9 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Peru's Cultural Highlights & Nazca Lines

Experience Peru's top highlights, including flying over the Nazca Lines and hiking to Machu Picchu, on this well-rounded itinerary.

This active adventure starts in the capital city of Lima. After an afternoon and evening to get oriented in the capital city, you'll board a 12-seater plane on day two to view the Nazca Lines geoglyphs from an aerial perspective. In the afternoon, try sandboarding in Huacachina. Then relax in Paracas for the night. Head back to Lima for more sightseeing—don't miss the restored pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, a monument to the pre-Inca lima culture, and the UNESCO-honored historic center—and strolling along the clifftop promenade in Miraflores.

Then you'll jet off to the high-altitude Inca city of Cusco. Adjust to the environment with a cup of coca tea—the locals use it to treat altitude sickness—and head off to see the Spanish-built cathedral, the Incas' Coricancha ("Sun Temple"), and the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas. Tour the Sacred Valley on day five, visiting Inca ruins along the way, then visit the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo, where you'll spend the night. Round out the trip with a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to one of the most famous sights in South America: Machu Picchu. You'll have a full day to explore the Inca citadel before returning to Cusco for one last dinner before the next day's flight out. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Sacred Valley & Amazon Excursion

On this outdoorsy itinerary, you'll hike the Inca Trail and visit archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley.

Welcome to Peru! The trip begins in Lima. Explore the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stopping into the 16th-century Spanish-designed cathedral, which took 80 years to build. Stroll around the coastal neighborhood of Miraflores at night and enjoy ocean views from Love Park.

On day two, you’ll continue on to Cusco and begin your tour of the Sacred Valley. Stop along the way at Pisac, one of the region’s most important archaeological sites, known for its ancient Inca burial grounds and irrigation systems. You can visit the town’s busy textile market to shop for souvenirs, then overnight in the Incan city of Ollantaytambo. 

On day four, hit the Inca Trail and make your way toward Aguas Calientes. From there, you'll have an early start the next day to be at Machu Picchu when the gates open. Spend a day exploring the famous citadel before returning to Cusco. From there, catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Check into Refugio Amazonas Lodge, your home in the jungle, and spend the next few days on excursions in the Amazon rainforest: you'll visit Parrot Clay Lick to see colorful parrots in their natural habitat, ride down a jungle river in a dugout canoe, visit a local farm, and go on a botany tour. Enjoy the sounds of the jungle on one last overnight in the wilderness before heading back to civilization. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure

There's no need to choose between Machu Picchu and the Amazon: you'll see both on this balanced itinerary around Peru.

Touch down in Lima, then continue on to Cusco on day two for a tour of the city's Inca ruins and Spanish monuments. Stop for a coffee in the stylish neighborhood of San Blas (or opt for coca tea if you're struggling to adjust to the altitude). On day three, travel through the Abra Malaga mountain pass, winding down to the Sacred Valley. You'll go mountain biking for three hours, heading towards the jungle and the town of Huamanmarca. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before the afternoon's rafting adventure on Class III and III+ rapids. Finish the day with a hike to a lodge in Pispitayoc, where you'll spend the night. 

The following morning, hike along the Inca Trail to Cocalmayo, where you'll break for a well-deserved soak in the relaxing hot springs. Spend the evening in Santa Teresa. You'll go on a zip-lining adventure in the Sacred Valley the next day, then hike to Aguas Calientes. Relax before the next day's adventure to Machu Picchu. At the end of the trip, squeeze in a few days in the Amazon: back-track to Cusco and catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado, where you'll spend a few days at the Refugio Amazonas Lodge, exploring the jungle's flora and fauna before the trip ends back in Lima. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Lima, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

Cruise around Lake Titicaca on a traditional boat, take a food tour in Lima, discover the lost city of the Incas at Machu Picchu—this action-packed adventure has something for everyone.

Like many itineraries, this trip starts in Lima—but unlike many, this trip plan involves spending more than just a night in Lima at the start of the journey. On day two, you’ll go on a food tour of the capital, stopping in local markets and taking a cooking class where you’ll learn how to make ceviche and pisco sours. Spend the evening in the oceanside neighborhood of Barranco, filled with cafés, restaurants, and bars. Then fly to Cusco. Drink some coca tea—it helps with the altitude change—before walking around the ancient city, visiting the Coricancha (known as "The Temple of the Sun”), the impressive Puca Pucara ruins, and the colorful Mercado Central de San Pedro marketplace. 

The next day, you’ll explore the Sacred Valley. Stops along the day’s trip include Pisac, with its ruins and textile market, the salt flats at Maras, and Moray, known for its amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. Spend the evening in Ollantaytambo, home to some of the region’s best-preserved Inca architecture.

On day five, take the train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a day exploring the 15th-century Inca citadel, a sanctuary and retreat for the Incan Emperor Pachacutec and his court. At the end of the trip, you'll have two days to spend getting to know Lake Titicaca and its islands—including Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island, where you'll have the chance to meet some native people—before heading back to Lima to catch a flight out. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Sacred Valley, Short Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure

On this exciting trip plan, hit the Inca Trail and visit archaeological ruins in the Sacred Valley before spending several days on jungle excursions in the Amazon.

Start in Lima, then head to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, for a day of sightseeing. Stop inside the Spanish-built cathedral, the Coricancha, also known as “The Temple of the Sun,” and the ruins at Puca Pucara, and try ceviche and other Peruvian dishes in one of the city’s many excellent restaurants. The next day, venture into the Sacred Valley to tour Inca ruins and archaeological sites—including Chinchero, believed by the Inca to be the birthplace of the rainbow—before spending a relaxed evening in riverside Ollantaytambo. Wake up early the next day for a hike along the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes.

On day five, wake up early for your excursion to the lost city of Machu Picchu. Back-track to Cusco to catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, where you’ll spend the last few days of the trip. Base yourself at the elegant Refugio Amazonas Lodge, venturing into the jungle to see giant river otters, exotic butterflies, and brightly colored parrots in their natural habitat. Finish the journey with a night hike—you’ll see wildlife that only comes out after dark. Then head back to Lima, where you'll catch a flight home. Learn more

More Great 9-Day Peru Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Peru trip? Check out these other 9-day Peru itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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