IMG Machu Picchu Itinerary

Our trip to Peru will be an amazing experience, designed to give trekkers adequate acclimatization time for all objectives. There are several opportunities in the schedule to allow for shopping, sightseeing and general non-guided touring.

This itinerary is subject to change, based on the needs of our group, weather and route conditions, and other foreseen and unforeseen circumstances. Alternative routes and/or schedule may be used as warranted.

Classic Machu Picchu "Inca Trail" Trek
Day	Date	Itinerary
Day 1	Wednesday, August 19, 2026	Arrive Cusco by late morning/early afternoon, transfer to hotel in Cusco. Relax and adjust to 11,000' elevation!
Day 2	Thursday, August 20, 2026	Easy day touring Cusco, visiting legendary Inca remains around the city, sites of Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and temple of Koricancha. Hotel in Cusco.
Day 3	Friday, August 21, 2026	Travel from Cusco to the Sacred Valley, tour Pisac and Ollantaytambo and a llama and alpaca farm where wool is made into local handicrafts (great gift shopping!). Hotel in Ollantaytambo (lower than Cusco).
Day 4	Saturday, August 22, 2026	Early breakfast, then bus to trailhead to enter the famous Inca Trail and begin the trek. Easy trek on an ancient Inca path to 1st camp at Wayllabamba (9,840').
Day 5	Sunday, August 23, 2026	Uphill trekking to the Abra de Huarmihuanusca ("Dead Woman's Pass", 13,780') then trek down to 2nd Camp at Pacaymayu (11,808').
Day 6	Monday, August 24, 2026	Trek through Inca remains and several ecosystems - Runkuracay (12,470'), Sayacmarca (8,692'), Phuyupatamarca (11,930') to 3rd camp at Winayhuayna (11,930').
Day 7	Tuesday, August 25, 2026	Early morning start on our last day of trekking. Arrive to Machu Picchu (7,875'), entering in the morning via the Sun Gate, tour the Citadel. Later in the afternoon descend by bus to Aguas Calientes (6,724'). Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 8	Wednesday, August 26, 2026	Optional climb to Waynapicchu (8,835') in morning, train to Cusco in afternoon. Hotel in Cusco.
Day 9	Thursday, August 27, 2026	Transfer to Cusco airport in the morning for connecting flights back to home.