The 2-Day, 1-Night Inca Trail Hike only consists of one day of actual hiking or trekking the way we would imagine a classic hiking tour. That makes this hike 100% worth it for those who aren’t looking for a challenge or who don’t have much time in Cusco, Peru, but still want to get a feel for the Inca Trail. You’ll then get a good night’s rest to see the Machu Picchu archeological site bright and early on the second day before heading back to Cusco.
What Is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail historically refers to a complex system of pathways that connected the entire Inca Empire, which spread from present-day Ecuador to Chile at its largest. It's also referred to as “Qhapaq Ñan” (Quechua for “Royal Road/Path”). The Classic 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu that's known and hiked today is a small portion of it, and the 2-Day Inca Trail Hike is an even smaller portion of the 4-Day one.
Where Is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is located in the Andean Mountains of Southern Peru in the region of Cusco.
How Long Is the Inca Trail?
The Classic Inca Trail Hike is around 25 miles or 40 kilometers long, which takes 4 days to complete (see our 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Tour for more information), whereas our 2-Day Inca Trail Hike covers around 7 miles or 11 kilometers of that length.
Where Does the Inca Trail Start?
The Inca Trail trailhead is normally at a place known as “Kilometer 82” while the 2-Day Inca Trail Hike starts at “Kilometer 104.”
How Hard is the 2-Day Inca Trail Hike?
The short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 2 Days is considered a Medium to Challenging hike because of the full day of trekking on the first day, but it's still manageable, even for those who aren't regular hikers. We pride ourselves on small groups, so you'll never feel left behind.
