Get in touch using the form below, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
1 Day Inca Trail Machu Picchu is the best alternative to the classic Inca Trail. It takes you through the prime sites on the last segment of this legendary hike.
The four-day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most preferred hike for most people who visit Machu Picchu. However, the hike involves many challenges, most of which involve obtaining the Inca Trail permit.
To protect the trail’s authenticity, local authorities restrict access to just 500 trekkers a day, including porters, chefs, and guides. The permit tends to sell out six months in advance.
However, the one-day Inca Trail is the most preferred alternative as it does not require advance bookings and offers the best of the hike.
You will start to hike the Inca Trail at Km.104. It is named after its distance from Cusco en route to Machu Picchu. You will hike through the cloud forest and reach the iconic ruins of Winay Wayna. The trail then takes you to the Sun Gate (Intipunku). From here, you will visit the iconic Inca Citadel, Machu Picchu.
If you want to learn more about this beautiful trek, check out our article, which contains everything you need to know about the Inca Trail.
Happy Gringo Tours is a local tour operating company founded by a local guide who has hiked the Inca Trail over 500 times. All our guides are locals and passionate hikers. We have years of experience in tourism. Our guides have extensive training in providing aid to altitude sickness.
We operate the one-day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu as a private guided tour in small groups.
Do take a moment to check our reviews on Trip Advisor.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
4:00 am
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then, in our private transport, we will drive you through the Sacred Valley of Incas to Ollantaytambo train station.
Here we will be boarding an Aguas Calientes bound tourist train at 0610 AM. We will be getting down at Km.104. The trail begins amidst the cloud forest where you will get to see different flora and fauna.
On this 10-kilometre stretch, we will visit many Inca ruins. Then, we will reach Wiñay Wayna, one of the prominent Inca sites here. After a guided tour of the complex, we will visit Sungate (Intipunku). From here, you will get the first sight of Machu Picchu citadel.
Once inside Machu Picchu citadel, we will give you a two-hour guided tour. After the tour, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own. If you have booked to hike Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu mountains, our guide will direct you to the trail head.
Alternatively, you can hike to Sun Gate or Intipunku. This is the entrance to the citadel for those on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After exploring Machu Picchu, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. At around 04:00 PM, we will take a train back to Ollantaytambo.
Our representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco. We will return to Cusco by 09:30 PM.
Each review from our users is important to continue growing and offering the best service to each of our clients. Our priority will always be that you enjoy your trip to the fullest while our professional team works to fulfill it.
Our vacation was great to the land of the Incas in Perú with Gringo Tours.
We strongly recommend traveling... read more in Cusco. We had an amazing experience.. Thanks to our guide Juan!
We highly recommend booking the Machu Picchu day tríp from Cusco with Happy Gringo!
Everything else was a dumpster fire that had us waiting for two hours for a guide to show up (he stated he hadn’t been notified from the travel agency even though we went to the physical Happy Gringo location to check in the day before AND provided all requested information in person and again via WhatsApp). If we hadn’t reached out to them on WhatsApp, I’m certain we would have still been standing outside of the train station waiting. The information you get when you get to the Machu Picchu location is also confusing, telling you to go to a Pueblo, but when you look it up on the maps, there are several listed, which further added to the confusion. Very much underperformed our expectations for nearly $800.
Final thought, Machu Picchu is very much worth the visit, but not with this outfit.
My family had difficulty to find a travel agent to book the Machu Picchu tour, however the workers of Gringo Tours were very helpful... read more to assist us with our trip to Machu Picchu.
The pick up was on time, the journey from Cusco to Aguad Calientes town was amazing with fantástic views, and finally the tour guide at Machu picchu was very knowledgeable.
Highly recommended tour operator in Peru!
The communication was great, the pick up was on time, the box lunch was very delicious,... read more the hotel at Aguas Calientes was clean and our tour guide Wilder was very informative.
All the team of Happy Gringo tours were professional. Therefore, we hughly recommend hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu with them and with Wilder!
¡Thanks for everything!
We booked the 2 days tour to Machu Picchu. The service was very well organised from Cusco, the Communication... read more was fsntastic with Ariana, the pick up ass on time and our tour guide Ivan gave us a lot of information of Machupichu site.
Strongly recommend our guide Ivan and thanks Gringo tours!
We noticed the sirious work and profesionalism that we received. Juan is the persona who gave us all his support. Therefore, we share our experience that Happy Gringo is the only company in Cusco that got our dream reop to Machu Picchu.
Thanks all the team of Gringo tours for your help and we highly recommend the travelers who want to ise this tour operator in Cusco.
The 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was everything I hoped for and more. Starting the hike at KM 104, we were greeted by lush green landscapes and historical Inca ruins like Wiñay Wayna. The trek was challenging in parts, but the excitement of reaching the Sun Gate made it all worth it.
Seeing Machu Picchu from this iconic vantage point was an unforgettable moment. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and made the history of the Inca Empire come alive.
If you’re short on time but still want to experience the magic of hiking the Inca Trail, this is the perfect choice. Highly recommend booking permits in advance as they sell out quickly!
The 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was one of the highlights of my trip to Peru! I loved how it combined physical activity, stunning scenery, and cultural exploration all in one day. Starting at KM 104, the hike immediately immersed us in lush vegetation and ancient Inca ruins. Wiñay Wayna was a particularly magical spot—it’s hard to believe how advanced the Inca civilization was to build such structures in remote locations.
The best part was reaching Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, where we got our first view of Machu Picchu. Seeing the iconic citadel from above was an emotional moment for me. It’s incredible how the trail gives you the chance to approach this wonder the same way the Incas did centuries ago.
Our guide was excellent and provided in-depth explanations of the history and significance of each site we passed. He also ensured that everyone in the group felt comfortable, offering tips for navigating the trail’s steeper sections.
This hike is perfect for anyone who loves nature and history but doesn’t have the time for the full Inca Trail. Just be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes and carry water and snacks. I can’t recommend this experience enough—it’s a must for anyone visiting Peru with Happy Gringo Tours!
As someone who loves hiking but has a busy schedule, the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was a dream come true. The journey was well-paced, and the variety of landscapes we encountered was stunning. Starting at KM 104, the trail winds through lush cloud forests and past awe-inspiring archaeological sites like Wiñay Wayna.
The moment we reached the Sun Gate and saw Machu Picchu for the first time is one I’ll never forget. The view is absolutely breathtaking, and knowing that you’ve earned it after the hike makes it even more special. What’s great about this trek is that it combines the best parts of the longer Inca Trail with the convenience of a one-day itinerary.
Our guide was amazing—friendly, professional, and full of fascinating stories about the Incas. He also made sure we were safe and comfortable throughout the hike. The provided lunch was delicious and much needed after several hours of hiking.
If you’re planning this trip, I recommend booking your Inca Trail permit early, as availability is limited. Also, be prepared for changing weather—pack a light rain jacket and sunscreen. This hike is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a taste of adventure without the commitment of a multi-day trek.
I’ve always wanted to visit Machu Picchu, and this hike was the perfect way to make it special. The moment we reached Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) and saw Machu Picchu from above was absolutely breathtaking. The trail is well-maintained, and the mix of history and nature made it such a rewarding experience.
It’s a moderately challenging hike, so I’d recommend being prepared for a bit of exertion. Our guide’s storytelling about the Inca civilization added a lot of depth to the journey.
Happy Gringo is the best!
As someone with limited time in Peru, the 1-day Inca Trail was the perfect solution. It offered a taste of the classic trek, with stunning scenery, fascinating Inca ruins, and the magical arrival at Machu Picchu, all within a single day. Our guide, Raul, was fantastic, sharing his knowledge of Inca history and pointing out hidden details along the trail. Hiking through lush cloud forests and reaching the Sun Gate at sunrise was an unforgettable experience.