Experience in a more enjoyable way the pilgrimage to Macchu Picchu by the Short Inca Trail with Camping
2 DAYS / 1 NIGHTS Short Hike
Experience in a more enjoyable way the pilgrimage to Macchu Picchu by the Short Inca Trail with Camping
2 DAYS / 1 NIGHTS Short Hike




















The Short Inca Trail with camping involves the 2-day hike to Machu Picchu with a professional tour guide, cook, and porters. Spend a night in Machu Picchu camping in the Puente ruins and viewing the sacred mountain.

This Short Inca Trail with Camping is An excellent alternative to reach the last stretch of the Inca Trail. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for people with little time to spare.
We begin our Short Inca Trail at a moderate altitude of 2,500 m, passing through a rainforest; we will make an excursion for about 4 hours until we reach the spectacular ancient ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Siempre Joven).
Late in the afternoon, we will arrive at Inti Punku (Puerta del Sol), the original entrance to the mysterious «Lost City of the Incas,» Machu Picchu.
We will take a bus to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in a hotel of your choice. The next day, hike up to the Pyramid forms Huayna Picchu accompanied by your guide. Afternoon train back to Cusco.
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In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel very early at 4:10 a.m. we take a train to Ollantaytambo.
This is one of the most magnificent train rides globally, with its phenomenal views of the Urubamba River, the rise of snowy peaks, and corn farms.
As we go down, you will see micro-climate changes, from mountains and cornfields to green jungle valleys with ferns, bromeliads, and orchids, as the temperature begins to warm.
This train trip is an hour and 45 minutes to Km 104, where we will disembark to meet your chef and trekking porters. You can also enjoy breakfast before starting your hike. Be sure to bring your original passport, as this is the first checkpoint along the Inca Trail. After breakfast, you will have time to prepare before starting the walk.
Shortly after, we will explore the first Inca site, Chachabamaba. Chachabamaba was the first Inca control post to enter the Inca Trail. Your guide will give you some background history about this ruin, followed by the ascent of three hours to the most famous Inca site along the way, Wiñay Wayna.
You will see incredible views of the Machu Picchu Valley and the Urubamba River along the trail, as well as the native flora and fauna of the area. There are also waterfalls and spectacular views of Machu Picchu Mountain.
The course itself has some flat areas and short uphill and downhill climb. It also has steps arranged in sections, which may be narrow in some areas, but not dangerous.
Once you arrive at the Wiñay Wayna Inca site, you will have time for a tour by your tour guide. It will also provide time to explore the Inca site, temples, waterfalls, gardens, warehouses, watchtowers, and agricultural terraces.
It’s just a short walk to the lunch spot where your trekking chef and porters will be ready with cold drinks and delicious fresh food, prepared by our cook and served buffet style. After lunch, there will be time for a short nap.
Then it will be an hour, a gradual climb, and a descent hike to get to Puerta del Sol, where you will have spectacular views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and the surrounding valleys.
The Incas used the Puerta del Sol to observe the sunrise of Machu Picchu during the summer solstice. From here, it is another hour of trekking to the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Once in Machu Picchu, you can explore the watchtower area to get lovely pictures of Machu Picchu (without crowds). Then we will take the 20-minute bus ride to the Puente Ruinas camping site.
Before arriving at the camp, we will visit the small museum of Machu Picchu, which contains photos of the condition of Machu Picchu when Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911.
Mummies, bracelets, tools for working stone and metallurgy, weaving tools, and ceramics found on the site are also insights.
When you get to the camp, you will have all your tents. You will meet your porters and enjoy a social happy hour with hot drinks and dinner.
Later in the evening, we will have a small ceremony with their chef and porters to say goodbye to them. They will still be there the following day to cook breakfast. This is the proper goodbye.
We will start the day very early with a hot drink. You will have time to prepare your bags and packages for the day and enjoy breakfast.
We will walk to the bus station to be one of the first on the line to climb to Machu Picchu (it is optional to take a one-hour hike to the ruins if you would like).
The first buses will depart at 5:30 am and arrive at 6:00 am in Machu Picchu. It would help if you had your original passport at the checkpoint. Your guide will take you to the perfect place to enjoy the sunrise over the mountains (weather permitting). Then we will have a private tour, guided by two hours, of the ruins of Machu Picchu, with all its fascinating history.
You will also have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. If you have booked a permit to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, this is an excellent time to rise. However, there are many other things to see around Machu Picchu: the Inca Bridge is one of the best options – you can climb to Puerta del Sol for free or walk around the temple and residential areas of Machu Picchu to mingle With the Flames.
You will have to take your bus back to the city of Aguas Calientes for lunch and to take the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. From there, you will go by private van to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.
For this Short Inca Trail with camping, you will need to send us your passport details such as full name, passport number, nationality, and date of birth in order to process it.
If you do not send the correct data, you will be denied entry to the Inca Trail!!!!
If you still want to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, you will have to pay a new permit ($100.00).
The Short Inca Trail starts in Cusco, but if you are spending a night outside of Cusco, then please check the table below for possible starting and pick-up points.
If you have extra luggage, it can be safely stored at your hotel in Cusco or at the train station in Ollantaytambo. If you choose the latter, our driver picks up your luggage on the day of the trail departure and drops it off at our office.
Machu Picchu Mountain, also known as the «Old Mountain», is the mountain on which the Inca citadel was built. It is located at an altitude of 3,082 meters, that is, almost 600 meters above the Inca city.
Machu Picchu Mountain has the capacity to receive 800 tourists a day, who ascend the mountain’s wide path while experiencing breathtaking views of the entire geography of the place.
In order to visit the mountain, it is necessary to purchase in advance the Machu Picchu + Mountain Ticket.
Huayna Picchu, or the «Young Mountain», is a mountain located north of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It is the summit that stands out in the classic postcard of the Wonders of the World and is 2,693 meters high, 300 meters higher than the Inca city.
The climb to Huayna Picchu is requested by most adventurous visitors as they enjoy taking selfies there. To reach its summit, one must ascend a narrow trail to the edge of vertiginous cliffs to be rewarded by splendid views of the New Wonder of the World at the end. The climb is considered one of the most incredible short walks in the world. However, it is only accessible to 400 visitors a day.
To climb Huayna Picchu, it is necessary to previously buy the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket (80 USD/person).
In case it is sold out, Tierras Vivas reserves the Machu Picchu mountain for you.
What to pack for the Short Inca Trail with camping
You should pack as light as possible as you will be carrying your luggage from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes. We recommend keeping the weight under 5 kg/10lb (including personal clothing).
Don’t forget to bring a cover for your backpack.
The high mountain region of Cusco has well-defined winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June to August) are very sunny, dry and warm, but the temperature drops to near freezing at night. Summer (January to March) is characterized by rainfall.
The heaviest rains usually occur between January and March.
October is still dry, but colder, with temperatures dropping to 0 degrees at night.
The rainy season from November to April gives the feeling of a tropical downpour. It rains a lot, but the showers usually do not last long or the rain is usually overnight.
From May to September (which is the high tourist season), temperatures along the Short Inca Trail range from 20 – 35º C during the day when it is sunny and 10 – 20º C during the day if it is cloudy and 5 – 15º C at night.
February – the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance during the entire month which falls in the so-called «low season».
Landslides are an occasional problem. Although rare, it has happened that visitors get stuck in Machu Picchu or between Aguas Calientes and Cusco because a driver blocked the road.
Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very necessary to have light rain gear in the backpack (poncho or rain jacket and/or rain pants), as the weather changes easily and sudden showers can occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, as well as a fleece sweatshirt and jacket.
| Number of persons | Price per person |
| 1 | $640.00 |
| 2 | $610.00 |
| 3 | $580.00 |
| 4 | $550.00 |
| 5 | $520.00 |
| 6 | $490.00 |
| 7 | $460.00 |
| 8 | $460.00 |
Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2022 through January 2023. All prices quoted are $USD
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need for extra Porter hire!).
Discounts: Short Inca Trail with camping
Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):
The Short Inca Trail is the fastest route to Machu Picchu of the Inca Trail network.
This route is ideal for passengers who have less time to visit Machu Picchu, or those who do not have the physical condition necessary to tackle the other routes of the Inca Trail.
The Traditional Inca Trail has a duration of 4 days. It has a medium level of difficulty and includes camps along the route. We visit around 6 Inca archaeological remains, and we will visit the citadel of Machu Picchu on the last day. It is usually done in groups of several passengers.
The Short Inca Trail lasts 2 days. Being a private tour, the groups are small. In addition, the difficulty of this route is much lower and does not include camping outdoors, staying overnight in the town of Aguas Calientes.
The climates you will experience are not as extreme as the traditional route, however we recommend always packing warm clothing such as jackets, gloves, warm pants, and more.
The Short Inca Trail has a duration of 2 days.
During the first day we will walk the route from Chachabamba, Wayllabamba and Intipunku. You will be able to appreciate the wonder of Machu Picchu from the first day. You will spend the night in Aguas Calientes.
On the second day, you will visit the wonder of Machu Picchu with a professional guide. You will learn all the secrets of the citadel and have free time to explore at your leisure before returning to Cusco.
You can review the detailed itinerary on the Short Inca Trail tour page.
We will see the ruins of Chachabamba. Then we will pass through Wayllabamba. Finally, we will arrive at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu: Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate, from where you will be able to appreciate the first views of the Inca citadel.
We recommend hiking the Short Inca Trail during the dry season, from April to November. During these months the sunshine is appropriate for the best photographs of the Andean landscapes.
Do not forget to check the availability of spaces before making your reservation. We recommend that you reserve your space at least 4 months in advance.
No. People of any age can do the Short Inca Trail. Happy families or groups of friends walk step by step this adventure without problems.
Yes, if you live in a low-altitude area, we recommend you do previous training to be able to complete the route without complications. We suggest hiking for half an hour or more in order to increase your endurance as well as cardiovascular exercise training.
Don’t forget to ask your doctor about special indications for the Short Inca Trail and review more suggestions for your health on the 2-day Inca Trail.
No. During the 2-day Short Inca Trail, on the first day you will spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. On the second day you will return to Cusco.
How is the food In the Inca TRail 2 Days?
On the first day you will receive a box lunch. You will eat with your fellow travelers with a view of the ruins of Wiñaywayna. In Aguas Calientes, you will have a delicious dinner.
We recommend that you bring a bottle of water to hydrate yourself during the hike. Drinking water and electricity are available in the town of Aguas Calientes at the end of the first day.
Another of the frequently asked questions for the Short Inca Trail with Camp is to have knowledge of the altitudes at which the adventurous travelers will find themselves and in this way perhaps choose the right tour, Short Inca Trail or Classic Inca Trail. In that understanding, the maximum altitude will depend a lot on the type of trek you hire, since there are routes of 2, 4, 5, and 7 days.
Maximum altitude is 2730m.a.s.l/8956 ft.
The activity level for the trek is easy and can be done privately or in groups.
The service is quality and the decision is yours.
Trekking 04 Days Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu:
Maximum altitude is 4200m.a.s.l/13 779ft.
The activity level for this trek is moderate.
Private and group service.
05 Days Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu:
Maximum altitude on the is 4200m.a.s.l/13779 ft.
The activity level for this trek is moderate.
07 Day Trek Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Altitude of the hike is 5,200m.a.s.l/17060 ft.
The activity level for this trek is difficult
It is necessary to be in good physical condition.
Briefing: On the 2nd or 1st day before your trek, the guide will visit you at your hotel for the briefing.
Transportation Short Inca Trail: All your transportation is included in this trek. You will be picked up directly from your hotel in Cusco around 4:30 am. – 05:30 a.m. (unless you are staying in Ollantaytambo) and taken to Ollantaytambo, to take a train to km 104, the starting point of the trek.
Professional Guides Short Inca Trail: All our guides have studied English and tourism. They all grew up in this region and have a real passion for teaching others about their heritage. They are fun but professional and will make sure you are safe and happy.
Permits Short Inca Trail: As soon as we receive your details and a deposit, we will purchase your permits. These permits are for a specific date and in your name. They cannot be changed, once confirmed. You are only allowed to update your passport number. The permit includes an entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
Food on the Short Inca Trail: You will be provided with a snack on the first day to enjoy along the trek. You will also enjoy dinner in the town of Aguas Calientes and breakfast the following morning. Lunch on the last day is not included.
Water on The Short Inca Trail: A 500 mL bottle of water is included in the lunch box. You must provide your own water bottles or camelback. We recommend bringing about 3L worth of water.
First Aid: Each guide has been trained in first aid by a doctor. Your tour guide will always have a first aid kit for basic medical problems (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen. We will get you off the road as quickly and comfortably as possible, if necessary, and make sure you get directly to a clinic for treatment.
Accommodation on the Short Inca Trail: We spend the night in a small locally owned hotel with private bathroom and breakfast facilities (Double or Twin room). All the hotels we use in Aguas Calientes are located within walking distance of the train stations. If you wish to upgrade your accommodation or have your own hotel reservation in Aguas Calientes, the discount is U$ 20 per person (Double or Single room).
We recommend advance booking of individual supplements and accommodation before and after the tour. Single accommodation can be arranged for a supplement, subject to availability. Please request at the time of booking.
Extra Tickets for the Short Inca Trail:
As you can see, there are several optional upgrades that you can include on this trip. Below is a quick list of prices:
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Huayna Picchu is the mountain that rises next to Machu Picchu. It is a 45 minute hike to the top. While this hike is done on your own, your guide will tell you where this hike begins. This is an additional entrance ticket that we can secure for you with advance notice. The Huayna Picchu ticket costs $80 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain is the other mountain that towers over the ruins of Machu Picchu. It offers even more impressive views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes an hour and a half to reach the top. This is an additional entrance ticket that we can secure for you. This ticket costs $80 per person.
In SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES we are not only a Travel Agency, we are a 100% Quechua family with more than 15 years of experience in the world of tourism. Our mission is to offer an unforgettable experience that will mark your life, based on Inca values: honesty, love and respect. For this reason, we offer a different kind of tourism, in which our priority is to give you more than a fun trip, a trip of reunion with yourself, to know your essence through the most sacred thing we have, our land, the Pachamama.
We are specialists in creating a personalized experience, so we have more than 28 tours that can be modified according to your needs (from the classic Inca Trail to innovative and alternative tours such as Moonstone) because there are many ways to know Machu Picchu, however, we are convinced that there is only one right for each client. . We also offer tours for clients with special needs.
We offer personalized assistance 24 hours a day, before and during your trip. When you contact us, you will be attended by our Peru travel experts, who will be happy to assist you and help you as soon as possible, answering your questions and providing you with information, as well as recommendations to prepare you physically and mentally for the experience you will live.
All our staff is 100% Quechua and is in constant training to always offer the best possible service. Our guides are Quechua mystics who will provide you with a unique experience. They also have basic training in photography and are equipped with a semi-professional camera to document your entire trip so you don’t have to worry about anything except enjoying every moment. Our cooks have chef training and will be informed of any dietary restrictions (such as allergies).
SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES is a local travel agency and tour operator authorized by the institutions that govern tourism regulations in Peru. That is why we have the necessary licenses and permits to operate within our country.
We also emphasize that we are against the exploitation of the Pachamama (earth) and our wayki (brothers), so we offer a totally ecological tourism and well paid for all our workers, as we seek to be the difference in everything.
We know you will be happy with our service, as evidenced by the hundreds of testimonials from our traveler clients from all over the world. See the recommendations and memories of travel experiences in various social networks such as TripAdvisor, which will explain why you should choose SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES for your next vacation in our country.
About our growth process
Continuous improvement is one of our commitments. One of our principles is that the work of each area is important to achieve the best final product. Therefore, throughout our history we have developed several projects with different areas, which have given us the following results:
We have completed the policy of our Integrated Management System as a sign of the guarantee of our organization.
Continuous training to tour guides, cooks, porters, drivers, people in charge of different areas such as Sales, Reservations, Operations, Administration, etc., in customer service, quality of service to tourists, knowledge of the route, and other topics concerning the tourism industry in Peru. Due to our progress in these areas, we have received the CALTUR 2021 Certification from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
About SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES Licenses and Authorizations
SULLPAYKY EXPERIENCES – Travel Agency and Tour Operator, complies with all the requirements and licenses necessary to operate and offer various services in the field of tourism throughout the Peruvian territory. The institutions mentioned below are in charge of regulating the tourism industry in Peru and we are subscribed to them:
We are authorized by DIRCETUR (Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Cusco), a government agency that promotes competition, sustainability, and diversification of Peruvian exportable products, tourism, and handicrafts.
We are subscribed to PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism), an institution belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of our country.
We are also subscribed to SERNANP, in order to operate in the Inca Trail Network. The National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State, which is a specialized technical public agency of the Peruvian government, under the Ministry of Environment of Peru, is in charge of directing and establishing the technical and administrative criteria for the conservation of the Natural Protected Areas of Peru.
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