Visiting: Cusco · Ollantaytambo · Km 104 · Chachabamba · Wiñay Wayna · Inti Punku (Sun Gate) · Machu Picchu · Aguas Calientes
Overview
The Inca Trail 1 Day — the full-day "Short Inca Trail" — is the perfect choice if you want to walk the legendary Inca Trail but are short on time. In a single day you hike the final 12 km from Km 104 along original Inca pathways, through cloud forest and past remarkable ruins, arriving at Machu Picchu through Inti Punku, the Sun Gate — one of the most spectacular entrances in all of Peru.
Along the way you visit the Inca sites of Chachabamba and the beautiful terraces of Wiñay Wayna, then reach the Sun Gate for your first view of Machu Picchu from above before descending to the upper terraces for the classic postcard photo and a short guided tour. There's no camping and no overnight — you return to Cusco the same evening, door-to-door, with permits, tickets and transport all handled by us.
📅 Permits are strictly limited. Like every section of the Inca Trail, the 1-day route needs an official permit issued in limited numbers each day, and dates sell out months ahead — especially May to October. Permits are nominative and bought with your passport details, so book early to secure your spot.
Your Day — Step by Step
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1
Pre-dawn pick-up · Cusco → Ollantaytambo → train to Km 104
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco around 4:00 am and drive about 1 h 45 min to the Ollantaytambo train station. There you board the train — departing around 6:10 or 6:40 am — for the scenic ride that follows the Urubamba River deep into the Andes.
The train drops you at Km 104, the official trailhead of the Short Inca Trail, where your guide meets you and you clear the checkpoint before the hike begins. The early start is what makes the whole route possible in a single day.
Good to know: Breakfast isn't included and the start is very early, so eat at your hotel before pick-up or bring a light snack for the road.
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2
Km 104 · Chachabamba → Wiñay Wayna
Your adventure starts at the Inca site of Chachabamba, beside the river, before a guided uphill hike of about 3 to 3.5 hours. The trail climbs steadily from roughly 2,000 m through lush, humid cloud forest, one of the most scenic stretches of the whole route.
You arrive at Wiñay Wayna, a beautifully preserved Inca site with spectacular terraces and one of the finest on the entire trail, where you stop to explore. Here you enjoy the packed lunch we provide and take a short rest before continuing toward the Sun Gate.
Good to know: This uphill stretch is the most demanding part of the day — go at a steady pace and keep water handy, as it's hot and humid lower down.
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3
Wiñay Wayna → Inti Punku (Sun Gate) → Machu Picchu
From Wiñay Wayna a mostly flat walk leads up to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate (~2,720 m), the highest point of the day and a viewpoint reached only on foot by Inca Trail hikers. Here you get your first amazing view of Machu Picchu, framed below you in its dramatic mountain setting.
You then continue down into Machu Picchu itself, with time to take photos along the way. On the upper terraces (Circuit 1B) your guide gives a short tour of the citadel's classic panoramic sector before you head down to town.
Good to know: Arriving through the Sun Gate is the authentic Inca Trail entrance to Machu Picchu — have your camera ready for that first reveal.
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4
Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes → Cusco
Around 5:00 pm you take a 30-minute bus ride from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes, where you have dinner before the journey home. You then board the evening train, around 6:20 or 7:00 pm, for the 1.5-hour ride back to Ollantaytambo.
At Ollantaytambo our transfer is waiting to drive you the final 1.5 hours back to Cusco, dropping you at your hotel around 10:00 pm to close your full-day Machu Picchu adventure. Train times may shift slightly with availability; we confirm them in advance.
Good to know: It's a long day that ends late — keep a warm layer and any essentials in your daypack for the evening train and drive back to Cusco.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | Full day (no overnight) |
| Highest point | Inti Punku (Sun Gate) — ~2,720 m |
| Total distance | ~12 km / 7.5 mi (from Km 104) |
| Difficulty | Moderate — 4–5 h hiking, some uphill |
| Machu Picchu | Circuit 1B — upper terraces & classic viewpoint |
| Meals | 1 lunch · 1 dinner |
| Group size | Max 8 travelers |
| Permit | Required & included (limited daily — book ahead) |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Prices — 2026 Season
The 1-Day Inca Trail is an all-inclusive group service with a return by train. Permit pricing is set by the Peruvian government; the rate below is the same for every licensed operator. Student and child rates are lower than the adult rate.
| Service | Adult | Student (under 25) | Child (8–17) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group · return by train | $400 | $370 | $370 |
Prices per person, group service. The student rate requires a valid PVC university student ID (under 25); ISIC cards are not accepted. A deposit per person confirms your booking and secures your permit.
Optional Add-ons
- Vistadome panoramic train (one way)$35
- Trekking poles (pair)$10
What to Pack
This is a single-day hike with no porters, so carry only a light daypack with the essentials — you'll be on the move from early morning to night.
- Always with you: original passport (+ student ID if applicable), 1.5–2 L of water (no refill points on the trail), broken-in hiking boots, rain jacket or poncho.
- Clothing: moisture-wicking shirt and light layers, a warm layer for the cool morning, sun hat and sunglasses (it's warm and humid lower down).
- Extras: high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, energy snacks, camera/phone, small cash in soles, personal medication.
How to Book
Book online or in person at our Cusco office (Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo). A deposit per person secures your nominative permit and Machu Picchu ticket; the balance is due at least 24 h before departure. Because permits sell out, we recommend booking 2–3 months ahead (more in high season).
- Check live permit availability for your date.
- Fill in each traveler's details exactly as in their passport (permits are nominative).
- Add optional extras (Vistadome train, trekking poles).
- Pay the deposit or full amount — you receive instant confirmation and our team follows up by WhatsApp.
Deposit: a non-refundable deposit per person is used to buy your Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu ticket immediately.
Permit & tickets: issued by the Peruvian government to your name and passport — non-refundable, non-transferable and non-modifiable (date, name and circuit are final).
Cancellation: the deposit is non-refundable. If you paid in full and cancel, the balance beyond the deposit is refundable; already-issued tickets remain valid for their original date.
Date changes: possible only if availability exists, and require buying new permits/tickets and a new deposit.
Full terms are confirmed at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the "Short Inca Trail" done in a single day: starting at Km 104, you hike about 12 km of the original Inca path past Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate — the authentic Inca Trail arrival, without any camping or overnight.
Yes. Permits for the Inca Trail are limited by the government and sell out months in advance, especially May–October. We recommend booking 2–3 months ahead. Permits are nominative and issued with your passport details.
It's a moderate hike of about 4–5 hours, between 2,000 and 2,720 m, with some uphill sections and stone staircases. No mountaineering experience is needed — a basic level of fitness and a steady pace are enough. It's ideal for travellers who want the real Inca Trail but only have one day.
Both walk the same Km 104 → Sun Gate route. The 1-day returns to Cusco the same night and gives you the panoramic upper-terrace view of Machu Picchu; the 2-day adds a hotel night in Aguas Calientes and a full guided tour inside the citadel the next morning. Choose 1-day if you're short on time, 2-day if you want more time at Machu Picchu.
No. By law every Inca Trail trekker must go with a licensed guide and operator. Your guide accompanies you from Km 104 all the way to the Machu Picchu viewpoint.
You arrive through the Sun Gate and reach the upper terraces (Circuit 1B) — the classic panoramic viewpoint with the famous postcard photo of the citadel and Huayna Picchu behind it, plus a short guided introduction. If you'd like more time inside the citadel, the 2-Day Inca Trail adds a full guided tour the next day.
