Where Can I Start the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
Where Can I Start the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? To begin the 1 day or 2 day Short Inca Trail, you can arrange to be picked up at your hotel in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. Then at Ollantaytambo Train Station, you will take the train to KM104 where we will start the hike to Machu Picchu (7 miles/12 kilometers and takes around 5 to 6 hours).
If your hotel is in Cusco you will be picked up at about 4 AM, if you are in Urubamba pickup time is 5 AM and in Ollantaytambo at 5:30 AM. The train leaves for KM104 at 6:10 AM, the starting point of the trek.
The train journey lasts for roughly an hour and 10 minutes. From there you pass through the check point to start the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu passing through the Sun gate.
Note: You cannot begin the Short Inca Trail from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo does not stop at KM 104 to let off passengers to start the Short Inca Trail. You can only take the train from the Ollantaytambo train station to begin the trek!
How Long Is the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 day Hike?
The two-day Inca Trail starts at KM104 (2,150m/7,054ft) and is an full day hike that reaches Machu Picchu in the afternoon. It’s perfect for active families, people short on time and those that don’t like camping.
The 4-5 hour hike snakes uphill to Wiñay Wayna before dropping down after the Sun Gate then to our hotel in Aguas Calientes. This route meants that you can experience Machu Picchu twice. First in the afternoon from the Sun Gate and Guardhouse and the next morning during your fully guided tour inside the Citadel.
| Distance | 7 miles/12 kilometers |
| Highest point | 2,700m/8,858ft. |
| Aguas Calientes hotel | 2,040m/6,693ft |
When is the Ideal time to make Reservations?
Every hiker needs an Inca Trail permit. They are limited and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Spaces usually sell out early, so you need to aim to book between 2 and 5 months in advance, especially for April through to October when demand for permits is particularly high.
The most popular trekking months are May to September, which is Andean summer. Nights are cold and clear, and there is less chance of rain. We have daily Inca Trail departures every month except for February when the trek is closed for maintenance.
Don’t forget to build two to three nights into your itinerary to give yourself a chance to acclimate to the high altitude in Cusco (3,400m/11,155ft) or the Sacred Valley.
It’s not just the length of the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail trek is 7 miles/12 kilometers long. As we’ve seen, it’s not just about the miles walked. The altitude, acclimatization, and undulating terrain make it a demanding hike that requires training, determination, and respect.
Now you know how long the Inca Trail is, are you ready to take up the challenge with SAM Travel Peru?
Contact us, and before you know it you can also be enjoying one of the world’s most iconic hiking trails.
Whats is the Short Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is a world-famous hiking trail that forms part of the ancient Inca Road Network. The 2 Day Short Inca Trail takes you on the last third of the Classic Inca Trail through the Sun Gate to the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel.
The journey begins as soon as you cross the bridge at KM104. It offers impressive Inca ruins, expansive mountain views, lush subtropical vegetation and extraordinary flora and fauna.
As you hike on the flat stone steps walked by the Incas 500 years ago, you pass through cloud forests and into the subtropical vegetation of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival to the Guards Gate at Machu Picchu you’ll get to take picture-perfect postcard shots of Machu Picchu Citadel as well as discover multiple historical sites and all that nature has to offer.
