Self-Launched Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2 Days)
2 days · Peru
Andean Path Travel charges £600
No-markup version: ~£235 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Andean Path Travel's 2-day Short Inca Trail: you arrange your own Short Inca Trail (KM 104) permit through the official MINCUL/Sernanp booking system, ride the shared bus and Expedition-style train independently, sleep in a budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes, and walk the last stretch of the classic Inca Trail — Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna, the Sun Gate — ending with sunrise over Machu Picchu. You can either join a small shared guided group at the trailhead (cheap, bookable through GetYourGuide/Klook or a Cusco trekking agency) or self-guide with a licensed entry permit. Note: Peru requires an official licensed guide for the Inca Trail network, so a shared-group guide add-on (~£60-100) is the realistic budget path; the permit itself is non-transferable and sells out months ahead in high season.
Day-by-day
Cusco → KM 104 trailhead → Wiñay Wayna → Sun Gate → Aguas Calientes
Cusco / Ollantaytambo / KM 104 / Aguas Calientes
Leave Cusco around 04:00-04:30 on a shared shuttle or colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~1.5-2 hrs, ~£6-9 pp one way; many travellers book a shared transfer through their guesthouse). From Ollantaytambo take the morning PeruRail/Inca Rail train to KM 104 (Chachabamba) — the short trail's official start — around 1 hr, ~£35-45 pp return booked direct online. Clear the checkpoint with your Short Inca Trail permit and passport, then hike the Inca stone steps past the Chachabamba archaeological site (~2,170 m) up to Wiñay Wayna (~2,650 m, the terraced site with the famous seven-window temple). Carry a packed lunch or buy snacks in Ollantaytambo; there is no food service on the trail. Continue 1-1.5 hrs to Inti Punku (Sun Gate, ~2,720 m) for the first view down onto Machu Picchu, then descend ~1 hr to the ruins and catch the 20-minute Consettur shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10 one way). Dinner in town, early night. Total hiking ~6-7 hrs, ~12 km.
🚌Shared shuttle Cusco-Ollantaytambo (~£6-9) + PeruRail/Inca Rail Ollantaytambo-KM 104 (~£25-30) + Consettur bus Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes (~£10)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Aguas Calientes (£20-30 pp for a double; dorm beds from ~£10)
- →Chachabamba archaeological site
- →Inca Trail stone steps and cloud-forest section
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins and temple of the seven windows
- →Sun Gate (Inti Punku) first view of Machu Picchu
- →Optional shared licensed guide add-on (~£60-100 pp, book via GetYourGuide/Klook or a Cusco agency)
Sunrise at Machu Picchu + guided circuit, then train and van back to Cusco
Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo / Cusco
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then take the first Consettur buses up (~05:30, ~£10 one way) to be inside Machu Picchu for opening and the morning light. Your Short Inca Trail permit includes entry for day 2. Join a shared 2-hour guided walking tour of the citadel — bookable in advance on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25-35 pp) or join a group at the gate — or self-explore the marked one-way circuit. Optional extras (extra ticket, ~£15-20, limited daily slots): Huayna Picchu (10:00 slot) or Machu Picchu Mountain. Bus back down to Aguas Calientes, lunch, then afternoon Expedition-class train to Ollantaytambo (~1.5 hrs, ~£45-60 pp — book direct on perurail.com or incarail.com early for the cheap fares), and a shared colectivo/van Ollantaytambo-Cusco (~2 hrs, ~£5-7). Arrive Cusco by evening.
🚌Consettur bus return (~£20) + PeruRail/Inca Rail Ollantaytambo train (~£45-60) + shared colectivo Ollantaytambo-Cusco (~£5-7)
🛏Not included — own hostel in Cusco (budget dorms ~£10-15 pp, private doubles £20-30)
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- →Shared 2-hour guided walking tour of the citadel (~£25-35)
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hike (~£15-20 extra ticket)
Self-launched vs. Andean Path Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Andean Path Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£235 | £600 |
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £365 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Andean Path Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£235
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £235 per person for 2 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Andean Path Travel?+
Yes — Andean Path Travel charges around £600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £235 — a saving of roughly £365 (61%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 2 days, covering 2 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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