Machu Picchu Trek Wraps Up

August 27, 2026

IMG Trekkers at Machu Picchu (Michel Henostroza)

After another day of touring the Machu Picchu site, the team members returned to Agua Calientes, then hopped a train to Cusco and are now on flights home. Well done team!

: (photo: Michel Henostroza)

: (photo: Michel Henostroza)

: (photo: Michel Henostroza)

: (photo: Michel Henostroza)

Follow along next month when IMG veteran guide Max Bond leads our next team of trekkers on our September Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari!

The Sun Gate

August 26, 2026

Machu Picchu (Michel Henostroza)

Yesterday our trekking team entered Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, via the final section of the Inca Trail from Wiñaywayna. The Sun Gate is the traditional access point to the Machu Picchu Citadel, from which trekkers descend down to various buildings and living areas. IMG Guide Michel Henostroza remarked that the weather was perfect and the views “absolutely beautiful”, and added that they were the only visitors at the Sun Gate making it a particularly special event.

: Final checkpoint before Sun Gate (Michel Henostroza)

: The historic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu (Michel Henostroza)

: IMG Trekker taking in the views (Michel Henostroza)

Today the team is touring the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

Everyone is doing well!

Machu Picchu Trekkers Reach Winaywayna

August 24, 2026

Hiking the Inca Trail (Michel Henostroza)

IMG guide Michel Henostrosa reports the weather has improved and the team has been having a nice trek. After three days on the trail, today they are heading for the archaeological complex of Chachabamba. Then, they have a 3–4 hour ascent through the cloud-forest vegetation, orchids, and beautiful waterfalls to Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft).

: Looking down on the Winaywayna ruins from near the third campsite (Tyler Nachand)

: The historic Cachicata Quarry site located above Ollantaytambo, featuring partially hewn pink rhyolite abandoned along the ancient Inca stonework trail. (Michel Henostroza)

: This high-altitude vantage point on the trail to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) overlooks the town of Ollantaytambo and the winding Urubamba River far below in the Sacred Valley of Peru (Michel Henostroza)

Tomorrow morning they will hit the trail before dawn to reach Sun Gate at sunrise, the traditional Inca Trail entrance to the Machu Picchu Citadel. They will take a tour of the Machu Picchu site, then descend to the hotel in Agua Calientes for showers and a soft bed. So far so good in Peru!

Machu Picchu Trekkers Hit The Trail!

August 22, 2026

IMG team standing next to the official Ministry of Culture sign for the Ñaupa Iglesia archaeological site in the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo, Peru (Michel Henostroza)

IMG guide Michel Henostroza reports the team enjoyed visiting the archeological sites of the Sacred Valley yesterday, and continuing their acclimatization. Today it was finally time to begin the trek via a slightly different route, due to recent landsides which were caused by unseasonally heavy rain last week. Now the weather has improved and the team enjoyed their trek from Ollantaytambo (2792m / 9160 ft) to Rayan (3650m / 11975 ft).

: All smiles as the team prepares to embark on their journey (Michel Henostroza)

: A quick group selfie on the trail!

: The stunning Perolniyoc Waterfall located in the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo (Michel Henostroza)

Along the way they visited the town of Socma and the nearby petroglyphs. The local Quechuan people plant a variety of crops along the way, making for an interesting hike past waterwalls to the ancient Inca site of Perolniyoc. After visiting Perolniyoc they continued on to their camp at Rayan, which the cook team went ahead to get set up. Everyone is doing well!

Machu Picchu Trekkers in Arrive in Cusco!

August 21, 2026

Our Machu Picchu trek team has now reached Cusco, Peru, at 10,000 feet and has met their guide Michel (who just finished the IMG Huayhuash Trek last week). They’re enjoying their acclimatization, taking it slow and easy as they become accustomed to the high altitude. Cusco is a fun town to explore, and there are many excellent cultural sights in what was the capital of the Inca Empire. The team visited the Coricancha Temple and Inca ruins at Saqsaywaman and also the alpacas at the woolen mill. Check back in soon for more updates from Peru!

Looking out over the city of Cusco from the Coricancha Temple (Michel Henostroza)

Feeding the alpacas at the woolen mill where the wool is made into wonderful knitted items (Michel Henostroza)

Visiting the ruins at Sacsaywaman (Michel Henostroza)

Huayhuash trekkers finish the circle

August 16, 2026

Descending to the Jahaucocha camp (Tyler Nachand)

Last day on the trail descending to Llamac (Tyler Nachand)

Near the summit of Diablo Mundo (Tyler Nachand)

On the summit of 17500 foot Diablo Mundo (Tyler Nachand)

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports that yesterday the team successfully crossed the Yauche Pass (15,825”) before dropping down to Jahuacocha. Some of the team choose to climb even higher, tagging the summit of Diablo Mundo Peak (17,548’) for some even better views of the icy peaks of the Huayhuash,

Today the team finished the trek to Llamac, where they said goodbye to their cooks and mule drivers. After a final lunch it was time to get in the minibus and head back to Huaraz, thus completing the circumnavigation of the Huayhuash range in Northern Peru. Tomorrow, after a good night sleep in the thick air (10,000 ft) of Huaraz the team will go to the airport and fly back to Lima.

Well done team, you accomplished a bucket list trek, with lots of rugged trekking and eight high pass crossings along the way!

Huayhuash Peru…The Toughest Trek?

August 13, 2026

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports the team is doing well on their circumnavigation of the Huayhuash Range in northern Peru. This is a very challenging trek, with fantastic mountain scenery and lots of high passes. Perfect for strong and healthy trekkers who want to experience a hard mountain trek that will push their limits a bit!

Over the eight days the team will spend on the trail, they will cross eight high passes over 15,000 feet, with several over 16,000 feet. Then, each night they drop down into a lush valley with gorgeous lakes and fantastic mountain views. It’s the classic up down up down hike, with complete support from our guides and cook team, mules to carry the loads, and a horse (just in case someone needs a ride).

So far the team has crossed CCaccananpunta Pass (15,400′), Carhuac Pass (15,252′), Siula Pass (15,740′), and Trapecio Pass (16,400′). The typical day starts early, climbing up and over the pass of the day, then dropping down to the next camp by a lake for a late lunch with time for napping or photography in the afternoon, before another wonderful dinner prepared by the cook team.

Today the team is heading over San Antonio Pass (16,400′) with up close views of the famous Cordilleran peaks Siula Grande, Jurao, Rasac, and Yerupaja. If you like challenging hiking, this is the best!

The Huayhuash Range above the Laguna Carhuacocha (John Hodder)

Huayhuash map

Evening alpenglow over Huayhuash Camp (Tyler Nachand)

The Team at Tres Lagunas View Point (Tyler Nachand)

First Day on the Trail in Peru!

August 10, 2026

IMG guide Tyler reports the team had a good first day on the trail and everyone is doing well. Yesterday afternoon they visited Lake Mitucocha. Today they are crossing the famous Carhuac Pass at 15,252 feet. So far so good, with some beautiful views!

First day on the trail, headed to Paso Caccananpunta (Tyler Nachand)

Huayhuash Trekkers ready to hit the trail

August 8, 2026

View of Huayhuash range on the way to trailhead (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler reported by sat phone that the team arrived to the trailhead, Cuartelwayin, at 13,600 ft for their first night of camping. At the trailhead they met up with their local cook team and mule drivers, who had the camp all set up and ready for a tasty meal. The team is ready to begin their 8-day circumnavigation of the Cordillera Huayhuash. All’s well in Peru!

Last Day of Acclimatization Before the Trek!

August 7, 2026

We just received today’s update from IMG guide Tyler Nachand. He says, “Heading down to town for our final dinner before leaving for the Huayhuash. Group had a great day hiking up to Laguna Churup. We spent over an hour at the lake eating snacks and it was a high point for [all our climbers at] 14,800ft.”

We’ll check in again soon with another update!

On the move up the trail (Tyler Nachand)

The team takes a group photo on the trail (Tyler Nachand)

A gorgeous creek along the trail (Tyler Nachand)