The Short Inca Trail Difficulty (And How You Can Best Prepare For The Hike)

How Hard Is The Short Inca Trail?

Quick Answer: Overall the Short Inca Trail is quite an easy trek to complete, and is the easiest of all routes that head along this sacred path.

During the first day you will be walking the longest (for around 6-8 hours), however the gradient and demands of the path are quite easy. We will also have numerous breaks to enjoy ancient ruins, have lunch and also to gaze out at Machu Picchu.

The second day is even easier. After waking up in your tent (or hotel if you’ve picked this option), you’ll then travel by bus up to Machu Picchu. After walking around for an hour or so to fully enjoy the site, we’ll then take the train back to Ollantaytambo.

All in all it’s an easy two day trek, and even the altitude here is much more tolerable compared with others in the region (the highest point is up at 2650m). You can learn more about the Short Inca Trail here, including all of the sites that you will visit along the way.

4 Tips To Best Prepare For The Short Inca Trail

Are you ready to go hiking on the Short Inca Trail? Great! Now be sure to follow these tips below to help you have the best experience possible.

Bring Adequate Hiking Gear 

Although many think that the Short Inca Trail will be a walk in the park given its name, it does still involve a lot of walking (especially on day one). For this reason make sure you bring solid hiking boots, comfortable hiking clothes and waterproofs if heading here during the wet season.

Get Into An Open State Of Mind 

During the Short Inca Trail trek we will not only be seeing amazing scenery, but also various incredible archaeological ruins. For this reason be sure to keep an open, curious mind along the way, and ask your tour leader any questions that you may have about the route. This is also important for your time inside the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

Physical Preparation Before The Trek 

The Short Inca Trail is much less demanding than the full route, so you won’t need to be in really good shape here. However we still recommend getting used to some longer walks beforehand, and ideally in the Cusco region (if you’ve got some days spare before the trek) so you can get properly acclimated to these higher altitudes.

Make Sure You Bring A Power Bank 

Hiking days are long days, and you’d be surprised how quickly your phone or camera battery will drain after taking so many photos and videos throughout the day (the cold temperatures also help to deplete battery levels too). This is especially the case if you’ll be camping, as there will be no electricity in the various campsites to recharge with.

The Short Inca Trail Difficulty FAQ

Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about the Short Inca Trail difficulty, as well as anything else important that you need to know.

How Many Stairs Are On The Short Inca Trail?

Whilst the total number is known for the full Inca Trail route (just under 71,000), it’s still unknown exactly how many steps are on the Short Inca Trail. However what we do know is that the distance is just over 13km, with the majority being competed on the first day. This also includes hiking up the Gringo Killer Steps to the final frontier of the Sun Gate (which overlooks Machu Picchu).

What Is The Easiest Inca Trail Route?

Out of all the different Inca Trail options listed above, the Short 2 Day Inca Trail is definitely the easiest option of all to complete. This is because it’s more like a day trip in style, whilst the longer four and five day hikes need more physical exertion. The Short Inca Trail is also located at a lower altitude which is easier for those to hike who aren’t yet acclimated (a total altitude of 2650m – whilst the others reach a more demanding 4215m).

Do You Need A Guide For The Short Inca Trail?

The entire Inca Trail is a protected area, and can only be accessed with authorized access. This means that the Short Inca Trail also requires you to have a guide with you, which will be verified as you enter the checkpoint at Km 104. Not only is this rule in place to help preserve the route (as only 500 permits are allowed daily), but also for your own safety too since there are many dangerous stretches and things you must be cautious of.

Overview Of The Short Inca Trail Difficulty

And that’s all for this guide on how difficult the short Inca Trail is.

A much more suitable alternative for those who don’t have the time to complete the full trek, the Short Inca Trail is still incredible in its own right. As well as getting to see ancient ruins and epic scenery, we’ll also find this route much easier to hike given it’s less strenuous and also at an overall lower altitude.

Check out our Short Inca Trail hike now, where you can book in your preferred dates whilst they are still available!