--- title: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 1 Day lang: en type: tour city: Cusco country: Peru price: 501 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 5 reviews: 89 duration_minutes: 960 languages: [en, es] rank_in_category: 11 of 62 (Inca Trail Treks) schedule_checked: 2026-11-08 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/tours/inca-trail-to-machu-picchu-1-day/ --- # Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 1 Day **Guidekin's take:** Hike the final part of the Classic Inca Trail through cloud forest to reach Machu Picchu on foot. Hotel pickup, return trains, breakfast, lunch and the bus down are included; you need at least moderate fitness. 5 from 89 reviews at €501 per person for 16h. In our comparison: #11 of 62 in Inca Trail Treks, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview This is a unique opportunity for those who may not have as much time to hike the full Inca Trail. This trek combines highlights from the original Inca Trail with some of the most beautiful Inca ruins nestled in the dense vegetation of the cloud forest. This is the only tour that allows you to arrive hiking to Machu Picchu to experience the sunset. Why book with us? • Travel with an authentic Local Tour Operator • Hike the last part of the Classic Inca Trail • Arrive to Machu Picchu through the Sun gate • Explora Machu Picchu Circuit 1 • Visit Inca Sites at exclusive hours ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: no car needed - Entry ticket not included: buy it separately - Starts 04:00: one departure a day - Food included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Age rule: Specialized infant seats are available - Non-refundable: no free cancellation **Pickup:** Hotel pickup included ## Key facts - Price: from €501 per person - Duration: 16h - Rating: 5.0/5 from 89 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: TreXperience - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, Spanish - Tickets: Admission not included, pay on site - Start times: 04:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08 ## Reviews 5.0 from 89 ratings on Guidekin & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 89 of 89. - 5 stars: 89 (100%) - 4 stars: 0 (0%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the guides, meals and Sun Gate views; the uphill trail and altitude can be demanding. **Praised:** - Guides explain Inca history and local plants in detail - Patient encouragement and practical help for hikers who struggle - Freshly cooked trail meals receive repeated praise - Views of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate are a recurring highlight - Clear briefings and organised transport arrangements **Complaints:** - The uphill trail is strenuous, with altitude adding difficulty for some Written by Guidekin from the 50 most recent English reviews on Tripadvisor (2023-04-22 to 2026-10-25); last checked 2026-11-08. ## What's included - All transportation during the duration of the trek - Professional tour guides - Bus down from Machu Picchu - 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch - Expedition train round trip - Safety briefing the day before the tour at 6:00 pm in our Office - Pick up from your hotel in the morning of the tour - Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu ## Not included - (Optional) Entrance tickets for Machu Picchu Montaña or Waynapicchu, they require advance booking due to limited availability. If you have them, please let us know. ## Itinerary 1. **Cusco** (1h) - Our Short Inca Trail tour starts with an early departure from your hotel in Cusco (around 4:00 AM) and drive for 1.5 hours to the Ollantaytambo Train station. If you stay in a hotel in the Sacred Valley, like Ollantaytambo, we can start around 5:30 am. 2. **Ollantaytambo** (30m) - Once we arrive at Ollantaytambo, we will board the Expedition Train onto the Inca Trail. It’s a 1-hour 30-minute train ride along the Urubamba river from Ollantaytambo (in the highlands) to km 104 at Chachabamba (in the cloud forest), where we start our hike to Machu Picchu. 3. **The arrival to the Inca Trail at Chachabamba around 8:00 AM** (1h; admission included) - You will show your original passport at the checkpoint, prepare for the hike, visit the first inca Site of Chachabamba archaeological site, and start the Short Inca Trail hike to Wiñaywayna and Sungate. 4. **Winay Wayna** (1h; admission included) - After 4 hours of hiking the Short Inca Trail, we will arrive at the great archaeological site of Wiñaywayna. You will have time to explore and have a guided tour of the amazing Inca Site of Wiñay Wayna, appreciating its beauty and its significance. 5. **After lunch in Wiñaywayna, we will continue to the Sungate (Inti Punku), arri...** (30m; admission included) - After lunch in Wiñaywayna, we will continue to the Sungate (Inti Punku), arriving around 2:00 PM. Take a moment to enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu from a unique place. 6. **Machu Picchu** (2h) - Then, you will hike down to Machu Picchu for 1 hour, arrive at View Point, and have a guided tour in the afternoon with fewer people through Circuit 1. 7. **Aguas Calientes** (1h) - By 5:00 PM, start heading down to Aguas Calientes, have some free time, and board the 6.20 pm Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo and a Private van back to Cusco. The Expected arrival time is around 9.30 pm back in Cusco ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 04:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations. ## Good to know - Specialized infant seats are available - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for pregnant travelers - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - A current valid passport is required on the day of travel - Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking - Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required - Children must be accompanied by an adult - Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants ## Compared with other Inca Trail Treks | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #11 of 62** | €501 | 16h | 5.0 (89) | shared | | [Inca Trail 4-Day Trek to Machu Picchu – Return by Vistadome Train](/peru/cusco/tours/inca-trail-4-day-trek-to-machu-picchu-return-by-vistadome-train/?format=md) | €761 | 4 days | 4.99 (11636) | shared | | [2-Day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Vistadome & 4-Star Hotel](/peru/cusco/tours/2-day-short-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu-vistadome-4-star-hotel/?format=md) | €533 | 2 days | 4.99 (4074) | shared | | [Inca Trail 4-Day 3-Night Trek to Machu Picchu with Expert Guides](/peru/cusco/tours/inca-trail-4-day-3-night-trek-to-machu-picchu-with-expert-guides/?format=md) | €909 | 4 days | 4.99 (1069) | shared | Ranked #11 of 62 in Inca Trail Treks by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €428 to €5668, median €790; typical length 4 days. 16 of 62 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/inca-trail-tours/?format=md ## More in Cusco - All Cusco tours: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/tours/inca-trail-to-machu-picchu-1-day/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/peru/cusco/?format=md