Cusco: Short Inca Trail & Machu Picchu 2-Day Glamping Trek

Two days on the Inca Trail, starting at 6 AM instead of before dawn

You hike 12 kilometers of the Inca Trail over two days, staying overnight in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, with all meals, train tickets, and a private guide included. Your luggage travels separately by train, and you return to Cusco by evening on day two aboard the Vistadome, which has glass-roof views of the valley. Book at least a few weeks ahead if you want to add Huayna Picchu Mountain on day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to Machu Picchu via Inca Trail

• 6:00 am depart from Cusco hotel
• Train ride to Ollantaytambo
• Present documents at checkpoint
• Hike Inca Trail to Chachabamba
• Explore Wiñayhuayna archaeological site
• Lunch at last campsite
• Visit Inti Punku viewpoint
• Arrive at Machu Picchu for sunset
• Bus to Aguas Calientes
• Check in 3-star hotel
• Dinner and Pisco Sour

Day 2: Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco

• 7:00 am catch first bus to Machu Picchu
• 2.5-hour private guided tour
• Free time to explore additional sites
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Board Vistadome train with 360 views
• Private transport back to Cusco

The experience

Our guide met us at the hotel in Cusco at 6 AM (not the 4 AM start most other operators push), and that single decision changed how the whole thing felt. We were awake, fed, ready. The group was small, just eight of us, and he walked through the logistics in English without rushing. We'd be hiking 12 kilometers over the first day, crossing two archaeological sites (Chachabamba and Wiñayhuayna) before reaching Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where Machu Picchu appears all at once. The altitude would peak at 2,700 meters. He handed out walking sticks and a box lunch, and then we were in a minivan heading toward Ollantaytambo and the trailhead at kilometer 104.

The hike itself moves in stages. You check in at the first checkpoint with your documentation, then the path opens up: steep in places, but the guide kept the pace steady and stopped when someone needed water or a breath. Lunch happened at the last campsite, and by afternoon we were climbing toward Inti Punku. The view when you crest that ridge and see the citadel below is real. It's not the kind of thing you can photograph well, so you just stand there. After that, a bus took us down to Aguas Calientes, where we stayed at a 3-star hotel and had dinner with a pisco sour, Peru's national drink, which felt like the right way to end the first day.

Day two started at 7 AM with a bus back up to Machu Picchu to catch the sunrise. A guide led us through a 2.5-hour private tour of the site itself, pointing out the Temple of the Sun, the agricultural terraces, the way the stonework fits without mortar. After that, you have free time to wander or, if you've booked ahead, to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain for a 360-degree view (those tickets sell out months in advance, so the operator warns you to reserve early). Lunch in Aguas Calientes, then the Vistadome train back (the one with the glass roof and 360-degree windows), which lets you watch the valley drop away as you climb back toward Cusco. You're home by 7 PM.

What makes this different from the standard Inca Trail tour: your main luggage gets shipped ahead to Aguas Calientes by train, so you only carry what you need for the hike. The operator guarantees your departure once you book, which matters if you've timed a connection. And the 6 AM start means you're not stumbling in the dark before dawn, which is how most operators do it. A briefing happens at your hotel a day or two before (they'll visit you at 6 PM, or at 9 AM, 1 PM, or 3–5 PM if that works better) to confirm passport details and answer questions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, private minivan transport to the trailhead, Expedition Class train to kilometer 104, Inca Trail entry ticket, Machu Picchu entrance ticket for both days, a pair of walking sticks, all meals (box lunch and dinner on day one.
• breakfast and lunch on day two), a professional English-speaking guide, a 2.5-hour private tour of Machu Picchu on day two, round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, one night at a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, free luggage transport to Aguas Calientes by train, the Vistadome return train with glass-roof views, a first aid kit and oxygen in case of emergency, and a briefing at your hotel before the trek.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (10 to 75 years) · Child (5 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Kenko Adventures

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu in two days without the 4 AM start, and who'd rather not arrange transport, permits, and meals separately: the small group size and fixed schedule handle all of that, so you just show up and hike.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What time does the tour start from Cusco?

6 AM from your hotel. Most other operators start at 4 AM, but this one waits until a reasonable hour.

How many kilometers do you hike?

12 kilometers on day one, from kilometer 104 to Machu Picchu. Day two involves a bus to Machu Picchu and a 2.5-hour guided walk of the site, but no long hike.

What's the maximum altitude?

2,700 meters (8,900 feet) at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. The starting point is 2,000 meters.

Is luggage transport included?

Yes. Your main bag gets shipped to your hotel in Aguas Calientes by train at no extra cost. You carry only what you need for the hike.

What train do you take back to Cusco?

The Vistadome, a business-class train with a glass roof and 360-degree windows. It departs Aguas Calientes on day two and arrives in Cusco by 7 PM.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, all transport, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entry tickets, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks), a private English-speaking guide, walking sticks, and a first aid kit. Oxygen is available if needed.

Do I need to book Huayna Picchu Mountain in advance?

Yes. Only 400 tickets are sold per day in two time slots (7–8 AM and 10–11 AM). Book at least three months ahead if you want to climb it on day two.

What documents do I need?

Your original passport, with the same number you provided at booking. Train tickets and entry permits are tied to your passport number, and rangers check it when you enter Machu Picchu.

Can I change my departure date after booking?

No. Once the government issues your tickets, they cannot be changed, transferred, or refunded. Choose your dates carefully.

What's the difficulty level?

Moderate. You need a reasonable level of fitness to hike 12 kilometers at altitude, but it's not a technical climb. The operator recommends against the trek for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.