The one-day hike from Chachabamba to Machu Picchu, also known as the Short Inca Trail, is an excellent alternative to the full Inca Trail tour. We recommend this route for those who lack the time to complete the longer trek or who prefer not to camp. You enjoy a beautiful day of moderate mid-elevation hiking, traversing cloud forests with spectacular views of the Vilcanota River Valley en route to Machu Picchu. Following a night in a hotel of your choice (at additional cost), you spend your second day touring the main Machu Picchu site before returning to Cuzco.
On this 6-mile/9.6-km Machu Picchu trek, you climb a total of 2,600 ft/800 m from the starting point at the Vilcanota River footbridge (km 104 on the Cuzco/Machu Picchu railroad). With stops for lunch and photography, most hikers complete the walk in 6-7 hours. Chachabamba, an intimate cluster of masonry buildings facing a ceremonial plaza, is an exquisite introduction to the Inca integration of landscape, architecture and religion. You climb gradually up from the river, traversing a grassy hillside with the river curling below. After entering a delightful cloud forest glade, you reach a spectacular waterfall. Many hikers enjoy a refreshing all-natural shower here.
Soon after, you come upon the massive lower terrace walls of the Winya Wayna ruins. You climb a long stone staircase flanked by ritual baths, leading to upper Winya Wayna. From Winya Wayna, you merge with the regular Inca Trail for 1.5 hours of mainly level walking to Inti Punku, the Gate of the Sun (8,859 ft/2,700 m). At this point, the highest elevation on the route, you enjoy your first inspirational view of Machu Picchu.
Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.
Moderate
These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.
Active
These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.
Strenuous
While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.
Extreme
Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).
Chachabamba, an intimate cluster of masonry buildings facing a ceremonial plaza, is an exquisite introduction to the Inca integration of landscape, architecture and religion. You climb gradually up from the river, traversing a grassy hillside with the river curling below. After entering a delightful cloud forest glade, you reach a spectacular waterfall. Many hikers enjoy a refreshing all-natural shower here.
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Are permits required for this one-day hike?
Yes, since you are hiking, even for one day only, on the Inca Trail, this program does require advance purchase of a trail permit. Permits are in limited supply and typically sell out 3 to 5 months or more prior to the travel date. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
How far in advance should I book the trek?
We strongly recommend you book the trek as soon as you are certain of your plans, and as early as possible in order for us to purchase the permit.
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