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From Cusco Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail

Sun Gate at dusk, day 1

The short trail from Km 104 with a hotel night in Aguas Calientes, a guided visit next day and a choice of train: $653 on the Expedition, $664 on the Vistadome for one adult. Groups of up to 13, guides in five languages. At checkout on 29 September the first free date was 28 November 2026.

2 days · 1 nightup to 13standard hotelExpedition or Vistadome5 guide languagessells to one traveller
$653one adult, checkout 29 Sep 20264.912 reviews
Check dates · 28 Nov 2026
sells to one traveller · non-refundable
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 · 4:00 or 6:00 AM
up to 13in a group
standard hotelAguas Calientes
your choiceExpedition or Vistadome
lunch boxon day one
guided visitof Machu Picchu
5 languagesEN · ES · FR · IT · PT
Walk one day, sleep in a bed

2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu from Cusco

~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

First dateNo dates were open in October at checkout on 29 September; 28 November was the first, with a 4:00 or 6:00 AM start.

On 28 Nov 2026

Options and Prices

OptionStartGroupPrice pp
Expedition train Lowest price4:00 or 6:00 AMup to 13$653Book
Vistadome train6:00 AMup to 13$664+$11Book

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 before departure
  • Transfers Cusco ↔ Ollantaytambo
  • Standard hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • Official guide
  • Lunch box on day 1, dinner
  • First aid
  • Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entry
  • Bus down on day 1; round trip on day 2
  • Train (tourist class or panoramic, by option)
  • Lunch after the Machu Picchu tour
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
Check dates · $653Options 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

Worth a Look for the Train Choice and the Languages

Twelve reviews at ★ 4.9, a smaller group of thirteen and guides in five languages make it a good fit for travellers who do not want an English-only tour. The price is higher than the two most-reviewed short treks, and the next free date is in late November.

Book it if
You want a French, Italian or Portuguese guide, or a smaller group.
Skip it if
You need a date before late November.
“Getting to Puerta del Sol at the end of the road is super gratifying and is twice as enjoyable as going by direct train.”Esteban · 6 Nov 2022 · review of the 2-day Inca Trail from Cusco
Check dates · 2-day from CuscoAll short treks
From the listing

What the Reviews Mention

  1. Attentive guides who adjust the pace for slower walkers.
  2. About seven hours on foot, much of it uphill, with time to rest.
  3. The arrival at the Sun Gate as the highlight.
  4. One four-star review says the parts around the trek were less smooth than the trail itself.

In numbersTwelve reviews in total, most of them five stars.

Check dates · $653sells to one traveller · non-refundable
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.
2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train
Read the review — groups of ten and free cancellation up to 24 hours; bring your own water.
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 · $653All 15 reviews
Pick your date on GetYourGuide

Availability

GetYourGuide · From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail
Day 1 · afternoonThe Sun Gate by DuskThe first view, before the hotel night
Same destination, two other ways

Compared with Two Alternatives

CriterionFrom Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca TrailCusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome TrainMachu Picchu: 4-Day Inca Trail Hike & Panoramic Train
Price per person$653$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
Nightshotel, Aguas Calientes3-star hotel, Aguas Calientestents, shared by two
Through the Sun Gateyesyesyes
Reviews12332594
Rating4.94.84.9
Book ahead2–4 months2–4 months5–6 months
BookBookBook
Twelve details from the listing

Good to Know

01Choose Expedition or Vistadome at booking
02The Vistadome costs $11 more
03Starts at 4:00 or 6:00 AM
04Group of up to 13
05Guides in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese
06Lunch box on the trail, dinner in town
07Standard hotel, not a star rating
08Lunch on day two is not included
09Not suitable under 8
10Non-refundable
11First free date at checkout: 28 Nov 2026
12Bring travel insurance and a day pack
Check dates · $653Options 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
★ 4.9 · 12 reviews

What They Wrote

M
Marie-Sophie
Sep 24, 2025 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

It was a breathtaking experience. Hiking the Inca Trail is so impressive, and the tour was exceptionally well-organized throughout. Our guide, Lenin, was fantastic. He was incredibly attentive to our needs and catered to them perfectly. Hiking the Inca Trail isn't easy; it…

M
Matthew
Nov 19, 2024 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

Our guide Lenin was incredible. made our experience so good. He was full of knowledge and fun also took some great pictures of us.

O
Océane
May 17, 2024 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

A unique experience allowing you to discover Machu Picchu from an exceptional angle. For this, we were accompanied by Lenin, an extraordinary guide, kind, attentive, patient, full of positive and inexhaustible energy on the subject of the Incas.

A
Alessandra
Aug 8, 2023 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

exceptional!!! a huge thank you to Lenin, our great guide

E
Esteban
Nov 6, 2022 · GetYourGuide
★★★★★

The walk is totally spectacular. It lasts approximately 7 hours, much of it uphill, but the guide gives you plenty of time to rest and enjoy the scenery. The height was not an issue, unlike some other hikes we did. Getting to Puerta del Sol at the end of the road is super…

L
Lisanne
Aug 11, 2024 · GetYourGuide
★★★★☆

The activity itself is really great! Raoul, our guide, was great! He adjusted his pace when it went too fast for us, told us about the surroundings and gave us the space to walk ahead ourselves since we were two people who were a bit slower. The entire trail itself was great.…

About this trek

Questions

Only the train. At checkout for 28 November, one adult paid $653 on the Expedition and $664 on the Vistadome, which has the panoramic roof.

At checkout on 29 September the calendar had nothing open before 28 November. Permits on the short trail sell out closer to the date than classic ones, but this listing was full.

English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, according to the listing.

About 12 km. One reviewer in 2022 put it at roughly seven hours, much of it uphill, with plenty of rests.

No, the listing is non-refundable.

Transfers between Cusco and Ollantaytambo, a standard hotel in Aguas Calientes, an official guide, a lunch box on day one, dinner, entry to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, the buses and the train of the option you choose.

Book this trek · $653All short 2-day treks
Ready when you are

From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail

Book this trek · $653
sells to one traveller · non-refundable
Live availability

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

From Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail$653pp, from
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