10 Days in Peru Itinerary: Machu Picchu, Cusco & Beyond

---

slug: 10-days-peru-itinerary-machu-picchu

title: "10 Days in Peru Itinerary: Machu Picchu, Cusco & Beyond"

description: "The ultimate 10-day Peru itinerary covering Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu — with real prices, transport tips, and altitude advice."

category: Guides

tags: ["peru itinerary", "machu picchu", "cusco travel", "south america", "inca trail"]

author_slug: faroway-team

cluster: itinerary-guides

reading_time: 9 min

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Peru doesn't ease you in. The moment you land in Cusco at 11,152 feet and feel your heart working overtime just from walking to baggage claim, you understand this country demands respect — and rewards it with some of the most breathtaking landscapes and history on Earth.

Ten days is the sweet spot. Long enough to adjust to altitude, wander Cusco's colonial streets, explore the Sacred Valley, and stand on the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu without feeling rushed. Here's how to do it right.

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Day 1–2: Lima — Eat Your Way In

Land in Lima first. It gives you time to recover from the long-haul flight at sea level before ascending to altitude, and Lima's food scene is reason enough to visit.

Day 1: Arrive Lima (Jorge Chávez International Airport, LIM). Grab a taxi to Miraflores — budget $15–20 USD. Check in, walk the Malecón cliff path above the Pacific, and eat dinner at Central (one of the world's best restaurants, reserve weeks ahead) or the more accessible Maido for Nikkei cuisine. Expect $60–100 per person at either.

Day 2: Take a morning food tour of Mercado Surquillo — stall breakfast of ceviche and chicha morada for under $5. Afternoon: visit Larco Museum ($15 entry) for a crash course in pre-Columbian gold and pottery. Evening: head to Barranco for bar hopping in Lima's bohemian neighborhood.

Where to stay in Lima: JW Marriott Lima in Miraflores ($150–220/night) or Casa Andina Select Miraflores ($80–110/night) for a mid-range option.

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Day 3–4: Cusco — Acclimatize Before You Explore

The Lima-to-Cusco flight is ~1.5 hours on LATAM or Sky Airline ($60–120 round-trip). Book the morning flight. When you land, go slow.

Altitude sickness is real. Cusco sits at 11,152 ft (3,399 m). The first 24–48 hours, drink coca tea (hotels provide it free), skip alcohol, eat light, and don't push it. Diamox (acetazolamide) taken 24 hours before arrival reduces symptoms — ask your doctor.

Day 3: Check in, rest, take a slow walk to Plaza de Armas. The 16th-century cathedral ($15 entry) and adjacent Iglesia de la Compañía are worth an hour each. Lunch at Chicha por Gaston Acurio ($15–25/person) — the causa with octopus is non-negotiable.

Day 4: Explore Cusco properly. Morning: San Blas neighborhood — whitewashed alleyways, artisan workshops, the tiny Chapel of San Blas with its intricate carved pulpit. Then walk down to San Pedro Market for cheap chicharrón sandwiches ($2). Afternoon: day hike to Sacsayhuamán fortress above the city (included with Boleto Turístico, $45 for 10-site pass). The massive Inca stonework, some blocks weighing 100+ tons, will recalibrate your sense of what humans are capable of.

Where to stay in Cusco: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel ($180–280/night) is exceptional and within walking distance of everything. Budget: The Point Hostel Cusco ($15–25/dorm) has a legendary rooftop bar.

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Day 5–6: Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley sits below Cusco at 9,700 ft — a welcome 1,400-foot drop that lets your lungs breathe easier. Rent a van with a driver ($60–80/day) or join a guided tour ($30–50/person) to cover the main sites.

Day 5 — Pisac & Ollantaytambo:

• Pisac ruins (8 AM, before crowds): Terraced Inca citadel with panoramic valley views. Entry with Boleto Turístico or $10 solo.
• Pisac market: Peruvian textiles, alpaca sweaters ($15–60), ceramics. Go early, the vendors are more willing to negotiate.
• Ollantaytambo: The only Inca town still lived in by descendants. The fortress temple here is arguably more impressive than Machu Picchu. Walk up the steep terraces — it's free with Boleto Turístico. The town itself has great $8–15 lunch spots.

Sleep in Ollantaytambo — you'll catch the train to Aguas Calientes from here.

Day 6 — Chinchero & Moray:

• Moray: Concentric circular terraces carved into a natural depression, used by Inca as an agricultural research lab. Eerie and beautiful. ~$10 entry.
• Maras salt mines: Thousands of terraced salt pans still harvested by local families since Inca times. $3 entry. Best photos in late afternoon light.
• Chinchero: Sunday market (textiles and produce) and a colonial church built directly on Inca foundations.

Where to stay in the Sacred Valley: Explora Valle Sagrado (splurge, $400+/night) or Sol y Luna (mid-range, $150–200/night). Budget: El Albergue Ollantaytambo ($80–120/night, right at the train station) is charming and practical.

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Day 7: Machu Picchu — Do It Right

The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes 1.5–2 hours through increasingly lush cloud forest. Peru Rail and Inca Rail both run the route — tickets $35–80 each way. Book 2–4 weeks ahead, especially for weekend dates.

Aguas Calientes is a one-street tourist town. Stay one night; it's worth it for an early morning entry.

Machu Picchu entry: $45–65 USD depending on circuit (Circuit 1 includes the Sun Gate hike; Circuit 4 is the popular lower loop). Book online at machupicchu.gob.pe — tickets sell out weeks in advance. Gates open at 6 AM.

Take the bus from Aguas Calientes to the ruins ($12 each way, 25 minutes) or hike up via Sungate trail (1.5 hours, free with your Machu Picchu ticket). The view of the citadel first appearing through the Sun Gate in morning mist is one of those moments you'll describe to people for the rest of your life.

Inside: hire a guide at the entrance ($25–35, 2 hours) or use the official audio guide app ($10). Key spots — the Intihuatana sundial stone, the Temple of the Sun, the agricultural terraces, the classic postcard viewpoint. Allow 3–4 hours minimum.

Morning beats afternoon: Crowds peak 9 AM–1 PM. The 6 AM entry slot is worth setting an alarm for.

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Day 8: Aguas Calientes → Cusco → Puno (Lake Titicaca)

Return to Ollantaytambo by train, then connect to Cusco. If your trip includes Lake Titicaca, catch the afternoon bus or tourist van to Puno (~6 hours, $15–25). The road crosses high altiplano — desolate, magnificent, alien.

Puno sits at 12,556 ft on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Give yourself time to breathe again.

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Day 9: Lake Titicaca — The Floating Islands

Uros Floating Islands: Reed islands hand-built and maintained by indigenous Uros people. Boats leave from Puno port at 7–8 AM (~$15–20 for the tour including a totora reed boat ride). Tourist, yes — but the engineering of the islands is genuinely fascinating.

Taquile Island: 2 hours further by boat. The men here knit as a tradition; UNESCO-recognized textile craft. The walk up from the dock is 45 minutes at altitude — take it slow. Lunch with a local family ($5–8).

Where to stay in Puno: Casa Andina Premium Puno ($90–130/night) has lake views. Or go bold and sleep on a Uros island with a local family ($30–50 including dinner and breakfast).

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Day 10: Return to Lima for Departure

Morning flight Juliaca (JUL, 45-min taxi from Puno, $20) → Lima, or bus back to Cusco then fly Lima. Most international flights leave Lima in the evening, so you have afternoon time for any last meals.

One more meal in Lima: La Mar (Miraflores) for ceviche — get the leche de tigre shot on the side.

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Peru 10-Day Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Location	Highlights	Est. Cost/Day
1–2	Lima	Food scene, Larco Museum, Barranco	$80–150
3–4	Cusco	Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuamán, San Blas	$70–130
5–6	Sacred Valley	Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, salt mines	$60–100
7	Machu Picchu	Citadel, Sun Gate, Aguas Calientes	$80–130
8–9	Puno / Lake Titicaca	Uros islands, Taquile, local stays	$50–90
10	Lima (departure)	Final ceviche, airport	$60–100

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Key Logistics

Flights: Most international travelers connect through Lima. LATAM, Avianca, and American all have good connections. Internal Lima–Cusco flights: book on LATAM or Sky Airline, $60–120 round-trip.

Altitude medicine: Talk to your doctor about Diamox before you leave. In Peru, you can also buy it OTC at pharmacies in Cusco for ~$5–10.

Best time to visit: May–October is dry season — ideal. June–August is peak, with the best weather but highest prices. April and November are shoulder — fewer crowds, occasional rain.

Currency: Peruvian Sol (PEN). 1 USD ≈ 3.7 PEN (early 2026). ATMs are widely available in Lima and Cusco; carry cash for Sacred Valley and smaller towns.

Spanish: Basic Spanish goes a long way in smaller towns. English is common in Cusco tourist areas.

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What to Budget for 10 Days in Peru

Travel Style	Estimated Total (flights not included)
Budget (hostels, local transport, markets)	$600–900
Mid-range (3-star hotels, some tours)	$1,200–1,800
Comfort (boutique hotels, private guides)	$2,500–4,000+

Internal flights and train tickets are the big variables — book early and they're manageable.

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