The Perfect One Week Peru Itinerary for First Timers
Peru is an adventurer’s dream destination, with charming colonial cities acting as the gateways to stunning countryside full of rugged mountains, rollicking rivers, stunning valleys, and shimmering alpine lakes.
This same countryside is also full of Inca archaeological sites and picturesque rural villages that offer a window into local life. Away from the mountains, there’s also dense jungle, an endless desert-backed coastline, and countless opportunities flor cultural and gastronomic experiences.
For a bit of adrenaline, you have excellent white water rafting, high altitude mountain biking, unbelievable hiking, and so many stunning drives. There is almost too much to see and do.
This itinerary is designed for those visiting Peru for their first time, and it aims to give you a taste of all the above, in a very condensed timeframe. In one week, you’ll cover Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and, of course, Machu Picchu.
You begin in Lima, the country’s cosmopolitan and gastronomic capital, before heading inland to the ancient Inca stronghold of Cusco, with its sublime surrounding mountain scenery. From there, you’ll move into the nearby Sacred Valley, which is blessed with an abundance natural wonders, traditional villages, and stunning Inca ruins, Machu Picchu chief among them.
However, know that this is just a cursory introduction. Peru is a vast country with remote destinations so a 7-day tour can only scratch the surface of the culture, nature, and adventure possibilities here.
Read on for my detailed guide to spending one glorious week in Peru!
Table of Contents
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Itinerary Overview
What you’ll do
This itinerary is organized to give an excellent introduction to Peru in a limited amount of time. You start off with a jam packed day in Lima, covering most of the city’s highlights.
From there, you fly straight to Cusco and spend a day exploring the city.
Your next four days are spent in the Sacred Valley hiking, exploring Inca archaeological sites (including Machu Picchu), and visiting charming colonial villages.
Your final day in Peru is spent back in Cusco, where you have the option of taking things easy, doing some adrenaline sports, or visiting more wonderful sites.
Where you’ll stay
I’ve included recommendations for where to stay each night, and you are certain to spend your first night in Lima and your second and seventh night in Cusco.
For your four days in the Sacred Valley, you’ll see in the itinerary that I’ve included various options on where to stay most nights.
This is because trips to the Sacred Valley are logistics-heavy and timing is important. So, I have you changing hotels frequently to maximize your time and minimize driving.
However, staying multiple nights in a few locations or all 4 nights in a single town is also doable.
When alternatives to my plan make sense, I’ve included a note. However, if you want to spend all 4 nights in the Sacred Valley in a single location and then do day trips from there, I didn’t go over that. So here are the towns I’d consider: Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Urubamba, or Pisac.
Pisac is the most “cosmopolitan” and has the most dining and leisure options. Its location is the most inconvenient, however.
Ollantaytambo is the prettiest town and there are good things to do nearby, but it’s small. It’s very atmospheric, however.
Chinchero is less touristy, so perhaps feels a little more authentic, but four days there might be a lot.
Urubamba is definitely the least pretty and the least interesting, but the countryside around the town is beautiful and there are quite a few excellent, upscale hotels and restaurants surrounding it. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel that offers lots of activities and can arrange all your excursions, this is your best option.
Day 1: Lima – Historic center, Miraflores wander, and an evening in Barranco
Today is a fast-paced day designed to let you see Lima’s highlights in a very condensed timeframe.
Explore the historic city center, see Pre-Columbian art at Museo Larco, walk along the Miraflores clifftops, and enjoy an evening and night out in hip Barranco.
For more info on Lima, see our guide to Lima and 2-day Lima itinerary.
Morning
See Lima’s city center (the historic part of town)
Given this is your only day in Lima, try to leave your hotel by 8:30 or 9:00 am so that you can make the most of your time today.
Grab a taxi, and head straight up to Plaza San Martín, a square that marks the start of the historic city center. Enjoy the expansive square and then walk down the pedestrianized street of Jirón de la Unión to the Plaza de Armas, Lima’s most important square and the heart of the city.
The Plaza de Armas is surrounded by elegant colonial buildings including the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and City Hall. I recommend popping inside the Cathedral, which has a great choir and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro.
Leading off the Plaza de Armas are a series of pedestrianized streets, all lined with colonial buildings, many of which have beautiful wooden balconies. The one-time home of Francisco Pizarro, Casa Aliaga, is a few blocks away, as is the lovely pink Convento de Santo Domingo church whose interior and grounds are peaceful and beautiful. The library inside is also impressive.
The other main sight in the city center is the Basilica y Convento de San Francisco, a gorgeous and enormous 17th century church that also houses an impressive library. However, the star attraction here are the huge underground catacombs. You can’t visit on your own, but 30-minute tours are included with your entry fee, and they leave very frequently all throughout the day, so you’ll never need to wait long.
Take an (optional) peak inside the MALI Museo
If you’re interested in Peruvian history and art, give yourself a couple of hours to visit MALI (Museo de Arte de Lima), one of the city’s best museums. The many galleries showcase thousands of pieces of art running from Pre-Columbian times up to modern day.
*I would skip the MALI museum if you’re planning on visiting the Museo Larco today (which is what I have planned for you).
Without visiting the MALI, expect for your exploration of the center to take anywhere from 3-4 hours. If you’re very interested in colonial architecture or just want to see some of the center’s less obvious sites, you really could spend the better part of a day here. You have limited time in Lima though, so I’d recommend saving a deeper exploration for next time.
Lima’s Plaza de Armas (and cathedral)
The Archbishop’s Palace. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plaza San Martín. Photo: Ministerio de Defensa del Perú, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Afternoon
Lunch in Pueblo Libre neighborhood
Having finished exploring the historic center, leave downtown behind and head to the Pueblo Libre neighborhood. It’s a quick taxi ride.
As hunger has surely set in, set your sights on a place called Antigua Taberna Queirolo. This famed restaurant is beloved by locals and tourists alike, and the food is good, while the chilcanos and pisco sours are legendary.
See Pre-Columbian art at the Museo Larco
After lunch, make your way to the nearby Museo Larco. It’s just a 15-minute walk from the restaurant, and the area you’ll pass through is pleasant and safe.
The museum, housed in a gorgeous building with an even more gorgeous garden, displays an incredible collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts, with lots of ceramics, gold and silver jewelry, and textiles. The main attraction is an unusual and very interesting exhibit displaying erotic pottery from Inca and pre-Inca cultures. Give yourself 1-3 hours to enjoy the art, depending on your level of interest.
Check out the Miraflores neighborhood and walk along the Malecón
For the rest of your afternoon, I recommend exploring the Miraflores neighborhood.
Begin your wander by getting a taxi from Museo Larco to the Lugar de la Memoria, a museum that explains the violent 20-year period from the 1980s to 2000 when Peru was engulfed in conflict between the Shining Path rebel/terrorist group and the authoritarian government.
You could visit the museum, but I’m just using it as a reference point for where you should start your walk in Miraflores because it’s located right at the beginning of the neighborhood and adjacent to the wonderful malecón. This is a seafront promenade that runs along Lima’s coastal cliffs, offering terrific views.
So, go for a walk down the malecón, heading in the direction of LarcoMar shopping mall, which is where I’d finish it. Figure that the walk will take about an hour.
Once you’re done, head away from the water and go for a stroll through the center of the neighborhood, which is very pleasant. Be sure to stop by Parque Kennedy, the main park.
The Chinese Pavilion on Miraflores’ malecón
Gold jewelry on display at Museo Larco. Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Parque Kennedy. Photo: Carlos Figueroa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Evening
Dinner and drinks in Barranco
You’ll probably want a break after a rather full day, so dip back to your hotel and have a little relax before setting out for a new neighborhood this evening.
As night falls, get a taxi to the Barranco neighborhood. This area of town borders Miraflores, but it’s a bit less commercial and a little more bohemian. The architecture is pretty, there are loads of great cafes, restaurants, and bars, and the atmosphere at nighttime is very pleasant.
I’d recommend starting off at the Puente de los Suspiros (the bridge of sighs), a very pretty wooden bridge in an atmospheric park that is lit up by pretty street lamps when it’s dark.
From here, enjoy a wander around the neighborhood, maybe stopping to check out a cool little boutique shop like Dédalo which also doubles as an art gallery.
For dinner, you’re totally spoiled for choice in Barranco, but a longtime favorite is Isolina. They serve what’s called comida criolla, which combines coastal cuisine with other influences, and the food and drinks are excellent (albeit pricey).
If you’re looking for a little nightlife, you’ll find cocktail bars, traditional peñas, and lots of hip spots (many with live music) all around you. La Noche de Barranco always has live music and for craft beer you could check out Invictus or BarBarian. There are too many options to list.
Overnight in Lima
Day 2: Fly to Cusco and see the city center’s sights
Take an early morning flight to Cusco and then spend the day exploring the city. Begin in the Plaza de Armas and the city center and then spend the afternoon up in the pretty neighborhood of San Blas.
For detailed information on Cusco, check our Cusco city guide and 2-day Cusco itinerary.
Morning
Flight to Cusco and check in
Take an early flight to Cusco this morning, and spend an entire day enjoying the city. Flights take 1.5 hours, so if you opt for a 9:00 or 10:00 am flight, you could be out exploring Cusco’s center by noon (or a bit earlier).
Enjoy the Plaza de Armas and surrounding sights
Once you’ve checked into your hotel or left your bags, head straight out into the city. Make a beeline for the Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s central square. Around you, you’ll see beautiful colonial architecture; white plaster buildings with red tiled roofs, often with original Inca stonework forming the foundations.
In the square, be sure to enter the Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus church. Head inside both of them, with the cathedral first. Inside, you’ll find a collection of escuela cuzqueña (Cuzco school) art that melds European religious painting with indigenous Peruvian style and symbols. The highlight is The Last Supper with cuy (local delicacy, roasted guinea pig) as the Disciples’ food choice.
The Compañia de Jesus church is actually prettier than the cathedral, and the view from the bell tower is great.
From here, walk over to Plaza Regocijo a block away to enjoy another pretty plaza.
Plaza de Armas
Afternoon
Lunch
For lunch, try some great Andean food at somewhere near the Plaza de Armas, like Organika, La Quinta Eulalia, or Nuna Raymi.
You could also grab a cheap local lunch inside the San Pedro Market, which is worth a lunchtime visit even if not eating.
Get your Boleto Turistico tourist ticket
After lunch, quickly pop over to the COSITUC office (103 Avenida del Sol) where you can buy your Boleto Turistico. This is a tourist ticket that provides entrance to various sites in/around Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
You have the option of the partial or comprehensive ticket, but if following this itinerary you should opt for the comprehensive one (called “integral” in Spanish) which will give you entrance to 16 sites, including Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman (and a few other nearby archaeological sites), Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Moray, all of which you’ll be visiting.
The ticket costs 130 soles ($35 USD) and is valid for 10 days. You can find more information here.
Explore more of the historic center
Once you’ve gotten your ticket, spend the rest of the day exploring more of Cusco.
Since you’re already there, take a walk along Avenida del Sol. It’s one of Cusco’s main thoroughfares and is always busy and bustling with activity. Pop into some of the shops and markets and enjoy people watching.
Next, head over to Qorikancha (which is on Avenida del Sol, just a little ways down from the Plaza de Armas). Once the site of one of the Inca’s most important temples, it’s now a Dominican convent. I recommend popping inside to admire the pretty cloister.
Head up into pretty San Blas
As the day moves from afternoon to evening, use the rest of the daylight to explore the San Blas neighborhood.
From Qorikancha, walk down Loreto alley to Plaza de Armas. The alleyway is neat because it’s very narrow and the foundations of the buildings around you are built on top of massive Inca walls. It’s neat to see.
From the Plaza de Armas, take one of the streets that leads up to Plazoleta Nazarenas, one of Cusco’s prettiest squares.
Have a look around and then continue your walk up Calle Triunfo to Plaza San Blas, the neighborhood’s principal square. Along the way, you’ll pass the famous “12-sided stone” and lots of shops and artisan workshops.
Once in San Blas, I’d recommend that you just wander aimlessly, enjoying the lovely colonial architecture, pretty cobblestone streets, steep staircases, and tight alleyways.
If the Iglesia San Blas is open, head inside the see the wooden altar and the view from the bell tower.
Qorikancha
Calle Loreto. Photo: Ordzonhyd Rudyard Tarco Palomino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cuesta San Blas
San Blas
Evening
Dinner with a view (or just a really good meal!)
For dinner, you have some really excellent options.
If you’re still up in San Blas, you could climb all the way up to Limbus Restobar and have dinner on their terrace, enjoying a stunning view over Cusco as the lights come on and the city twinkles in the darkness.
For upscale, traditional Andean fare in a cozy setting, book a table at Pachapapa, right in front of Plaza San Blas. Their guinea pig is famous, but everything on the menu is good.
And if you didn’t get enough seafood in Lima, head to Morena for great coastal classics.
After dinner, take it easy and let yourself acclimatize to the altitude.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 3: Explore Inca sites around Cusco before heading to Pisac
Journey into the Sacred Valley today, with your final destination being the fabulous ruins of Pisac. Along the way, stop at other Inca sites like Saqsaywamán, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Pukapukara and enjoy some fabulous views.
Have a look at our Sacred Valley travel guide for more ideas on what to see & do in the area.
Morning
Visit Cusco-area ruins
Today, you’re final destination is the town of Pisac and its phenomenal archaeological site in the Sacred Valley. You should plan to make lots of stops on your way there, however.
What I’ve suggested is to first visit a series of small archaeological sites on Cusco’s outskirts, and then continue into the Valley. To do this, I recommend hiring a guide or driver. It’ll make your visit much more enjoyable as you’ll get to explore these archaeological sites at your own pace and stop along your route to enjoy some truly majestic viewpoints. Just a driver, at your disposition for the entire day, will probably cost around 200 soles, less if you need them for less time. That’s about $50 USD, so a very reasonable price.
Because today is a busy day and your daylight is best used exploring these wonderful ruins, I recommend packing a picnic lunch (or some sandwiches) so that you don’t have to stop at a restaurant.
Saqsaywamán
Starting around 9am, head up into the green hills flanking Cusco to the north on Rte 28G (the road to Pisac) to the first and most important of these ruins, Saqsaywamán. This 15th-century Inca fort is the storied location for the biggest annual party in the Peruvian Andes, Inti Raymi - the Inca festival of the sun. The site is spread out across a flat plain overlooking Cusco, and unbelievably massive stones make up a huge network of mighty walls and buildings.
Q’enqo
Next up on the road to Pisac is Q’enqo, a ceremonial rock plastered in symbols such as the puma, condor and llama that were of importance to Inca culture. The site is small and quickly explored, but it offers terrific views.
Tambomachay
From here, head to Tambomachay, my favorite of the sites. What exactly it was nobody knows, but the temple structures, irrigation canals, and flowing water indicate that it may have been some sort of a religious site connected to the worship an in Inca water deity. It is also small, but very pretty and in a lovely location.
Across the road is, Puka Pukara, thought by some to have been an Inca hunting lodge.
Visiting all 4 sites will probably take you 1.5 - 2 hours.
Drive to Pisac (optional stop at Awana Kancha)
From Tambomachay, it’s a 30-minute drive to Pisac. If you want to do some shopping or make some furry friends before you get there, you could stop at Awana Kancha, a weaving collective that does some demonstrations and has a store selling high quality textiles. They also have an open area with llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas that you can see and feed. It’s touristy, but fun.
Sacsayhuaman
Tambomachay. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Afternoon
Pisac ruins
Your afternoon is dedicated entirely to enjoying the incredible archaeological site of Pisac. These are among my favorite ruins in Peru. Yes, lots of tourists visit (though far fewer than Machu Picchu for example), but the site is enormous, so it never feels overcrowded.
The terraces interconnected by Inca steps, pathways, stone doorways - and even a rock-hewn tunnel - are topped by a temple and provide some of the Sacred Valley’s most beautiful panoramas.
There are all different sections to the site; a series of incredible agricultural terraces carved out of the hillside, defensive structures, housing, religious areas, etc. And it’s spread out over an absolutely stunning piece of terrain in an even more stunning setting.
It’s wonderful.
You’ll also get to enjoy Pisac town in the evening, but first the ruins!
If you booked a driver and not a guide for the day, have them bring you first to Pisac town so that you can quickly check into your hotel (you’ll spend the night here) and leave your bags. Remember to grab a backpack and bring water, some snacks, and a comfortable pair of hiking or athletic shoes as you have a lot of walking coming up. Then, have the driver bring you up to the entrance at the top of the ruins. You can have them leave you here and say your goodbyes as you’re going to walk back to town.
If you have a guide with you, no need to make the detour into town.
Now, to enjoy Pisac in its entirety, give yourself 3-4 hours and plan on beginning at the top of the site and walking all the way down through it, finishing back in Pisac town. By doing it this way, you’ll get to see the entire extent of the ruins and really appreciate them. Many tours spend just an hour or two at the site, but that only covers a small portion of what there is to see.
Keep in mind that the complex closes at 5:00 pm, so you want to be there no later than 2:00 pm, and 1:00 pm would be better.
For detailed information on planning a visit to Pisac, have a look here.
Pisac
Pisac
Pisac
Evening
Dinner and an evening stroll through Pisac
Once back in town, enjoy a very well-deserved relax at your hotel before dinner.
Pisac is very popular with New Age wellness proponents, so the town is actually rather international and you’ll surely encounter a mix of New Wave hippies and yoga gurus along with all other types of residents and travelers.
The town is most famous for its large Sunday market that brings in locals from all around the countryside looking to sell and shop for produce and food. Even if you’re not here for the market, it’s a very pretty colonial town that is lovely to wander around.
There are loads of restaurants and cafes, many far more cosmopolitan than you might expect. You’ll find lots of restaurants dishing up Andean-Asian fusion foods, plenty of vegetarian and vegan spots, and lots of hip bistros, in addition to regular local restaurants.
Because of all the visitors, there are also a number of bars, more yoga studios than I can make sense of, and some neat shops and stores. Events and festivals happen all through the year too, so have a search and see if there’s anything going on while you’re in town.
For a light bite or a good soup, check out El Cafe Feliz or Mamacocha. If you’re after a more substantial meal, La Paila and La Ruta, both of them on the main square, are always good bets.
After dinner, enjoy a walk through town and soak up the serene, rural atmosphere.
Overnight in Pisac
Day 4: Pisac market, Ollantaytambo ruins, & evening train to Aguas Calientes
Do a little shopping at the Pisac market before transferring to Ollantaytambo, with a stop in the town of Urubamba. Hike to two sets of ruins in Ollantaytambo and enjoy the gorgeous town.
Pisac
Morning
Pisac market
No visit to Pisac would be complete without looking around the village’s market, so make it your first stop this morning.
Note that this market, which is open every day and set up in the city’s main square, is different from the Sunday market. Whereas the Sunday market is very much a local affair, the daily market is for tourists. It’s fun to browse, but the items you’ll find here are more or less identical to what you’ll have seen for sale at markets elsewhere in Cusco or Lima. If you’re looking for some cheap souvenirs, it’s a good place to pick up a few things. Bargaining is very much expected.
If you didn’t see much of town yesterday, take some time to go for a walk before you leave.
Transfer from Pisac to Ollantaytambo
From Pisac, hitch a ride to Ollantaytambo, about 1.5 hours away. You can get there by hiring a taxi (your hotel can call one or you can find one in town and negotiate a fare) or by taking a colectivo to Urubamba, and then another colectivo on to Cusco. The taxi should cost you around $25 USD USD. Colectivos are much cheaper, costing you a few dollars total.
I would recommend a taxi because it’s quicker and more comfortable (especially considering you’ll have your luggage with you) and will allow you the option of stopping along the way.
Stop in Urubamba for a look around
You’ll pass through a few cute towns before coming upon Urubamba, where I recommend you make a stop. It’s the largest town in the Sacred Valley and its location is very scenic, so it’s interesting to go for a walk. Pottery fans should pay a visit to Ceramica Seminario, an excellent ceramics studio.
Arrive to Ollantaytambo and drop your bags
On arrival to Ollantaytambo, head straight to the train station. Here, you can go to the Peru Rail office and store your luggage for the day. You’ll be able to pick it up this evening when you’re back at the station to catch your train up to Aguas Calientes (the town at the base of Machu Picchu).
Ollantaytambo itself is gorgeous, but you can visit town later today.
Instead, just grab a quick lunch now so that you’ve got energy to visit a few archaeological sites this afternoon. The restaurant Apu Veronica is always a good option.
A view from the road running along the Urubamba River
Afternoon
Ollantaytambo main ruins
After dropping off your luggage, walk over to the entrance to the Ollantaytambo ruins, which are on the opposite edge of town (the walk will take about 15 minutes). The entrance to the ruins is right on the edge of town, so you’ll be able to walk there in a couple of minutes.
Built impressively on steep vertical hill, this was a temple and fortress complex that was the site of a famous battle. Here, in 1536, Manco Inca, on the retreat aftre a defeat Sacsayhuaman, made a stand against Pizarro and the Spanish Conquistadors, notching a notable victory.
There are 17 different terraces leading up the hill which culminate at the top with a temple and a defensive structure. There’s also a picturesque sun gate, as well as plenty more ruins to explore around the side of the site. To get to the top, you’ll go up around 200 steps, so unfortunately it is not accessible for those with mobility limitations. Views from the top are absolutely stunning, and the entire site is an engineering marvel.
You’ll find plenty of guides to visiting Ollantaytambo’s ruins, but you can also follow this route on Alltrails which is pretty comprehensive. To do it all, give yourself 1-2 hours.
From the base of the main ruins, walk across town to the beginning of the walk up to the Pinkuylluna ruins (if you can’t find the entrance anyone in town can direct you to them).
Pinkuylluna Ruins
The Pinkuylluna ruins are across town from their more famous sibling. Free to enter, they’re thought to have perhaps been granaries (grain storage), though of course we’ll never really know.
Aside from being impressive, the walk up is milder than to Ollanta’s main ruins, the views of the valley are terrific the whole way, and you’re rewarded at the top with incredible views of both the town and the Ollantaytambo ruins. Because you’ll be there in the late afternoon, your panorama should be bathed in a beautiful golden light.
As well as the knockout views, Pinkuylluna’s flights of terraces are also enjoyable to explore because of their quietude.
You’ll want an hour or so for the sight.
The ruins of Pinkuylluna. Photo: Juan Carlos Caceres Ccahua, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsUNC
Ollantaytambo’s main ruins
Ollantaytambo town
The view over town from atop Ollantaytambo’s main ruins
Evening
Take a stroll in Ollantaytambo town and have dinner
Having finished your day of hiking and exploring, go for a walk around the town of Ollantaytambo which is especially atmospheric in the evenings and nighttimes. All the buildings in the center are plaster and stone, and the streets are cobblestone. There are little irrigation canals running alongside some streets, and in the evenings you can hear the water rushing past. It is unbelievably atmospheric.
I’d recommend grabbing dinner in town before you take the train because I find Aguas Calientes to be an absolute tourist trap, full of overpriced and mediocre restaurants. The town also isn’t very nice, so there’s no reason to rush there when Ollantaytambo is so much more pleasant.
If you want to be near the train, you could grab dinner and drinks at the attached fine-dining restaurant of El Albergue or the cheaper, but still good Café Mayu, which is adjacent to it.
Take an evening train up to Aguas Calientes
With dinner eaten, plan to catch the 7:00 pm train up to Aguas Calientes. The ride takes 1.5 hours, so you’ll be at your hotel sometime before 9:00 pm. You could take a look around Aguas Calientes, but theres’ not much to see, so I’d just settle in to bed and get a good night’s sleep.
The view from Ollantaytambo’s main square
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
*I want to make a quick note that if this day sounds too rushed with the train ride at the end, you could totally spend the night in Ollantaytambo and take an early train up to Aguas Calientes the following morning. If you did this, you could leave all your things in Ollantaytambo (you’ll be coming back at the end of the day) and spend a second night there.
I’ve sent you up to Aguas Calientes so that you can get to Machu Picchu as early as possible the next day, but you should weigh the options and choose what’s better for you. Ollantaytambo is really nice…
Day 5: Full day at Machu Picchu
Get up very early today to experience Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive. Spend the full day here, exploring the site and embarking on one of the optional mountain hikes.
Morning & Afternoon
Tour Machu Picchu
Purchase your ticket well in advance (at least several weeks before visiting) for your early start to Machu Picchu today. There are all different types of tickets for Machu Picchu, some of which cover different routes, have different entry times, and allow for optional add on hikes. My general recommendation is to opt for Circuit 2, but you should look through the options and pick the right one for you. Read more about your (many) options here.
When preparing for your visit, keep in mind that water and some small snacks are allowed, but you absolutely cannot bring a full lunch to the site with you. They do not want people eating at the site and are strict about this.
Once you’re ready to go, you’ll need to take a bus from Aguas Calientes town up to the entrance to Machu Picchu. The rides takes 30 minutes and departures start at 5.30am. I cannot stress enough how much it is worth getting there at the beginning of the day to see the Inca citadel without the crowds that arrive later in the morning.
The complex of Machu Picchu was constructed in the 15th century on triangular ridge that is surrounded on two sides by the Urubamba River. The mountains here, almost 1,000 meters lower than Cusco at 2,400 m, look distinctly different than what you’ll have seen in the Sacred Valley - it feels tropical and you can sense that the jungle is not far away.
The ruins spread out over a large area, with some of them incredibly preserved. The location further adds to the appeal, and the entire place just feels mysterious.
Although never truly “lost” to the locals, it was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and the Conquistadors never found it. It was basically left to return to the wild until the archaeologist Hiram Bingham “rediscovered” it in 1911.
You can explore on your own, but you’ll have a much better experience if you hire a guide at least for the main archaeological area. You can arrange a guide in advance, but you’ll also find lots of licensed guides milling around outside the entrance to the site. They run small group tours and will depart as soon as they have a group of 6-8 people. Most are perfectly good guides, but the quality does of course vary.
Upon entering the site, most people climb the staircase immediately after the entrance that leades up to the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock, a location that provides a great view of the site (and is a favorite for photographers and… instagrammers).
Other astounding parts of the site include the Incas’ ceremonial baths, the Sacred Plaza and three temples including the Temple of the Three Windows and the Temple of the Condor, which features a magnificent condor head carving.
Optional hikes/visits at Machu Picchu
There are many other adventures to be had here too, such as tackling a hike up one of the two mountains either side of the site. The most popular climb is up the precipitous mountain of Huayna Picchu, but the higher mountain is Cerro Machu Picchu (Machu Picchu Mountain) and this offers even more impressive views. A new route called Huchuy Picchu is also now available, and it takes about one hour is also available.
If you’re up for it, I highly recommend taking one of the additional hikes. These hikes all need an additional ticket (your Machu Picchu entrance ticket does not grant you entry) and due to controls placed on the number of visitors allowed on them each day, advance purchase is required.
Other possible add-ons to the visit are walks to Intipunku (the original control gate to the site, also called the Sun Gate) or the Puente Inka, an Inca bridge.
To fully appreciate the ruins and take in one of the two viewpoints, allow at least five to six hours.
Evening
Return to Aguas Calientes and train to Ollantaytambo
Assuming you got an early start, you’ll be finished at Machu Picchu by the early afternoon. So, head back to Aguas Calientes, grab a quick lunch, check out of your hotel, and then head to the train station for your journey down to Ollantaytambo.
Once back in Ollanta, grab a taxi or transfer for the hour ride on to the pretty little town of Chinchero, where you’ll be spending the night.
Overnight in Chinchero
*Another note about accommodation. If you opted to stay the previous night in Ollantaytambo instead of Aguas Calientes, I’d recommend that you stay another night there rather than carry on to Chinchero. This way, you don’t have to worry about packing and unpacking bags. You can then leave for Chinchero early tomorrow morning.
You can also stay in Ollantaytambo even if you didn’t stay the previous night, but just don’t feel like a car ride to Chinchero after the train. You’d just head to Chinchero the next morning.
Day 6: Visit Chinchero, Moray, and Maras
Start the day in Chinchero learning about local textiles. From there, set out to visit the wonderful Inca archaeological sites of Moray and Maras. Finish the day with a Pachamanca meal/ceremony at the Piuray lake.
Chinchero
Morning
Textile workshop (and optional hike) in Chinchero
Pretty Chinchero is known to tourists for its excellent textile weaving and you can see this being done at the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales in the center. Learn more on their website here. There are lots of other weaving cooperatives and workshops in town too, so you have options.
There are also Inca ruins, a pretty colonial church to check out, a big market held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and a number of good hikes. I haven’t included a hike today, but if you feel like a full-day one, check out the trail to Huchuy Qosqo. A shorter 2-hour hike leads to the Poc Poc waterfalls.
Plan to spend a couple of hours looking around town and learning about textiles and weaving.
Leave your bags at your hotel, because you’ll be spending most of the day around Chinchero and will stop off in town at the end of the day to grab your bags before carrying on to Cusco for the night. Alternatively, you could spend another night in Chinchero. Regardless, you won’t need the bags in the car.
Moray archaeological site
In mid-morning leave Chinchero and head off to Moray (40 minutes by car), an Inca archaeological site with a fabulous series of concentric circles (which appear to be farming terraces) that descend into the ground. This site is believed to have been an agricultural testing ground, where the Incas experimented with growing crops under different environments. Allow around 1.5 hours here.
Maras
Next, continue on for the half-hour drive to another of the Sacred Valley’s most impressive ancient sites, the Salineras de Maras. Salineras are salt pans, and at this site above Urubamba a thermal spring at the valley top feeds 3000-odd salt pans, scattered down the valley, from which salt has been extracted since at least Inca times.
It’s a bizarre-looking pre-Columbian site that is very different from the region’s myriad other Inca ruins. After an hour exploring the site, return to Chinchero.
Moray
Maras
Afternoon
Pachamanca ceremony around Laguna Piuray
In the afternoon, do something totally different and take part in one of the pachamanca ceremonies that happen by Laguna Piuray, a lake a few minutes away from Chinchero. This is an Andean culinary tradition in which food - meat and potatoes -, is cooked in an earthen pit heated by volcanic stones, and then shared.
But there is more to the event than just eating: it is also about celebrating Andean heritage, community, fertility and the harvest, and on bringing people together through food. You’ll also be able to help prepare the pachamanca.
Evening
Return to Cusco or enjoy another night in Chinchero
After the pachamanca ceremony, either hop a taxi for the 30 minute ride to Cusco, or spend another night in Chinchero.
If returning to Cusco, two of the best options for dinner are Cicciolina, a delightful restaurant blending Italian and Andean foods, or Chicha, a restaurant owned by celebrity chef and restaurateur Gastón Acurio.
Overnight in Chinchero or Cusco
Day 7: Leisure day in Cusco or a day trip
Today, is a free day. You have three options, all in/around Cusco: enjoy a day in the city, go rafting on the Río Urubamba, or see some beautiful churches and lesser-visited sites on the Ruta del Baroco Andino circuit.
Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas. Photo: Bex Walton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Morning & afternoon
Day trips or a relaxing day in Cusco
For the final day of your trip, you have some choices. If you’re tired after 6 very busy days, relax in Cusco and enjoy a day leisurely wandering around.
If you’re looking for some adrenaline, go white water rafting (or mountain biking, or hiking, or… lots of options!).
And if you want to enjoy some lesser-visited historical sites, consider taking a day trip out to the southeastern end of the Sacred Valley, following what is often called the “Ruta del Barroco Andino”.
You’ll probably notice that I didn’t include Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake. Both of those day trips involve getting up at 4:30 am and spending many hours in the car. Rainbow I think is a bit of a tourist trap, but in the case of both, I just don’t think they make sense after an already very busy week. You’ve already seen a lot of splendid scenery, so I would take it easy.
Urubamba rafting
A thrilling day trip from Cusco is to some stretches of rapids on the upper Río Urubamba river, to the south of the city. The Chuquicahuana section is the toughest with Class III to V rapids, while closest to Cuzco is the lovely Pampa to Huambutio section, a great introduction to family rafting.
Whichever section you choose, you’ll see quiet, idyllic Andean countryside as you go. Rafting the Chuquicahuana section, recommended for adventurous paddlers, is a full day excursion.
Ruta del Barrocco Andino
You could also explore a different part of the Cusco region by touring Ruta del Barroco Andino, combining several compelling religious sights southeast of Cuzco, and travel in-between.
These include the magnificent churches in Huaro, Canincunca and in Andahuaylillas – the latter known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of South America.’ All three occupy beautiful settings, especially the pretty lakeside chapel in Canincunca.
In addition to these chapels, the area is also home to some excellent Inca ruins, including the well-preserved site of Tipón.
Enjoy a rest day in Cusco
Cusco has plenty of sights, loads of pleasant cafes and restaurants, countless massage parlors, schools offering culinary experiences like chocolate making and cooking classes, and lots more. If you’re feeling tired after 6 busy days, take a relax day in Cusco and just enjoy this wonderful city.
I’d start the morning at a cozy cafe in San Blas or having a killer breakfast at somewhere like Jacks. After, I’d visit any major sites you didn’t make it to on your first day and then head for a massage.
After, enjoy a great lunch of Andean fare and some people watching in the Plaza de Armas or Plaza Regocijo. Do a little shopping, have a beer, take a cooking class, or hop a cab up to the San Cristobal church for some great views.
You’ll also find lots of good spas and massage parlors in Cusco, so maybe pamper yourself and get a great massage!
Evening
Dinner and drinks in Cusco
For your last night out in Cusco, you could try modern Peruvian-international food at the central Museo del Pisco, where you can also sample myriad versions of Peru’s famous grape brandy.
But perhaps the best option for the last night out of your trip is to return to Limbus, located high above Plaza San Blas, for great drinks and beautiful panoramas of Cusco. Round things off with some live rock or salsa music at Ukuku’s, near the Plaza de Armas.
Be sure to toast your trip: you’ve covered many of Peru’s most iconic sites – and in just one week!
Things to know when planning your itinerary
Before looking at my suggested itinerary, I want to cover some of the basic questions I imagine you have. So, I’ve given quick answers below to the main things I think you should consider as you start planning your trip. I get into the day-by-day plan for my one week itinerary after.
For more detailed information on all these topics, have a look at our Peru travel guide.
Is a week enough time for a trip to Peru?
I do need to address this obvious question. And the honest answer is no. With one week you can still plan a good trip and have a great visit, but it is not remotely enough time to actually see Peru.
Peru is huge (more than twice the size of France) and the cities, archaeological sites, natural areas, and major tourist attractions are spread all throughout the country. Distances between places are vast, flight connections are limited, and many destinations require time-consuming overland travel.
You cannot come close to visiting even a small sampling of Peru’s treasures in 7 days and to even attempt a countrywide trip to Peru, you would need at least 3 weeks.
That said, a week lets you see some pretty places and get a taste for the country. It’s not enough time and it will leave you wanting more, but it’s still a nice introduction.
When to visit
Dry season in the Andes runs from May to November and peak tourist season in Peru coincides with this period, with the busiest time being June to August when North Americans and Europeans have summer holidays. Although technically winter in South America, temperatures don’t change much up in the Andes so the weather is good and it’s also the driest time of year.
If you want to avoid crowds and are ok with the potential for occasional rainy days, you can look at April or November. While technically part of rainy season, heavy rains don’t generally start until the end of November and have mostly cleared up by mid-April.
For me, the best months to visit Peru are May, September, and October, which represent shoulder seasons. They’re less busy and less expensive than the peak months, but still with good weather and relatively little threat of rain. Days are warm and sunny while nights are refreshingly crisp and chilly.
For more advice, see our guide to visiting Peru in every season.
Where to go with one week
With only a week, your options are pretty limited.
Assuming this is your first trip to Peru, any 7-day trip you should focus entirely on Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley (which is what this itinerary does). You cannot reasonably do more than that.
With one week, you can spend a day or two in Lima to see the main sights and eat some great food, enjoy a couple leisurely days in Cusco, and and then spend 3-4 days exploring the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
I like Lima, but I acknowledge that it is skippable for many time-constricted visitors. If you’re not interested in big cities, don’t care much about eating some of the best food in Latin America, or just want to get straight into the mountains, jungle, desert, etc. then you can scratch it off your list without feeling like you're missing too much.
That said, because you will almost certainly arrive and depart from the city, I still usually recommend a day or two either at the start or end of your trip. It makes sense logistically and Lima really is worth visiting.
Cusco and its immediate surroundings are worth at least 2-3 days of your time. You’ll want one entire day to get used to the altitude and just enjoy hanging around this atmospheric mountain town. With another day, you can see more of the city, visit nearby sites like Sacsayhuaman, prepare for treks and excursions, or day trip to iconic sights like Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake.
For the Sacred Valley, you need a full day at the bare minimum, and you’d be much better off with 2-3 days. Pisac and Ollantaytambo are the towns most people visit, but you have many more that are equally (or more) charming, and loads of great archaeological sites (like Maras and Moray), excellent hikes, bike rides, and cultural experiences. I highly recommend giving the area the time it deserves rather than just rushing through it.
Machu Picchu is a full-day visit no matter how you do it. Because of the distance and time to get to the site from Cusco, Ollantaytambo, or Aguascalientes, you cannot expect to do anything other than visit the archaeological site on that day. It can be done as a day trip from Cusco, but I would strongly advise against it.
Keep in mind that if you intend to do any of the Inca trail/Lares/Salkantay treks, they all take 4-5 days. There is also a heavily shortened 1-day Inca trail hike that can be booked.
Now let me add a quick caveat that with 7 days you could cut out Lima altogether and tack on a visit to the Amazon or Arequipa.
You’d need to book flights that line up well, but because you have direct flights from Lima to Arequipa and the Amazonian city of Puerto Maldonado, and direct flights from both of them to Cusco, you can do it. You would be rushed in the Cusco area, and wouldn’t be able to see any of Lima, but it’s doable.
I explain how to do that in the section at the bottom of this article titled “More one week itineraries”.
Can you do the Inca trail hike on a one week trip?
I don’t recommend hiking the Inca trail with only a week. Yes, it’s doable, but you just don’t have the time for it. The hike is 4-day experience, which means you’d be left with just 3 days to do anything else during your visit. You also will have very little time to acclimatize to the high altitude beforehand.
If you choose to do it, I recommend skipping Lima altogether and arriving direct to Cusco. You could spend the first day of your trip in Cusco and then another day in the Sacred Valley acclimatizing before the hike. After 4 days hiking, you’d have one final day back in Cusco.
I think a better option for those with only one week is to do the shortened “1-day Inca Trail hike”. This is a shortened 12 km hike to Machu Picchu that puts you on a piece of the same trail used by the 4-day hike, so you still get some of the experience.
How to get around
A first-time one week trip really only focuses on Lima and the Cusco area, so you don’t have to travel around very much.
You’ll only have two flights (Lima to Cusco and back), a couple of bus rides or private transfers, and then a train up to Machu Picchu.
To see the Sacred Valley you’ll need to either join an organized tour or hire a private driver (which is relatively affordable). It’s also entirely possible to visit using public transport in the form of shared combis and colectivos, but not if you only have a day or two.
You could also rent your own car, but I do not recommend it, especially if it would be your first time driving in Latin America.
The journey to Machu Picchu is usually done via train from the town of Ollantaytambo, but can also be done direct from Cusco. The train is the easiest and by far best option. It is comfortable, fast, and provides wonderful views. The only downside is that it is a bit expensive. While you can do the same journey by bus, I never recommend it unless you are on a very tight budget.
Is Lima worth visiting?
This question gets asked constantly and the answer is usually a definitive “no!” or an occasional “absolutely!”. A good answer is more complicated and depends on your interests and why you’re coming to Peru.
Lima is Peru’s capital, its biggest city, and one of the largest metropolises in the Americas. It’s also a cultural melting pot with residents hailing from all of Peru’s regions and ethnic groups as well as the descendants of immigrants from Japan, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and many other places. Its food is the best of anywhere in the country (and anywhere in South America in my opinion), it has a small, but grand colonial center, lovely coastal suburbs, and a few great museums.
If you want to understand Peru, love to eat, or like cities, you should visit for a day or two.
It’s also a somewhat ugly, chaotic, overcrowded, and modern city with relatively few traditional tourist sights. It does not appeal to everyone.
If the goal for your visit is to enjoy things like nature, archaeology, colonial architecture, and indigenous culture, you can skip Lima without feeling much regret.
More 7-day itinerary ideas
Previously I said that a 7-day itinerary should just cover Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley. I think that’s good advice and I would recommend that you follow it. But… you do have some other workable options.
With 7 days, you could visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and the Amazon or Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Arequipa/Colca Canyon.
To do this, you’d need to cut Lima out of your itinerary altogether, merely using the city as a layover point for flights into and out of the country. Because this is the only city in Peru with international flights from Europe and North America, you do have to at least pass through it, however.
Both itineraries would be rushed and you’d need to line up your flights perfectly, but they’re perfectly doable. You have direct flights between all the cities I’ve mentioned, meaning that you won’t lose time with layovers.
Below is a quick summary of each potential itinerary.
Cusco, Sacred Valley, and the Amazon
Day 1 - Lima to Puerto Maldonado (and into the Amazon)
Arrive to Lima and transfer to a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Get a ride down to the port and take a 1.5-2 hour boat ride to your lodge (your lodge will arrange this). If you arrive too late in the evening, spend the night in Puerto Maldonado and hop a morning boat to your lodge the following day., either spend the night in Puerto Maldonado or
Day 2 - Amazon jungle exploration on foot
Spend the day walking and wild-life spotting in the jungle. With just two days, you can’t go deep into the jungle, so temper your expectations a bit for just how much wildlife you’ll see.
Day 3 - Amazon jungle exploration by boat
Take a boat trip down the Madre de Dios river or deeper into the Tambopata reserve. Your lodge will have different options for 2-day trips.
Day 4 - Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, free time in the city
Early morning boat ride back to Puerto Maldonado. Catch a direct flight to Cusco. Enjoy the afternoon in Cusco, taking things slowly and getting used to the altitude. If you have the legs for it, visit the Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, Cathedral, and San Blas neighborhood.
Day 5 - Sacred Valley
Visit the Sacred Valley, stopping first at Sacsayhuaman, then the salt pans of Maras, and finally the agricultural terraces of Moray. You’ll need to either hire a guide for this or arrange full-day transport with a taxi or transfer driver (which won’t cost you very much). Spend the night in the pretty mountain town of Ollataytambo.
Day 6 - Machu Picchu
Catch one of the first Vistadome trains from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. From here, take the bus up to Machu Picchu and visit the site. Arrange a guide in advance or join one of the many small groups that will be forming by the entrance.
After touring Machu Picchu, have a late lunch/early dinner in Aguascalientes and then catch the train back down to Ollantaytambo. Spend another night in Ollantaytambo (or arrange a transfer back to Cusco if you want to spend your last day there).
Day 7 - Options: more Sacred Valley, Cusco relax day, or day trips
For today you have two options: you can either enjoy another day in the Sacred Valley or, if you took the transfer back to Cusco last night, spend your final day in Cusco.
If you opt to spend the day in the Sacred Valley (which is what I’d do), you’ll want to visit Ollantaytambo’s archaeological site in the morning when there’s no one else around. Then, make your way to the town of Pisac, grabbing a quick lunch in the center before exploring the wonderful archaelogical site there.
End the day in Cusco by the early evening, with time for a wander and a great meal.
If you opt to spend the day in Cusco, I’d suggest taking it easy and enjoying the day leisurely (as I described in “Day 7” of the main itinerary above this). You could of course also take a day trip, but that’s an awful lot of action for just 7 days.
Cusco, Sacred Valley, Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Day 1 - Lima to Arequipa
Arrive to Lima and immediately transfer to an onward flight to Arequipa. Once in town, go for a walk in the lovely center, taking things slow and seeing how you go with the altitude.
Try to make it over to the Yanahuara Viewpoint while the sun is still up. Here, enjoy the view of the El Misti Volcano and try some of the tasty local “queso helado” ice cream always sold in the square.
Day 2 - Arequipa’s iconic sights
Spend a full day enjoying Arequipa. In the morning visit the gorgeous Santa Catalina monastery, giving yourself a couple of hours to really soak it in. Next, see the famous mummy of Juanita in the Museo Santuarios Andinos and learn a bit about the regions’ history and pre-Columbian civilizations.
Before lunch, stroll through the Plaza de Armas and marvel at the city’s white stone Cathedral glistening in the sun. For lunch, have a meal at a picantería, a traditional (and almost always family-run) lunch restaurant. I like La Capitana, but you also have Prana and countless others.
Spend the rest of the afternoon just soaking up the city and its unique atmosphere; part desert city, part frontier town, and always distinctly different from places like Cusco and Lima.
Day 3 - Colca Canyon
Take a full day excursion to Colca Canyon. Prepare for some light hiking, lots of great views, and - if you’re lucky - more than a few condors soaring overhead. You could stay the night in the town of Chivay or, if you don’t want to risk it with a flight tomorrow, make it a very long (but very good) round-trip day trip.
Day 4 - Arequipa to Cusco, free afternoon in Cusco
Hop a direct flight to Cusco and spend the afternoon enjoying the city. Prepare yourself for a 1,000 meter jump in altitude. You might think that 2,300 meters has prepared you, but it hits different!
Day 5 - Sacred Valley
Enjoy a full day exploring the Sacred Valley, focusing on Pisac and Ollantaytambo. See days 3-6 from the above itinerary for more ideas on what to do. Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 6 - Machu Picchu
Explore Machu Picchu! Either do it as a the 1-day Inca Trail hike or with a combination of bus and train.
Day 7 - Options: more Sacred Valley, leisure day in Cusco, rafting or mountain biking
Free day - as I mentioned in the above itinerary, you could spend the day exploring Sacred Valley sites you missed on day 5, enjoying a leisurely day in Cusco, or doing something adventurous like rafting on the Urubamba river or mountain biking the Sacred Valley’s fantastic single track trails.
More Peru travel info
For more advice on planning your trip to Peru, have a look at some of our other guides and itineraries!
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Nicholas Cino
Peru Expert based in Lima
¡Hola y buenos días! 👋
I'm Nicho, and I've been a travel consultant here in Peru for the last 20 years. If you're looking for some local advice on your trip, I'd love to help!
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