The 2 day itinerary is one day hiking from km104 up to the Wiñay Wayna ruins, then to Machu Picchu. You arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon, have a little time to take photos from the trail, then take the bus down to spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. You visit Machu Picchu the next morning, then go back to Cusco that afternoon.

I love this hike and have done it several times. My favorite place along the 4 day Inca Trail is Wiñay Wayna (below & this entry’s map location) which you get to see on the 2 day route also.

This is the perfect trek for people who want to walk to Machu Picchu and arrive through the Sun Gate but don’t want to do a longemulti-day trek or sleep in a tent. For those who do want more of a trek, this can be combined with a longer trek, like Lares.

Practicalities

You cannot do this without a licensed guide and agency. The Inca Trail is in the “Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary,” which functions like a national park. There are park rangers who closely monitor the trail and all of the archeological sites along the way. For info on selecting an agency - see Cusco Trek Agencies