Make the Most of Your Time in Peru

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Checkout the Uros Floating Islands and visit Puno on Lake Titicaca
How Many Days to Spend in Peru

No matter how much time you have in Peru, whether it's just a few days or a few weeks, this country can offer some unforgettable experiences. With just three or four days and good planning, it's even possible to visit the national highlights of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. With a week or more, the experiences just get better, allowing you time for historic cities and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Use this guide to help you make the most of your visit.

Marvel at the deep Colca Canyon near Arequipa
Map of 5 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
5 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

For travelers interested in visiting Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley highlights, five days is just enough time to do it. If you've already been to Machu Picchu, consider seeing a different part of Peru on this trip: the Amazon Rainforest, the biodiverse Ballestas Islands, or the lesser-known archeological sites of Northern Peru are all excellent options that showcase more of Peru's outdoor and cultural offerings. Check out more options in the itineraries below.

Cruise on Madre de Dios is the Peruvian Amazon
Map of 6 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
6 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Six days is just enough time for an efficient tour of the country's highlights. You can certainly visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley—and if you fly into Cusco instead of Lima, you can even fit a short Inca Trail trek in the itinerary. If this isn't your first visit to Peru, you might want to skip Machu Picchu in favor of a wildlife tour in the Amazon or an excursion to the more remote reaches of Northern Peru. Find out more below.

Peruvian children near Machu Picchu
Map of 1 Week in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With one week in Peru, you can transport your little ones to the days of the Inca Empire on a Sacred Valley highlights tour. Or opt for a classic Peru itinerary that combines history, culture, and adventure for a memorable family experience. Parents to young wildlife enthusiasts will love a trip into the Peruvian Amazon, while families who've already checked out the highlights or are looking for an off-the-beaten-path tour will find stays in Paracas and Máncora to do just the trick.

See how many parrots you can count at Parrot Clay Lick
Map of 1 Week in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

In seven days, it's easy to combine Machu Picchu with day trips within the Sacred Valley or with a visit to another region like the Amazon Rainforest or Lake Titicaca. Trekkers can conquer part of the Inca Trail plus take a hike to the brilliantly-striped Rainbow Mountain, and culturally-minded travelers who don't mind skipping Machu Picchu can head to the lesser-visited ruins of Northern Peru. Learn more about your options below.

Inca ruins in the neighborhood of Miraflores, Lima
Map of 8 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
8 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With eight days in Peru, you can achieve a comprehensive tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, plus a couple of days enjoying the cuisine and culture of Lima. Or skip the capital city in favor of another point of interest: add a short Inca Trail trek, cruise around Lake Titicaca, or hike to colorful Rainbow Mountain. You can even pair a quick Machu Picchu adventure with a few days in the Peruvian Amazon. Learn more below.

Views over the Peruvian Amazon
Map of 9 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
9 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With nine days in Peru, you're able to combine adventures in more than one region. Fly over the Nazca Lines before visiting Machu Picchu, hike the Inca Trail before decamping to the Amazon for jungle excursions, or take a cooking class in Lima before cruising around Lake Titicaca on a traditional boat. Find out more about your options with these five unique itinerary ideas for nine days in Peru.

Opt for an itinerary that has the whole family kayaking in the Peruvian Amazon
Map of 10 Days in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

You can cover four to five Peru destinations traveling with kids in tow. First-timers will want to hit the highlights of Lima and Cusco, while more active families can add the Palomino Islands and hike part of the Inca trail. Families with older kids will enjoy an Amazon River cruise and a cliffside stay at the Sky Lodge. Add standup paddleboarding in Maras and riding ATVs in the Sacred Valley for fast-paced activities and adventure. For a more cultural experience, stay with a Uros family on the island of Amantani.

Famous view of the Lost City of Kuélap, near Chachapoyas, Peru
Map of 10 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Ten days in Peru is an excellent amount of time to enjoy a well-rounded introduction to the country's highlights on a tour featuring Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon, and it's also enough time to tick off the four-day Inca Trail and relax while admiring the floating islands on Lake Titicaca. Those eager to spend time searching for unique wildlife should head to Manú National Park, while travelers interested in history but not the crowds should venture to Northern Peru.

Rainbow Mountain, Peru
Map of 11 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
11 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 11 days in Peru, it's the perfect amount of time to explore two regions. You can visit Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca or explore the Sacred Valley and the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Whether you're interested in pre-Inca civilizations, Lima's buzzing food scene, hiking the Inca Trail, or seeing exotic birds on a jungle trail, find out how with these five unique itineraries.

Visit Huacachina, a desert village and small oasis, surrounded by sand dunes
Map of 12 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
12 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 12 days in Peru, you have a number of diverse routes to choose from. Whether you want to focus on the Amazon rainforest, pre-Columbian ruins, hiking on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, cultural and culinary tours in Lima, or off-the-beaten-path adventures in Peru's northern region—you have time to do it all. Read on for five unique itinerary ideas.

Gocta Waterfall in northern Peru
Map of 13 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
13 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 13 days in Peru, travelers' options are almost endless. Thanks to frequent domestic flights and quick connections between key destinations, it's possible to visit the Amazon rainforest, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca and the archaeological wonders of the north on a single trip—or some combination of these. Whether you want to hike, sightsee, boat through the jungle, or learn about indigenous ways of life, find out how with these five unique itineraries.

The vast expanse of the Sacred Valley
Map of 2 Weeks in Peru - 5 Unique Itineraries
2 Weeks in Peru - 5 Unique Itineraries

A two-week visit to Peru allows travelers to comfortably combine Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley with one of the country's more remote regions. Enjoy the culture and history of the ruins and villages surrounding Cusco and take a jungle excursion into the Amazon in the same trip. Or head north to the archeological wonders of Kuelap and Chachapoyas. A trip of this length also means more opportunities for trekking, including multi-day treks on the Inca Trail. See more inspiration for your Peru trip below.

Discover the famous Inca site of Peru's Machu Picchu with your family in tow
Map of 2 Weeks in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas
2 Weeks in Peru - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With two weeks in Peru on a family vacation, you can visit at least five regions. Delight your animal-loving kids with a llama trek in the Sacred Valley and monkey, macaw, and dolphin sightings in the Amazon. Aspiring chefs will enjoy a cooking class in Cusco and a street food tour in Lima. Active families can choose a challenging trek at Machu Picchu, try the via ferrata at Sector Pachar, and go sandboarding in Huacachina. Those eager to get off the beaten path can visit a remote rainforest lagoon in Iquitos and hike to Palcoyo.

En route to Machu Picchu, you'll hike to Humantay Lake
Map of 15 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
15 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 15 days in Peru, you can tick off the country's bucket-list destinations on a classic tour, exploring Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Adventure seekers can opt for a trekking trip through the Sacred Valley with stays in Lima, Cusco, and the Amazon, while history lovers search for Inca Empire marvels near Trujillo, Chiclayo, Chachapoyas, and Cusco. For those looking to spend most of their time on the trail, a hiking trip to Choquequirao and along the Apu Ausangate trail will do just the trick.

Visit Parque Arqueológico Pisac, an archaeological site, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Map of 16 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
16 Days in Peru - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

You can visit up to eight destinations with 16 days in Peru. First-timers to the country will appreciate seeing the highlights like Machu Picchu's Inca ruins. Nature and culture lovers should venture to the Amazon Rainforest, while those keen on hiking should experience the Inca Trail. Opt for a "Hidden Gems" itinerary that includes Máncora's beaches, or be delighted by a luxury Amazon River cruise and exciting sand dune adventures in a tour for adrenaline-seekers.

How Many Days to Spend in Lima
How Many Days to Spend in Lima

Lima's international airport makes it the most common entry point for travelers heading to Peru's many cultural and adventure destinations, including Machu Picchu. Due to flight schedules, most travelers spend at least one evening in the capital—but with so much to do here, extending your stay is easy. Enjoy the art galleries and ocean views of lively Miraflores, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants and local food stands, or visit Inca ruins within city limits. Read on for more.

How Much Time Should You Spend in Machu Picchu?
How Many Days to Spend in Machu Picchu

The vast and fascinating Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is what you make of it. It can be overcrowded if you have limited time and stick to the main site, but if you ascend to surrounding peaks or arrive via one of many beautiful treks, this region can hold your attention for many days. This article breaks down what you can best do here in the holiday time you have, be that a whistlestop half-day tour or an off-the-beaten-track weeklong adventure.