Inca Trail 2-day Hiking Tour To Machu Picchu: Short Trek

We had an impressive expedition 2 day hiking to Machu Picchu with happy gringo tours. The team was very professional and Machu Picchu was beautiful!

*****WARNING***** This company is a SCAM!! Do NOT book with them!! We booked the 2 Day / 1 Night Inca trek to Machu Picchu with Happy Gringos, directly through their website. Our booking was accepted and we paid the full amount of approximately $1,200 for 2 people. We didn’t hear back from them until the night before our trek, when they told us they had made a mistake with our booking, and the tour was overbooked with no further capacity. This was despite the fact our booking had been accepted and paid for directly through their website several weeks beforehand. They put us on an alternative tour to Huchuy Qosqo, in the Sacred Valley, which is nothing in comparison to the real Inca trek. It was an isolated 16km trail with very little to see, and we met no other hikers or travellers throughout the entire day. Thankfully we were still able to get the train directly to Aguas Calientes that night, to go to Machu Picchu by bus the next morning. But we didn’t get to experience walking any of the authentic Inca Trail from KM 104 which we had booked and paid for. We were furious with Happy Gringos for ruining our holiday plans to experience the Inca Trail. We haven’t received any refund or compensation for the trek, which we fully paid for and which was only cancelled on us the night before it was due to happen. Please do NOT book with this company if you’re looking for a reliable, trustworthy tour operator. We’re truly sorry we ever came into contact with them.

Jorge is a phenomenal guide!! Highly recommended for your hikes and Macchu Picchu tours. My friend and I had a trip of a lifetime… with his knowledge and kindness we enjoyed exploring and learning the history of Peru, Incas, and the Andes Mountains. You will not find a better guide… I promise you!! As the Peruvians say Hasta Pronto!! 🇵🇪

We had a fantastic time with our guide Mauro. He was very knowledgeable about the Quechua traditions in the places we visited, and explained everything brilliantly. We found the hike tough, and Mauro definitely got us to the top! He was a master photo taker and brilliant at getting us the best views. I'd recommend him as a guide to anyone!

The two day Inca trail trip was an excellent way to get the most out of a short visit to Machu Picchu. One day hiking the Inca trail, a night soaking in the thermal baths in Agua Caliente, and then a final day seeing more of Machu Picchu itself, and of course the walk up Huayna Picchu, the highlight for me. Our guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Well organized and wonderful experience. There was a cancellation and the group became just me but they organized everything really well regardless and my guide Mauro was friendly, knowledgeable and energetic hiking and tour guide for the trail and Machu Pichu.

Muchas gracias Jorge for an unforgetable experience! He was a great guy to with be with and he taught me so much about the history - it was a great challenge to keeping up with his pace on the Inca Trail. The tour was ideal for making the most of Machu Picchu during my short stay in Cusco. I appreciate the company for their efforts in accomodating me well on this tour. Leading up to this, it was a pleasure to get to know their staff during the Cusco City Tour and during their Humantay Lake Trek. Thanks a lot again Jorge and the team!

Great experience courtesy of our guide Mauro who personally took us up the trail and guided us through an in-depth and personalized experience of Machu Picchu (and who took excellent photos). The tour company also arranged quality transport and accommodation for us between Cusco and Aguas Calientes with little issue.

I had claimed a few mountains in my life and ALWAYS tour guides plays a very important rule, to MAURO of happy gringos, you’re the BEST!!!

We did a trip to Peru and including Machu Picchu, all organized by Happy Gringo. We couldn’t be more happy with how well organized and attentive. They were always present, Daniel was our tour agent and did everything the way we wanted. Roberto Carlos was our tour guide for three days and he did an amazing job specially in Machu picture I highly recommend both of them and Happy Gringo.

For weeks, this company has been telling us our tour is "confirmed". Even when we kept pressing for email confirmation they said yes its all good. Now, after multiple phone calls, they suddenly blame the US 'reseller' as there is nothing available. Super stressful and unnecessary. What a company. Would not recommend to my worst enemies.

Mauro and Ruben were amazing! Best photographers too this experience was magic and I encourage everyone to do this experience

We had a great day hiking from 104km Machu Picchu with Jorge as an expert guide, he was helpful, knowledgeable and understanding of our needs. Would recommend Jorge as a guide?

We had an amazing time. Jorge our guide was excellent, he gave us lots of information and took so many pictures for us. It was a unforgettable experience and the view is just breathe taking.

Our two-day tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu was the best way to get an insight into Inca culture. Not to mention a great morning hike in one of the most awesome places in the world.

Jorge (George) was a great tour guide! He is a super knowledgable and laid back tour guide. He was able to answer all of our questions, proactively took many photos of us, and led the tour at a very comfortable pace. Fun fact, when Jorge isn't giving tours he is a visual artists. Make sure to ask him about his paintings!

Excellent trip! We had a tight travel schedule and couldn't do the full 4-day Inca Trail, so this was the best alternative given we could still do 1 day of it, see some of the ruins and sites along the way especially the Sun Gate, and not need to pack for camping (we finished the trek in Aguas Calientes and the tour company put us in a hotel for the night). We got really lucky with the weather despite it being wet season. This was a more relaxed journey, as the trek took about 6h and we were finished by 3pm so we had time afterwards to visit the hot springs in the area and have a nice dinner with our guide. The second day was also quite relaxed since it was returning for a 2-3h tour of one of the circuits at Machu Picchu and then killing time in Aguas Calientes before the train out. The train itself was a very relaxed and scenic journey with a panoramic view for about 1-1.5h each way. Jorge was our guide, it was a private tour for just the two of us and he was very knowledgeable and patient with all our questions. He was friendly and flexible with our pace and interests—definitely ask for him! Happy Gringos was really easy to work with. They were responsive over WhatsApp and were flexibility with some of the modifications we made, like where we met the guide (in Ollantaytambo instead of Cusco). I'd say this itinerary is great for those who have a tight schedule, still want to do some of the Inca trail, and don't have the ability or flexibility or interest in camping overnight on the trail.

This trip was amazing! I had never been out of the country so I wasn’t too sure how everything would go. Happy gringo made thing extremely easy for me to enjoy this short trip. The guid, Jorge was immediately like an old friend. He took me around the town and showed me all the local eats and places to relax and watch soccer. He was very knowledgeable about all the sights we saw and took the time to explain the history behind them. Thank you, Jorge! You made things very enjoyable

Overall great experience. Had some issues with logistics but the travel company works to get everything squared away. My tour guide Jorge was knowledgable, patient and flexible during my entire experience. If short on tim, i definitely recommend the 2 day experience. You get a full day of hiking ( definitely not an easy hike) and then use the second day for the tour.

We had an amazing experience with Happy Gringo, from the moment we reached out via email to book the tour all the way to the end of the tour when we got back to Cusco. The staff organizing the experience (Daniel, Jorge) were very professional and helpful in getting us prepared. Our tour was just our group of 3 and our guide, Miguel, who was an excellent trooper and semi-professional photographer, guiding us on all the places for the best photos. Miguel also taught us a lot about the history of Machu Picchu, Winaywayna, and the Inca, as well as teaching us about the Quechua language and culture. Overall, the trip was perfectly catered to us and we came back very satisfied at experiencing Machu Picchu.

I opted for the one day five hour hike to Machu Picchu. Everything about the day was incredible (maybe with the exception of getting up at 3.30am but this is what you have to do to make the most of the day). The car picked me up on time the guides were friendly and professional, despite the early hour. The journey by car and train was well organised and ran smoothly. The train has incredible views. I disembarked at the station before Machu Picchu so that I could hike the rest of the way. It’s strenuous but well worth it. The views are breath taking and you feel a real sense of achievement when you finally reach the sun gate. It was just me and my guide Jorge for the day and I was grateful that he was so amiable and spoke great English so conversation flowed nicely between us. He was also very knowledgable about the history of the place and I feel like I learned a lot. We are a tasty boxed lunch. Upon reaching the Sun Gate we were greeted with our first view of the citadel which certainly didn’t disappoint . It’s breathtaking. I was also pleasantly surprised how uncrowded the site felt. We had what felt like an incredible level of access. Truly magical. It’s a long day but Happy Gringo and Jorge delivered me a once in a lifetime experience which I will never forget and for which I am very grateful.

It was an amazing experience. The whole service was excellent and especially my tour guide Jorge, who explained everything in very good english and was very helpfull and willing to make my experience pleasant and memorable. I highly recommend this trail to anyone who enjoys hikes, it is worth it. For once more, muchas gracias Jorge!

Such an amazing Inca trail hike with Jorge, he has great knowledge and such a friendly person. Also, he’s a great photographer!

We booked the 2-Day Short Inca trail - Machu Picchu. As it wasn't high season yet, we were the only two people booked into the tour and so we ended up on a private tour which was awesome! Our tour guide was Jorge who was such a legend! He taught us so much about the history and was always up for a chat along the way. Hiking in the high altitude was pretty hard and he always knew when we needed a break to catch our breath. He also made sure we got so many photo opportunities. The hike was tough at times but it was so rewarding to see that view at the top of of Sungate at the end of the day. It was great to be able to have a rest in the the town and come back the following day to for a tour through the citadel. Highly recommend Happy Gringos!!

Mauro was an excellent tour guide! He made the whole process extremely easy for us. I highly recommend!

Our trip was amazing, from the hike, the views and to the information provided along the way. Ruben our guide was incredible. Would highly recommend.

The 2 Day Inca Trail with Happy Gringo Tours was a phenomenal adventure! The trail was enchanting, with amazing historical sites along the way. Our guide was fantastic, full of energy and knowledgeble. Happy Gringo Tours made it a seamless and memorable experience.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) I recently took a 2-day Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu, and it was an outstanding experience tailored just for me. Transport and accommodation were well-organized, making the trip hassle-free. The standout, however, was my guide, Ruben. As a native with deep Inca heritage knowledge, he provided insightful information about the trail and its history. His passion and expertise made the journey educational and unforgettable. I highly recommend this tour, especially with Ruben as your guide. It's worth every penny for a personalized Inca Trail adventure.

An awe inspiring 2 day trek on the Short Inca Trail with Happy Gringo Tours! Our guides were deeply knowledgable, sharing intriguing stories behind the ancient ruins and Incan civilization. The journey seamlessly blended stunning sceneries with rich history, culminiating in the breathtaking Machu Picchu. Everything was perfectly organized, making our adventure both smooth and memorable, Kudos to Happy Gringo Tours.

My partner and I took the 2-day Inca Trail tour, and it was nothing short of magical. Every twist and turn held thing to remember for life with each step. When we booked the tour, we were worried that the walk might be too heavy or tiring because of the altitude, but the Happy Gringo team made the entire journey enjoyable and easy. We like to thank the Happy Gringo Tours team for their guidance and making this experience unforgettable. I sincerely recommend them <3! We were some really happy gringos :)

My husband and I had a great time hiking with our guide - he was knowledgeable and supportive the entire time, making it a really unique and memorable experience!

Overall, the 2-day tour was an excellent experience. To put it briefly, I had a truly transformative experience hiking up to Machu Picchu. The beauty and majesty of the mountains make it readily clear why the Incas came to the site to connect with nature. What truly made this experience memorable, however, was my fantastic guide named Ruben, pictured wearing the alpaca hat. We talked about things ranging from golden ancient Inca wisdom to heart jokes, and had a great time throughout the hike. If you want a great guide that matches your pace and energy, then ask for Ruben.

Ruben and Mauro were the best guides. My daughter got sick and they carry her the last half of the trial.

Absolutely the best trip. Mauro and Ruben (our guides) were incredible. We hiked the Incan trail for one day into Machu Picchu. Mauro and Ruben took outstanding care of our group. The day was long but so rewarding, cannot recommend enough. Their knowledge of the native culture was phenomenal, and added so much more than the photos. There is so much to the landscape that was really enjoyed on the Incan trail . Mauro and Ruben were so attentive, we felt comfortable and secure the entire trip! Definitely the best way to experience Machu Picchu!!!

Mauro and Ruben were amazing tour guides! Super knowledgeable, friendly, and patient with our big group that included many older children. The one day hike up to Machu Picchu was strenuous in parts but absolutely worth it for the experience and incredible views. Would definitely book with Happy Gringo again in the future.

Ruben and Mauro guided 16 of us (4 families) through an amazing day of hiking the Inca trail and then giving us a tour of Machu Picchu! They really made the hiking fun even during the more difficult sections of the trail, and they knew the history and culture. We couldn't have asked for better guides!

Had an amazing experience on the 2 day Inca trail/Machu Picchu tour. Our guide, Mauro, was an absolute legend. He was funny, patient, knowledgeable and very supportive! We love that this tour company doesn't book large groups so we were spoilt to have Mauro to ourselves, compared to huge tour groups we passed on our trek. Thank you!

I could not ask for a better Tour group. I had Rueben meet me in Aqua Calientes.Begore they were excellent and off train a man from Intipunku was excellent hotel.Tge morning food was excellent.Reubrn isy friend he treated me do nice.Rueem was a happy man and talked both in English and Spanish.Poor guy he had just finished a 4 day trek and he came to my hotel .He talked up at Mach Pichuu the history .Matter fact more then others he showed his book .I am going miss his adventured coming back for 2 day hike and stay in Aqua Calientes .The hot springs was wonderful.

Mauro made our 2 day Inca Trail hike a success. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area, the flora/fauna, and culture. Mauro adapted the hike to our needs, allowing us to rest when we wanted and push on when we wanted. Whenever we paused for a rest, he was able to find a plant or viewpoint to talk to us about. When in Aguas Caliente, Mauro took care of all the details and made sure we had whatever we needed. We would book any tour again if he was our guide!

Easy and knowledgeable tour filled with plenty of historic sites and insighrt into the Andean life. Mauro is a very nice tour guide with plenty of knowledge and insight into the local history and civilization. The company was just perfect with everything well organised. We visited three sites before visiting Machu Picchu and the explanation was just impéccable.

2-day Inca Trail hike is probably one of the best ways to visit MP since it includes passing through the sun gate. We had a fabulous experience overall with Happy Gringo Tours and our guide, Mauro, who turned out to be beyond excellent. To start with, Juan, who my husband and I communicated with from Toronto was always responsive and was very helpful not just with organizing the hike itself but also providing us details to plan our broader trip to Cusco. Mauro, our guide, met with us at 104 km check-point when we got off the train and spent ALOT of time with us very patiently throughout the hike. It had started to rain halfway through on the first day, with clouds FULLY covering the view by the time we got to the sun gate. Mauro waited with us patiently until the clouds cleared which added another two plus hours to an already long day. He also helped me through the very slippery rocks offering his hiking stick as I was struggling. He really made a difficult day so much better! Pick-up from hotel was on time, and lunch and dinner provided were all of excellent quality. Hike itself was definitely more difficult than I expected - long hours of uphill climb and a lot of monkey stairs. However, it was definitely worth the effort given the view throughout and specially towards the end. Good hiking shoes and walking sticks highly recommended! Remarkable and memorable experience overall!

A paradisic walk to Machu Picchu. This was a perfect substitute to the regular Inca Trail. We booked it just a couple of days before and the company was very prompt to take all steps to book this trip. The guide, Mauro was very nice and friendly and went above and beyond in making this a trip of a lifetime. Th second day trip to Machu Picchu citadel was very interesting and informative. Mauro shared many noteworthy information about the Inca Civilization and local customs. This is cewrtainly the best company we have ever hiked with and undoubtely had the best moments of our trip to Peru.

Such a wonderful tour expereince to Machu Picchu along the Short Inca Trail. Marco was the point of contact whilst we booked the tour, he was very considerate and informative. The guide was mauro who was very passionate in sharing local history and traditions as well . The company took care of all logistics. The experience was second to none.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Our guide, Ruben, was excellent. He had great knowledge which he shared with us along the trail and in Machu Picchu. He knew Machu Picchu pueblo like the back of his hand and had good recommendations. He was friendly and a good laugh. The food, especially lunch on the trail, was super. Loved the experience.

Can’t recommend the tour enough! Our tour guide Ruben was fantastic, very knowledgeable and super friendly. Couldn’t do enough to accommodate us and made the whole experience unforgettable. Was really impressed with the lunch and food options included, and visit to the Hot Springs after day 1 hike was fantastic. Thank you Ruben and Happy Gringos for making this such a fantastic experience

Such a remarkable time in Peru with Mauro and Ruben on this serene two day Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We were introduced to so many remore Inca sites those can be visited only by hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The company shared many useful informations when we booked the tour which really helped us prepare for the tour. Visiting Machu Picchu was such a remarikable experience. highly reccommend them,

We had the best time on this tour with Mauro as our guide. The company is very well organised and did really took initiatives to make this trip a memorable one. The accommodation in Aguas Calientes town was nice and Mauro ther guide was very kind and friendly at the same time. His knowledge about the civilization was exceptional. The hike was very much easier than we expected.

This trip to Machu Picchu could not have been any more interesting. All thanks to Ruben our tour guide for such an outstanding experience from start to end. He was very attentive to details and spoke good English as well. He explained many interesting things about the Inca empire and how locals maintain the practises. Tour to Machu Picchu on the second day of the tour was just another thing, he went above and beyond and took us ahead so we had plenty of time to click photos and immerse in the serenity.

We had a dream of hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and were unable to get permit so ended up doing thjis. This is genuinely the best alternative as it took us through some of the prominent Inca ruins before reaching Machu Picchu. The hike was very easier and there were seldom any people around so we could enjoy most sites at a complete solitude. Mauro is a remarkable tour guide with an excellent insight into the local traditions and Peruvian history. The accommodation in machu Picchu town was very comfortable. On the second day of the tour we had an immersive trip to Machu Picchu where Mauro explained us the prominence of each sites and how the Incas skillfully built the citadel to protect it from any natural calamities. All in all this was a perfect combination of fun, history and culture and truly a good value for money and time.