Peru package
Short Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
7 days, from $2,250 per traveler
Operated by Highland Adventures · how we work
- Best for
- Walking in through the Sun Gate
- Getting in
- Short Inca Trail (1 day)
- Pace
- Active
- Duration
- 7 days
- From
- $2,250 per traveler
- Trip type
- Complete planned trip
The taste of the Inca Trail without the full four-day trek: after Lima and proper acclimatisation in Cusco and the valley, a one-day guided hike from KM 104 past Winay Wayna to arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, followed by a second, unhurried visit the next morning. The trekker's arrival, a hotel bed every night.
Right for / not right for
Right for
- Travellers who want the trail's arrival without a multi-day trek
- Reasonably active people comfortable with one full hiking day
- Anyone short on time who still wants to walk in
Not right for
- Travellers set on the full four-day Classic Inca Trail
- Anyone who would rather not hike at all (take a train trip instead)
- Trips planned too late to arrange permits (plan ahead)
Sample itinerary
A starting shape, not a fixed plan. We tailor the days, pace, and hotels with you during planning.
- 1
Arrive in Lima
Welcome at the airport and private transfer to your hotel in Miraflores. No agenda tonight; settle in at sea level before the highlands.
- 2
Lima: city, Larco Museum, and the Water Circuit
A guided day through Lima's historic center, the Larco Museum's pre-Columbian collection, and the Magic Water Circuit in the evening, one of the city's best-loved sights.
- 3
Fly to Cusco, then the city and its ruins
Morning flight up to Cusco, then an easy-paced afternoon tour of the city with the ruins above it, Sacsayhuaman and Puka Pukara. The pace is deliberately gentle on your first day at altitude.
- 4
Sacred Valley warm-up
Pisac and Ollantaytambo at valley altitude, a genuinely useful warm-up day before the hike.
- 5
The Short Inca Trail
Train to the KM 104 trailhead, then the guided day hike past the Winay Wayna terraces to the Sun Gate and your first sight of Machu Picchu from above, before descending to Aguas Calientes for the night.
- 6
Machu Picchu in full, then back to Cusco
A second, unhurried guided visit to the citadel on the confirmed circuit, then the train and transfer back to Cusco.
- 7
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and your onward connection.
Machu Picchu access
Sun Gate arrival (Inti Punku)
This trip walks the final stretch of the Inca Trail to reach the citadel through the Sun Gate, on a permit we arrange for you. We confirm availability for your dates during planning; the current permit rules are linked below.
We design and run your whole Peru trip around the right Machu Picchu access, with every entry confirmed as part of it.
Where you stay
The same reliable standard tier as our Essential trip: Casa Andina Standard hotels in Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes, or similar. The trek day is a day hike, so you sleep in a hotel, not a tent.
What's included
Included
- Short Inca Trail permit and licensed trekking guide
- Machu Picchu entry, arranged as part of your trip
- Trains, transfers, and hotels with daily breakfast
- The guided Sun Gate hike with box lunch on the trail
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Most meals off the trek
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
What changes the price
- Permit availability and travel dates
- Hotel level and group size
- Private versus small-group guiding
- Add-on nights or extensions
Straight talk
Permits for this hike are arranged well ahead and can run out for popular dates, so timing matters. If they are gone for your dates, we will tell you straight and offer the train arrival or an alternative, never a workaround.
Not sure this is the right trip for your group? The trip planner reads your dates, party, and pace, the route recommender picks the right circuit, and the AI specialist answers anything else. Or read how we work.
Common questions
- How hard is the hiking day?
- It is one full day on Inca stone with some sustained uphill, moderate rather than extreme. Reasonable fitness is enough; we can talk through it honestly for your group.
- Do we need permits, and can you get them?
- Yes, this hike runs on a permit we arrange for you. We confirm availability for your dates during planning; the Permit Tracker explains how releases work and the current rules are on our Rules Center.
- What if permits are sold out?
- We offer the train arrival to Machu Picchu or another route. We never promise a sold-out permit.
Request a quote
Tell us your dates, party, and budget and a trip specialist replies personally with a plan and exact pricing.
- 1.A specialist checks your dates against the current access rules.
- 2.We confirm the best circuit, route, and train plan for your group.
- 3.You receive a written proposal with exact pricing and payment timing.
- 4.A deposit reserves the trip; entry is confirmed during planning.
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