The Short Inca Trail with Camping – 2 Days and 1 Night
The short Inca Trail with a camping adventure includes six hours of hiking along the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This tour begins with a first day of hiking for four hours uphill.
Gradually ascend to the famous ruins of Wiñaywayna, where you will stop for lunch. From this point, you will hike for one more hour until you reach the Sun Gate, where you will have the opportunity to see Machu Picchu for the first time.
With this package or tour option, you will enjoy an overnight stay at our exclusive camp, reserved only for Tunqui Expeditions hikers. This campsite includes a well-deserved hot shower, freshly prepared meals, and areas to charge batteries/phones.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This 2-day Inca Trail hike includes six hours of trekking along the famous trail to Machu Picchu, offering the short route through the Inca Trail. Start your first day with a four-hour uphill hike to the ruins of Wiñaywayna, a beautiful place for lunch and enjoying the outdoors.
From there, it’s one more hour to the Sun Gate, where you will see Machu Picchu for the first time.
Afterward, you will head to your first-day campsite, closer to the town of Aguas Calientes. Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your incredible trekking chef, and then rest.
The next morning, you will head to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the wonderful ruins of this Inca citadel.
HIGHLIGHTS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – WIÑAYWAYNA – INTIPUNKU – MACHU PICCHU
Hotel pick-up around 4:00 am, transfer to Ollantaytambo to board the train to Km 104, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After a delicious breakfast prepared by the chef, begin the trek for approximately 6 to 7 hours until you reach Machu Picchu in the afternoon.
You will visit various Inca sites, pass through the Sun Gate (Intipunku), and see Machu Picchu nearly empty in the afternoon. We will camp just below Machu Picchu mountain and near the Vilcanota River.
DAY 02: MACHU PICCHU (THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS) – CUSCO
You will be awakened early with a cup of coffee in your tent, and after breakfast, take the bus to Machu Picchu. Your guide will lead you to explore the most important buildings, plazas, and streets of the citadel.
After the guided tour, you can opt for additional hikes to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (different from the Machu Picchu citadel and not included).
Later, travel back to Cusco on the panoramic train and arrive at your hotel around 7:30 p.m.
Highlight of the Day: Take in the breathtaking scenery while visiting archaeological sites and catching your first glimpse of the magnificent Machu Picchu.
Walk the ancient trails and step into the past.
Your adventure begins in Cusco at 4:00 a.m. or in Ollantaytambo (5:30 a.m.). We will head to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the early train towards the Inca Trail; the journey will take 1.5 hours, stopping at Chachabamba, the starting point of the trail at Km 104. Upon arrival, you must show your original passport to gain entry to the Inca Trail.
Here, our chef will be waiting to serve your first breakfast right at the start of the hike. At Wiñaywayna, you will enjoy a hot lunch, freshly cooked by one of our chefs. You can refill your water bottle and take some time to rest after lunch. Dinner will be served at the campsite; all meals are buffet-style with a variety of options.
From the checkpoint at Chachabamba, we will begin our hike along the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for approximately 6 to 7 hours. You will visit key sites such as Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna, enjoying a delicious lunch with spectacular views and a rich variety of flora and fauna.
You will reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where you will catch your first glimpse of this awe-inspiring archaeological site. Arriving in the afternoon allows you to witness Machu Picchu with fewer crowds as many visitors begin to leave.
Afterward, you will take the bus down to Puente Ruinas, where the chef and porters will be waiting to serve dinner. You will spend the night and enjoy this camping experience.
Upon arrival at the campsite, your tents will already be set up; you can take a refreshing hot shower, enjoy tea time with the guide, and have dinner before resting in your comfortable private tents.
Highlight of the Day: Enter the Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu, and explore its ancient streets and incredible architecture.
Discover the astonishing Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
The most important day of this adventure is the visit to Machu Picchu. You will be woken early in your private tent with a cup of coffee. After a nutritious breakfast, we will take the first buses up to Machu Picchu to witness the sunrise. This makes for a unique experience, allowing you to visit Machu Picchu twice – at sunset and again at sunrise.
The guided tour lasts 2 to 3 hours, during which we will explore the citadel’s highlights – temples, palaces, and enclosures. If you have reserved tickets, you can opt for additional hikes to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (different from the Machu Picchu citadel).
After the tour, we will explain how to return to Aguas Calientes by bus, have lunch (not included), and board the panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, private transportation will return you to Cusco. Tunqui Expeditions will drop you off directly at your hotel around 7:30 p.m.
