This Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, is a very popular hike! It incorporates a significant portion of the Classic Inca Trail but in a shorter time frame! But don’t start thinking this is not a great trek on its own merits! On this hike you will tour an Inca Ruin, Chachabamba, which is not seen on any other trek. You will also see a waterfall that is so gorgeous it can’t be described!
This Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, includes lodging in Aguas Calientes and dinner in a restaurant in Aguas calientes.
Overview
Day 1: Cusco-Soqma-Perolniyoc-Rayan.
Day 2: Rayan-KuychiKasa Pass-Yanakaka-IntiPunku (Sun Gate)-Choquetacarpo
Day 3: Choquetacarpo-Inka Quarry-Ollantaytambo-Aguas Clientes.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes-MachuPicchu-Cusco.
- Overall distance hiked: 32 km/ 20 miles
- Starting altitude: 10,512ft/3,205m head trail.
- Maximum altitude reached: 4,450 m /14,599 ft.
- Lowest elevation: 2,050 m /6,725 ft MachuPicchu Town.
- Overall trek difficulty: moderate and challenging.
- When to go: Better from March to November
- Departures: Daily departure Minimum 2 Max 8 people.
Itinerary
The day start when we pick you up from your hotel at 6am in the morning in a clean, and cozy van to drive for 2 hours to Soqma that lies in the middles of the Mountains. Where we will have the honor to introduce our team that consist of Your Mountain Guide, The Cook, Assistant cook, and Muleteers. From Soqma will start hiking up to the Waterfalls for 2 hours. Then we hike up 1:30 to the Mountain shoulder where Perolniyoc Inca site lies, we explore the Inca place which is flank by ragged Mountains, Valleys, and Waterfall. After exploring this Inca site we continue up for 45min to the Rayan camping place (3,700 meters / 12,139 ft). Lunch and free time to get use to the Altitude. You can do small explorations in Rayan and at night you will enjoy the milky way of the Incas that lies just above you (a starry star, constellations and more).
Highlight: Waterfalls, PerolNiyoc Inca site, milky way.
Distance to walk: 4,9 miles/8km.
Approximate walking time: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Camping.
Starting Elevation: 10,512ft/3,205m head trail.
Camping Elevation: (3,700 meters/12,136 ft).
Level of Difficulty: Easy.
Area: Dry Mountain.
Temperature: Cold, Warm and Hot.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner (Snack, Coca Tea Time).
We wake you up with Coffee and healthy breakfast early in the morning to start the day so that we head off to the Kuychikasa Pass (4,450 m /14,599 ft). this is the highest point in this Inca Quarry trek. We hike up to Kuychikasa Pass for 4h 30min. the trail is gentle up and small platforms where we can snack. on the way up Your Mountain Guide will do a lot of minibreaks to enjoy more the beauty of the Andes Mountains. You will be above tree line, the area you will see is Puna region (Paramo). lot of straw (estipa ichu) which is prime for that, also animals like Condors soaring high up, Eagles, and your favorite one The Grand Veronica” Snow Capped Mountain (19,226ft/5,860m). Stunning view of the Grand Veronica Snow Peak from Kuychikasa Pass, Quechua spelling that means “Rainbow Pass”. From the Rainbow pass you will see our lunch spot with is located 25 min away down the trail.
After delicious Lunch, we hike undulating trail to Yanakaka, from where you will enjoy the dramatic mountain ranges scenery and the “Sun Gate” far down on top of a very steep mountain range. Also The sacred valley of the Incas Ollantaytambo. From Yanakaka gorge we Hike down the trail for 2 hours aprox. To reach the Inca Chanel and the remarkable “Sun Gate” and Veronica Snow Peak towering the entire area. We will get there by the “Golden Light” which is a perfect timing for pictures. Highly recommended for those professional photographers. You will have the perfect pic for your social media. From the Sun gate, Camping, sacred valley of the Incas, and Ollantaytambo are visible. Camping place is 30 minutes downhill from Sun Gate. Camping and dinner in an incredible place.
Highlight: The Grand Veronica Snow Peak, Sun Gate, Milky way.
Distance to walk: 8 miles/13km.
Approximate walking time: 7-8 hours
Accommodation: Camping.
Camping Elevation: (3,600m/ 11,808 ft).
Highest Elevation: 4,450 m /14,599 ft.
Level of Difficulty: Challenging.
Area: Dry Mountain and Paramour.
Temperature: Cold, Warm and Hot.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Snack, Coca Tea Time).
After a refueling breakfast it is time to explore the Inca Quarry and the ceremonial place where the Mommies are located (3,525 m/ 11,562 ft). The view is panoramic from this place that someone can see Ollantaytambo and The Sacred valley of the Incas. After exploring the amazing Inca Quarry, we head down to the Valley (2,840 m / 9,315 ft) in order to take a panoramic train ride to Aguas calientes aka Machupicchu town. As always the scenery change a lot as you reach Machupicchu Town. Dinner in a nice restaurant with good reputation and overnight in a cozy, clean Hotel.
Highlight: Inca Quarry, Mummies, Sacred Valley of the Incas-Ollantaytambo.
Distance to walk: 7 miles/11km.
Approximate walking time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel.
Level of Difficulty: Easy.
Temperature: Chilli, Warm and Hot.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Snack).
This hike goes big, you will get to know our vibrant culture in The Andes Mountains of PERU, an Inca City high up in the Clouds, MachuPicchu Archeological Site, built with Granit rock That seems to be a White Stone Inca City. You will have a Guided Walk for 2 hours with your expert Mountain Guide. If you elected to hike an extra Mountain, after the Guided walk you will have an extra trek to either MachuPicchu Mountain or HuaynaPicchu Mountain. Bus down down to Machupicchu town. You can have a coffee, water, lunch, Pisco sour, beer whatever you need while you wait to catch your train back to Poroy train station or Ollantaytambo train station. From both cases we pick you up from the Train station to CUSCO. We drop you in your Hotel.
Highlight: MachuPicchu.
Guided walk: 2 hours.
Highest Elevation: 7,972ft. Machupicchu.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Area: Montane cloud forest.
Temperature: Chilly, Warm and Hot (it can get hotter than 94fº).
Meals: Breakfast at the Hotel.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
The Trip Cost Includes
- Bilingual English speaking Mountain Guide.
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
- transportation to Soqma on day 1.
- Tens 4 capacity for 2 persons.
- Pad Mattress
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Chef (The Cook and assistant Cook)
- Muleteers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Horse to carry 7 kg of your personal belongings
- Duffle bag to store your personal belongings
- 3 breakfast, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners
- Hot water for washing every day.
- Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- Expedition train ticket from Ollantaytambo to MachuPicchu Town on day 3.
- Expedition train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Poroy or Ollantaytambo on day 4.
- Van transport from Poroy/Ollantaytambo to your Cusco hotel.
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
- Round trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
- Lodging in Aguas Calientes on night 4 of the trek (double occupancy).
- Dinner in a very nice restaurant at Aguas Calientes on day 4.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us).
- Breakfast on day 1.
- Day 5 lunch in Aguas Calientes.
- Tips for the crew (muleteers, chef and guide)
- Hiking poles (can be rented from us)
- Ticket for Huayna Picchu mountain or Machupicchu Mountain.
Frequently asked Questions
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during off season.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
