In this article
Quick answer: choose the Short Inca Trail (2 days) if you want to hike an original Inca path without camping and see Machu Picchu twice. Choose the Classic Inca Trail (4 days) if you are fit, love multi-day trekking and want high mountain passes and remote ruins. Choose the 1-day Inca Trail only if you have a single day: it is the same hike as the short trail, but you return to Cusco the same night.
All three end at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The difference is how much of the trail you walk, where you sleep and how much time you get at the citadel.
The three Inca Trail options at a glance
This table compares the three routes we operate, with distances, altitude, nights and prices taken from our tours.
| Feature | Inca Trail 1 day | This tour Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 2 Days / 1 Night | Inca Trail 4 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Full day | 2 Days | 4 Days |
| Hiking distance | 11 km (6.8 mi) | 11 km (6.8 mi) | 40 km (24.9 mi) |
| Highest point | 2,720 m | 2,720 m | 4,215 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Challenging |
| Nights | None · back to Cusco the same day | 1 · hotel in Aguas Calientes | 3 · camping |
| Machu Picchu | Sun Gate view + 2-hour guided tour, same day | Twice: Sun Gate view (day 1) + guided tour (day 2) | Sunrise from the Sun Gate + guided tour (day 4) |
| Price from | $399 | $569 | $780 |
Short Inca Trail (2 days / 1 night)
The Short Inca Trail starts at Km 104 of the railway. You hike about 11 km (6.8 miles) past the ruins of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, reach the Sun Gate in the afternoon and walk down to Machu Picchu. You sleep in a hotel in Aguas Calientes and return to the citadel the next morning for a guided tour.
- Best for: travelers with average fitness, families, and anyone who wants the Inca Trail without camping.
- Highlights: Wiñay Wayna, the Sun Gate and two visits to Machu Picchu in different light.
- Trade-off: you skip the high passes and the remote ruins of the first three days of the Classic route.
Read our complete Short Inca Trail guide for the full itinerary and what is included.
Classic Inca Trail (4 days / 3 nights)
The Classic Inca Trail starts at Km 82 and covers about 40 km (25 miles) over four days. Day 2 crosses Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m (13,828 ft), the highest and hardest point. Days 3 and 4 pass Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna before you reach the Sun Gate at sunrise on the last day.
- Best for: fit hikers who enjoy camping and want the full experience.
- Highlights: high Andean passes, cloud forest and Inca sites that you can only reach on foot.
- Trade-off: three nights in tents, real altitude, and permits that sell out months in advance.
- 40 kmhiking distance (24.9 mi)
- 4,215 mhighest point: Dead Woman’s Pass (13,829 ft)
- +1,635 melevation gain from Km 82
- km 0 Km 82 Start of the Classic Inca Trail
- km 14 Ayapata Camp 1
- km 18 Dead Woman’s Pass Highest point
- km 21 Runkurakay
- km 24 Chaquicocha Camp 2
- km 27 Phuyupatamarca
- km 33 Wiñay Wayna Camp 3
- km 38.5 Inti Punku (Sun Gate) Sunrise over Machu Picchu
- km 40 Machu Picchu Guided tour
1-day Inca Trail
The 1-day Inca Trail follows exactly the same route as the Short Inca Trail, from Km 104 to the Sun Gate. The difference is the return: after a short guided visit of Machu Picchu in the afternoon, you take the evening train back and arrive in Cusco late at night.
- Best for: travelers with only one free day in Cusco.
- Trade-off: a very long day of 16 to 18 hours, and you see Machu Picchu only once, in the afternoon.
More details in our 1-day Inca Trail guide. If you can add one night, the 2-day version is the same hike with a much more relaxed visit of Machu Picchu.
Other formats you may see
When you compare operators, you will also find versions that we do not sell. They are legitimate options; just compare them on the same terms as the routes above.
- 2-day Short Inca Trail with camping: the same hike from Km 104, but you spend the night in a campsite near Aguas Calientes instead of a hotel.
- Combination treks: multi-day routes that join another trek with the Short Inca Trail, for example the Lares trek plus the Short Inca Trail over about 5 days, with nights of camping in the mountains and a hotel night before Machu Picchu.
Whatever you choose, the final section from Km 104 uses the same Inca Trail permits and the same quota of 250 people per day. Check what each price includes: hotel or tent, meals, group size and how many visits to Machu Picchu.
Difficulty: how they compare
Altitude
This is the biggest difference. The Short and 1-day Inca Trails never go higher than 2,720 m (8,924 ft) at the Sun Gate, which is lower than Cusco. The Classic Inca Trail climbs to 4,215 m (13,828 ft), so acclimatization is essential.
Distance and stairs
The short trail is about 11 km with roughly 550 m (1,800 ft) of climbing, in one day. The Classic route is about 40 km with more than 1,200 m of climbing on day 2 alone, followed by long descents on stone stairs.
Comfort
On the Short Inca Trail you carry a light daypack and sleep in a hotel. On the Classic route porters carry the tents and kitchen, our team cooks for you, and you sleep in tents at campsites with basic toilets.
More detail in how hard is the Short Inca Trail.
Permits and availability
All three routes need an Inca Trail permit, booked through a licensed operator with your passport details. The Km 104 routes (short and 1-day) share a quota of 250 people per day, including guides and staff, while the Classic route has its own quota of 500 people per day. Both sell out for May to August, and the whole Inca Trail closes every February.
See the dates that still have permits on our live Short Inca Trail permit calendar.
Price
- 1-day Inca Trail: from USD 399.
- Short Inca Trail, 2 days: from USD 569 on our website, including the hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Classic Inca Trail, 4 days: from USD 780, including camping equipment, cook, porters and an extra porter for your duffel bag.
For USD 170 more than the 1-day option, the 2-day version adds a night in a hotel, breakfast and a second visit to Machu Picchu with a full guided tour.
What each price includes
| 1-day Inca Trail | Short Inca Trail, 2 days | Classic Inca Trail, 4 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | From USD 399 | From USD 569 | From USD 780 |
| Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entry | Included | Included | Included |
| Where you sleep | No night: back in Cusco the same night | 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes | 3 nights camping, equipment included |
| Meals | Box lunch on the trail | Box lunch on day 1, breakfast on day 2 | Meals cooked by our team |
| Luggage | Your own daypack | Your own daypack | Porters for the camp, plus an extra porter for 7 kg of your gear |
| Visits to Machu Picchu | 1, in the afternoon | 2, afternoon and next morning | 1, on day 4 |
The 1-day and 2-day prices also include the train to Km 104 and back, and both run with a maximum of 8 travelers per group.
Which one should you choose?
- You have 1 day: 1-day Inca Trail.
- You have 2 days, or you travel with kids or older relatives: Short Inca Trail.
- You have 4 days, you are fit and you want the full adventure: Classic Inca Trail.
- The Classic permits are sold out for your date: check the Short Inca Trail; it has its own quota and is often still available.
Our most popular option · hotel included
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 2 Days / 1 Night
See itinerary & dates →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Short Inca Trail worth it compared to the Classic?
Yes, if your time or fitness is limited. You walk the most beautiful final section, visit Wiñay Wayna and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, which is what most hikers remember most.
Is the 2-day Inca Trail the same as the 1-day Inca Trail?
The hike is the same, from Km 104 to the Sun Gate. The 2-day version adds a night in Aguas Calientes and a full guided tour of Machu Picchu the next morning.
Which Inca Trail has the best view of Machu Picchu?
All three arrive at the Sun Gate. The Classic route reaches it at sunrise; the short and 1-day routes reach it in the afternoon, when there are usually fewer clouds and fewer people.
Can I switch from the Classic to the Short Inca Trail after booking?
No. Inca Trail permits are issued for a specific route, date and passport and cannot be changed or transferred, so choose your route before booking.
Which Inca Trail option is the cheapest?
The 1-day Inca Trail, from USD 399. The Short Inca Trail costs from USD 569 and adds a hotel night, breakfast and a second visit to Machu Picchu. The Classic costs from USD 780 for 4 days with camping, meals and porters.
Do you camp on the Short Inca Trail?
Not with us: our Short Inca Trail includes a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Some operators sell a 2-day version with a night of camping near Aguas Calientes instead.
Are porters included?
On the Classic, yes: porters carry the camp, and an extra porter carries 7 kg of your personal gear. On the Short and 1-day Inca Trails there are no porters; you only need a daypack.
What is the minimum age for each route?
We recommend a minimum age of 7 for the Short and 1-day Inca Trails, and 8 for the Classic Inca Trail. Every child needs their own permit with their own passport.
How far in advance should I book?
For May to August, book several months in advance: the Classic sells out first, and the Km 104 routes allow only 250 people per day. In other months there is usually more space; check the live permit calendar.
Can I combine another trek with the Short Inca Trail?
Some operators sell combination treks, such as the Lares trek plus the Short Inca Trail. We do not operate these combos, but you can plan your own trip and finish with our 2-day Short Inca Trail.
