2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Hike the Sun Gate entrance

You enter Machu Picchu on foot through the Sun Gate, not by bus like most visitors.

A 2-day guided hike on the Inca Trail from Cusco covers 15km through cloud forest and Inca ruins, culminating in entry through the Sun Gate at afternoon light, followed by a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu the next morning. Hotel, all transport from Cusco, train tickets, meals and a professional English-speaking guide are included. Huayna Picchu Mountain is an optional add-on.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Inca Trail hike to Aguas Calientes

• Drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
• Breakfast in Ollantaytambo
• Train to Kilometer 104
• Hike 15km on Classic Inca Trail
• Visit Winay Wayna ruins
• Picnic with mountain views
• Pass through cloud forest
• Reach Sun Gate for Machu Picchu views
• Photo stop at Guard House
• Bus to Aguas Calientes
• Free time and optional hot springs
• Overnight at hotel

Day 2: Machu Picchu visit and return

• Hotel pick-up and walk to bus station
• Bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am
• Pass Machu Picchu checkpoint
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Optional Huaynapicchu hike
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Drive back to Cusco
• Drop-off at hotel

The experience

The trek starts at 4:00 am from Cusco with a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo for breakfast, then a train ride to kilometer 104 where the trail begins. You hike 15km through the Sacred Valley, passing Inca sites and lush cloud forest, with a mountain-view picnic at Winay Wayna. The afternoon push to the Sun Gate delivers views of Machu Picchu with fewer crowds than the standard routes. The light and the emptiness are what make the iconic Guard House shot work. A bus then carries you down to Aguas Calientes for the night, with time for optional hot springs before dinner.

Day two starts at 5:30 am with a 30-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. After a checkpoint, your guide leads a 2-hour tour of the sanctuary, covering its history, geology, architecture and the plants and animals that live there. If you booked Huayna Picchu Mountain separately, that hike happens here. Otherwise you have free time to walk the terraces and passages on your own. Lunch follows in Aguas Calientes, then the train carries you back to Ollantaytambo, where your driver meets you for the final drive to Cusco, arriving around 7:30 pm.

The 2-day format compresses the classic route into a single overnight, which means less time on the trail but no compromise on the Sun Gate entrance or the guided Machu Picchu experience. You sleep in a 3-star hotel both nights, eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (vegetarian options available), and carry nothing except a day pack. The operator provides a picnic tent, chairs and table for the midday stop. A satellite phone and oxygen tank travel with the group, and a first aid kit is on hand.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation both nights.
• pickup and drop-off at your Cusco hotel.
• all transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and back.
• round-trip train tickets between Ollantaytambo and kilometer 104.
• 3 bus tickets for the hike and Machu Picchu access.
• Inca Trail permits.
• Machu Picchu entry ticket (Circuit 1 and Circuit 3).
• 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner with vegetarian options.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• picnic tent with chairs and table for the midday stop.
• satellite phone and oxygen tank.
• first aid kit.
• free storage for extra belongings at the office.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 00:00

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by AB Expeditions

Is this one for you?Choose this 2-day version if you're based in Cusco and want to enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate on foot without the time commitment of a longer trek.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How much of the Inca Trail do I actually hike on this 2-day trip?

You hike 15km of the Classic Inca Trail, starting at kilometer 104 and finishing at the Sun Gate in the afternoon of day one. The second day is Machu Picchu itself: no trail hiking, just the guided tour and optional Huayna Picchu climb if you book that separately.

What time do I need to be ready on the first morning?

Pickup from your Cusco hotel is at 4:00 am. The drive to Ollantaytambo takes 1.5 hours, and you'll have breakfast there before boarding the train to kilometer 104.

Is the Sun Gate entrance really less crowded than the standard Machu Picchu entry?

Yes. The Sun Gate approach arrives in the afternoon when most day-trippers have already descended, giving you clearer views and better light for photographs. The standard bus route brings visitors up in the morning when the site is fullest.

What's included in the meals, and are there vegetarian options?

You get 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner across the 2 days. Vegetarian meals are available. Let the operator know when you book.

Can I add the Huayna Picchu Mountain hike to this tour?

Yes, Huayna Picchu is an optional add-on for $65 per person, booked at checkout. The hike happens on day two after the guided Machu Picchu tour, before you head to lunch and the train back.

What happens if I'm not fit enough for 15km of hiking?

The operator recommends at least moderate physical fitness. The trail includes elevation gain and uneven terrain. If you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns, this trek is not suitable. Contact the operator before booking.