For many travelers to the Sacred Valley, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is as much a part of the bucket list experience as seeing the ruins themselves. If you want to visit the site but aren't an experienced hiker, you can instead look for day tours to Machu Pichu that don't involve trekking, along with 1- and 2-day treks on the "short Inca Trail."
It typically takes four days to cover the distance between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, with overnights at Huayllabamba, Pacamayo, and Huinay Huayna on the way. To walk the trail, you need to join a small group of fellow hikers led by a licensed guide.
Tour companies will sort out your trail permits in advance. Inca Trail tickets are limited, and the Peruvian government only allows 500 hikers to be on the trail at any given time (including tour guides and porters). Make sure to book ahead.