2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Sunset & Sunrise Views

Two viewings of Machu Picchu instead of one: sunset from the Sun Gate, then sunrise the next morning.

A 2-day guided hike from Cusco along the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, departing early and climbing through Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna to reach the Sun Gate by afternoon. You see the citadel twice (first in soft light with fewer visitors, then at dawn the next day), and return to Cusco on the panoramic Vistadome train. Hotel, meals, guide and all entrance tickets are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu

• Hotel pick-up in Cusco early morning
• Train ride to Km 104 along Urubamba River
• Check-in at trailhead and picnic breakfast
• Visit Chachabamba Inca site
• Hike uphill through cloud forest
• Explore Wiñay Wayna Inca site
• Picnic lunch at Wiñay Wayna
• Hike to Sun Gate for Machu Picchu view
• Walk down and tour Machu Picchu Circuit 1
• Bus descent to Aguas Calientes
• Dinner at local restaurant and overnight stay

Day 2: Machu Picchu sunrise and return

• Breakfast at hotel and early bus to Machu Picchu
• Sunrise viewing over Machu Picchu
• Guided 2-3 hour Machu Picchu tour
• Free time or optional Huayna Picchu hike
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch
• Vistadome train ride back to Cusco
• Escort from Ollantaytambo station to hotel
• Drop-off at hotel in Cusco evening

The experience

The trek starts before dawn with pickup from your Cusco hotel around 4 a.m., then a train ride along the Urubamba River to Km 104, where you'll check in with your passport and eat a chef-prepared breakfast. From there, the hike climbs through cloud forest past Chachabamba, an Inca ceremonial site with water channels, and continues uphill for about four hours to Wiñaywayna: a hidden Inca complex perched on the mountainside. Lunch happens on the trail, prepared by the expedition's chefs, before you push on toward the Sun Gate (Intipunku). This is where most day-trippers turn back. You arrive in the afternoon when the site has emptied out, giving you clear sightlines and soft light for photos before descending by bus to Aguas Calientes for dinner and a night in a 3-star hotel.

Day two starts early with breakfast at the hotel, then buses back up to Machu Picchu to catch sunrise if the weather clears. Your guide leads a 2- to 3-hour tour of the temples, palaces and terraces, explaining the city's history while you walk the main circuit. After that, you have free time to explore on your own or book an optional hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Montaña (tickets sold separately and should be reserved ahead). You'll have lunch in Aguas Calientes, then board the Vistadome train, a panoramic car with large windows, for the scenic ride back through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, where a driver meets you for the final transfer to your Cusco hotel around 7:30 p.m.

The route includes safety gear (satellite phone, first-aid kit, oxygen), a pre-departure briefing the day before you leave, and luggage storage so you can send a small bag ahead to Aguas Calientes instead of carrying it on the trail. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the operator handles all logistics (train tickets, park entry, hotel booking, meals), so you show up and hike.

What’s included

• Train transport to Km 104 and return on the panoramic Vistadome train.
• expert guide for the Inca Trail hike and in-depth Machu Picchu tour in English or Spanish.
• all entrance tickets for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• picnic breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• one night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes with private bathroom.
• round-trip bus service from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
• safety equipment including satellite phone, first-aid kit and oxygen.
• pre-tour safety briefing the day before departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by TreXperience

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Machu Picchu at sunset and sunrise without committing to a longer trek, and your guide can lead in English or Spanish. Choose at booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What's the difference between the 2-day and 4-day Inca Trail?

The 2-day short route covers roughly 12 kilometers and reaches Machu Picchu in one afternoon hike, while the 4-day classic trail is longer and spends more nights on the mountain. Both end at Machu Picchu. The 2-day gets you there faster and includes the same sunrise viewing the next morning.

Do I hike the entire way to Machu Picchu on day one, or is there transport?

You hike from Km 104 through Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna to the Sun Gate, roughly 12 kilometers, then take a bus down from the Sun Gate to Aguas Calientes. The bus saves your legs after the climb and gets you to the hotel in time for dinner.

What's included in the meals, and can I request vegetarian options?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on day one. Breakfast and lunch on day two. The operator provides vegetarian meals if you request them at booking. Day two lunch is in Aguas Calientes before your train ride, and optional if you prefer to eat elsewhere.

Will I see Machu Picchu twice, and what's the advantage?

Yes, you arrive at the Sun Gate in the afternoon of day one when most day-trippers have left, giving you quieter access and better light for photos. The next morning you return for sunrise and a full guided tour of the temples and terraces with fewer crowds than a typical midday visit.

How do I get back to Cusco, and what's the Vistadome train like?

After your morning tour and free time at Machu Picchu on day two, you take a bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then board the Vistadome panoramic train. It has large windows along the sides and roof, so you can watch the Sacred Valley and mountain scenery the whole way back to Ollantaytambo, where a driver transfers you to your Cusco hotel.

What should I pack, and how much can I bring?

Bring a daypack with essentials for day one: water, sunscreen, a light layer. A small carry-on bag can be sent ahead to your Aguas Calientes hotel so you don't carry it on the trail. The operator offers complimentary luggage storage in Cusco for anything you don't need during the trek.