Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek
Trek the final portion of the Inca Trail in style, just as the Incas did hundreds of years ago, while overnighting in comfortable hotels along the way. This truncated version of the Inca Trail is the perfect tour-and-trekking opportunity for families or for those who are short of time but still want to experience the magnificence of the approach to Machu Picchu. Also included are guided tours of Cuzco, the capital city of the Incas; Lima, the cosmopolitan capital of Peru; and the Sacred Valley, the magnificent agricultural heartland of the Incas.

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Decide where, when and how you want to explore. Then contact us to start planning with a destination expert.

Customize Your Tour
We'll blend your desires with expert, local knowledge to design a seamless, private tour.

Embark on Your Journey
We'll greet you at the airport and be by your side every step of the way, making room for spontaneity as you go.
7 DAYS
Starting from $2,990 per person
Pricing includes everything from your international arrival to your departure, with the exception of flights and a few lunches and dinners.

HIGHLIGHTS
- A day to acclimatize to the altitude in the peaceful garden surroundings of a country hotel in the Sacred Valley, before the trail.
- Visits to important Incan sites at the town of Pisac, the agricultural terraces of Moray, the salt pans at Salinas and the ruins of Ollantaytambo.
- Starting the Inca Trail at KM104, seeing the best that the trail has to offer while reducing the time spent hiking.
- Overnight stays in comfortable hotels along the trail route, to give you the opportunity to rest your hardworking body and make use of all amenities.
- Enjoying panoramic views of Machu Picchu from Intipunku “the Sun Gate”.
- A private guided tour of the key sites of Machu Picchu, with free time to further explore at your leisure.
- A private tour of Cuzco, the capital of the Incan empire, with stops at Sacsayhuaman, with impressive Incan stonework, Koricancha, where the walls were once coated in gold, and Cuzco’s Cathedral.
- Time allowing, a private tour of Lima, with visits to the city’s key sites, including the Larco Archaeological Museum, the San Francisco Monastery and the picturesque waterfront district of Miraflores.
TALK WITH A DESTINATION EXPERT
We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.
Sample Itinerary
Upon arrival in Lima, you will be greeted and driven to your selected hotel. If you are staying at the Lima Airport Costa del Sol Ramada, you will only need to walk out the airport exit and cross the street to your night’s accommodation.
In the morning, you will either be collected from your hotel, or if staying at the Costa del Sol Ramada, you will simply cross the street to check in for your flight to Cuzco. Your guide will take you through the spectacular scenery en route to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. On the way, you will visit the town of Pisac and the Inca ruins perched on the hillside above the valley. Relax in the peaceful surroundings of your country hotel and enjoy the property’s gardens and facilities as you settle in and acclimatize to the altitude.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations
The Sacred Valley is a land lost in time. This agricultural region once fed the Inca Empire, and today families farm using ancient techniques. Your guide will take you in private transport into this mountain-ringed valley to visit Moray, a circular terraced agricultural site, and the Salinas salt pans. In the afternoon, you'll explore Ollantaytambo with its massive ruins and charming town before returning to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations
In the morning, you’ll journey by train to KM104, where you’ll begin hiking along the rail line. You will first approach Chachabamba at 7,380 feet and then will gradually ascend for approximately three hours, towards the fascinating archaeological Wiñay Wayna at 8,690 feet. After lunch, you will continue through the semi-tropical forest towards Intipunku (the Sun Gate), where you will enjoy your first panoramic view of Machu Picchu. Spend the evening relaxing in your hotel, readying yourself for more extensive explorations tomorrow.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations
Today you will uncover the secrets of Machu Picchu during a guided tour of the Incan citadel. You’ll visit the most important parts of the ruins to learn how and why they were constructed. After the tour, you’ll have time to further explore the ruins or sit back and enjoy the magic of Machu Picchu. You can also hike to the top of Huayna Picchu for another bird’s eye view of the ruins. The steep path takes about an hour and a half to ascend. Then you’ll depart from Machu Picchu town, and take a train ride to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station you will be met and transferred to your Cuzco hotel.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations
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La Casona
Luxury -
JW Marriott Cuzco
Luxury -
Casa Cartagena
Luxury -
Palacio Nazarenas
Luxury -
Aranwa Cuzco
Luxury -
Palacio del Inka
Luxury -
El Mercado Tunqui
Superior -
Costa Del Sol
Superior -
Novotel
Superior -
Antigua Casona San Blas
Superior -
Casa San Blas
Boutique -
Casa Andina San Blas
Boutique -
Quinta San Blas
Boutique -
El Retablo
Boutique -
Illa Hotel
Boutique -
Terra Andina
Boutique -
Maytaq Wasin
Boutique
During your tour of Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire, you’ll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework, Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold!), and Cuzco’s Cathedral where you’ll learn about the Cuzco school of art.
Recommended Hotel Accommodations
-
La Casona
Luxury -
JW Marriott Cuzco
Luxury -
Casa Cartagena
Luxury -
Palacio Nazarenas
Luxury -
Aranwa Cuzco
Luxury -
Palacio del Inka
Luxury -
El Mercado Tunqui
Superior -
Costa Del Sol
Superior -
Novotel
Superior -
Antigua Casona San Blas
Superior -
Casa San Blas
Boutique -
Casa Andina San Blas
Boutique -
Quinta San Blas
Boutique -
El Retablo
Boutique -
Illa Hotel
Boutique -
Terra Andina
Boutique -
Maytaq Wasin
Boutique
Enjoy a final morning waking to the Andean sun before meeting your transfer to the Cuzco airport. You’ll fly back to Lima, where you will connect to your international flight home. Depending on the time of your international flight out, a private tour of Lima's key sites can be arranged. You will visit the Larco Archaeological Museum, the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs, Lima's historic colonial squares, and the picturesque waterfront district Miraflores before bidding farewell to Peru.