Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – 2 Days / 1 Night

Amazing time!! The guide was awsome, the attention, the patience, just great all around. The track itself is challenging but very fun!

If you are looking for a bucket-list adventure to Machu Picchu, look no further! Even as complete trekking beginners, every detail of this 2D1N Short Inca Trail trip was seamlessly organized with crystal-clear communication. Our guide, Pabel, was simply outstanding—fluent in English, remarkably experienced, and so helpful, friendly, and funny. His vast experience instantly put us at ease and made us feel much less nervous. He gave us a comforting briefing beforehand and kept the trek feeling wonderfully personalized by constantly checking our pace and making sure safety was always the top priority. Along the trail, he kept us laughing while sharing fascinating history, culture, and stories. The thoughtful touches, from a sweet morning pick-up complete with a warm blanket to a wonderfully comfortable hotel stay, made the whole journey extra special. Whether you are a seasoned hiker or a novice stepping onto the trail for the very first time, this is an unforgettable experience we cannot recommend enough—we honestly wish we could join him for the 4D3N trek next time!

I did the 2-day Short Inca Trail with Salkantay Trekking, and it was a smooth, well-organized experience from start to finish. If you want to experience hiking the Inca Trail but have limited time, this route is definitely worth doing. Our guide, Pabel, made a huge difference to the trip. Not only were his explanations of Inca history and local ecology exceptionally clear, but he also brought a great sense of humor and fun energy to the group, which kept everyone in high spirits along the trail. He managed our pace very well and took the time to explain the details behind . Reaching the Sun Gate (Intipunku) on the first afternoon and seeing Machu Picchu from above was a great highlight, and Pabel’s guided tour of the citadel the following day was informative and well-structured. Salkantay Trekking handled the logistics very well. The meals provided on the trail were solid, the train and bus transfers were seamless, and the hotel stay in Aguas Calientes was comfortable. Overall, a great trek with excellent organization. I highly recommend Salkantay Trekking, and if you get Pabel as your guide, you’re in good hands. :)

Sergio was an amazing guide and the experience awesome with breathtaking views. Be aware that even this short trail is physically demanding.

Amazing trail with stunning views. Keep in mindit is always on the side of the Mountain. Our guide Jimy Valverde was patient, really prepared and answered all our questions. Thanks a lot

Orlando saved my life during this hike. When I thought I couldn’t hike anymore he was very helpful. He proved me with helpful support and even carried my bag to help me continue the most memorable journey. He was very informative and taught us so much through the temples. I recommend him so much. He is an amazing person and tour guide!!!

Orlando was great! Very informative. I learned so much more on this tour than I knew before. He accommodated to our pace very well and took so many great photos of our group on the site.

Orlando was a great tour guide. He helped our group with some issues since we are very inexperienced hikers. He took the time to make sure we learned the history, got the best pictures and just overall have a great experience. The hike is difficult but Orlando made it an enjoyable and rewarding experience that we will never forget.

We had an incredible experience with Orlando as our guide through Salkantay Trekking, and we could not have asked for a better person to lead our trip. Orlando's knowledge of Peru and Machu Picchu was outstanding. He brought the history and culture to life in a way that made every stop on the tour feel meaningful and memorable. His enthusiasm for sharing information made the experience so much richer than we expected. What really stood out was his patience and attentiveness with our group. When we were moving at a slower pace, he never made anyone feel rushed or uncomfortable. He matched our energy, kept things positive, and made sure everyone felt supported throughout the entire journey. Beyond the tour itself, Orlando went above and beyond to help us with everything we needed, from guiding us to our hotel to giving honest, helpful recommendations for places to eat. He made navigating an unfamiliar place feel effortless. If you are booking with Salkantay Trekking, request Orlando. You will not be disappointed.

Absolutely incredible. The 2 day hike was reasonably priced. We were fortunate to be only the two of us in the group with our guide Pabel. Pabel was incredibly friendly, warm and made us feel like family. He was attentive and was very conscious of our pace. Pabel went out of his way to make us feel like VIP's. Would 100% recommend him as a guide and Salkantay as a whole to anyone looking to explore Machu Pichu. You will get to spend the night in Aguas Calientes and the included dinner at the local restaurant was very good. The following day, we spent the day with Pabel who gave us a tour of Machu Pichu while giving us short lectures on the history of it as we walked. Having an attentive guide like Pabel made the trip very stress-free. He walked us through everything we would do, took care of our included meals, gave us recommendations, took care of park tickets and transportation. The ability to enjoy the excursion without the typical hassles of traveling was a pleasant added bonus. 100% worth it. It made me really want to return to Perú and explore more of it.