Explorer’s Journal: Hiking the Short Inca Trail with Destination Expert Mikey

Join Destination Expert Mikey on an unforgettable journey along the Short Inca Trail — a storied stretch of ancient stone where cloud forest paths, dramatic mountain scenery, and sacred Inca ruins lead toward one of the world’s greatest wonders. From tracing sections of the legendary Qhapaq Ñan to climbing sunlit terraces and passing through the iconic Sun Gate, each step brings history, landscape, and legend together in a powerful way. This is the Inca Trail at its most accessible, awe-inspiring, and deeply meaningful.

Hi everyone, Destination Expert Mikey here! I’m checking in from Peru, where I’ve been exploring the Sacred Valley and tackling the Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This route is the perfect balance of adventure and immersion — offering a true taste of the Inca Trail without the full multi-day trek. Follow along as I share what to expect, how to prepare, and why this hike remains one of the most rewarding ways to experience Machu Picchu.

Where the Inca Trail Begins

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Exploring the Sacred Valley while acclimating to the altitude (Photo: Mikey Blount).

The Inca Trail Express, or the Short Inca Trail, is a popular way to visit the World Wonder of Machu Picchu. It’s the perfect middle ground for those who aren’t quite up for the full four days of hiking and camping but still want to experience parts of the original Qhapaq Ñan, or Andean Road System, which spanned more than 30,000 km (18,640 miles). This week, I'm going to be showing you the ins and outs of this day hike, so you feel ready to tackle it yourself!    Our journey started with a flight from Lima, Peru’s modern capital, to Cusco, the ancient Incan capital, situated high in the Andes Mountains at over 11,000 feet above sea level. Before embarking on the hike, it’s crucial to allow your body a few days to acclimate. We used this time to explore Maras, Moray, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo—some of the most fascinating Inca sites in the Sacred Valley, nestled between Cusco and Machu Picchu.    The night before the hike, we stayed at El Albergue Hotel in Ollantaytambo, one of the larger villages in the Sacred Valley. El Albergue’s proximity to the train station allowed us an extra hour of sleep the next morning—a much-appreciated bonus before a long day of hiking.

All Aboard: Journey to KM 104

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Taking the train to the starting point of the Short Inca Trail: KM 104 (Photo: Mikey Blount).

After a quick breakfast at El Albergue, our guide, Marco, met us at 6:45 a.m., handed us our train tickets, and collected the carry-on luggage we didn’t want to take on the hike. These items were sent directly to our post-hike hotel, allowing us to carry only the essentials: water bottles, optional hiking poles, sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, and – most importantly – our passports, which were required to board the train and pass through the Inca Trail checkpoint.    Aboard the Vistadome Train, panoramic windows revealed a dramatic shift in scenery as the dry Andean mountains gave way to lush greenery. Machu Picchu sits at the meeting point of the Andes and the Amazon rainforest, known as the Cloud Forest. This unique climate often creates morning mist, especially during the rainy season (November-March). Traveling in July, we enjoyed clear skies but shared the trail with more hikers.    After the hour-and-a-half ride to KM 104, we applied sunscreen and bug spray and made a quick restroom stop – our last for a few hours. At 9:00 a.m., we set off, pausing shortly after at the Chachabamba Ruins, an Inca site believed to have been used for purification rituals along the sacred road to Machu Picchu. From there, the real hike began, and before long, we spotted the stunning ruins of Wiñay Wayna perched high above, fueling our excitement for the journey ahead.

The Climb to Wiñay Wayna

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Made it to Wiñay Wayna! (Photo: Mikey Blount)

The first part of the hike, from Chachabamba to Wiñay Wayna, is mostly uphill and takes around three to four hours. We kept a steady pace, with occasional photo breaks to capture the incredible scenery. Small huts are dotted along this section of the trail at roughly 30-minute intervals, and we took advantage of these stops to hydrate or reapply sunscreen – the sun at that altitude is no joke!    As we approached Wiñay Wayna, I began to notice the enormous scale of its terraces. I must admit, it was even more impressive than I expected. However, the many levels of terraces also meant plenty of stairs to climb. Reaching the top of Wiñay Wayna was one of the most challenging parts of the hike, but the breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and peaks made it all worthwhile. The thought of lunch being literally just around the corner also helped keep us going!    Before our much-needed lunch break, we passed through the Wiñay Wayna campsite for the second and final bathroom stop of the hike. We finally sat down to eat inside a shelter at around 12:30 p.m. and felt spoiled when our guide unveiled all the goodies he had brought for us, including sandwiches, chocolate bars, a pasta bowl, cakes, fruit, and more.

First Glimpse of Machu Picchu

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Our arrival to the Sun Gate and first look at Machu Picchu! (Photo: Mikey Blount)

The remaining portion of the hike was, for the most part, less challenging. The main exception was the “Monkey Stairs,” a short but very steep staircase that requires climbing on all fours (hence the name). Shortly after, we arrived at the famous Sun Gate, where we caught our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Marco explained the significance of the Sun Gate, which served as the entry point for the Incas on their sacred pilgrimage to the site. The light passing through the gate during the summer solstice symbolizes a powerful connection with the sun, a cornerstone of Inca belief.    After another hour of downhill hiking, we finally entered the upper terraces of Machu Picchu. Here, we took the classic postcard photo before exiting the site and boarding a shuttle bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes for some much-needed relaxation. Dinner was conveniently served at our hotel, Sumaq, where we were able to choose from a selection of delicious entrées.

A Final Morning at Machu Picchu

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Exploring the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before our journey comes to an end (Photo: Mikey Blount).

After a good night’s rest at the gorgeous Sumaq Hotel, we started the day early with a 20-minute shuttle bus ride back up to Machu Picchu. Today’s tour focused on the lower terraces and ruins. Although it was my fourth time visiting Machu Picchu, it still felt as mysterious and enchanting as ever. One of the highlights was exploring the magnificent Temple of the Condor.    Our tour lasted about an hour and a half, leaving us time to freshen up at the hotel before checking out. After lunch, the hotel staff assisted with transporting our luggage to the train station, where we boarded the Vistadome back to Ollantaytambo. While it was bittersweet to say farewell to Machu Picchu, our spirits were lifted by an entertaining fashion show and Andean cultural performance on board. We didn’t purchase anything, but it was certainly tempting!    The final segment of the trip involved the transfer from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco, where we were dropped off at our hotel and enjoyed one last night in the imperial city.