One-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Hike to the Sun Gate, walk Machu Picchu's temples, ride the train home

A one-day Inca Trail hike from Cusco that starts at Km 104, follows the scenic final stretch to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) for your first view of Machu Picchu, then includes a guided tour of the citadel's temples and viewpoints before descending by bus and train back to Cusco. Hotel pickup, lunch, trekking poles, guide and all permits are included. The 17-hour day departs early and returns around 10 p.m. Book at least five months ahead, as permits sell out quickly during high season.

Step-by-step itinerary

Inca Trail Hike and Machu Picchu Visit

• Early hotel pickup in Cusco
• Bus journey through Sacred Valley
• Train ride to Inca Trail start
• Start hike at Km 104 checkpoint
• Visit Chachabamba archaeological site
• Hike uphill toward Wiñay Wayna
• Explore Wiñay Wayna site
• Enjoy boxed lunch at Wiñay Wayna
• Hike to Sun Gate (Inti Punku)
• View Machu Picchu from Sun Gate
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel
• Descend by bus to Aguas Calientes
• Train ride back to Ollantaytambo
• Bus transfer to Cusco hotel

The experience

You leave your Cusco hotel before dawn for a bus ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, where you board a train that follows the Urubamba River toward the trail entrance. The route passes traditional villages, farmland and snow-capped peaks. At Km 104 (Chachabamba), you start the hike uphill for roughly three and a half hours to Wiñay Wayna, an Inca complex built into the mountainside with terraces, fountains and ceremonial structures. Your guide explains the engineering and history as you walk.

After lunch at Wiñay Wayna, a twenty-minute push brings you to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), the original entrance to Machu Picchu, where the citadel appears below you for the first time. You then descend into the site itself for a guided tour of its temples, plazas and terraces, visiting the viewpoints that appear on postcards. Once the tour ends, you take a shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes and board a scenic train back through the valley to Ollantaytambo, then a bus to your hotel, arriving around 10 p.m.

The operator provides trekking poles, a professional English or Spanish-speaking guide, a first-aid kit and oxygen for altitude. Lunch is included. Bring your own breakfast. The hike demands moderate fitness and is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnancy. Permits for the Inca Trail are limited and book out months ahead, especially in peak season, so early reservation is essential.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and shared bus transport to Ollantaytambo.
• train tickets to Km 104 and back to Cusco.
• Short Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• trekking poles.
• boxed lunch.
• first-aid kit and oxygen.
• bus shuttle from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (7 to 85 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Peru Hikers

Is this one for you?The seventeen-hour commitment means you leave before sunrise and return after dark, so this works only if your Cusco day is free from start to finish. If you need a shorter outing or an afternoon departure, the full Inca Trail or a day trip that doesn't include the hike would suit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How difficult is the hike on the Short Inca Trail?

The Short Inca Trail requires moderate physical fitness. The main climb is roughly three and a half hours from Km 104 to Wiñay Wayna, followed by a twenty-minute walk to the Sun Gate. The trail gains elevation but is shorter and less strenuous than the full four-day Inca Trail.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup?

Hotel pickup happens early in the morning so you can reach Ollantaytambo train station and start the hike at Km 104 with enough daylight. You return to your Cusco hotel around 10 p.m., making this a full seventeen-hour day.

Is the train ride back to Cusco included?

Yes. After your visit to Machu Picchu, you take a shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes, then board a scenic train that follows the Urubamba River back to Ollantaytambo, where a bus returns you to your hotel in Cusco.

What is the Sun Gate and why is it important?

The Sun Gate (Inti Punku) is the original entrance to Machu Picchu used by the Inca. Reaching it on the hike gives you your first panoramic view of the entire citadel before you descend into the site itself.

When should I book this tour?

Book at least five months in advance. Inca Trail permits are limited and sell out quickly, especially during high season (May to September). Early booking ensures you get your preferred departure date.