The 1 day Inca trail is a breathtaking hike, both, visually and physically!
Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is a destination that lives up to its legendary reputation. The 1-day Inca Trail offers a condensed yet thrilling way to experience a taste of the iconic 4-day trek. Starting alongside a rushing river, the trail winds through lush valleys and ascends steep mountain paths before unveiling the breathtaking majesty of Machu Picchu.
For us, this journey was unforgettable—one of the most remarkable hikes we’ve ever done. We felt fortunate to have cool breezes and sunny skies for the entire duration of our hike.
About Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century, it is believed that it took the Incan civilization more than a hundred years to plan, excavate and build the trails, Wiñay Wayna and the citadel. Though abandoned for unknown reasons, the citadel was built as a royal retreat with accommodations for the king, the first command and rest of the royal members.
Machu Picchu is located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a mountain ridge at 2,430 meters. The Incas used these trails to bring raw materials and stones to construct this amazing citadel.
Visiting Machu Picchu requires a licensed guide, and several tour companies provide this service. Each offers unique features to enhance the experience, from expert storytelling to perks like gourmet hot lunches.
Nine hundred years ago, the Incas created these trails we walk on today.
Why do the 1 day Inca trail
While the 4-day Inca Trail is the most iconic and widely trekked route to Machu Picchu, the 1-day Inca Trail offers a great alternative for visitors with limited time or those who prefer a less physically demanding journey.
With the 5-day W-Trek planned just two weeks later, we opted for the 1-day hike—a decision that allowed us to experience the trail’s highlights while conserving energy for our next adventure.
One of the biggest advantages of the 1-day hike is its more relaxed pace and smaller crowds. Starting in the morning, you’ll reach the stunning Sun Gate by afternoon, well after the rush of 4-day hikers. This means fewer people on the trail, giving you more opportunities to take in the scenery in solitude. You’ll likely cross paths with other 1-day hikers only at Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, making for a more peaceful and unhurried experience.
The 1-day trail gives you the flexibility to explore Machu Picchu itself the following day. With a guided 4-5 hour tour of the citadel, you get the best of both worlds—an exhilarating hike and plenty of time to immerse yourself in the history of this ancient site.
Facts/Things to carry/Things to do
| Facts | Things to carry | Things to do |
|---|---|---|
| Best Time: April – Oct | Permits | Book your guide & permit early |
| Elevation: ~2,000 m | Sunscreen & insect repellant | Acclimatize in Cusco. It is critical that you take some time to get used to the elevation |
| Length: ~12 kms | Hiking Poles | Ensure your gear is broken in; a painful pair of shoes is not fun |
| Duration: ~7 hr | Energy bars / scroggin | Prepare for endurance – It’ll be a long 7 hours |
| Steps: 5000+ | Daypack w/ plenty of water | Starimaster – 100 floors in 30 minutes |
| Elevation Gain: ~700 m | Mid layer & rain shell | Prepare to hike in different terrain – mud, stones, rocks, soil |
Our Experience
The 1 day Inca trail hike was not easy. A 7 hour hike with over 5000 steps required both mental and physical stamina.
Getting There
Cusco
Start the 2 hour trip from Cusco for Ollantaytambo the day before.
Ollantaytambo
Spend the night in Ollantaytambo to get up to 3 more hours of rest.
Train
Catch the train to the 104km mark early morning
104km
Get off at the 104km mark for the hike
1 Day Inca Trail
Enjoy this beautiful trail
We had planned our trip months in advance. We researched about the route, the way points, the prep needed to accomplish our goals, the gear we’d need to carry and the tour/guide company we wanted to hire. As a result, we were well prepared for the hike – mentally and physically.
Having said that, there were a couple of surprises and, in this blog, we’d like to highlight things that we had not encountered in our research in as much detail as we would have liked.
Travel: Cusco to Ollantaytambo
The 1-Day Inca Trail begins at the 104-kilometer mark, accessible by a 1.5-hour train ride from Ollantaytambo. We highly recommend spending the night before in Ollantaytambo, as the journey from Cusco to Ollantaytambo takes approximately two hours.
If you plan to travel from Cusco on the morning of the hike, be prepared for an early start. You’d need to wake up around 2 a.m. and leave Cusco by 4 a.m. In contrast, staying overnight in Ollantaytambo allows you to enjoy an extra three hours of rest before catching the train—a small adjustment that can make a big difference.
For us, those additional hours of sleep were invaluable, giving us the energy needed to fully enjoy our seven-hour trek.
Stay: Pakaritampu Hotel, Ollantaytambo
Pakaritampu Hotel is in the heart of Sacred Valley, located in Ollantaytambo and five minutes away from the Ollantaytambo train station. The rooms are minimal and spacious without fans or air conditioners; they, however, do have enough windows for ventilation.
One of the highlights of staying at Pakaritampu is their early morning buffet breakfast service—perfect for travellers heading out on the 6 a.m. train or starting their Inca Trail adventure.
In addition, the hotel is located 10 minutes away from the main square where you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. The Ollantaytambo is a charming and picturesque town.
For the evening before the hike, you may want to indulge in some delicious pizza at Casa De Madera. Casa De Madera, a two storied restaurant, is a little difficult to find – ensure you take the by-lane off “Horno Calle”. The restaurant is home two wonderful cats – mother and daughter.
Train: Inca Rail to 104km
The train station is a 10 minute walk from the Pakaritampu hotel and one is required to be at the station at least 15 minutes before the train departure time. Trains depart on time… with or without you.
As we arrived at the train station, we were greeted by locals dressed in Inca attire, playing music and dancing. The live music and dance pumped us up and energized us for this epic hike!
The journey from Ollantaytambo to 104km mark takes around 1.5 hours, provided nothing goes wrong; in our case, we were delayed by 1.5 hours because of a landslide. Instead of reaching around 8am, we reached the 104km mark around 10am. The delay did not adversely affect our hike; however, this is something to keep in mind.
Note: In case your train is delayed, you’d want to maintain pace to reach the second check-point, post Wiñay Wayna, before 2:00pm. Also, the last bus leaves Machu Picchu at 5:30pm.
Trains can be delayed and it might take more than 1.5 hours to reach the 104KM mark.
Hike: 1 Day Inca Trail
The hike is beautiful and breathtaking. It is long and difficult. It is worth it.
– 104km – Wiñay Wayna
104km to Wiñay Wayna is the most challenging part of the 1 day Inca trail. Six kilometres long, it seems like an endless climb with only a few flat sections to catch your breath. This segment, taking approximately four hours, includes majority of the 5000+ steps. Majority of this portion is alongside the mountain with little to no shade.
There’s a single designated rest stop along this section, where you can pause for about 15 minutes to recharge with some fruit or energy bars. The shaded area accommodates up to 20 people, but time is limited—while you might want to chat with fellow hikers, you’ll need to prioritize resting and refueling.
Though difficult, the hike is beautiful and the guides do a wonderful job motivating you, helping you keep pace and stay excited. In hindsight, we were glad this challenging portion came early in the hike, as our energy and excitement were at their peak.
– Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate
Wiñay Wayna is an Inca ruin along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It is built into a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. The site consists of upper and lower house complexes connected by a staircase and fountain structures. The climb from the bottom to the top is steep and physically demanding, but the breathtaking views make it well worth the effort.
After exploring Wiñay Wayna, we paused for a much-needed lunch break to refuel for the next leg of the hike.
The hike from Wiñay Wayna to Sun Gate is around 2.5 kilometres long and takes around 1.5 – 2 hours to complete. This portion is alongside another mountain, is relatively flat and is shaded.
The final stretch, however, includes the infamous “Monkey Climb” or “Gringo Killer”—a steep, almost vertical ascent that adds a challenging finale to this portion of the trail.
– Sun Gate – Machu Picchu
After six hours of hiking, climbing, and anticipation, the moment you’ve been hiking for finally arrives—you reach the Sun Gate. As you catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the distance, the sight is breathtaking. The sense of accomplishment and the sheer beauty of the view fill you with energy and excitement.
From the Sun Gate, the trail to Machu Picchu is a gentle downhill walk. This portion of the hike is as enjoyable as it is rewarding, serving as the perfect lead-up to the iconic citadel itself.
Take it slow. Take it all in.
Well done! Congratulations!!
104km
Check in at the check-point, use restrooms and get ready to go.
Hike – 6kms / 4hrs
Climb for 6 kilometres/4 hours until you hit Wiñay Wayna. There will be a single 15 minute break to refuel.
Wiñay Wayna
You’ll start at the bottom, climb a lot of steps to the top of Wiñay Wayna.
Post Wiñay Wayna, you’ll break for lunch for around 15 minutes.
Hike – 2.5kms / 1.5hrs
A relatively easy flat hike for around an hour and a half to reach Sun Gate.
Sun Gate
First glimpse of Machu Picchu. Fresh energy and elevated excitement levels.
Hike – 2.5kms / 1hrs
You’ll hike once again for around an hour to reach Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu
You did it! Congratulations!
After: Aguas Calientes
After the hike, we took the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy the evening.
There are enough spas in town for you to get massage. There are enough restaurants in town for you to eat to your hearts content.
As dog lovers, we were overcome with joy to find off-leash friendly dogs everywhere. Dogs are welcome in every establishment in Aguas Calientes – from your hotel to restaurants. We spent some time petting dogs in the lobby of our hotel – exactly what we needed to relax and wind down after a day of hiking.
Stay:
El Mapi by Inkaterra Hotel, Aguas Calientes
El Mapi by Inkaterra Hotel is an urban hotel in the middle of town. It’s walking distance from everywhere – bus station, train station, spas, restaurants. In addition, our reservation had buffet breakfast included in their pretty awesome restaurant.
Ministry of Culture, Peru is about a block away from El Mapi and you’ll see a long line of people in front of the Ministry and hotel waiting to buy next day tickets to Machu Picchu. If you need something, it’s good to know that the Ministry is close by.
Check out Mapacho Craft Beer Restaurant for some awesome beer and food. Make sure you try out the Chifa and their burger(s).
Tips & Mistakes to avoid
Yay or Nay
Oh, a most definite yes!
Blogs, videos & photos don’t do justice to the actual experience.
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