South America
Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca ruins, the highest navigable lake and Andean condors.
- Machu Picchu
- Cusco
- Sacred Valley
- Rainbow Mountain
- Lake Titicaca
- Colca Canyon
Peru is South America's great bucket-list trip — and far more than just Machu Picchu. Start in the lower Sacred Valley to acclimatise, reach the lost Inca city itself, then explore imperial Cusco and the Rainbow Mountain. Push on to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the white city of Arequipa and the condors of the Colca Canyon, and — with more time — the mysterious Nazca Lines and the wildlife-rich Amazon. Add in some of the best food on the planet, and it's a trip that has everything.
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Length
Travel style
Your interests
The Inca essentials: the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, imperial Cusco and the Rainbow Mountain.
Daily budget:≈ €45–95 / day
Comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, domestic flights, the Machu Picchu train and guided tours.
Day by day
- 1
The Inca terraces of Ollantaytambo.© Remarksman · CC BY 2.0 Getting there: Fly to Cusco (via Lima), then transfer down to the Sacred Valley (about 1h30)
Fly into Cusco and — crucially — transfer straight down to the Sacred Valley, which sits several hundred metres lower and is far kinder for acclimatising. Settle into Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, take it slow, sip some coca tea, and let your body adjust to the thin Andean air.
Stepping off the plane in Cusco, the altitude hits you within minutes — a light head, a quick pulse. Dropping into the green, river-cut Sacred Valley, with snow peaks above and Inca terraces stitched into the hillsides, is both the smart move and a gorgeous introduction to the Andes.
Our take
Do not underestimate the altitude — going to the lower Sacred Valley first, before Cusco, genuinely helps. Rest today, drink lots of water, and go easy on alcohol and big meals.
Highlights
- ✦ Acclimatise in the valley
- ✦ Ollantaytambo
- 2
The Inca ruins above Pisac.© MorePix · CC0 
The terraced salt pans of Maras.© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 Explore the Sacred Valley's gems: the dramatic Inca ruins and terraces above Pisac and its famous craft market, the otherworldly concentric agricultural terraces of Moray, and the cascading white salt pans of Maras, worked by hand since Inca times.
The Maras salt pans stop you cold — thousands of little terraced pools spilling down a ravine, glinting white and ochre and pink, still tended by the same families for centuries. The Sacred Valley is one open-air museum of Inca genius after another.
Our take
A guided Sacred Valley tour ties these scattered sites together efficiently. Today's gentle, lower-altitude sightseeing is perfect acclimatisation before Machu Picchu.
Highlights
- ✦ Pisac ruins & market
- ✦ Maras salt pans
- ✦ Moray terraces
- 3
Machu Picchu, the lost Inca city.© PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ · CC BY-SA 4.0 
A llama grazing at Machu Picchu.© Alexandre Buisse (Nattfodd) · CC BY-SA 3.0 Getting there: Scenic train Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes, then bus up
The big day. Take the spectacular train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, then the switchback bus up to Machu Picchu — the breathtaking 15th-century Inca citadel of terraces, temples and stonework, draped over a ridge between green peaks and often wreathed in cloud.
However many photos you've seen, the first sight of Machu Picchu — the whole impossible city revealing itself as the mist lifts, Huayna Picchu towering behind, a llama grazing the terraces — genuinely takes your breath away. It is every bit the wonder it's cracked up to be.
Our take
Book your timed entry ticket (and the train and bus) well in advance — daily numbers are capped and routes are fixed. Go early or late for the softest light and thinnest crowds, and hire a guide for the first circuit.
Highlights
- ✦ Machu Picchu citadel
- ✦ Inca stonework
- 4
The cathedral on Cusco's Plaza de Armas.© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Dawn over the San Blas square, Cusco.© Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0 Getting there: Train + transfer to Cusco (about half a day)
Travel up to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca empire and one of South America's loveliest cities. Wander the grand Plaza de Armas, the Qorikancha (the Inca sun temple beneath a colonial church) and the steep, artsy lanes of the San Blas quarter, all cobbles, balconies and craft workshops.
Cusco is layer upon layer — perfect Inca walls supporting colonial mansions, golden churches over sun temples, Quechua women in bowler hats selling textiles on stones laid 500 years ago. After Machu Picchu you arrive primed to read its incredible history in every street.
Our take
By now you're acclimatised enough for Cusco's 3,400 m. Base yourself near the Plaza de Armas or in San Blas, and pace the hills — they're steep up here.
Highlights
- ✦ Plaza de Armas
- ✦ San Blas quarter
- 5
The colossal Inca walls of Sacsayhuamán.© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 Climb to Sacsayhuamán, the vast Inca fortress-temple on the hill above Cusco, where colossal stones — some weighing over a hundred tons — are fitted together so precisely you can't slide a knife between them. Take in the nearby ruins, then return for the markets, museums and superb food of Cusco.
Standing among the zigzag megaliths of Sacsayhuamán, you simply cannot fathom how they were cut, moved and fitted without iron tools or the wheel. It's one of those sites that quietly upends your assumptions about the ancient world.
Our take
You can walk up to Sacsayhuamán from the Plaza (steep!) or take a quick taxi. Cusco is Peru's food capital after Lima — book a nice dinner and try alpaca or a creative Novo Andino tasting menu.
Highlights
- ✦ Sacsayhuamán
- ✦ Cusco food scene
- 6
Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain.© MareikeHeuer(WMDE) · CC0 Getting there: Early-start day trip from Cusco (about 3h each way)
Take an early day trip to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, where mineral layers stripe the high Andean ridges in bands of red, gold, green and turquoise. It's a short but tough hike at over 5,000 m — the highest, and most surreal, viewpoint of the trip.
Cresting the final ridge — lungs burning, every step an effort at 5,000 m — to see the mountain striped like a painter's palette under a huge Andean sky is a proper earn-it, pinch-yourself moment. Alpacas graze the slopes as if it's all perfectly normal.
Our take
Only attempt this once well acclimatised — it's very high. Go with an early tour to beat the crowds and the afternoon weather; horses are available if the climb is too much. A quieter alternative is the Palccoyo rainbow mountains.
Highlights
- ✦ Vinicunca summit
- ✦ Andean landscapes
- 7
Heading home... already planning the next trip.© Tobias1984 · CC BY-SA 3.0 Getting there: Fly home from Cusco (via Lima)
A final wander and some last alpaca-wool shopping, then the flight out via Lima. Want more of Peru? The 15-day route keeps going — to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the white city of Arequipa and the condors of the Colca Canyon.
A week in the Andes leaves you breathless in every sense — humbled by the Incas, dazzled by the mountains, already scheming about Titicaca, the canyons and the Amazon you didn't reach.
Our take
Buy genuine alpaca (not "maybe-paca") from a reputable shop, and leave plenty of time — Cusco flights are often delayed by weather.
Highlights
- ✦ Last alpaca shopping
- ✦ Fly home from Cusco
Where to stay
The best neighbourhood to base yourself in each area, by budget. We point you to the right zone — then you pick and book the place that fits.
Lima
- Backpacker · Miraflores / Barranco
- Hostels in safe, central Miraflores or arty Barranco, walkable to the coast.
- Mid-range · Miraflores
- Comfortable hotels near the Malecón, restaurants and parks.
- Comfort · Miraflores seafront / San Isidro
- Ocean-view luxury hotels or the smart, leafy San Isidro district.
Cusco
- Backpacker · San Blas
- Hostels in the arty, cobbled quarter just above the Plaza de Armas.
- Mid-range · Historic centre
- Boutique hotels around the Plaza and San Blas, walkable to everything.
- Comfort · Historic centre
- Luxury hotels in converted colonial mansions and convents.
Sacred Valley
- Backpacker · Ollantaytambo
- Guesthouses in the living Inca town, right by the train to Machu Picchu.
- Mid-range · Urubamba valley
- Garden hotels and lodges along the river, lower and great for acclimatising.
- Comfort · Urubamba / Yanahuara
- Luxury valley resorts and haciendas with mountain views.
Aguas Calientes
- Backpacker · Town centre
- Budget hotels in the small town below Machu Picchu — handy for an early bus.
- Mid-range · Riverside
- Comfortable hotels by the Urubamba, a short walk from the bus stop.
- Comfort · By the entrance
- High-end lodges, including the one right beside the Machu Picchu gate.
Puno (Lake Titicaca)
- Backpacker · Town centre
- Cheap hotels near the Plaza de Armas and the main pedestrian street.
- Mid-range · Lakeshore
- Hotels with Titicaca views a little out of the centre.
- Comfort · Lakeside / island
- Luxury lakeshore hotels, or an island community homestay for something special.
Arequipa
- Backpacker · Centre / San Lázaro
- Hostels in the white-stone old town near the Plaza de Armas.
- Mid-range · Historic centre
- Boutique hotels in colonial sillar buildings, walkable to the sights.
- Comfort · Historic centre
- Luxury hotels in restored sillar mansions with volcano views.
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At a glance
Best time to go
The dry season (roughly May–September) is the best time for the Andes, Machu Picchu and trekking — sunny days and cold, clear nights. The wet season (November–March) brings rain to the highlands, heaviest in January–February, when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance. The Lima coast is, oddly, sunniest in the southern summer (December–March).
Currency
PEN (S/, sol)
Language
Spanish, plus Quechua and Aymara in the Andes. English is spoken in tourism but limited elsewhere, so a little Spanish goes a long way.
Visa & entry
Most nationalities can visit Peru visa-free as tourists (commonly up to 90 days). Always confirm the current rules and the length of stay granted for your nationality on arrival.
Daily budget
Peru is good value, though Machu Picchu and its trains push the cost up. Plan roughly €45–95 per person per day for comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, domestic flights and tours; backpackers spend far less. Figures are approximate.
Getting around
Domestic flights cover the big distances (Lima–Cusco–Arequipa). Comfortable long-distance buses (like Cruz del Sur) link the cities; the scenic train and tourist bus reach Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. In the mountains, roads wind, so allow generous travel time.
Safety
Peru is generally safe for travellers, but watch for petty theft in cities and on transport, and use registered taxis or ride apps at night. The real challenge is the altitude: Cusco sits at 3,400 m and Puno higher still — acclimatise slowly, and don't fly straight in and hike hard on day one.
Connectivity
A local SIM (Claro, Movistar or Entel) is cheap with decent coverage in towns, or use a travel eSIM; signal is patchy in the high mountains and the jungle. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.
What to pack — Peru
Our recommended gear for this trip — country-specific picks first, then the travel essentials we never leave home without.
- 🧥Warm layers (cold Andean nights)→
- 👟Hiking shoes→
- 🧴High-altitude sun cream→
- 💊Altitude-sickness relief→
- 🔌Universal travel adapter→
- 🧳Packing cubes→
- 🔋Power bank→
- 🎒Packable daypack→
- 💧Filtered water bottle→
- ⛑️Travel first-aid kit→
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Peru? ＋
The dry season, roughly May–September, is best for the Andes, Machu Picchu and trekking. The wet season (November–March) brings rain to the highlands, and the Inca Trail closes in February. The Lima coast is sunniest in the southern summer (December–March).
How do I handle the altitude? ＋
Cusco sits at 3,400 m and Lake Titicaca higher still, so altitude sickness (soroche) is common. Ascend gradually — these routes start in the lower Sacred Valley on purpose — rest on arrival, drink lots of water, go easy on alcohol, try coca tea, and ask a doctor about preventative medication.
Do I need to book Machu Picchu in advance? ＋
Yes. Entry to Machu Picchu is by timed ticket on fixed circuits, with a daily cap — book it, the train and the bus well ahead, especially in high season. The Inca Trail needs permits months in advance and closes every February.
Sources
Last reviewed on June 4, 2026Facts in this guide were checked against the following sources.
- PROMPERÚ — official tourism (peru.travel) — Destinations and travel basics
- Machu Picchu official tickets (Ministry of Culture) — Machu Picchu tickets & rules
- Peru immigration / entry (Migraciones) — Visa & entry requirements
- UNESCO World Heritage — Peru — Heritage sites (Machu Picchu, Cusco, Nazca)
⚠️ Prices, opening hours and transport times change — always verify the latest details before you travel.
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