Don't forget that the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance every February. Although 500 people per day are allowed on the trail, that includes porters, guides and staff, leaving the actual number of hiker spots at about 200.
Go to the permit page to see if your date is available.
Oddly enough, we have seen several maps that ignore the conventional placement of maps with the top pointing to the north compass point. This caused us some confusion, but we did check out Google maps to see the proper location of Cusco in relation to Machu Picchu. Even the map given to us by our hiking company was reverse and therein started our quandry.