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A good Peru itinerary needs at least 7 days: enough time for Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and one high-altitude mountain or lake. With 10 days you can add a second region: Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, the Tambopata rainforest or the beaches of Máncora.
We are local guides based in Cusco, and we built these day-by-day plans using only our own tours, with prices for the 2027 season. Here you will find how many days you need, how to order them so you adjust well to the altitude, and how much the tours in each plan cost.
How Many Days Do You Need in Peru?
It depends on how many regions you want to see. Cusco and Machu Picchu are the heart of almost every trip, and each extra region adds about three or four days, including the travel between cities.
| Days | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and a day hike to a rainbow mountain or a lake | A first trip to Peru on a tight schedule |
| 8–9 days | All of the above, plus an extra tour in Cusco, a day in Lima or a 4-day trek such as the Inca Trail | Travelers who want a slower pace or more hiking |
| 10 days | Cusco and Machu Picchu, plus a second region: Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and Colca, Tambopata or Máncora | Travelers who want to see more than one side of the country |
You can still see Machu Picchu with less than a week, but you will have less time to acclimatize. In that case, the Machu Picchu Full Day tour (from US$300) travels by train and returns to Cusco the same day.
Peru Itinerary for 7 Days: Cusco and Machu Picchu
This is the plan we recommend most for a first trip. Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,200 ft), so the first two days are easy and the highest hike comes at the end, once your body is used to the altitude.
- Day 1: arrive in Cusco and rest. International flights land in Lima, and from there a short flight takes you to Cusco. Walk slowly, eat light and drink plenty of water.
- Day 2: Cusco City Tour (from US$40). An easy-paced tour that includes the Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán.
- Day 3: Sacred Valley VIP Tour (from US$90 as a group tour; a private service is also available). The valley is lower than Cusco, so it helps you keep acclimatizing.
- Days 4 and 5: Machu Picchu Tour 2 Days (from US$350). You spend the night in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel without rushing.
- Day 6: Humantay Lake (from US$55) or Rainbow Mountain (from US$50). If you prefer something gentler, choose the Palcoyo tour (from US$50). For a bigger challenge, the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour (from US$60) is demanding: it reaches about 4,850 m (15,900 ft).
- Day 7: departure. Fly from Cusco to Lima and connect with your international flight.
If you arrive early and feel fine, or want to add a short day, the Maras Moray tour (from US$30, entrance tickets not included) takes half a day, with morning and afternoon departures. Skip it if you are doing the Sacred Valley VIP Tour: that tour already includes Maras and Moray.
We don’t run tours in Lima. If you want to see the capital, add an optional day when you arrive or before you fly home. For your free hours in Cusco, check our list of things to do in Cusco, and for days 3 to 5, our guides to the Sacred Valley and how to get to Machu Picchu.
Not sure what to pick for day 6? Compare our guides to Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo. Another option is the Pallay Punchu tour (from US$60), Cusco’s newest rainbow mountain; read all about it in our Pallay Punchu guide.
Variation with the Short Inca Trail
If you want to reach Machu Picchu on foot, swap days 4 and 5 for the Short Inca Trail 2 Days (from US$450). On the first day you hike a section of the original Inca Trail toward Machu Picchu, and on the second you tour the citadel. The rest of the plan stays the same.
This route requires a permit, and permits are limited: book it months in advance, especially in high season. We explain the routes and permits in our guide to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
10-Day Peru Itinerary with Lake Titicaca
The first six days are the same as in the 7-day plan. Then you head south to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Puno sits at about 3,800 m (12,500 ft), higher than Cusco, but by then you are already acclimatized.
- Days 1 to 6: Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the day-6 hike, as in the plan above.
- Day 7: travel from Cusco to Puno. It is a full travel day by road, either by regular bus or by tourist bus with stops along the way. On some days of the week you can also go by train.
- Days 8 and 9: Uros and Taquile Islands 2 Days (from US$95), with the floating islands of the Uros and Taquile Island. If you prefer a shorter plan, take the Sillustani and Lake Titicaca tour (from US$55) in one day and keep the other day free in Puno.
- Day 10: departure. Fly out of Juliaca, connecting in Lima.
The islands, the weather and the ways to get there from Cusco are covered in our Lake Titicaca guide.
10 Days in Peru with Arequipa and the Colca Canyon
Arequipa, the White City, lies at 2,335 m (7,660 ft), lower than Cusco. It is the starting point for the Colca Canyon, famous for the condors at the Condor Cross. There are two ways to add it to your trip.
Option 1: Cusco and Arequipa by air. Spend days 1 to 6 in Cusco, as in the 7-day plan, and then:
- Day 7: fly from Cusco to Arequipa via Lima. Count it as a travel day.
- Day 8: City Tour Arequipa (from US$60), to explore the historic center built of sillar, the city’s white volcanic stone.
- Day 9: Colca Canyon Full Day (from US$55), with the Condor Cross. The Colca tourist ticket (boleto turístico) is not included in the tour.
- Day 10: departure. Fly from Arequipa to Lima and connect with your international flight.
Option 2: Cusco, Puno and Arequipa overland. Spend days 1 to 5 in Cusco, travel to Puno on day 6, take the Sillustani tour on day 7 and continue by road to Arequipa on day 8. On day 9 you take the City Tour Arequipa and on day 10 the Colca Canyon tour, which returns to Arequipa in the afternoon. It is a very complete route, although it skips the day-6 hike: book your flight out of Arequipa for the evening of day 10 or the next day.
Altitude, sights and what to pack are in our Colca Canyon guide.
10 Days in Peru with the Amazon or the Beach
If after the Andes you want a completely different landscape, end your trip in the rainforest or by the sea. In both cases, days 1 to 6 follow the Cusco and Machu Picchu plan.
The Amazon Rainforest: Tambopata
- Day 7: fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. The Lake Sandoval Tambopata Tour 3 Days (from US$390) starts the same day you arrive.
- Days 8 and 9: rainforest, Lake Sandoval and the end of the tour.
- Day 10: departure. Fly to Lima and connect with your international flight.
Tambopata lies at about 200 m (660 ft), so it is a welcome rest after the altitude. Read our guide to the Tambopata National Reserve.
A Beach Option: Máncora
Máncora is best during the coastal summer, from December to March. On day 7 you can fly from Cusco to Tumbes, connecting in Lima, in a single day. Days 8 and 9 are for the Máncora and Punta Sal Beaches 2 Days tour (from US$199), and on day 10 you fly back to Lima. Keep in mind that those months are the rainy season in Cusco. Find more ideas in our guide to Máncora, Peru.
If You Love Hiking: Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao and Ausangate
With 8 to 11 days you can fit in a 4- or 5-day trek. Always spend two or three days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley first to acclimatize. These are our multi-day treks:
| Trek | Price | How it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Inca Trail 4 Days | From US$650 | Days 4 to 7, instead of the Machu Picchu tour: it ends at the citadel. Requires a permit booked months in advance. |
| Salkantay Trek 5 Days | From US$550 | Days 4 to 8, instead of the Machu Picchu tour. It is the alternative to the Inca Trail: it does not need the Inca Trail’s limited permit and it also ends at Machu Picchu. It crosses the Salkantay Pass at about 4,600 m (15,100 ft). |
| Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days | From US$450 | Days 4 to 7, also instead of the Machu Picchu tour. Reaches about 4,400 m (14,400 ft). |
| Choquequirao Trek 4 Days | From US$450 | Days 6 to 9, after Machu Picchu. It can be booked up to 2 days in advance. |
| Ausangate Trek 5 Days | From US$600 | Days 6 to 10, after Machu Picchu, flying out on day 11. For experienced, well-acclimatized hikers: it reaches about 5,200 m (17,100 ft). It is a private tour for 2 to 10 people. |
A 9-day example with the Classic Inca Trail: arrival on day 1, Cusco City Tour on day 2, Sacred Valley VIP on day 3, the Inca Trail from day 4 to day 7, a rainbow mountain or a free day on day 8 and departure on day 9. With the Salkantay route the plan is similar: arrival on day 1, Cusco City Tour on day 2, Sacred Valley VIP on day 3, the Salkantay route from day 4 to day 8 and departure on day 9. Sleeping bags and trekking poles are not included on the Inca Trail or the Salkantay route: you can rent them in Cusco.
Choquequirao is a demanding route to little-visited Inca ruins; we explain what it is like in how to get to Choquequirao. If you want one more day in Cusco, the South Valley of Cusco Tour (from US$45) is a good choice for an easy day. You can see every route in our treks category.
Tips for Planning Your Peru Itinerary
Altitude
Keep the first two days easy and leave the high hikes for the end: Rainbow Mountain reaches about 5,200 m (17,100 ft), Palcoyo about 4,900 m (16,100 ft), the Ausangate 7 Lakes about 4,850 m (15,900 ft), Pallay Punchu about 4,800 m (15,700 ft) and Humantay about 4,200 m (13,800 ft). The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, at 2,430 m (7,970 ft), are lower than Cusco and help you acclimatize. We explain the symptoms and how to prevent them in our post on altitude sickness in Peru.
Bookings
Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets are limited. Book them months in advance, especially in high season, and build the rest of your trip around that date. Flights and transfers between cities are not part of the tours: you arrange them yourself, or write to us and we help you coordinate them.
Season
The dry season runs from April or May to October, with clear skies in the Andes. The rainy season runs from November to March. The exception is Máncora, which is best from December to March. Check the month-by-month weather in our guide to the best time to visit Cusco.
Budget
This is what the tours in the 7-day plan cost:
| Day | Tour | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cusco City Tour | From US$40 |
| 3 | Sacred Valley VIP Tour (group) | From US$90 |
| 4–5 | Machu Picchu Tour 2 Days | From US$350 |
| 6 | Rainbow Mountain or Palcoyo (Humantay: US$55) | From US$50 |
| Total | From US$530 per person, without flights or hotels in Cusco (the night in Aguas Calientes is already included in the Machu Picchu tour) |
With the Short Inca Trail instead of the 2-day tour, the total is from US$630 per person. All our tours can be booked by paying 40% online, and the balance is paid when you arrive in Peru.
Want us to plan your itinerary? Write to us with your dates and interests, and we will suggest a plan with our tours. Book with 40% online and pay the balance when you arrive in Peru.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need to see Peru?
With 7 days you can see Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without rushing. With 10 days you can add a second region, such as Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Tambopata or Máncora.
Can you visit Machu Picchu in one day from Cusco?
Yes. The Machu Picchu Full Day tour (from US$300) travels by train and returns to Cusco the same day. It is a long day: if you have time, the 2-day tour with a night in Aguas Calientes is more relaxed.
Do you need a guide at Machu Picchu?
It is not mandatory, but it is recommended. A guide explains the history of each sector and helps you make the most of your time inside the citadel.
How far in advance should I book?
Book the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu months in advance, especially in high season, because spaces are limited. Choquequirao, on the other hand, can be booked up to 2 days before.
Can I visit Rainbow Mountain right after arriving in Cusco?
We don’t recommend it. It reaches about 5,200 m (17,100 ft), and it is much better to do it at the end of your trip, once you are acclimatized. The same goes for Palcoyo, Pallay Punchu, Humantay and the Ausangate 7 Lakes.
How do I pay for the tours?
You book each tour by paying 40% online and pay the balance when you arrive in Peru. Flights between cities are not included; if you like, we can help you coordinate them.
To plan your trip, read our guide: Is Peru Safe to Visit in 2027? Honest Tips from a Cusco Local Guide.
To plan your trip, read our guide: Peru Tourist Attractions 2027: The Most Famous Places and How to Visit Them.
Plan Your Trip to Peru with Cusco Guides
Seven days are enough for Cusco and Machu Picchu; with ten, you can add Titicaca, Arequipa, the rainforest or the beach. Start slowly, save the high mountains for the end and book early anything with limited spaces.
If you want to combine several regions, also take a look at our Peru packages. We take care of the tours, with guides in English, Spanish and Portuguese, so all you have to do is enjoy the journey.
