Seven days in Peru sounds ambitious until you realize Lima to Machu Picchu is a single 1h15m flight. The country is more compact than its mythic reputation suggests — and the rewards are staggering. Ancient citadels perched on cloud-forest ridges, Andean villages untouched by mass tourism, and a capital city that routinely tops the world's best restaurant lists. Here's how to do it right.

Day-by-Day Overview

Day	Location	Focus
1	Lima	Miraflores & Barranco arrival, ceviche crash course
2	Lima → Cusco	Flight + altitude acclimatization
3	Cusco	Historic center, San Pedro Market, Sacsayhuamán
4	Sacred Valley	Pisac ruins, Ollantaytambo fortress
5	Machu Picchu	Train to Aguas Calientes, afternoon citadel entry
6	Machu Picchu → Cusco	Sunrise entry, afternoon return to Cusco
7	Cusco → Lima → Home	Departure

Day 1: Lima — The City That Will Ruin You for Other Food Scenes

Land at Jorge Chávez International (LIM), grab an official taxi from the authorized desk (S/. 70–85 to Miraflores, about 40–60 minutes depending on traffic), and check into your hotel. Lima's coastal districts — Miraflores and Barranco — are the safest and most convenient bases.

You don't need much time to understand why Lima has two restaurants on the World's 50 Best list. Start your evening at Maido (Nikkei cuisine, $70–120 USD per person) if your budget allows, or aim for La Mar Cebichería for some of the best ceviche in the hemisphere at more reasonable prices ($25–40 USD). The clásico here — fresh corvina, leche de tigre, red onion, and cancha corn — is what every other ceviche aspires to be.

Walk the Malecón clifftop promenade at sunset. The Pacific is right there, the paragliders drift overhead, and the city sprawls south into a brown haze that somehow looks beautiful at golden hour.

Day 2: Fly to Cusco — Arrive Slowly, Breathe Deeply

Altitude warning: Cusco sits at 3,400m (11,200 ft). Altitude sickness (soroche) hits roughly 1 in 3 visitors. Do not plan anything demanding for your first afternoon.

Flights: LAN Peru and LATAM operate Lima → Cusco (LIM → CUZ) daily, with multiple departures from 5:30 AM onward. Fares typically run $60–120 USD each way. Book ahead — prices spike during Inti Raymi season (June) and around school holidays.

Arrive at Alejandro Velasco Astete International, grab a taxi to Plaza de Armas (S/. 10–15 in official cabs from outside arrivals), and check in. Your agenda for the afternoon: horizontal. Read a book. Drink coca tea — the hotel will have it. It genuinely helps.

If you feel okay by late afternoon, a slow walk around the Plaza de Armas is fine. The cathedral and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, both built using stones repurposed from Inca palaces, flank the plaza in a remarkable display of colonial appropriation over sacred ground. Notice the doorways at street level — many are original Inca stonework, seamlessly integrated into Spanish architecture above.

Eat light tonight. Altitude and a heavy meal don't mix. Try Cicciolina's bistro upstairs (great pasta and salads, $15–25 USD) or the quinoa soup at almost any local restaurant on Plateros Street.

Day 3: Cusco Deep Dive — Markets, Ruins, and the Best Pisco Sour You'll Ever Have

Wake up and see how you feel. If the headache is gone, you're ready.

Morning: San Pedro Market

The covered Mercado de San Pedro (5 minutes walk from Plaza de Armas) is Cusco's working market, not a tourist performance. Stalls sell everything from llama fetal offerings to freshly pressed mango juice (S/. 2) to chicharrón de chancho sandwiches that will derail any diet plan. Budget 1–2 hours and bring cash.

Midday: Qorikancha & the Cathedral

Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) was once the wealthiest temple in the Inca empire — its walls were literally lined with gold. The Spanish built the Convent of Santo Domingo directly over it, so you see both cultures layered together. Entry S/. 15 (about $4 USD).

The Cusco Cathedral on the plaza holds 400+ colonial paintings, including a famous version of the Last Supper depicting Christ eating guinea pig (cuy) — a local delicacy that appears in Andean art throughout the region.

Afternoon: Sacsayhuamán

Hail a taxi from the plaza (S/. 15–20 round trip with waiting, or walk 30 minutes uphill) to Sacsayhuamán, the massive Inca fortress overlooking the city. The stones here — some weighing 300 tons — were fitted together without mortar so precisely that a piece of paper can't slide between them. Archaeologists still debate exactly how. Wear sunscreen; at this altitude, UV exposure is intense even on cloudy days. Entry is included in the Boleto Turístico (15-day tourist pass, S/. 130, valid for 16 sites).

Evening: Pisco Sour at Museo del Pisco

Museo del Pisco on Santa Catalina Ancha is part bar, part pisco education. Try a tasting flight ($12–18 USD) covering the major varietals — Quebranta, Italia, Torontel. The house sour rivals anything in Lima.

Day 4: Sacred Valley — Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and a Mountain Town at Dusk

The Sacred Valley of the Incas stretches northwest of Cusco between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. At 2,700m — about 700m lower than Cusco — it's also where most travelers finally stop feeling the altitude.

Transportation: Hire a private driver for the day through your hotel (S/. 150–200 for a full circuit) or join a shared minivan tour from Cusco's Puputi terminal. Combis (shared vans) run to Pisac for S/. 5 but don't offer flexibility.

Pisac Ruins

The Pisac Archaeological Complex is less visited than Machu Picchu but nearly as impressive. The site includes extensive agricultural terracing, a solar observatory, and a massive royal mausoleum carved into a cliff face. Entry via Boleto Turístico. Allow 2–3 hours.

Below, the Pisac Sunday Market (also runs smaller versions Tuesday and Thursday) sells textiles, ceramics, and local produce. Prices are negotiable; Peruvian soles only at most stalls.

Ollantaytambo Fortress

Ollantaytambo is the most intact example of Inca town planning still inhabited today — residents live in homes built on original Inca foundations. The fortress above was also the site of one of the few Inca military victories over the Spanish conquistadors in 1537.

Climb the 200 terraced steps to the Temple of the Sun at the top. The views over the valley are the best you'll get before Machu Picchu. From Ollantaytambo station (5 minutes from the fortress), you'll catch your train tomorrow morning.

Stay the night here rather than returning to Cusco — it saves time and lets you catch the early train without stress. Options: El Albergue (historic railway lodge, $120–180/night) or cheaper guesthouses in the village from $30/night.

Day 5: Machu Picchu — The Afternoon Entry Strategy

Skip the chaos of arriving at 6 AM with every other tour group. Book an afternoon entry (2–5:30 PM or similar window) — the light is better, the crowds thinner, and you'll still have 2+ solid hours inside.

Getting There

PeruRail and Inca Rail both run the Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes route (84km, about 1h40m through cloud forest). The Vistadome panoramic train is worth the small premium: $50–90 USD one-way. Book on perurail.com or incarail.com — seats sell out weeks ahead during peak season (June–August, December–January).

Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo) is the village at the base. From here, buses run to the citadel entrance every 10 minutes: $24 USD round trip. The 25-minute ride switchbacks up a cliff face. Walking the 7km Inca trail on foot takes about 2 hours if you prefer.

Inside Machu Picchu

The site is divided into two zones. Circuit 3 (the classic route) takes you past:

The agricultural terraces and guardhouse (best full-site photo op)
The main plaza and ceremonial stone Intihuatana
The Temple of the Three Windows
The Temple of the Sun (Torreón)

Allow 2.5–3 hours. Bring snacks (no food inside the site), sunscreen, and rain gear — the weather changes fast. Altitude here is 2,430m; most people feel fine compared to Cusco.

Stay in Aguas Calientes tonight. Hotels here range from $40 (basic) to $400+ (Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, literally inside the park). Mid-range solid options: Casa del Sol, Hatun Inti Boutique. Book ahead.

Day 6: Sunrise at Machu Picchu — Worth the 4 AM Alarm

The first bus leaves Aguas Calientes at 5:30 AM. Get in line at 4:45. Yes, really.

The site opens at 6 AM. The morning mist typically lifts around 7–8 AM, revealing the citadel in layers as the sun rises over Huayna Picchu. It's one of the most photographed scenes on earth, and it earns every cliché. Buy your sunrise ticket separately when booking (Peru's Ministry of Culture now uses timed-entry tickets through machupicchu.gob.pe).

Return to Aguas Calientes for a late breakfast, then catch the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and a bus or taxi to Cusco. Have your final dinner on the Plaza de Armas — Chicha por Gastón Acurio is the Cusco outpost of Peru's most famous chef and offers excellent Andean-influenced dishes at $25–40 USD.

Day 7: Departure

CUZ → LIM flights depart regularly from 5 AM onward. Most international flights from Lima require 3–4 hours at the airport, so plan your Cusco departure accordingly. The Lima airport has a good food hall if you have time to kill — Central Restaurante has an airport counter.

Budget Breakdown (Per Person, 7 Days)

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Splurge
Accommodation	$150	$400	$1,200+
Flights (domestic)	$120	$150	$200
Train (Ollantaytambo–MP)	$70	$130	$200+
Entrance fees	$80	$80	$80
Food	$100	$200	$500+
Transport	$40	$80	$150
Total	$560	$1,040	$2,330+

Practical Tips

Altitude acclimatization: Take it seriously. Diamox (acetazolamide) can help — consult a doctor before travel. Drink 3+ liters of water daily in Cusco.

Best time to visit: May–October is dry season. June–August is peak with higher prices. April and October offer the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds.

Cash: ATMs in Lima and Cusco are reliable; Aguas Calientes has limited ATMs (long queues). Carry soles for markets and buses.

Machu Picchu tickets: Book through machupicchu.gob.pe — the official site. Tickets now have time slots and sell out 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season.

Connectivity: eSIM or Movistar SIM works in Lima and Cusco; minimal service in Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes.

Let Faroway Build Your Personalized Peru Itinerary

The version above is a solid 7-day template, but your trip might look completely different based on your fitness level (Inca Trail? Salkantay Trek?), budget, travel pace, and what actually excites you. Maybe you want an extra day in the Sacred Valley, or you'd swap Lima day 2 for a food tour.

Faroway builds personalized Peru itineraries around your actual preferences — including exact transport options, hotel recommendations, timed-entry ticket reminders, and altitude acclimatization advice built into the day-by-day plan. It takes 5 minutes to generate what would otherwise take hours of research.

Try it before your trip. Your future self, standing at Machu Picchu at sunrise, will appreciate the preparation.

7 Days in Peru Itinerary: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Sacred Valley