Cusco and Machu Picchu: a 2026 planning guide

Most visitors fly into Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete airport from Lima, then base in the historic center for the first two to three days purely for altitude acclimatization before attempting the Sacred Valley or any trek. The dry season from May through September is the most reliable weather window and the busiest, while late April to May and September to early October offer a calmer, still mostly dry sweet spot; January and February bring the heaviest rain and some trail closures for maintenance, so they are the months to avoid for trekking specifically. From Cusco, most travelers stage through Ollantaytambo, taking a bus or colectivo there before boarding a PeruRail or IncaRail train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, since no road reaches the ruins directly. Budget for lodging in central Cusco, a separate one or two night stay near Aguas Calientes if doing an early entry, the entrance ticket itself, and the round trip train fare, which together typically run several hundred dollars per person once mountain permits or premium train classes are added. The must do sequence is Qorikancha and Sacsayhuaman in the city, at least one Sacred Valley town such as Ollantaytambo or Pisac, and Machu Picchu itself, ideally with an early entry slot booked months ahead. What to avoid: skipping acclimatization days before strenuous altitude activity, assuming same day walk up tickets exist at Machu Picchu (they do not, all entry is pre booked), and building a tight itinerary that leaves no buffer for possible rail disruptions on the Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes line, which has seen protest related blockades in the 2025 to 2026 season.