2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with VistadomeTrain
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Cusco, Peru
- 2 days (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the shorter version of the famous Inca Trail during this 2-day excursion. Visit the archeological sites of Chachabamba, Winay Huayna, the Sungate, and Machu Picchu both in the afternoon and the early morning to see the citadel in two different lights. Learn about the history of the Incas on a comprehensive tour and explore the site on your own before heading back to Cusco.
- Take a 2-day tour to Machu Picchu on the last portion of the Inca Trail
- See Chachabamba, Winay Huayna, and the Sungate along the way
- Visit Machu Picchu in the afternoon and morning and learn about the Incas
- Learn about the history of the Incas and Peru on a comprehensive tour
What's Included
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Pre-tour safety briefing the day before departure, plus complimentary luggage storage
- Entrance tickets for both the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Expert guide for the Inca Trail hike and an in-depth guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off from Cusco or the Sacred Valley (Urubamba or Ollantaytambo)
- Train to Km 104 and return on the panoramic Vistadome train
- Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on Day 1, plus round-trip bus service on Day 2
- 1 night in a 3-star hotel, shared twin room (2 travelers per room)
- Safety equipment provided, including satellite phone, first-aid kit and oxygen tank
- Breakfast (2)Breakfast
- Entrance fee - (Optional) Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Montaña or Waynapicchu, they should be booked ahead of time. If you have them, please let us know
- Meals(Optional) Last day lunch. It is easily available in Aguas Calientes.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We also offer early morning pickups from Airbnbs and other locations within Cusco’s Historic Center (around 4:00 a.m.) and the Sacred Valley: Urubamba and Ollantaytambo (around 5:00 a.m.). Just enter your address or hotel name in the search bar to check availability.
Start time.4:00 am
Itinerary
Day 1
Cusco - Km 104 - Sungate - Machu Picchu - Aguas Celientes
7 Stops
1
Ollantaytambo
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Km 104 Station
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Chachabamba
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Winay Wayna
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
5
Sun Gate
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
6
Machupicchu
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Aguas Calientes (Pass By)
Accommodation: 3-start Hotel Included
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 2
Machu Picchu - The Lost City of the Incas
5 Stops
1
Aguas Calientes
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Machupicchu
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Trem Vistadome
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Ollantaytambo (Pass By)
Cusco (Pass By)
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Bring only a daypack with the essentials for Day 1. A small carry-on bag can be sent to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 2,075 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Had an amazing time with my friend on this tour! The short Inca trail was the perfect difficultly for us and great for those who want just a small taste of the full hiking experience (and prefer a hotel over a tent).
Everything was very well-organised and our guide, Jose Abad, was the best! So lovely, knowledgeable and efficient and was the best guide we’ve had in Peru. Thank you!
We had a fantastic experience on this two-day, one night exploration of Machu Picchu. Our guide Wilian was amazing. We had a fair bit of rain on the hike up, but Wilian’s persistent enthusiasm, friendliness and expertise made it a really enjoyable experience. All of our travel was arranged well, the overnight accommodation provided a much needed hot shower and everything ran smoothly throughout.
We would thoroughly recommend this trip. The one day hike was tough but rewarding, and made us feel that we’d earned the views at the top.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Phoebe_M,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re so happy you enjoyed the two-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Even with the rain, it’s great to hear that Wilian’s enthusiasm, friendliness, and knowledge made the hike such a positive experience.
We’re also glad everything ran smoothly, from the travel arrangements to the overnight stay and that much-needed hot shower after the hike. Reaching those views after a challenging day on the trail makes the moment even more rewarding.
Thank you for recommending TreXperience.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
Yes
People signing up for the Trek need to know the extent of it.
They need to really prepare for this .
It rained so hard on our first day.
Very slippery.
It says toilets on our breakfast and lunch break.
It was Horrible. Just a hole in the floor.
Our tour guides .. Monica & especially Raul were AMAZING!!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear jdzerbo26,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We appreciate your honest feedback about the challenges of the Short Inca Trail, especially with the heavy rain and trail conditions.
We’re glad to hear that Monica and Raul provided excellent support and helped make the experience better during a difficult day. We also appreciate your comments about the facilities and will keep them in mind as we continue working to improve our travelers’ experience.
Thank you for choosing TreXperience.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
The absolute highlight of our trip to Peru. The organisation was wonderful, the food was out of this world and the guides were very supportive and friendly. A big shout out to Rosmel and Danilo for helping me and my mother up the Inca Trail and truly making this a once in a lifetime experience. I highly recommend booking your trip to Machu Picchu with this company, it's worth every penny.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Tim_v,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are delighted to know that the Short Inca Trail was one of the highlights of your trip to Peru.
We truly appreciate your kind words about Rosmel and Danilo. We are happy to hear that they supported you and your mother throughout the trail and helped create such a special memory. It is also wonderful to know that you enjoyed the organization and meals during the journey.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
Great experience! Julio and David are excellent guides! Everything was organized, communication was easy, and the itinerary is perfect for two days. Hotel accommodations were good and clean. There was a landslide the night before that impacting our route and the team promptly updated us and adjusted accordingly. The whole team - including the awesome chefs and porters - made the experience great. It’s a long two days, so be ready for that. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Joshua_J,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are very happy to know that you enjoyed your 2-Day Inca Trail adventure and that everything went smoothly despite the unexpected changes along the route.
We truly appreciate your kind words about Julio, David, our chefs, porters, and the entire team. It is wonderful to hear that their organization, communication, and support helped make your journey special.
Thank you for choosing TreXperience and for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you again for another adventure in Peru.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
Great hike, amazing guide Anthony and chef’s prepped meals were great especially the mango ceviche! Hotel was a bummer, not a 3-star hotel as mentioned a bit disappointing.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Eliane_G,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are happy to know that you enjoyed the 2-Day Inca Trail and had a great time with Anthony and our team.
We truly appreciate your kind words about Anthony and the meals prepared during the trek, especially the mango ceviche. We also take note of your feedback regarding the hotel and will review this point with our team to continue improving our service.
Thank you for choosing TreXperience for your Machu Picchu adventure.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
TrexExperience held a meeting the night before which was an inconvenience then harassed me for more $ for a single room despite me booking as a single. They then made us use their duffle bag then wanted it back and wanted to give us plastic bags. I fought that. Then the hotel they call
3 star is a 1 star in all other areas. Moldy smell and a hand fan for air. The tour guide and cooks and food were amazing. The hours they picked for Machu Pichu were also nonsensical. 6:30 am despite waiting for a 2:30 train. Better if they let us sleep after a harsh hike and do Machu Pichu at 10 am. The train home was a better class than the train there. The better class should have been both ways given the $579. The hotel was $35 a person that they picked. Seems they did everything with their own profit in mind. Hopefully they will make the changes. I paid $180 for a true 3 star hotel and was only refunded $50. I would recommend another company unless they give an upgrade option or lower their price. We also tipped 10% as they asked. Alotting $35 per person for hotel out of $580 is ridiculous. I assumed it was $200 of the $590.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Elena,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry that some parts of the tour did not meet your expectations, especially regarding the hotel and overall value.
We would like to respectfully clarify a few points. The duffle bags are provided for guests’ convenience, to help separate the items needed for the 2-day tour, but their use is optional and guests may also use their own bags.
The hotels we work with in Aguas Calientes are 3-star hotels, such as Ferre Machu Picchu or similar, and the cost is generally around US$70–80 per room. Our tour price is based on shared accommodation; when a guest prefers a single room, a single supplement applies. Guests may also book their own hotel, and in that case, the corresponding hotel amount is discounted from the tour.
This tour is also a very costly operation. It includes round-trip transportation, professional guides for 2 days, chef, porter, meals, Inca Trail permits, Machu Picchu entrance tickets, buses up and down to Machu Picchu, train tickets, and one night hotel. Train tickets alone can be very expensive, and we include a regular train to the Inca Trail and a Vistadome panoramic train on the return. The outbound train is selected because early trains are required to start the Inca Trail, and only certain train classes are available at that time.
We also want to mention that TreXperience works under a fair-trade tourism model, where our prices are based on fixed operating costs, fair payment to our team, and a reasonable profit.
We are very happy to know that you enjoyed the guide, cooks, and food, and we sincerely thank you for recognizing their work. At the same time, we deeply regret that the hotel and some organizational details were not up to your expectations. Your comments are important to us, and we will continue reviewing how we can improve our service and offer clearer upgrade options for future travelers.
Kind regards,
Carlos
This experience requires a bit of hiking experience but even if you’re not good at hiking that guide always waits for you. Additionally, there is a assistant guide at the back to help you and stay with you.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Jammie_K,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are happy to know that you enjoyed the 2-Day Inca Trail and your visit to Machu Picchu.
We truly appreciate your kind words about our guides and support team. It is wonderful to hear that their patience and assistance helped you feel comfortable throughout the hike and made the experience more enjoyable.
Thank you for choosing TreXperience for your adventure. We hope to welcome you again in Peru.
Best regards,
Raquel
TreXperience
Challenging hike, but incredible views. Beyond worth the effort. The meals, transportation, everything was amazing.
We had a small hiccup on the initial pick up but they corrected it asap and it did not negatively impact our trip. They were quick to also apologize for the mistake which is nice to see.
Rosmel was an amazing guide, as well as his partner.
Amazing trip! Edy and his team were incredible, we had breakfast before we started hiking then lunch after 4/5 hour hike and both were very good. Unbelievable sights and the team added to that with knowledge, humour and assistance. Would definitely recommend.
This trip was a great compromise with one day of hiking the inca trail and one day touring the ancient site. Trexeprience managed every aspect of the trip well including bussing from Cusco, the train ride, hiking, meals, hotel, tours, and the return. The companies' pre trip communication, including the safety brief, was excellent and the packing list and expectations management was well done.
The early morning wakeups were, admittedly painful, but worth it. It is a solid 4 hours of travel from Cusco to the starting point of the hike. The bus was rough, but the driver was a professional. The breakfast was better than expected. The hike was good. While the forecast was clear, it was both warmer than expected and rained unexpectedly.
Fortunately the company and our guide prepared us well for both. The hike was challenging but definitely manageable for anyone with good mobility and relatively good health. Our group had 8 guests and one tour guide. The total hike length is around 10 miles (16kms) with some significant ups and downs with and without steep stairs. The hike is at elevation, but lower than Cusco. The lunch after hiking 4 hours was very good. The bathroom facilities were as expected, very primitive. The afternoon hiking was good, despite the weather because we brought our rain gear as advised by the company. Despite some rain, the hiking was still fun and the views were very good. We had plenty of time for photos on day one before taking the bus down to small town (Agua Caliente) for dinner and a night at the hotel. Both the dinner and the hotel were good and definitely met expectations in terms of quality and luxury. (This is not a luxury tour, but we were very comfortable and taken care). The next day we woke up very early but once we saw the lines for the buses to the ancient site, we appreciated the expertise of our guide. Our guide, Nilton, provided a great 3 hour tour of Machu Picchu. The site was not too crowded because we arrived early. We didn't have a lot of time for shopping at Machu Picchu before returning to Agua Caliente for lunch (not included in the price) and to catch the train back to Ollantytambo. The 360 panoramic (scenic) train was very nice. The daytime views were beautiful, the train was comfortable, and there was even complimentary snacks and drinks, traditional music and dancing on the train which made it feel like a party atmosphere. When i chose this tour, the return train was a deciding factor and i was completely satisfied. Finally we bussed back to Cusco. The bus is long, but the driver is good. Overall this was a great tour and I highly recommend it. It fully met my expectations and was a good value.
The tour is amazing, included 2 entrances to machu picchu (Circuit 1 & 3) with the train Vistadome of perurail.
The tour guide is funny and well prepared, also professional on taking amazing pictures for everyone.
Enjoyed so much, it’s totally worthy.
The experience was amazing, the guides were fantastic with us all the time, explaining things around, taking care of the group. the trail and the views worth all the effort!!
Trek maybe difficult but well worth it because the view from Sun Gate is a once in a lifetime experience! Drink electrolytes!
We truly had a spectacular time on this visit to Machu Picchu! We added on a tour of the Sacred Valley the day before, then spent the night in Ollantaytambo (where that tour ended) instead of returning to Cusco. That worked really well because it cut out several hours of bus time back and forth to Cusco. We boarded the train in Ollantaytambo the next morning with our TreXperience tour group, then got off at Km 104 to start our hike on the Inca Trail. It's a tough hike, but do-able - and definitely worth it. These are lots of beautiful sights and interesting ruins along the way. That first view of Machu Picchu was breathtaking! Our guides kept the group moving at a good pace and explained the various sites along the way (Chachabamba, Winay Wayna, the Sun Gate), though I did think those explanations could have been expanded upon. After spending the night in Aguas Calientes, we got up early to take the bus back to Machu Picchu for our actual tour of the site, and it was a beautiful, sunny day. Our guide explained what we were seeing, led us throughout the site, and took lots of photos for us. Be sure to bring warm clothes (I ended up buying a warm hat and some gloves), but dress in layers because we shed those warm clothes later. My daughter and her husband did the four-day Inca Trail hike when they came, but I knew that would be too much for me. This was perfect.
This was an amazing experience. The first day was a hike through the mountains visiting Incan sites. The second day was a tour of Machu Picchu. Our guide JJ was amazing, encouraging on the hike and full of interesting information. The meals were great. The hotel was nice. All around great experience. Definitely a bucket list item.
A lot of fun with breathtaking views. Memorable activity, sights and vacation activity!! The guides Juan de dios and Sebastian were very kind, helpful, informative and caring. Good guys!!
The tour was amazing. Christian and David were the best. This was the best way to see Machu Picchu. I would recommend everyone to to book with them
Daniel and Rene did a wonderful job guiding us along the Inca trail! They were very informative, made sure the group was safe at all times and helped continuously. Celsius, Peter and Maria were great chefs as well, making us an excellent lunch! Highly recommend this excursion to anyone who wants to experience the Inca trail over two days!
The 2 days on the Inca trail and in Machu Picchu exceeded all expectations and hopes for the experience. Just the right level of physical challenge to give a sense of achievement. Brilliantly organised from start to finish, Willian and Pepe made sure that we were in all the right places at the right times. Willian gave an insight, not only to the history of the site and surrounding lands, but how the ancient beliefs and culture of his ancestors influence local life today. Helped by having great fellow adventurers it was a wonderful experience.
Great 2 day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Our guides Frank and Jose Luis took very good care of us. Hiking with the group created a great dynamic. I started the hike alone and completed it with 11 new friends!
A lot of sites to see along the way. The guides shared good information with us.
The food was also really good.
Quick tips: I visited during April, make sure to have layers. The same day can go from raining in the korning to very sunny. Carry small snacks, water, sunscreen, mosquito spray
Incredible and unforgettable once in a lifetime experience - thank you to Edy and Romario for being the best tour guides ever. Edy and Romario were wonderful guides, full of knowledge, kindness and patience. We were super lucky with the weather and had a beautiful (but challenging) hike on the first day. The second day we went to Machu Picchu and saw the mist slowly disappear to reveal the ancient city. Edy was very enigmatic and knowledgeable and we are very grateful for everything we learned. We are also happy to support a tour company that was founded by two porters and continues to provide support to local communities. We had an amazing time and would highly encourage anyone to do this wonderful experience!!
Heavy rain and landslides meant that our 2-day Inca Trail experience was cancelled, as the government closed the trail - instead, we were offered the combined Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The company handled this situation well and Jennifer was an excellent tour guide - she was friendly, kind and full of interesting information about the places we visited. She also made sure we kept to a tight schedule to catch our train up to Aguas Calientes. The train situation and buses up to Machu Picchu were a little chaotic, and I really appreciated having Jennifer on hand to guide us - I would not have wanted to navigate that unaided.
This trip was once in a lifetime. The Inca trail was closed because if the rain, but they adjusted right away and still gave us a great experience. Frank was an incredible tour guide who made everything a blast. Food and lodging was great. They even helped get us to the airport afterwards
The pickup was supposed to be at 4 am. Nobody arrived despite multiple messages and calls the day before and on the day.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Samuel,
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We are genuinely sorry you had a frustrating experience. However, it appears you made a last-minute booking through a third-party company—less than 48 hours before the tour—and we never received your details or any notification about this reservation.
At TreXperience, we only confirm bookings after collecting passport information and speaking directly with our guests. Because we had no record of your reservation, you were not scheduled for the tour, and you didn't participate in the required safety briefing the night before.
We clearly advise that we confirm manually all bookings and the safety briefing in every tour description, even before booking, which is essential for your participation in the tour.
As soon as we discovered your booking through the other company, we offered assistance and alternative options, and we supported you in securing a full refund. We understand your disappointment, but unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for reservations we never receive.
For future travels, we recommend contacting us directly or confirming if your booking was successfully processed at least a few days in advance. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to welcome you on a TreXperience tour in the future.
Sincerely,
Carlos Coronel
I never expected this adventure to be so hard and fulfilling. I had the best time with such a good group of people and our awesome guides, Wilian and Jhon. The actual hike was way harder than I imagined, but it also rained about 80% of the time. Yet we still laughed and learned a lot about each other. Our guides were phenomenal and I cannot say enough good things about them. This two-day adventure made me feel like I knew some of the other people on the tour for a lifetime. So so grateful.
This is an amazing experiece, challenging but so worth it. The views were unbelievable. We had a small group that really jelled. Our guide abelardo was very knowledgeable, fun and super organized. We avoided long lines and he especially knew when the clouds would clear and getting the best picture
Reny and Sergio are amazing guys and had incredible knowledge of all the sites and really truly exceeded my expectations all the way around. They were so polite so helpful. I can’t rave enough about them and how well everything went for us.
This company and the team of guides were terrific! So was the itinerary. The trip was everything they advertised, and delivered better than any company I have used. Communication was excellent both before and during—-no surprises. Our guides (Johny, Sebastian and another gentleman) went to great effort to be sure we enjoyed the trip! They were friendly and very helpful. For example, not only would they do like many, and take a photo if you asked, these guides would suggest good spots, and ask if you want one—often! They’d even offer to carry things for you if you felt tired!! And they NEVER rushed us! They made us feel their main goal was for us to live our trip! They were great! Also, Johny has spent a lot of time researching the history, and would tell us much background on what we were seeing, and he was always careful to tell us where his data came from for credibility. This is a great trip, great company, and great set of guides!
One of the best experiences ever. Great guides (Charly and Neal), excelent food and acomodation. The scenery is breathtaking.
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