Machu Picchu: 2-Day Inca Trail Hike with Sun Gate Entry

Summary

Walk ancient paths from Cusco to Machu Picchu with cloud forest views and shared stories

You’ll start before sunrise in Cusco and hike ancient Inca trails past cloud forests and hidden ruins, sharing mountain views and local meals along the way. Enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate as afternoon light spills over stone terraces, then explore with your guide before heading back to Cusco full of new stories.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound of the van door thumping shut in the dark outside our Cusco hotel — way too early for my brain, but somehow everyone was grinning anyway. Our guide, Maribel, handed out coca tea packets and made a joke about “Inca alarm clocks.” The drive to Ollantaytambo was mostly quiet except for someone’s soft playlist in the back seat. I watched dawn creep over the Sacred Valley fields through foggy windows. When we finally got off the train at kilometer 104, it hit me — this was really happening. Boots on dirt. The air had that sharp green smell you only get in high mountains after rain.

We passed old stones at Chachabamba where Maribel pointed out some faded carvings (I almost missed them), then hiked up switchbacks where orchids just hung there like they owned the place. Lunch was at Winay Wayna — bread, fruit, something sweet I can’t pronounce — with a view so wide it made me laugh out loud. There was this moment when we stopped talking and just listened: birdcalls, wind in the grass, my own heartbeat slowing down a little. Walking through the cloud forest felt like moving through a dream; everything dripped or glowed or rustled.

I didn’t expect how emotional it would feel stepping through the Sun Gate that afternoon — Machu Picchu spread out below us with barely anyone else around. It looked smaller than I’d imagined but more alive somehow. We took photos by the Guard House (everyone does), then caught a bus down to Aguas Calientes where dinner tasted extra good just because my legs were jelly. Some people went for hot springs but honestly I just wanted a shower and sleep.

The next morning came fast: quick breakfast, sleepy faces, mist on the street as we lined up for the bus before sunrise. At Machu Picchu itself our guide told stories about stonework and lost cities — she even showed us a tiny orchid growing out of a wall that most people walked right past. Afterward there was time to wander or climb Huaynapicchu if you booked ahead (I skipped it; knees said no). Lunch back in town felt like a reward before catching trains and vans all the way back to Cusco. I still think about that first glimpse from the Sun Gate sometimes — not sure any photo could really catch it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Inca Trail hike to Aguas Calientes

• Depart Cusco at 4:00 am
• Drive 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo
• Breakfast in Ollantaytambo
• Train to Kilometer 104
• Hike 15km on Classic Inca Trail
• Visit Winay Wayna ruins
• Enjoy mountain-view picnic
• Pass through cloud forest
• Reach Sun Gate for Machu Picchu views
• Take iconic Guard House photo
• Bus to Aguas Calientes
• Free time until dinner
• Overnight at hotel

Day 2 — Machu Picchu visit and return to Cusco

• Hotel pick-up early morning
• Bus to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am
• Pass Machu Picchu checkpoint
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu (2 hours)
• Optional Huaynapicchu hike (if booked)
• Return to Aguas Calientes
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Train to Ollantaytambo
• Drive back to Cusco
• Drop-off at Cusco hotel around 7:30 pm

Top questions

How long is the 2-day Inca Trail hike?

The trail covers about 15 kilometers from kilometer 104 to Machu Picchu over two days.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup in Cusco is included at around 4:00 am on day one.

Are meals provided during the tour?

All main meals are included: two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners with vegetarian options available.

Do I need to buy separate tickets for Machu Picchu?

No, access fees for both the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are included in your booking.

Can I visit Huaynapicchu Mountain during this trip?

You can hike Huaynapicchu if you book this option separately for an extra fee ($65 per person).

Where do we stay overnight?

You’ll spend one night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes after hiking on day one.

How do we return to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu?

You’ll take a train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then transfer by vehicle back to your hotel in Cusco.

Is this trek suitable for beginners?

A moderate level of fitness is needed; it’s not recommended for travelers with certain health conditions or limited mobility.

What’s included

Your journey includes early morning hotel pickup from Cusco, all entry fees for both the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu sanctuary, round-trip train rides between Ollantaytambo and kilometer 104/Aguas Calientes, guided hikes with local experts who share stories along each stop, plus two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners (vegetarian options available), comfortable vehicle transfers throughout, an overnight stay at a hotel in Aguas Calientes after your hike—and plenty of time to rest your legs before heading home again.