I am all about some epic hiking trips, so when I booked my trip to Peru, I knew I needed to do the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. And EPIC is what I got! I knew virtually nothing about this hike when I signed up for it, so I’m here to pass on all the helpful info and pro tips you’ll need to have a successful and unforgettable Inca Trail experience.
What is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is a famous hiking route that winds up and over the Andes Mountains in Peru and ends at Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll pass through cloud forests and valleys, and get to see tons of ancient Incan ruins. The “Classic” version of the Inca Trail starts in Cusco, is about 26 miles long, and takes 4 days to complete. Hikers spend the night at campsites along the trail.
In Peru, the Inca Trail is known as Camino Inca.
What is the 1-day Inca Trail?
For those of us short on time (any maybe hate the idea of camping), there’s also a one-day version of this amazing hike. The 1-day Inca Trail begins much closer to the end point and includes just the final parts of the “classic” version. (What I’m sure are actually the best parts.)
How long is the 1-day Inca Trail?
The 1-day Inca Trail is about 8 miles long and usually takes between 6-8 hours. Including rest and snack breaks and stops for taking photos (of which there will be many, I promise), it took our small group 8 hours to finish.
Where does the 1-day Inca Trail begin?
The 1-day Inca Trail begins at Km 104 along the Urubamba River near Chachabamba. Literally, it begins at just a mile marker in the forest. It’s wild.
To get to the starting point, you’ll take the train from Ollantaytambo in the direction of Aguas Calientes and the train will stop at Km 104 to let hikers off. There’s nothing here at this stop; it’s just a small clearing in the trees next to the river.
From here, you’ll cross the wooden bridge over the river which serves as the unofficial starting point of the 1-day Inca Trail. On the other side, you’ll soon reach the checkpoint at Chachabamba. This is where the authorities will check your permits and passports and your hike officially begins!
Where does the 1-day Inca Trail end?
The 1-day Inca Trail ends at Machu Picchu which you’ll enter through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). After some of the most epic hiking of your life, entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is an experience (and views) you’ll never forget. However hard you struggled to get this far, it’ll all be worth it. Plus, from this point on, it’s all downhill woohoo!
From the Sun Gate, it’s another 45 minutes (downhill) to reach Machu Picchu. However, you won’t officially enter Machu Picchu here. Instead, you’ll get to spend some time at a special viewing area that’s just for hikers of the Inca Trail. Don’t worry though, the views (and photo ops) here are nothing short of incredible.
From here, it’s about another 15 minutes down to the parking area where you’ll be able to catch one of the shuttle buses to Aguas Calientes. If by some chance you miss the last bus of the day (5:30pm), you’ll have to hike down the mountain and then on to Aguas Calientes. But what’s a few more miles after all you’ve done today? (Just kidding, your legs will be Jello. DON’T MISS THE BUS!)
How hard is the 1-day Inca Trail?
How hard the 1-day Inca Trail is greatly depends on how avid of a hiker and/or how physically fit you are. Regardless, even the 1-day Inca Trail is a challenging hike not suited for beginners. The trail is pretty steep overall and areas like the “Monkey Stairs” can humble even accomplished hikers.
The weather can be hot and humid and the narrow trail passes pretty close to some pretty steep edges so those afraid of heights should really take that into consideration. But most importantly, this is a relatively high-elevation hike. Previous acclimatization to Peru’s high elevation is beyond crucial.
My small group of hikers included all types (mostly because there was so little information available on what the 1-day Inca Trail hike was really like). Two of us were avid hikers and two were relative beginners.
I personally found the hike to be reasonably challenging but super fun and no-sweat overall. My friend Amanda, not really a beginner hiker per se but also not a couch potato, found it pretty challenging but was still able to complete it. My other friend… well… there was crying; there were obscenities; there was serious and ceaseless regret. BUT she finished! I talk more about training for this hike below.
Do not believe any website that tells you the 1-day Inca Trail is “great for beginners” or “great for families.” I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it, I’m just saying to prepare for a moderately-to-fairly difficult hike and that a mountain goat must have written that.
Dealing with Peru’s altitude
With the exception of Lima, the Amazon, and a few other spots, most of the places you’ll visit in Peru are at some seriously high altitude. The general rule is to begin your visit in Lima and very gradually work your way up to higher elevations. This is critical if you’re looking to hike the 1-day Inca Trail which ranges from an altitude of 7,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level.
Do not, under any circumstances, fly into Cusco and immediately attempt to hike the Inca Trail. (Unless you’re coming from another high elevation destination like Bolivia.) You will suffer from altitude sickness and this will affect your ability to safely and enjoyably complete the hike. It may even send you to the hospital.
See my full guide to dealing with altitude sickness in Peru here.
How to hike the 1-day Inca Trail
Besides the fact that this hike may be harder than you’re expecting, the most important thing to know about the 1-day Inca Trail is that you need both a permit and a hiking guide in order to do it.
In an effort to slow down erosion in this protected UNESCO World Heritage Site caused by (among other things) too many tourists, the Peruvian government has limited numbers and instituted a permit-and-guide-only system. This goes for hiking the “classic” Inca Trail as well as the 1-day version and even just simply visiting Machu Picchu. I repeat: You cannot just show up and hike this trail on your own.
The government now issues a maximum of only 500 Inca Trail permits per day (this includes guides and porters as well). Permits are issued in October for the following year and these sell out fast. If you’re looking to hike the 1-day Inca Trail during the busy season (June-August), you should try to book at least 5 months in advance, but really just ASAP.
How to get an Inca Trail permit
The easiest way to hike the 1-day Inca Trail is to book your hike through a reputable tour company. A good one will (ahem, should) cover the hiking permit, provide a licensed guide, and cover the necessary transportation. Each tour company is different and finding the one that suits you best will make up the bulk of your Inca Trail research.
How I got mine
I booked my 1-day Inca Trail experience as an add-on as part of the 15-day Peru tour I was on with Intrepid. I simply funneled them some extra money and they handled all the logistics for me. (Really, it could not have been easier!) This even included separate permits to actually visit and properly tour Machu Picchu the next day. Those who opted out of the hike spent some down time in the city.
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing tour of Peru in general, I highly recommend the Premium Peru in Depth Intrepid tour I took. It covered everything from Lima to Cusco to the Amazon jungle and everything in between. However, Intrepid also offers several different Peru tours, most of which include the 1-day Inca Trail option. See all Intrepid Peru tours here.
Inca Trail tour options
Otherwise, there are several other companies through which to book tours for the 1-day Inca Trail. I would personally feel safe booking anything through either Viator or Get Your Guide, but there are many local companies with which you can book direct. (I’m just not personally familiar with them.) Here are some examples:
Walk me through the 1-day Inca Trail
Allow me to now walk you through the 1-day Inca Trail. This is the best way to understand what this hike is like and what you can expect.
Beginning the 1-day Inca Trail
To hike the 1-day Inca Trail, you’ll need to start your morning early in the town of Ollantaytambo. (See some Ollantaytambo hotel options below.) From here, you’ll take the train to Km 104 where only hikers will disembark. Both IncaRail and PeruRail offer trains to Machu Picchu that you can take.
Descend a few steps and you’ll find yourself at the wooden bridge that marks the start of the 1-day Inca Trail. On the other side will be the Chacabamba checkpoint where you’ll get your permits and passports checked. Your hike will “officially” begin after you pass this checkpoint.
Where to stay in Ollantaytambo
Check out these Ollantaytambo hotel recommendations:
What you’ll see on the 1-day Inca Trail
Very shortly after beginning the hike you’ll encounter your first Incan ruins – Chachabamba. You’ll have time for photos while your guide explains the historical and cultural significant of this ancient site.
The trail will then lead you pretty quickly up the mountainside where you’ll walk along the edge with the Urubamba River you just crossed and valley below. There will be a couple of mountain huts along the trail in case you need to sit down in some shade, otherwise the trail is almost fully exposed.
Wiñay Wayna
About halfway through your hike you’ll cross a bridge over a waterfall. Immediately after this you’ll arrive at the ancient Incan ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Getting to the top requires a good climb but you’ll be rewarded with, what I personally believe are, the most impressive views of the entire hike.
With Wiñay Wayna in your rearview, you’ll soon come upon one of the “classic” Inca Trail campsites. There are restrooms here, but in all seriousness, prepare for the worst. They were actually so nasty I ended up just peeing somewhere along the trail later instead. There’s also a hut with some benches here which is where my small group stopped for lunch.
Monkey Steps
You’ll continue to follow the trail up, up, up until you eventually arrive at what’s known as the “Monkey Steps.” These are a super steep staircase made out of rocks that most people have to climb using both their hands and feet (like a monkey).
The Sun Gate
Just a little ways past the Monkey Steps you’ll finally reach the Sun Gate! This is the reward you’ve been chasing all day. You’ll be on top of the mountain ridge now and able to see all the way down to Machu Picchu and into the next valley. It’s downhill from here on out.
Around 600 years ago, the Sun Gate served as the main entryway into Machu Picchu, just as it does today for us hikers. Those who hike the “Classic” Inca Trail (4 days) pass through here at sunrise. Those of us on the 1-day Inca Trail will pass through the Sun Gate in the mid-afternoon (3:28pm for me).
Machu Picchu
From the Sun Gate, it’s another 45 minutes or so until you reach the special hikers’ viewing area overlooking Machu Picchu. The only other people at this spot will be Inca Trail hikers and you’ll be able to take as many photos as you wish, have a sit, whatever.
Because you’ll arrive to Machu Picchu at about the time that it’s closing for the day, you won’t actually get to visit and tour Machu Picchu. If you’re just here for the hike, then that’s it; you’re done! But if you’d like to actually go inside and tour Machu Picchu, you can do so the next day. (See below)
Ending the 1-day Inca Trail
The only thing you need to worry about is the time since you don’t want to miss the last shuttle down the mountain. (But your hiking guide should be worrying about that for you.) My group spent 20 minutes here before we headed down to catch the bus.
Another 15 minutes downhill will get you to the bus area, and it’ll be about a 20-minute drive from here to the town of Aguas Calientes. Note that this bus ride is going to be a lot of winding back and forth. If you suffer from motion sickness, take whatever precautions you need to.
The bus will drop you off in the center of town and it’ll be up to you to walk to your hotel for the night. With your Jello legs. After sitting on a bus for 20 minutes. Good luck!
Where to stay in Aguas Calientes
Here are some top-rated Aguas Calientes hotels to check out:
Machu Picchu the next day
My 1-day Inca Trail experience (as well as most of the tour options I listed earlier) also included a second-day Machu Picchu visit. These regular Machu Picchu visits also require that you have a licensed guide and a timed entry ticket. On your second day, you’ll actually get to walk through the complex and learn all about its history. Plus, there are llamas!
The other great reason to split up your visit has to do with weather. The weather up here in the mountains can be seriously unpredictable. And wouldn’t it suck to come all the way to Peru, spend time acclimating yourself, and traveling all the way to Machu Picchu just to have it covered in clouds? Visiting twice at least gives you a better chance at decent weather one of those days.
On the day I hiked the 1-day Inca Trail, we had amazing clear weather when we got to the end. Honestly, my photos could not have come out better! The next day when we actually visited the site, it was completely covered in clouds and you couldn’t see anything from the viewpoints!
How to prepare for hiking the 1-day Inca Trail
How to prepare for the 1-day Inca Trail hike will vary from person to person and I’m going to leave it up to you to decide what you need to do. I am also not a medical professional so I’ll just share what I did to prepare for this.
I’m already someone who spends 4 days a week at the gym focusing mostly on strength training. I would consider myself an avid hiker, but I also live in the Boston area where the highest hill we have is 635 feet above sea level. Before I lived here, I lived on the Florida coast and in Memphis, Tennessee. I’ve lived my entire life at sea level! The high altitude is what scared me the most about this hike.
I did my Inca Trail hike at the end of March (2024) and started properly training for it the previous December. I kept up my strength training routine but also worked hard on increasing my cardio exercise. Each night (4 nights a week) I spent about an hour on the treadmill. I focused mostly on high-intensity intervals which included running on a steep incline. (This came out to be about 3 miles each night.)
Preparing for altitude is key
I should’ve prefaced with this: I am not a runner. Like, not even a little bit, but I knew I needed to focus on this if I was going to do a moderately challenging hike at a high elevation. And it worked! I wouldn’t say this hike was a “breeze,” but I was able to complete it with more ease than I was expecting to.
And I do believe I owe all of that to the training I did on the treadmill. I also hydrated like crazy and made sure I was fully acclimated to Peru’s elevation before I attempted the hike. It does not end well for the people who think they can just breeze into Peru and visit Machu Picchu. Preparing your body for altitude is the #1 rule!
What to pack for the 1-day Inca Trail
You won’t need a lot of special gear since this is just a “day hike” essentially, but there are a few things you absolutely do need:
Tips for hiking the 1-day Inca Trail
Here a few final tips and other things you should know about hiking the 1-day Inca Trail:
1. Don’t pee in the Wiñay Wayna bathrooms
Seriously, they are so nasty. You’re much better off finding a secluded area to do your business. Your hiking guide can even help you with this. I had to pee real bad towards the end of the hike and my guide pointed me to an area behind some rocks where I could go. He told me as long as I didn’t go #2, I wouldn’t be desecrating the sacred site. I kid you not. So, if you have to poop, do so before you pass through the Sun Gate.
The only other place you can go is in the restrooms outside the Machu Picchu grounds, down by the bus loading area. (And they cost 2 soles to use.) There are no restrooms inside Machu Picchu. You either pee in the disgusting Wiñay Wayna bathrooms or you wait until your entire hike is finished. Thankfully(?), you’ll sweat out most of the water you consume anyway.
2. The entire Inca Trail is closed in February
The Peruvian government completely shuts down the full Inca Trail for the entire month of February to do any needed trail maintenance, etc. (And hopefully clean the bathrooms ffs.) Be sure not to plan your 1-day Inca Trail hike during this time!
3. Prepare for all kinds of weather
Be sure to wear light layers and pack your rain gear. My pictures look like I did this hike 3 times because I was constantly putting on and taking off layers. You’ll likely see it all—sun, rain, wind, and clouds.
4. Don’t forget your passport!
You’ll need to show your passport at the checkpoint along with your hiking permit so don’t forget to put it in your day pack. (I packed mine inside a Ziplock bag to make sure it stayed clean and dry all day.)
5. Look out for giant hummingbirds
And yeah, that’s the technical term. It’s true; Peru has a species of hummingbird that’s truly giant. They’re pretty much the size of *regular* birds like sparrows or chickadees, if not bigger. I saw them a couple of places in Peru but the best encounter was on the Inca Trail.
6. Know how to pronounce Machu Picchu
This is my last tip but honestly the most important one. There is a right way and a very, very wrong way to pronounce Machu Picchu. Say it wrong and the locals will absolutely laugh at you behind your back.
- The right way (Ma-choo Peek-choo) translates to “Old Mountain.”
- The wrong way (Ma-choo Pee-choo) translates to “Old Penis.” You’re welcome.
More info for your trip to Peru
Like this post? Have more questions about the 1-day Inca Trail hike? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Peru!
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