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2 Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

Sun Gate at dusk, day 1

The short trail in a group of ten at most, a night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, a guided tour of Machu Picchu and the Vistadome back. It is one of the few two-day treks with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. One adult paid $625 at checkout.

2 days · 1 nightup to 103-star hotelVistadome backfree cancellation to 24 hsells to one traveller
$625one adult, checkout 29 Sep 20264.89 reviews
Check dates · 24 Oct 2026
sells to one traveller · free cancellation to 24 h
Frame 1 of 5 from the listing
Classic 4-day18 treks · from $750Short 2-day27 treks · from $500One-day trail3 treks · from $498Alternatives27 treks · from $343
2 days · 1 nightduration
Km 104start · 4:45 AM pickup
up to 10in a group
3-star hotelAguas Calientes
Vistadomepanoramic train back
boxed lunchon day one
guided tourof Machu Picchu
Spanish · Englishguide languages
Walk one day, sleep in a bed

2 Day Inca Trail Hike from Cusco, Day by Day

~12 km · 1 hotel night · highest 2 730 m · permit 250/day
walks this day · most reviewed 2-dayCusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome Train$592pp · ★ 4.8 · 332Book
includes this morningCusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome Train$592pp · ★ 4.8 · 332Book

WaterWater is not provided on this listing; bring your own for the day on the trail.

On 24 Oct 2026

Options and Prices

This trek sells one option

4:45 AM pickup · English-speaking guide · Expedition train to the trailhead and Vistadome back · 3-star hotel. One adult paid $625, down from $679.

$625ppBook this trek
sells to one traveller · free cancellation to 24 h

Checked at checkout on GetYourGuide, 29 Sep 2026. The partner's calendar is the price on the day you book.

Read before comparing prices

What Is Included

  • Briefing at the Cusco office
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Expedition train to the trailhead, Vistadome back
  • 1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • Boxed lunch on day 1, dinner at a local restaurant
  • English-speaking guide
  • Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entry
  • Bus down on day 1; round trip on day 2
  • Breakfast on day 1; lunch and dinner on day 2
  • Water — bring your own
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, $85
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
Check dates · $625Options and prices
~12 km of real Inca Trail, Km 104 → Sun Gatepermit 250/day
Km 82
2 720 mWarmiwañusca
4 215 mKm 104
2 100 mSun Gate
2 730 m
Our verdict

The Flexible Two-Day Trek

The only big difference from the two most-reviewed short treks is the one that matters if your plans may change: free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The group is smaller too. It has fewer reviews — nine — and you bring your own water.

Book it if
Your dates are not fixed yet, or you want a group of ten.
Skip it if
You want the most-reviewed option; that is the Vistadome trek we pick first.
“The first day is hard to start but worth it when you reach Machu Picchu”Martin · 27 May 2026 · review of the 2-day hike with panoramic train
Check dates · free cancellationAll short treks
From the listing

What the Reviews Mention

  1. Knowledgeable guides and a well-organised two days.
  2. A hard start on day one that pays off at Machu Picchu.
  3. Machu Picchu in the morning mist on day two.
  4. Little to do in Aguas Calientes after the visit.

In numbersNine reviews in total.

Check dates · $625sells to one traveller · free cancellation to 24 h
Before you book the short trail

What the Short Trail Asks of You

The short trail starts at Km 104, below Machu Picchu, and walks about 12 km past Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate. There is no high pass: most of the effort is three to four hours of steady uphill on stone steps, at a lower altitude than Cusco. You reach the Sun Gate in the afternoon and are down in Aguas Calientes that evening.

Permits
250 a day on the short trail, sold by name. Two to four months ahead is usually enough outside June to August.
Passport
The number given at booking must match the passport you carry.
Fitness
If you can climb stairs for an hour at a time, you can walk it; take it slowly after Wiñay Wayna.
February
Closed for maintenance, like the classic trail.
Pack lightYou walk with a day pack: water if it is not provided, rain gear, sun protection, a warm layer for the evening and your passport.
Check dates on this trekHow permits work When to go
Compare before you book

More Treks We Reviewed

Machu Picchu: 4-Day Inca Trail Hike & Panoramic Train
Read the review — our pick: sells to one at the listing price, 7 kg porter, toilet tent, Vistadome back.
Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome Train
Read the review — our two-day pick: 332 reviews, 3-star hotel, guided citadel, Vistadome back.
Machu Picchu: Inca Trail 2-Day Overnight Guided Tour
Read the review — the best-rated two-day trek: 4.9 from 226, Machu Picchu at sunrise, English-only guide.
From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail
Read the review — two trains to choose from, guides in five languages; first free date 28 November.
Cusco: 2-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Read the review — $550 each with hotel and guided citadel, but only for two or more.
Cusco: 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Hotel
Read the review — group $530 or private $625 each for two, free to cancel; three reviews.
One-day Inca Trail to Machupicchu with the Vistadome Train
Read the review — the trail in one 14-hour day with the Vistadome back, free to cancel.
Check dates · $625All 15 reviews
Pick your date on GetYourGuide

Availability

GetYourGuide · 2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train
Day 2 · afternoonThe Panoramic RoofThe Vistadome back to Ollantaytambo
Same destination, two other ways

Compared with Two Alternatives

Criterion2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic TrainCusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome TrainMachu Picchu: 4-Day Inca Trail Hike & Panoramic Train
Price per person$625$592$798
Inca Trail walked~12 km~12 km42–46 km
Permitshort trail, 250 a dayshort trail, 250 a dayclassic, 500 a day
Highest point2 730 m2 730 m4 215 m
Nights3-star hotel, Aguas Calientes3-star hotel, Aguas Calientestents, shared by two
Through the Sun Gateyesyesyes
Reviews9332594
Rating4.84.84.9
Book ahead2–4 months2–4 months5–6 months
BookBookBook
Twelve details from the listing

Good to Know

01Pickup at 4:45 AM
02Group of ten at most
03Briefing at the Cusco office
04Expedition train there, Vistadome back
05Boxed lunch on the trail
06Bring your own water
073-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
08Dinner at a local restaurant
09Breakfast on day one is not included
10Huayna Picchu or the Mountain: $85 extra
11Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
12Reserve now, pay later at checkout
Check dates · $625Options and prices
Five frames from the listing

On the Trail

Listing frame 1 of 5
Listing frame 2 of 5
Listing frame 3 of 5
Listing frame 4 of 5
Listing frame 5 of 5
★ 4.8 · 9 reviews

What They Wrote

M
Martin
May 27, 2026 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

Well organised 2 day trip. Our guide Ronald made the trek exceptional with his knowledge and experience. The first day is hard to start but worth it when you reach Machu Picchu

J
Josee
Sep 5, 2018 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

Franco, our 23-year-old guide, knows his story at your fingertips. He is attentive and encourages us well. Very beautiful two days. And as Franco said no pain no gain

A
Alessandra
Aug 10, 2025 · GetYourGuide
★★★★☆

A beautiful walk starting at km 104, accompanied by interesting explanations from our guide Noemie. The next day, we got up at dawn to admire Machu Picchu still shrouded in morning mist. After the visit, there wasn't much of interest to do in Aguas Calientes.

M
Margaret
Apr 14, 2024 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

Fantastic guide and amazing hike

About this trek

Questions

Yes, up to 24 hours before for a full refund, according to checkout on 29 September. Most short-trail treks are non-refundable.

Yes. One adult paid $625 for 24 Oct 2026 at checkout, against a strike price of $679.

A boxed lunch on the trail and dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes. Breakfast on day one and lunch and dinner on day two are not included.

Ten at most, against sixteen on the most-reviewed short treks.

No. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs $85 per person extra.

At Km 104, reached on the Expedition train from Ollantaytambo after a 4:45 AM pickup. From there it is about 12 km past Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate.

Your passport, a sun hat, sunscreen, rain gear and comfortable clothes, according to the listing, plus your own water for the day.

If free cancellation or a group of ten matters to you, yes. If you want the longest review record, the other one has 332 reviews against nine.

Book this trek · $625All short 2-day treks
Ready when you are

2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train

Book this trek · $625
sells to one traveller · free cancellation to 24 h
Live availability

Updated 29 Sep 2026 · listing prices as of 28 Sep 2026, checkout prices checked on GetYourGuide 26–29 Sep 2026.

2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train$625pp, from
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