Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley: Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need in Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley?

• Most travelers spend 8-10 days in Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley combined
• Visiting Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley in 7 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
• With 11 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
• The most common extensions are Puno, Arequipa, Cabanaconde, and the Amazon

How Many Days to Spend in Lima
How Many Days to Spend at Machu Picchu

Recommended Itineraries for Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days

From Lima to Machu Picchu, this one-week highlights tour is perfect for travelers with a thirst for adventure. Explore the bohemian neighborhoods and food scene of Lima, then continue to Cusco—the ancient Incan capital. Spend several days in the Sacred Valley discovering colorful textile markets and monolithic ruins, then walk the Inca trail to arrive at Machu Picchu. Read more

Extended Itineraries

10-Day Itinerary Including Puno

This 10-day tour in Peru is an active and fun getaway. Explore Lima and stroll around its bohemian seaside neighborhoods. View some of the world's most impressive geoglyphs, then try your hand at sandboarding on the nearby dunes. Next, head south to Cusco, and explore the impressive ruins of Machu Picchu. Embark on an exciting via ferrata and ziplining adventure and hike to the peak of Huayna Picchu mountain for some stunning views. Finally, travel to Lake Titicaca to experience the beauty and culture of its islands. Read more

2-Week Itinerary Including Puno, Arequipa & Cabanaconde

From the Nazca Lines to Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu, this 14-day itinerary takes you to Peru's major highlights. Fly over the Nazca Lines, some of the world's most impressive geoglyphs, then spend some time exploring the metropolitan city of Lima before heading out to explore the colonial city of Arequipa. Next, explore Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest canyons, before visiting Lake Titicaca. Finally, head to the Inca capital of Cusco and hike the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Read more

15-Day Itinerary Including the Amazon

From Inca ruins to the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands, the 15-day version of this itinerary shows you the many sides of Peru. Experience metropolitan Lima, the incredible Nazca lines, and the Inca capital of Cusco. Walk a section of the Inca Trail, followed by a day at Machu Picchu. Then, make your way to Puerto Maldonado, where you'll spend three days viewing wildlife on jungle excursions while enjoying a comfortable stay at an ecolodge. Read more

How to travel between Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

How to get from Lima to Paracas
Travel from Lima to Paracas is a transition from one of South America's biggest cities to one of its nearest major wildlife reserves. Paracas is the catch-all word for the Paracas National Reserve and the nearby village (where transport from Lima arrives) which is also known as El Chaco. Going by private transfer all the way from Lima to Paracas (260 miles; 418 km) is the quickest and most enjoyable way to travel this route. Bus options (or a combination of bus and private transfer) are also available. Read more

How to get to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu needs little introduction—it's South America's most famous and most visited travel destination. Getting to this complex of Inca ruins, as almost every Peru-bound traveler wishes to do, always involves first traveling to Cusco. Read more

How to get to the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is the name given to the valley of the Río Urubamba and the pretty tradition-rich towns and villages that cling to its sides amid a clutch of Inca ruins. The valley begins twists and turns beneath steep mountainsides north of Cusco. Cusco is the only real access point to the Sacred Valley because it acts as one of Peru's biggest transport hubs. All travel to the Sacred Valley, therefore, first necessitates a journey to Cusco. Read more

How to get from Lima to Cusco
The most popular place to head from Lima is Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca and the jumping-off point for Machu Picchu. For those with limited time, the easiest means of getting there is to fly. Flight prices per person are still not that much more expensive than heading overland by bus and cheaper than heading overland by private transfer. It is not recommended to drive yourself due to road conditions and other dangers. Read more