04:00 h — Hotel pickup in Cusco. Private transport approximately 1.5 hours northwest to Ollantaytambo (2,792m).
06:00 h approx. — Train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 (45 minutes). Km 104 is not a town — it is a named stop along the Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes train line, identified by its distance from Cusco. It sits on the banks of the Urubamba River (2,100m), at the official trailhead of the Short Inca Trail. Your guide checks everyone's permits and passports with the SERNANP rangers at the control post.
07:30 h — Trail begins. The first 30 minutes follow the south bank of the Urubamba upstream, flat and easy, through riparian vegetation. You begin to see the change from dry inter-Andean valley scrub to cloud forest as the elevation starts to rise.
~08:00 h — Chachabamba (2,050m). The first major archaeological site. Chachabamba is a ceremonial complex positioned at the confluence of two rivers — a location the Incas consistently chose for sacred buildings, as rivers (and their meeting points) held deep religious significance in Andean cosmology. The site features fine-fitted stone structures, a central fountain group, and several enclosures. Archaeological evidence suggests it functioned as a ritual rest stop for groups approaching Machu Picchu from the Urubamba valley.
From Chachabamba, the trail begins to climb in earnest. The ascent to Wiñay Wayna gains approximately 600 vertical meters over 5 km — sustained uphill through cloud forest, with steps cut into the original Inca road where the gradient steepens. The cloud forest here is dense: orchids growing on tree branches, hummingbirds, and — if weather permits — views into the deep Urubamba gorge below. This section is the most physically demanding part of the day.
~11:30 h — Wiñay Wayna (2,650m). Lunch break at the campsite adjacent to the ruins. This is the most spectacular lunch stop on any trekking route from Cusco.
Wiñay Wayna translates as "Forever Young" in Quechua — the name comes from an orchid species (Epidendrum secundum) that flowers year-round on the site's terraces. The ruins consist of two main groups of structures separated by a central staircase: the lower group includes the Fountain Group (fuentes ceremoniales) — a sequence of 19 spring-fed ceremonial fountains that still flow today, carved from single stone blocks — and the Upper Group with a principal temple, a semicircular tower, and a row of residential structures. The scale and state of preservation are exceptional; Wiñay Wayna was not reconstructed after discovery but stabilized in its found condition.
The terraces cascade down the ridge for approximately 150 vertical meters. They served both agricultural and ceremonial purposes — their orientation and design follow the same principles as the terraces at Machu Picchu itself. From the upper temple, the view south into the Urubamba gorge and north toward the cloud-forested ridges is unobstructed.
~13:30 h — Resume hiking. The final 2 km from Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate is largely flat, following the original Inca road through cloud forest. This section is the easiest of the day.
~14:30 h — Inti Punku / Sun Gate (2,720m). The gateway through which the Inca road enters the Machu Picchu sanctuary. The name "Sun Gate" (Inti = sun, Punku = gate/door in Quechua) refers to the way the rising sun aligns with the gateway on winter solstice (June 21) — casting direct sunlight through the central opening onto Machu Picchu below. At equinoxes, the alignment produces a similar light-and-shadow effect on the citadel.
From the Sun Gate, the first full panoramic view of Machu Picchu opens: the agricultural terraces in the foreground, then the urban sector, then the steep drop of the Urubamba gorge on all sides, with Huayna Picchu (2,720m) rising sharply behind the ruins. This is the view at the same angle as the most widely reproduced photograph of Machu Picchu — taken from this exact spot. Weather permitting, you have 20–30 minutes here.
~15:30 h — Descent from the Sun Gate to Aguas Calientes (2,040m), approximately 45 minutes on a well-marked path. Note: the Sun Gate entrance to Machu Picchu closes in the afternoon, so the official citadel tour is deferred to Day 2.
~17:00 h — Check in at hotel in Aguas Calientes. Dinner included. Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo) is the base town for all Machu Picchu visitors. The town sits in a narrow valley at the bottom of the Urubamba gorge, surrounded by jungle-covered mountains. Optional: thermal baths at the edge of town (S/. 20 PEN, not included).
