Peru rewards good planning more than almost any country in South America. The distances are short by air, but altitude, train times and Machu Picchu’s ticket system decide how much you enjoy each day. We plan Peru trips from our office in Cusco every week; these are the routes we recommend for 5, 7, 10 and 14 days, with maps, day-by-day plans and the details that competitors usually leave out.
Which Peru itinerary is right for you?
| Trip | Route | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco | Full | A short trip or an add-on to another country |
| 7 days | Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco | Relaxed | A first visit to Peru |
| 10 days | The 7-day route plus Lake Titicaca or the Amazon | Relaxed | Culture and nature |
| 14 days | Lima, Paracas, the Andes, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon | Relaxed | Seeing the best of Peru |
On the maps, the numbered stops are in order of travel; a solid line means road, train or boat and a dotted line a flight.
5-day Peru itinerary: the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco
Five days are enough for the essentials if you fly straight to Cusco and sleep low first. It is also the perfect extension to a trip to Bolivia, Chile or the Galápagos.
Overland, train or boat
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Valley | Fly to Cusco and drive down to the Sacred Valley; stop at Awana Kancha to meet llamas and alpacas |
| 2 | Sacred Valley | Pisac market and ruins, or Maras salt pans and Moray terraces; afternoon in Ollantaytambo |
| 3 | Aguas Calientes | Train from Ollantaytambo; first visit to Machu Picchu in the afternoon or rest by the river |
| 4 | Cusco | Machu Picchu in the morning (Circuit 2 for the classic tour), train and transfer to Cusco |
| 5 | — | Cusco: Coricancha, the cathedral and San Blas, then flight out |
Inca Trail version: replace day 3 with the one-day Inca Trail from Km 104 via Wiñay Wayna, arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Read about Wiñay Wayna.
7-day Peru itinerary: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco
One week is the classic first trip: a night in Lima for its food, two nights in the Sacred Valley to acclimatise, Machu Picchu without rushing and two full days in Cusco.
Overland, train or boatFlight
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lima | Arrival; dinner in Miraflores or Barranco |
| 2 | Sacred Valley | Flight to Cusco, drive to the valley via Awana Kancha and Pisac |
| 3 | Sacred Valley | Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo, or a cooking class at a local farm |
| 4 | Aguas Calientes | Train through the Urubamba canyon; afternoon at the hot springs or the museum |
| 5 | Cusco | Early visit to Machu Picchu, train back and transfer to Cusco |
| 6 | Cusco | Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Coricancha and San Blas; or Rainbow Mountain if you feel well |
| 7 | — | Free morning, flight to Lima and onward |
10-day Peru itinerary: add Lake Titicaca or the Amazon
Version A: the Andes and Lake Titicaca
Add three days to the 7-day route and continue from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, by the PeruRail Titicaca train or by road with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and the La Raya pass. Visit the Uros floating islands and Taquile, and fly home from Juliaca. Read our Lake Titicaca travel guide.
Overland, train or boatFlight
Version B: the Andes and the Amazon
After Cusco, fly about 55 minutes to Puerto Maldonado and spend three nights at a lodge in the Tambopata rainforest: macaw clay licks, oxbow lakes with giant otters, canopy towers and night walks. It is the best contrast to the Andes and, at low altitude, an easy end to the trip.
Overland, train or boatFlight
14-day Peru itinerary: the coast, the Andes, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon
Two weeks let you see the four faces of Peru without rushing: the desert coast, the Inca heartland, the Altiplano and the rainforest.
Overland, train or boatFlight
| Day | Where you sleep | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Lima | Historic centre, Barranco, a food tour or a cooking class |
| 3 | Paracas | Drive south; Ballestas Islands by boat, Huacachina dunes or a Nazca Lines flight |
| 4 | Lima | Return to Lima for the night |
| 5–6 | Sacred Valley | Pisac, Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo |
| 7 | Aguas Calientes | Train to Machu Picchu |
| 8–9 | Cusco | Machu Picchu in the morning, then Cusco and its museums |
| 10–11 | Puno | Route of the Sun to Lake Titicaca; Uros and Taquile islands |
| 12–14 | Tambopata | Fly via Cusco or Lima to Puerto Maldonado; three nights in the Amazon |
Want to continue into Bolivia instead? Our Peru and Bolivia Discovery (14 days) crosses Lake Titicaca to La Paz and the Uyuni Salt Flats, and the Ecuador and Peru Highlights (15 days) adds the Galápagos.
Altitude plan: sleep low first
The single most important rule for any Peru itinerary is the order of the Andes nights. Fly to Cusco but sleep first in the Sacred Valley, visit Machu Picchu, which is lower, and only then sleep in Cusco. Leave Lake Titicaca and Rainbow Mountain for the end.
| Place | Altitude | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Lima, Paracas, the Amazon | Sea level to about 200 m | Any time |
| Aguas Calientes | 2,040 m | Night before or after Machu Picchu |
| Machu Picchu | 2,430 m | Early in the trip |
| Sacred Valley (Urubamba) | 2,871 m | First nights in the Andes |
| Cusco | 3,399 m | After the Sacred Valley |
| Lake Titicaca (Puno) | 3,827 m | End of the trip |
| Rainbow Mountain | About 5,200 m | Day trip, only once acclimatised |
Drink plenty of water, eat lightly and take the first afternoon easy. Travellers with heart or breathing conditions should speak to their doctor before the trip.
Machu Picchu tickets: circuits and routes
Machu Picchu is visited on fixed one-way routes grouped into three circuits. You choose your route when you buy the ticket and cannot change it inside, so it is worth deciding before you book:
| Circuit | Routes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit 1 (upper) | 1-A Machu Picchu Mountain, 1-B Upper Terrace, 1-C Sun Gate, 1-D Inca Bridge | The classic postcard view from above; Machu Picchu Mountain for fit hikers |
| Circuit 2 (classic) | 2-A designed route, 2-B Lower Terrace | First-time visitors: the most complete tour of the citadel |
| Circuit 3 (lower) | 3-A Huayna Picchu, 3-B designed route, 3-C Great Cavern, 3-D Huchuy Picchu | Huayna Picchu climbers, and Inca Trail hikers who enter the same day |
- Entry times run hourly from early morning to mid-afternoon, and you must enter in your time slot with the same passport used to buy the ticket.
- Daily capacity is limited and rises in the high season; the most popular routes, such as Huayna Picchu and the upper terraces, sell out weeks ahead from May to October.
- Mountain routes (Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu and the Great Cavern) cost more and take longer.
- Book entrance tickets and trains together, three to six months ahead for June to August.
More detail in our guides to Huayna Picchu and the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
Trains to Machu Picchu compared
| Service | From | Time to Aguas Calientes (about) | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| PeruRail Expedition / Inca Rail Voyager | Ollantaytambo | 1 h 30 – 1 h 40 | Comfortable, good value |
| PeruRail Vistadome / Inca Rail 360° | Ollantaytambo | 1 h 30 – 1 h 40 | Panoramic windows, snacks, live show on the return |
| Inca Rail First Class | Ollantaytambo | 1 h 40 | Premium carriage with lounge and meal |
| Belmond Hiram Bingham | Cusco area (bus + train) | About 5 hours in total | Luxury train with brunch, dinner and guided visit |
| PeruRail Expedition from Poroy | Poroy, near Cusco | About 3 h 30 (May–December) | Direct from Cusco without the drive to Ollantaytambo |
For most travellers, the Vistadome or the Inca Rail 360° from Ollantaytambo is the best balance of comfort and views.
The Inca Trail: 4 days or 1 day
- Classic Inca Trail (4 days): permits are limited, sold only through licensed operators and often sell out six months ahead for May to September. Add three nights to any itinerary above.
- Short Inca Trail (1 day): from Km 104 via Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, about six to seven hours of walking. It fits inside the 5 and 7-day routes.
- February closure: the trail closes every February for maintenance; Machu Picchu stays open.
Read the Inca Trail rules and regulations before you book.
Getting around Peru: travel times
| Journey | How | Time (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Lima – Cusco | Flight | 1 h 20 min |
| Cusco airport – Sacred Valley | Private transfer | 1 h 30 min |
| Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu | Bus | 25–30 min |
| Cusco – Puno (Lake Titicaca) | PeruRail Titicaca train or private transfer | About 10 hours by train, 6–7 hours by road |
| Cusco – Puerto Maldonado (Amazon) | Flight | About 55 min |
| Lima – Paracas | Private transfer | 3 h 30 – 4 hours |
| Cusco – Rainbow Mountain | Private transfer | 3 – 3 h 30 each way |
The PeruRail Titicaca train between Cusco and Puno does not run every day, and services can change after landslides in the rainy season; we confirm the current timetable when we plan your trip.
Best time to follow these itineraries
The dry season in the Andes, from May to October, has the most reliable weather for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca, with June to August the busiest months. April and November are good shoulder months. The coast around Lima and Paracas is sunniest from December to April, and the Amazon is best from May to October. See our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Peru.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Peru?
Five days cover the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. Seven days add Lima and a slower pace, ten days add Lake Titicaca or the Amazon, and fourteen days let you see the coast, the Andes, the Altiplano and the rainforest.
Is 5 days enough for Peru?
Yes, for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, if you fly directly to Cusco and sleep first in the Sacred Valley. It is a full but very rewarding trip.
Should I stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first?
The Sacred Valley. It is about 500 m lower than Cusco, which makes acclimatisation much easier, and it is closer to the trains to Machu Picchu.
Which Machu Picchu circuit should I choose?
Circuit 2 for the most complete first visit, Circuit 1 for the classic view from above, and Circuit 3 if you want to climb Huayna Picchu. Popular routes sell out weeks ahead in the high season.
Do I need to sleep in Aguas Calientes?
It is not essential, but a night in Aguas Calientes lets you visit Machu Picchu early or late, when it is quieter, and avoids a very long day from Cusco.
Can I combine Peru with other countries?
Yes. Peru combines naturally with Bolivia via Lake Titicaca, with Ecuador and the Galápagos by a short flight, and with Chile, Argentina and Brazil on longer trips. See our South America itineraries.
Is the Lima stop worth it?
Yes. Lima is one of the best food cities in the world, and a night there breaks up the long international flight before the Andes.
Every route here is a starting point. Browse our Peru tours, see our Peru family vacation guide or plan a tailor-made Peru trip with our team in Cusco.
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Wilfredo Zúñiga Huamanguillas
Anthropologist | South America Travel Expert | Cultural & Nature EnthusiastAnthropologist and South America travel expert with 11 years of experience in tourism, trained at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco. Wilfredo writes about the people, traditions and landscapes of the continent, from the Andes and Machu Picchu to Patagonia, Brazil and the Amazon.
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