)
Bus tickets: One ticket for Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (at the end of the first day walking), and a roundtrip ticket for Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (second day)

Our guides are professional and multilingual. Not only do they possess an excellent knowledge of the Inca Trail, but also of all of the intricate archaeological, historical, and cultural Inca traditions. All of our tour personnel are also highly qualified in tour group management and in first aid.

Not Included

Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Round trip train ticket from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
Meals after arrival to Machu Picchu

Packing List

Comfortable hiking shoes
A hat, sunglasses, and sun block to protect you from the strong sun (especially at Machu Picchu)
Insect repellant
A canteen or similar for the trek as disposable plastic water bottles are prohibited
Your camera with extra memory and batteries

Optional extras you may want

Chocolates and candy. Sugar boosts are great for keeping you going
You can buy coca leaves and tea for relieving altitude sickness
Wooden walking sticks to help you climb the trail, trekking poles with metal tips are not permitted as they can damage the trail

What to Bring
Tips
Asked questions
Terms and Conditions
Reservations

What to Bring

Personal documents (passport).
Walking stick.
Walking shoes.
Sleeping bag.
Flashlight.
Insect repellent.
Sunscreen.
Toilet paper.
Bottle and tablets to purify water.
Waterproof clothing.
long pants.
Short pants.
Rain clothing.
Slippers or sandals to relax the feet in the camp.
A cap or hat.
Personal medications

Tips

The most probable thing is that you suffer the altitude sickness when you arrive to the city of the Cusco, we suggest to be in the city of the Cusco at least two days before the tour, not to drink alcohol, to smoke nor to take sedatives.
Drink a lot of water and coca tea before and during the tour, drink at least two liters of water a day.
In the height it is breathed rapidly and slightly deeply.
If you have some medical condition as allergies or special needs for food, please describe it clearly in advance before starting the tour.

Asked questions

How do i know more details about the tour?
A night before the tour, our guide will go to the hotel to give you all the necessary details of our trek, he will confirm when pick up from hotel and some other recommendations.
Where will I be able to leave my baggage while my walk lasts?
You only must carry what you are going to use during your walk, you can leave the rest of luggage in the warehouse of the hotel where is staying.
Can I rent trek equipment in Cusco?
Of course, you can rent trek the equipment (sleeping bags, sticks of hiking, and other implements) that we have, during your session information.
How many people are going in each group of walk?
For a group of walk aperture, we need at least six people. In our web page we have a table where we have listed the dates of future exits to this walk, there you can register and be part of the any group.
Will I have to share the tent sleeping with someone more in the camps?
If the tents that we carry for the camps are for two people, you will have to share this tent with someone of the same sex. If you prefer you can pay an extra for a single tent just for you.
Is it possible to have an extra (additional) porter for the walk?
If you want to enjoy this trip and does not have a lot of experience, you can pay for one extra(additional) porter, who take your walk equipment and other personal implements.
Is it necessary to bring extra money for the walk?
Yes, if you want to buy more water bottles, buy some souvenirs, or leave tip for porters, cooks, etc.
We recommend to carry an average of 200 soles for any extra expense that may arise.
Are the walking sticks very important?
yes, the sticks are very useful at the time of ascending and down the mountain, walking sticks help, especially passengers who have problems with the knees.
How much water I have to wear during the walk?
We suggest you to bring 2 liters of water during each day of the walk. Every night in every camp we will provide you the amount of water you need to perform the walk the next day. During the journey we will pass through some streams and waterfalls that are descended from the snowy peaks, and you can take water of it but before you have to purify them.
Is it safe to travel in the rainy season?
During the rainy season the path becomes somewhat difficult, requires a good team of rains as boots to test water and others, but no doubt the landscape that shows this route is very colorful. The rainy season is during the months of December and part of April.
Is it possible to change the date of reservation chosen at the beginning?
of course, you can make the change of date on your tour with a minimum time in advance of 30 days.
Can I pay the whole trip in advance?
Usually we receive a deposit of 50% of the tour cost, and the other 50% is performed in the city of Cusco before your departure to the tour, but you can pay the whole trip if you want to.

Terms and Conditions

The trek to Choquequirao for 4 days and 3 nights will be carried out with a minimum of 6 people.
If you suffer any medical problems or allergies you have to communicate to Lonely Travel
You have to be with a good physical condition to perform the walk, and if you have any doubts in this regard will have to consult with a doctor. If you have more than 60 years of age, you will have to submit a medical certificate that guarantees its physical state.
If you want to leave the group, the camp and make tourism on its own account, it is important to report this to the guide. If you have problems please advise the guide to resolve it immediately.
You have to pay the total of the remaining tour two days before it starts.
you are responsible for carry your backpack staff and sleeping bag during the walk, unless you had paid for an extra porters.
The walk to Choquequirao is long, but satisfactory.
If there are not a minimum of 6 people, the tour could be canceled.
About the cancellation of the tour:
- Cancel the tour two months before, lose $100
- Cancel the tour one month before, lose 40% of the total cost of the tour
- Cancel the tour one week before, lose 60% of the total cost of the tour
- Cancel the tour 48 h. before, lose 75% of the total cost of the tour
- Cancel the tour one day before, lose 85% of the total cost of the tour.
Lonely Travel will take all reasonable precautions in the provision of service to our customers to avoid an accident, illness, loss of personal property, etc. We accept responsibility for the actions of our own employees. Lonely Travel, however, is not responsible for the additional costs that may result due to events unexpected and unavoidable as unfavorable weather conditions, natural disasters, strikes, accidents, illness, injury, loss of personal belongings, etc. It is the responsibility of customer to have an insurance to cover such events. We reserve the right to modify or cancel the program due to any of the before mentioned conditions.
In the booking of any of our adventure tours (Camino Inca, Salkantay, Ausangate, Choquequirao, Inca Jungle, Lares, etc.) You know the risks that this implies by which you fully assume the risks that are required to carry out such travel, Lonely Travel does not accept any responsibility with regard to events that can be passed during the journey by the negligence of the tourist or events that are outside our control
I have read and accept the trip conditions.

Reservations

Review and choose one of the confirmed dates of exits on this trek.
(If you do not agree with dates we have, contact us for starting another date for you.)
Make your tour reservation providing asking information.
Fill correctly all the boxes of our pattern of reservations.
Your reservation will be confirmed after you make the deposit of 50% of the total cost of the tour.