planning
Peru Itineraries Built Around Machu Picchu
Sample Peru itineraries built around Machu Picchu: 5, 7, 10 and 14 days with Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon, Arequipa and Lima.
The best Peru itineraries start in Cusco: give yourself at least 5–6 days for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, planned in the right order for the altitude. With 10 days you can add Lake Titicaca or the Amazon, and with 2 weeks Arequipa, the Colca Canyon or the coast.
Getting around Peru
| Route | Usual way | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Lima–Cusco | Flight | 1 h 20 min |
| Cusco–Machu Picchu | Road and train | About 4 hours |
| Cusco–Puno (Lake Titicaca) | Tourist bus with stops, or flight to Juliaca | About 10 hours by bus |
| Cusco–Puerto Maldonado (Amazon) | Flight | About 55 min |
| Lima–Arequipa | Flight | About 1 h 30 min |
| Arequipa–Colca Canyon | Road | 3–4 hours |
| Lima–Paracas | Road | About 3.5 hours |
5 days: Cusco and Machu Picchu essentials
- Fly to Cusco, rest and take the afternoon city tour.
- Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray and the Maras salt mines, with a night in the valley.
- Pisac or Ollantaytambo, and the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco.
- Departure, or a morning in Cusco’s San Blas quarter before your flight.
This follows our Cusco & Machu Picchu 4 Days package plus a final day.
7 days: Cusco and Machu Picchu
- Fly to Cusco, rest and take the afternoon city tour.
- Sacred Valley and the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Machu Picchu and back to Cusco.
- Free day in Cusco.
- Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake.
- Morning in Cusco, flight to Lima and an evening in Miraflores.
- Lima’s historic center and departure.
This follows our Cusco, Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain package, with a day in Lima added. Hikers can replace days 2–3 with the Short Inca Trail.
10 days: Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
- Days 1–4: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
- Day 5: free day in Cusco.
- Day 6: the Route of the Sun bus to Puno, with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and La Raya.
- Day 7: Lake Titicaca: the Uros floating islands and Taquile.
- Day 8: flight from Juliaca to Lima.
- Days 9–10: Lima and departure.
Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu is a phase-3 combination. Ask for it through our custom trips page while supplier details are being confirmed.
10 days: Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon
- Days 1–4: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
- Days 5–7: flight to Puerto Maldonado and three days at a Tambopata rainforest lodge.
- Day 8: flight to Lima.
- Days 9–10: Lima and departure.
Amazon & Machu Picchu is a phase-3 combination. Ask for it through our custom trips page while lodge, flight and supplier details are being confirmed.
14 days: the southern Peru loop
- Days 1–2: Lima.
- Days 3–5: Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, to see the condors.
- Days 6–7: Puno and Lake Titicaca.
- Days 8–12: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, or the Inca Trail.
- Days 13–14: the Amazon (Tambopata), or Paracas and the Nazca Lines.
Going from Arequipa to Puno and then to Cusco helps with the altitude: you climb gradually instead of flying straight to 3,400 m.
Tips for planning
- Start high, then go low: arrive in Cusco and sleep in the lower Sacred Valley before any high hike.
- Book the limited things first: Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits, then build the rest around them.
- Leave a buffer day before international flights in case of strikes or weather delays.
- Choose the season: April to October is dry in the Andes; read our guide to the best time to visit.
- Do not try to see everything: Peru is big, and travel days add up. Two or three regions in two weeks is a good pace.
Want something different? We build custom trips around your dates and interests.
Tours to link
Plan this with a local team
Machu Picchu journey
Cusco & Machu Picchu 6 Days
6-day Cusco package: city tour, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, a free day and Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake. Hotels and all tickets included.
Designed around you
Custom Peru Trip
Design a custom Machu Picchu and Peru trip with a Cusco-based team. Share your dates, interests and budget for an itemized quote.
Designed around you
Custom Peru Trip
Design a custom Machu Picchu and Peru trip with a Cusco-based team. Share your dates, interests and budget for an itemized quote.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers
How many days do I need in Peru?
At least 5–6 days for Cusco and Machu Picchu. With 10 days you can add Lake Titicaca or the Amazon, and with 2 weeks Arequipa and the coast.
Should I visit Lima at the start or the end?
Either works. Many travelers fly straight on to Cusco and leave Lima for the end of the trip, when they are no longer tired from the flight.
Is it better to fly or take the bus between cities?
Fly for long distances such as Lima–Cusco or Cusco–Puerto Maldonado. The tourist bus from Cusco to Puno is a good option, with sightseeing stops on the way.
Can you plan the whole trip?
Yes. We plan trips across Peru with Cusco and Machu Picchu at the center, through our custom trip service.