The 1-Day Inca Trail Hike Tour is a full-day walk on original Inca stone paths from KM 104 to Machu Picchu. You cross cloud forest, visit archaeological sites reached only on foot along this stretch, and finish inside the sanctuary the same day—without the multi-day classic trek.
This is not the 43 km four-day route. It is a compact, regulated section of Inca road: steep steps, changing cloud-forest weather, and constant Andean views. The day starts early from Cusco, with transfer and train access to the trailhead, then steady guided walking until you finish inside Machu Picchu.
Permits are limited by regulation, so departures are controlled and must be booked in advance. The route is demanding but compact: steep steps, changing weather, and constant Andean views rather than long camp days.
Salkantay Trek Machu operates this tour as a licensed local operator, with guided pacing, official trail access, and responsible group management on one of Peru’s most protected walking routes.
05:00: Cusco, driver to Ollantaytambo train station
06:10:Train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 (head trail)
08:30: Starting the Inca Trail
09:00: Chachabamba guide tour
12:30 Wiñaywanyna guide tour
13:00 Continue your hike to Machu Picchu
14:00 Machu Picchu guide tour
16:00: Bus down to Aguas Calientes
16:40: Aguas Calientes
18:30: Train return to Ollantaytambo
20:00: Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
22:00: Cusco
When embarking on the One Day Inca Trail hike, it is important to understand that you are following the same route as on the 2 day Inca Trail, but at a faster pace. The only distinction is that, by booking the one day version, you will have the opportunity to explore Machu Picchu on the same day and return to Cusco that same night.
The short version Inca Trail tour offers a unique experience visiting impressive Inca archaeological sites such as Wiñay Wayna, a beautiful Inca citadel considered the most significant construction along the ancestral trail. In addition, you will marvel at the exotic mountain views, the lush primitive vegetation, the streams and waterfalls that you will find along the way. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy extraordinary organic varieties and to get the first views of Machu Picchu from the iconic point known as Puerta del Sol.
You must be in moderate to excellent physical condition to be able to do this trek and arrive on time at the citadel of Machu Picchu. If you consider that the "Machu Picchu one day hike" may be too strenuous and fast for you, you have the option to book the 2 day Inca Trail. This itinerary will allow you to reach Machu Picchu in one day, but at a more leisurely and relaxed pace, enjoying additional time to explore the route at a later time.
To start our Full Day Inca Trail Hike, we will pick you up from your hotel very early and we will travel by bus to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we will board the train for km 104 (the started point) There a person will be waiting for you to take you to the bus station which will then board for about 20 minutes until you reach the entrance to Machu Picchu. In Machu Picchu you will have a guided tour of 2 hours, followed by free time so you can enjoy the citadel on your own. After finishing the visit to Machu Picchu, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch and then catch the train back in the afternoon. At Km 104 and after presenting passports at the control, we began to walk a few meters from the Vilcanota River. Starting the road we will see the ruins of Chachabamba. After visiting Chachabamba, we will continue the path to the south and begin a gradual climb to the mountain, before entering a cloud forest and with lots of vegetation, then the trail goes to the forest and goes west, while we continue uphill in an open meadow. After walking 3 hours, the path descends into an amazing forest. Here we will find a beautiful waterfall, then we will reach the lower part of the ruins of Wiñaywayna. We will appreciate the beauty of this place, complemented by the information of our expert guide. After lunch in Wiñaywayna, we will continue in the afternoon in the cloud forest, full of bromeliads, orchids and fern trees. While we walk this last part of the road, we will pass through many impressive features such as stone stairs and tambos ("resting places"). You climb 60 stairs before reaching Inti Punku ("Sun Gate").Finally we will enter into the beauty of the " Lost city of the incas" Machu Picchu, where we will have 2 hours of a guided tour and then you will have some time to explore by your own and take some amazing photos. After you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town, where you will take the train return to Ollantaytambo, and there our driver will be waiting for you to return to Cusco.
+51 84 226 547
+51 912 891 560
Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru 
info@salkantaytrekmachu.com
www.salkantaytrekmachu.com
