The 5-day trek combines the tour through the Sun Gate "Inti Punku" at Cachicata with the iconic Short Inca Trail. It's the ideal alternative when classic Inca Trail permits are sold out. You'll discover authentic Inca paths, archaeological sites, local communities, and make the legendary arrival to Machu Picchu through another Sun Gate "Inti Punku" - all with fewer travelers and more adventure.
Your expedition begins early in the morning from your hotel in Cusco. We'll transport you to an Andean village (Huarocondo). The first day is a cultural odyssey, starting with a visit to a colonial church that showcases the region's rich history. Hikers will discover ancient petroglyphs telling stories of pre-Columbian civilizations, followed by an exploration of the Inca site of Perolniyoc.
The day's hike will take you through vibrant potato and quinoa fields, offering an intimate look at traditional Andean agricultural practices. An impressive waterfall provides the perfect midday break, while a unique Quechua lesson will deeply connect you with local culture. At the end of the day, you'll camp in Rayan, at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), surrounded by stunning Andean views.
The second day presents a more challenging hike that will push your limits and reward you with extraordinary landscapes. You'll ascend to an impressive 4,440 meters (14,567 feet) via the Charkahuaylla pass. At the summit, we'll take a well-deserved break and enjoy beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks and mountains of the Urubamba Mountain Range and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
After a ceremony and offering by your tour guide to the Apus (mountain spirits), we'll continue hiking to Lake Marcacocha (4,000 m / 13,100 feet), the perfect spot for a delicious lunch.
Later, we'll cross the final mountain, Apu Buena Negra (4,370 m / 14,300 feet). After enjoying its incredible views, we'll descend to the anticipated Sun Gate or "Inti Punku", a beautiful Inca architecture that still prevails over the mountains. From here, you can observe one of the most impressive snow-capped mountains, Veronica (5,893 m / 19,334 feet). We'll then walk a few more minutes to our campsite in Choquetacarpo (3,600 m / 11,811 feet).
After enjoying a cup of tea, a perfect sunrise over the mountains, and a delicious breakfast, we'll hike for 3 hours to the Cachiccata Quarry (3,829 m / 12,719 feet), the largest quarry of the Inca Empire. These quarries tell a fascinating story of how the Incas transported enormous stone blocks across challenging mountainous terrain, allowing us to understand their extraordinary engineering capabilities.
We'll descend via the original Inca stone transport route used by Inca workers, discovering unfinished stones, ancient chullpas (funeral towers), and a mysterious Inca mummy cave. This day combines historical exploration with a panoramic journey to Ollantaytambo, where we'll have dinner and spend the night.
On Day 4, your adventure begins in Ollantaytambo with breakfast at the hotel before boarding the morning train to kilometer 104, the starting point of your Inca Trail experience.
From here, you'll embark on a spectacular 12-kilometer hike through lush cloud forests to the fascinating ruins of Chachabamba. Then, you'll ascend via ancient stone stairs of the original Inca route to the impressive Wiñay Wayna complex. Your journey will culminate with a magical sunset arrival at Machu Picchu through the iconic Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where you'll enjoy your first unforgettable panoramic view of the Lost City of the Incas from Machu Picchu's upper platform or Circuit 1.
After immersing yourself in this wonder, you'll descend by bus to Aguas Calientes (included), where you'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel, ready for the full exploration of Machu Picchu the next day.
On our final day, we must wake up very early for the highlight of our trip. After breakfast at the hotel, we'll board one of the buses that will take us back to the Inca City of Machu Picchu. This will be followed by a comprehensive 2-hour guided tour that will reveal the most significant architectural and historical features of the site.
After exploring the citadel, and for the more adventurous, we'll also have time to enjoy some optional activities (not included in the price):
Return to Cusco: You'll descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included), then board the train to Ollantaytambo, where our transportation will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.
Book your spot for this extraordinary journey in advance, keeping in mind that the Short Inca Trail has a daily limit of 255 passengers.
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Myexperience2
May 25, 2025
I did the 2 day short inka trail led by guide, Percy. The hike was fantastic and Percy’s explanations were really good regarding the history. He answered all our questions and was extremely polite and helpful throughout the 2 days! The organisation by Intrepid Expeditions/Salkantay Trek was ok, communication via WhatsApp was very prompt and responsive however on the morning of my trip, the driver was 30 mins late which led to panic as I nearly missed the train and I had no one to contact at 4am despite 24/7 assistance being advertised. However, the team called the driver an hour later and we managed to make the train. The hotel booked was good, very central in Agua Calientes and clean. Food: the included dinner was below average standards so perhaps a different venue for next time. The picnic lunch was plentiful, with sandwich, fruit, bars and a rice chicken box. Perfect during the intense hike on day 1!
Mo G
April 28, 2025
We loved our trek with Elio who taught us so much about the history and culture of the Inka’s along our trek. Amazing trip!
Petra
April 27, 2025
La caminata de Salkantay fue una gran experiencia y con Jorge Calderón tuve la suerte de tener una guía excelente, muy agradable y competente. ¡Muchas gracias! 🩵
Gabriela C
April 25, 2025
Lugares muy bonitos, vistas incribles, los guias com gran experiencia en todo. Jo fiz el camino de Salkantay (4 dias) com Guia Abet, buenissima experiencia. Despues hacemos 2 dias de Inca Trail com Guia Percy, gran persona, mucho profissional. Todo fue muy agradable
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