Short Inca Trail (KM104)
Curated schematic — not walking distance. Pin-to-pin OSM named-waypoint line Chachabamba (KM104) → Wiñay Wayna → Inti Punku → Machu Picchu. Cited itinerary ~12 km one-way (provisional, secondary). Government permit, licensed operator. High 2,720 m is the Sun Gate landmark.
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Distance 12 km Reported · Ascent provisional (DEM sample) · High point Reported · 2d · SAC T2 · Ungraded — schematic, no OSM sac_scale line
Cite this record
The Hiking World, Short Inca Trail (KM104), read 2026-10-11, https://www.thehikingworld.com/trails/inca-trail-short
How we verify · last checked 2026-10-11
Byline
- The Hiking World editorial team · author
Figures marked provisional are seed data and still need verification. Source and last-checked date sit under each cited value.
Forecast at page generation, 2026-11-06T01:43:28.004Z
Representative point on Short Inca Trail (KM104): -13.170°, -72.534°, about 2720 m. A forecast, not a trail-surface reading.
At generation: 12°C, Overcast.
- 2026-11-05 Thunderstorm, 10–20°C, 13 mm
- 2026-11-06 8–22°C, 5 mm
- 2026-11-07 9–23°C, 7 mm
Source Open-Meteo. Mountain weather changes with elevation and aspect.
Life-safety notices on this page come from the issuer.
Sourced record
Verified and reported stay in separate blocks. A section with no source is left out. How we verify.
Permits and fees are shown once, from the permit record.
Map loads when this section is on screen.
GeoJSONThis line is a schematic. The files are not a GPS track. GPX · GeoJSON
Cumulative ascent not published — stored line geometry is too coarse for a reliable DEM figure.
Catalog entry
- SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade)
- Mountain hiking. Continuous trail, some steep ground, sure-footedness helpful.
- YDS Class 1
- Class 1. Walking on an established path; low fall risk.
Stored distance is 12 km. The chart axis follows the DEM sample (6.86 km), not the published line length.
Curated schematic from named OpenStreetMap nodes (ODbL). The line is pin-to-pin, not a surveyed walking path. Pin-to-pin 2-D length 6.86 km is schematic — not walking distance and is not this figure. The published distance is the cited ~12 km one-way (operator itinerary, secondary, provisional). Ascent and descent are Copernicus GLO-30 samples at those four pins only, not a walking profile, and remain provisional. The elevation-profile km axis follows the schematic pins, not the cited itinerary.
No connected KM104 / 2-day Inca Trail hiking relation resolved on 2026-09-21. Pins: Chachabamba → Wiñay Wayna → Inti Punku → Machu Picchu. osmRelationId is unset. Never graduate to verified without a connected OSM hiking relation. Distinct from inca-trail (relation 15703494, Camino Inca a Machu Picchu / classic 4-day) — relate-not-merge. Not Qhapaq Ñan.
typicalDays 2 is the cited itinerary window (secondary), not a figure.
High 2,720 m is the cited Inti Punku / Sun Gate landmark (Wave P evidence, lastVerified 2026-09-21) — not the GLO-30 sample at the Inti Punku pin (2,689 m). Low 2,166 m is Copernicus GLO-30 at the Chachabamba pin (lastVerified 2026-09-21), still provisional. Ascent 523 m / descent 236 m are pin-sample DEM, not a walking profile.
Permit is the headline: KM104 is a government-permit route with a hard daily quota and a mandatory licensed operator (Wave P evidence, reported secondary, 2026-09-21). Classic-network Camino Inka tickets are reserved on tuboleto.cultura.pe through authorized agencies (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/cultura/noticias/1290142-ministerio-de-cultura-inicia-hoy-el-proceso-de-venta-de-boletos-de-ingreso-a-la-red-de-caminos-inka-y-a-la-llaqta-de-machupicchu-para-2026, checked 2026-08-25). A 2026 Llaqta de Machupicchu ticket is a separate reservation (RM 306-2025-MC, https://transparencia.cultura.gob.pe/rm-ndeg-306-2025-mc). The classic Red de Caminos Inka closes all February (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/noticias/1340984-comunicado-red-de-caminos-inka-suspension-temporal-por-conservacion-y-mantenimiento-anual, checked 2026-08-25). Operator copy that the KM104 short route operates outside that February closure is reported secondary — not asserted from that SERNANP notice.
Water
No water sources recorded.
Permits & fees
Conditions, fees and rules change. Confirm with the issuer and local authorities before you go. This is a reference, not a substitute for local advice. Terms
- Permit
- Camino Inka — Ruta 5 Chachabamba (km 104)
- Booking
- required
- Issuer
- Ministerio de Cultura del Perú — DDC Cusco
Permits and fees for this year · Permit cost
Permits and fees
We are not the issuer. Fees and rules change — confirm with the issuer before you pay. Issuer page.
Quota / restriction: 2026 capacity: Ruta 5 = 250 spaces/day (issuer notice 17 Nov 2025); TUSNE 2026 not located as of 2026-10-11
| Permit | Cost | Quota / restriction | Issuer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camino Inka — Ruta 5 Chachabamba (km 104)Verified | S/ 222.00 (Tarifa General, TUSNE 2025 — RM 000451-2024-MC); estudiante S/112, menores S/105 | 2026 capacity: Ruta 5 = 250 spaces/day (issuer notice 17 Nov 2025); TUSNE 2026 not located as of 2026-10-11 | Ministerio de Cultura del Perú — DDC Cusco | Issuer page | Verified 2026-10-11 vs Ministerio de Cultura del Perú — DDC Cusco |
Hazards
- Altitude: cited Sun Gate landmark 2,720 m (GLO-30 at the Inti Punku pin 2,689 m).
- Classic Red de Caminos Inka closed every February (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/noticias/1340984-comunicado-red-de-caminos-inka-suspension-temporal-por-conservacion-y-mantenimiento-anual, checked 2026-08-25). Operator copy that KM104 operates outside that closure is reported secondary.
- Related record inca-trail (classic relation 15703494) shares Machu Picchu / Inti Punku geography — relate-not-merge.
Getting there
Sourced legs to the Chachabamba / KM104 (schematic start) base start station — where this trail record begins. This is not a route planner: durations are approximate and marked provisional until an official transport page confirms them.
Rail · Cusco (CUZ) → Ollantaytambo / KM104
Sacred Valley rail hub for the KM104 short Inca Trail. 2026 Camino Inka tickets are reserved on tuboleto.cultura.pe through authorized agencies (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/cultura/noticias/1290142-ministerio-de-cultura-inicia-hoy-el-proceso-de-venta-de-boletos-de-ingreso-a-la-red-de-caminos-inka-y-a-la-llaqta-de-machupicchu-para-2026, checked 2026-08-25). Distinct from the classic KM82 start (inca-trail) — relate-not-merge.
gob.pe · read 2026-08-25 · provisional
Schematic start is the Chachabamba / KM104 pin. Mandatory licensed operator. Llaqta de Machupicchu is a separate 2026 ticket. Relate-not-merge with inca-trail.
Plan from your location
Type a city, then pick a match. These links open external search tools — they do not fetch fares or timetables.
Getting there car-free
- Chachabamba / KM104 (schematic start): car-free flag unknown.
- Machu Picchu (schematic end): car-free flag unknown.
Trailheads
- Chachabamba / KM104 (schematic start) car-free: unknown
- Machu Picchu (schematic end) car-free: unknown
Questions
Do I need a permit for Short Inca Trail (KM104)?
A permit is listed as required for Short Inca Trail (KM104): Camino Inka — Ruta 5 Chachabamba (km 104). Status: Verified.
How much is the Short Inca Trail (KM104) permit?
Camino Inka — Ruta 5 Chachabamba (km 104): S/ 222.00 (Tarifa General, TUSNE 2025 — RM 000451-2024-MC); estudiante S/112, menores S/105 (Ministerio de Cultura del Perú — DDC Cusco, verified 2026-10-11). Status: Verified.
Short Inca Trail (KM104) permit quota and booking
2026 capacity: Ruta 5 = 250 spaces/day (issuer notice 17 Nov 2025); TUSNE 2026 not located as of 2026-10-11
When is the best time to hike Short Inca Trail (KM104)?
On this record the best season is: Dry season May–Sep (reported secondary, 2026-09-21). Classic network closed all February (SERNANP)..
How difficult is Short Inca Trail (KM104)?
Short Inca Trail (KM104) is graded SAC T2 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 1. A sourced hazard on this record: Altitude: cited Sun Gate landmark 2,720 m (GLO-30 at the Inti Punku pin 2,689 m).
How long is Short Inca Trail (KM104)?
This figure is 12 km (reported): a schematic straight-line estimate between waypoints — not a measured walking distance; published figures are the better guide. See /guides/how-long-is-the-trail
How do I get to Short Inca Trail (KM104)?
The record’s base start is Chachabamba / KM104 (schematic start). A primary gateway on the record is Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ). Trailhead transit notes are not included in this public FAQ.
Related trails
- Ausangate Circuit · Cusco
- Choquequirao Trek · Cusco
- Inca Trail (Classic 4-day) · Cusco
- Colca Canyon Trek (Cabanaconde path) · Peru
- Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit · Peru
- Santa Cruz Trek · Peru