ONE DAY INCA TRAIL HIKE
FULL DAY TOUR | Starting from US$430 per person
Box Lunch
MEALS
Up to 12 People
GROUP SIZE
2,720m / 8,924ft
MAX. ALTITUDE
Moderate
DIFFICULTY
KM 104 - CHACHABAMBA - WIÑAYHUAYNA - SUN GATE - MACHU PICCHU
Inca Trail One Day Tour
The 1-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Our One Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most exciting way to get to Machu Picchu for those who don’t have the time to hike the full Inca Trail. The appeal of this world-famous trek is the stunning cultural display of Inca archaeological sites, exotic mountain views, primitive lush vegetation, and extraordinary ecological varieties.
The trail goes through Wiñay Wayna, a beautiful Inca citadel and the most significant construction along the entire traditional Inca Trail. You’ll also enter the New World Wonder, Machu Picchu, through the Sun Gate and be astounded by unforgettable views of the imposing, mystical site. You’ll tour the most important parts of Machu Picchu before heading back to Cusco — all in one day!
- OVERVIEW
- ITINERARY
- INCLUSIONS
- PACKING LIST
- BEFORE YOU GO
- PRICING
- ENQUIRE NOW
Short on time but want to enjoy the incredible Inca Trail and Machu Picchu? Don’t worry! You can enjoy the wonderful Inca Trail and enter Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) all in one day! That’s right! This trek is for those who want the best of both worlds but only have a day to do it all.
This Trek has a variety of flora and fauna and is rich in history. This 1-day hike is 9 km / 5.59 mi long and goes up to 2,720 m / 8.924 ft. It’s classified as a moderate trek with a slightly high altitude gain. We recommend a couple of days to acclimate in Cusco or the Sacred Valley of the Incas before you set off.
On the Inca Trail section of your day trip, you’ll pass through some truly stunning landscapes and be in awe of the natural beauty of the Andes in this region. You’ll stop at Wiñay Wayna archaeological site and see other amazing feats of the ancient culture that was the Incas.
You’ll end your epic day by entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate and get the most amazing views. You don’t need to worry about a thing as we take care of every aspect of your day out from your meals to all the transport. Sounds exciting? It is!
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR INCA TRAIL ONE DAY TOUR
- Experience the incredible Inca Trail and magical Machu Picchu all in one day.
- Retrace ancient steps along this historical route and visit some fascinating archaeological sites.
- Hike through the stunning Andes and enjoy the unique flora and fauna.
- Trek along one of the most famous routes in the world.
Gaze out of the window at the beautiful surroundings on an enjoyable train ride through the mountains. - Explore the mystical Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cusco | Ollantaytambo - KM 104 - Chachabamba - Wiñay Wayna- Sun Gate / Inti Punku - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
Highlight of the Day: Retracing ancient steps on the Inca Trail and entering the incredible Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.
Hike Ancient Trails and Travel Back in Time at Historic Sites .
- We’ll start our action-packed trip by picking you up from your hotel at 4:00 am and taking you in our private transport to the Ollantaytambo Train Station. We’ll board the train and travel for about one-and-a-half hours to the starting point of this one-day Inca Trail at KM 104.
- After passing the checkpoint, we´ll be on our way to the first archaeological center, Chachabamba. This site was one of the last shelters used by Inca pilgrims before they reached the magical Machu Picchu. The site features several fascinating buildings, and our expert guide will share their passion with you and explain all about the history of the place.
- Then, the real trekking begins with a steady ascent for around 3 hours as we climb original Inca stone steps that are very well-preserved. The ecosystems in this area are truly unique, and your guide will help you identify the different types of flora and fauna along the trail, of which there’s a lot.
- After passing a really pretty waterfall, we’ll arrive at the Wiñay Wayna archaeological site. Most hikers take a break here to be amazed by its exquisite architecture. This was the most significant site along the whole Inca Trail, and you'll see many water sources for rituals, sacred places dedicated to the natural deities like the Rainbow Temple, and impressive agricultural platforms. Wiñay Wayna is a wonderful place to learn a little more about the fascinating history of the Incas.
- Here, you’ll enjoy some time to relax and rest your legs, be silent, and connect with Mother Nature through birdsong or the wind's refreshing touch on your cheeks. A little further along, you’ll see the campsites where those who hike the classic Inca Trail spend their last night before arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel. We’ll have time to eat our delicious box lunch we provide for you, chill out, and recharge our energies for the next leg of the hike.
- After, we’ll keep walking until we reach Inti Punku, best known as the Sun Gate, where everyone who hikes the Inca Trail enters Machu Picchu from. From this point, we’ll get the most wonderful views of the impressive architecture of this majestic Inca City for the first time. The Sun Gate is where the Incas would also enter from and get their first sight of the magnificent Machu Picchu. It’s tough to put into words the impact of seeing this ancient, sacred, and world-famous site for the first time and you’ll feel goosebumps wash over you.
- After resting and enjoying the site's breathtaking views, we will take impressive photos and walk the last stretch to Machu Picchu. You will have a little more time to contemplate the views and the surrounding landscape in which the fortress is built while listening to a brief explanation from your guide, which will transport you back in time. Take many memorable photos and let your spirit be filled with the energy of this magnificent sacred place.
- Then, it’ll be time to walk down to the Machu Picchu main entrance from where we’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, the small town at the base of Machu Picchu. There, we’ll catch the train at 6:10 pm (subject to availability) back to Ollantaytambo. Our private transport will be waiting to pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation in Cusco to rest after your adventurous day.
Meals: Snack, Box Lunch.
Hiking Time: approximately 5 - 6 hours.
Distance to Go: 9 km / 5.59 miles.
Highest Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
High Quality Service & Safety
• Pre-departure Briefing
You will meet your tour guide at your hotel for an orientation before your tour. The meeting will be at 7:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.
• Experienced Tour Guide
English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
• Medical Kit or First AID Kit
All Pacha Peru guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment..
• 24/7 Customer Service
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Pacha Peru leading up to your trek.
Meals
• Box Lunch
• Snacks
Before starting your hike, your guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc., for you to enjoy during your walk..
Transportation
• Private Transport
Private transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo train station.
Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
• Train Tickets
From Ollantaytambo to KM 104 (Starting point of the trek).
From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
• One-Way Consettur Bus Ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Permits & Entrance Tickets
• Permits and ticket for Inca Trail
As soon as we receive your complete information and the deposit that secures your reservation, we’ll buy all the necessary permits (subject to availability). These permits are issued for a specific date and will be in your name. They cannot be changed under any circumstances. Change of passport number is only allowed for renewal reasons. In that case, you must bring both your old and new passport.
• Entry to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
• Breakfast
• Travel Insurance
• Tips for our staff
Tipping is the usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.
• Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc
Essentials
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both).
- Backpack (if not waterproof bring waterproof backpack cover or a poncho that will cover your backpack).
- Comfortable shoes/flip-flops or Sturdy Hiking boots.
- Refillable water bottle (hydration bags are recommended).
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses.
- Insect repellent.
- Rain poncho or a good rain jacket.
- Long-sleeved shirts to prevent sunburn.
- Toiletries / small towel.
- Trail snacks (dry fruits, energy bars, etc.).
- Extra money to buy souvenirs, drinks, and tips.
- Bathing clothes for the hot springs (optional).
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Briefing or Informative Meeting: All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.
Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco): The trek has to be paid for in full at most 7.30 pm one day before your departure (generally after the briefing).
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 6% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Can I store my luggage at your office?: During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests: Pacha Peru Explorers can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours: Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations: Strikes and demonstrations are usually common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost Objects: Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
"Inca Trail One Day Tour" can leave any day of the week, from January through December.
2023 Land Cost:
Price: US$ 430.00 per person
Required Pre-payment: US$ 200.00 per person.
Balance (Cusco): US$ 230.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 6%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
Please, after your deposit, send us the transfer number to contact@pachaperu.tours; only after that, we'll be able to confirm your deposit and reservation.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise. If this occurs, we will find the next available date in attempts to reschedule, if this is not possible then any cancellation done at least 24 hours prior will not have any cancellation fee. Any cancellation of 24 hours or less from a scheduled tour will be charged a $430.00 cancellation fee for each space that was scheduled.
Student Discount
US$20.00 off
Student discounts apply to anyone 17 years old or younger. to receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of the passport at the time of booking. It must be valid and not expire within the travel dates. Please send it to contact@pachaperu.tours
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