How long to spend in Peru?

3-4 days in Peru

The minimum amount of time will probably be 3 to 4 days in Peru. This will be enough time to visit Cusco, The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, which are some of the most popular destinations in the country. Please bear in mind that acclimatization is a serious issue. Cusco is at high elevation (3400m/10, 000 ft) and many people suffer from altitude sickness on arrival.  If you are planning a flying visit then you should bear this in mind!

 

3 Women in Traditional Dress in Cusco

 

A suggested itinerary would look something like the following:

Day 1

Arrival to Cusco early. Rest in the morning and acclimatize. Ask your Dr about altitude medication (Diamox), get rest, drink coca tea, avoid coffee, eat light meals, and drink plenty of water. This will all help with acclimatization.

In the afternoon enjoy a city tour. Cusco is a small city and you can walk around quite easily. Visit impressive sites such as The Koricacancha - The Inca temple of The Sun; The Plaza de Amas with its uniquely fascinating historical buildings; the San Blas neighborhood - a bohemian artsy neighborhood, characterized by its narrow cobblestone streets; some of the many museums - there is a selection included on the tourist ticket (Boleto Turistica); and San Pedro Market - for true insight in the Andean way of life.

If you are not feeling at your best, yet, don´t worry! There will be some time on the final day to visit anywhere you missed while you were acclimatizing!

 

Day 2

Head out to explore the Sacred Valley.  The Sacred Valley is a beautiful region, approximately one hour's drive from Cusco. Peru's Sacred Valley is also the gateway to Machu Picchu. Explore the stunning archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero, which are also included on your tourist ticket. Visit colorful traditional markets and local Andean communities, who live as they have done so for centuries, dating back to Inca times. This naturally fertile valley is slightly lower in elevation than Cusco, which can help alleviate any altitude symptoms if they are still lingering!  

Ollantaytambo is the gateway for many people, to take the train to Machu Picchu! In the afternoon take the scenic 1-and-a-half-hour train trip to Aguas Calientes enjoying spectacular views of the valley around you. Then spend the evening in Aguas Calientes in preparation for your Machu Picchu tour, the following day. This tourist town caters for travelers to Machu Picchu with a large handicraft market, plenty of restaurants, and even some delightful hot springs to relax in, after which this small town is named.

 

The Stunning Ollantaytambo

 

Day 3

Machu Picchu is one of the most extraordinary places to visit on the planet. This Inca citadel in the clouds was an estate of the Inca emperors and is unquestionably a must-visit for every traveler to Peru. It’ll have you gasping with awe at every turn due to its remarkable location in the mountains. The site itself is a masterpiece of Inca ingenuity with awe-inspiring temples and vast terraces, built by the Incas all those years ago.   The Peruvian Ministry of Culture requires all travelers to get an official entrance ticket to visit Machu Picchu. It’s the latest in a long line of efforts to manage the booming visitor numbers at the site. Crowds are limited to 2,500 people each day and tickets should be booked well in advance if you want to secure your preferred circuit, at your chosen entry time.  This evening, you will take the train back to The Sacred Valley to spend the evening in Cusco.

 

Day 4

This is your final day in Cusco. You can head out to the local ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Tambomachay, and Puka Pukara or visit any of the signature sights in the city that you may have missed the first day. It is also an excellent opportunity to purchase any souvenirs or gifts, as Cusco has the widest variety of traditional Peruvian items at the best prices!   Or, you may just want to kick back and relax , enjoying a spa treatment, or some world-class local cuisine in one of the many excellent eateries or even take a local cooking class to learn traditional Peruvian dishes, to delight your friends and family back home!

 

Machu Picchu

 

5-7 days in Peru

When figuring out how many days to spend in Peru, considering a week might be more advantageous than a long weekend. An itinerary consisting of 5-7 days in Peru. With a full week to spend in Peru, You can also experience the fascinating capital of Lima which is where you will more than likely arrive to. Here you can experience the colonial history of the country as well as sample some of the best cuisine in the world!  Next, head straight to Cusco as soon as you have explored the capital Lima, and rest on your first day at high altitude. you can take it easy the first couple of days while you acclimate and explore the wonderful colorful streets of the Inca capital!

 

Lima Historical Center

 

Your itinerary would look something like the above itinerary but a lot less- rushed and with the added bonus of the capital:

 

Day 1 

Arrival to Lima. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Peru´s capital. Visit the historical center with its colonial buildings, and impressive museums. Visit the catacombs of The San Francisco Church for an underground adventure or head to the Water and Lights Show at The Parque de La Reserva for a refreshing summer evening.  Lima also has an incredible gastronomical scene with 2 restaurants making the world's top 10 restaurants! Sample the many dishes of the Comida Criolla (lLomo saltado, Aji de Gallina, Seco de Res, and of course Peru´s national dish - Ceviche!) Head to Miraflores and try some hang gliding or surfing on this endless coastline if you are looking for something more active.

 

Day 2- 5

As Above

Follow the same itinerary as above and explore a little more in-depth the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu! There are places that you may miss if you only have 1 day there, including Maras and Moray in The Sacred Valley, an extra visit on a different circuit inside Machu Picchu especially if you want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain!

 

Acclimatize before activity

 

10 days in Peru

A 10-day itinerary will allow you to visit a number of regions in Peru. Include Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu for the first part of the trip, we can then include a trip to Puno and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the entire world. Take an extra day to fully explore the Uros floating islands and the islands of Taquile and Amanani.

 

A Sample itinerary would see you take in the sights already mentioned (see above). You would also add on the fascinating destination of Lake Titicaca!  The highest navigable lake in the world sits on the border between Peru and Bolivia and will literally take your breath away, not just due to the high elevation! Spend enough time in this part of South America and you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular views during your Peru trip. Blessed with a rich, unique culture and lots of interesting traditions the islands on Lake Titicaca are varied and as fascinating as their people.

A 10 day trip is the best option if you decide to trek in Peru. You can include the world-famous Inca Trail (4 days) or even The Salkantay Trek (5 days) and still see the sights as mentioned above.

 

Cusco streets

 

2 weeks in Peru

If you have 14 days to spend in Peru you will have enough time to visit the 2 geographical regions of Peru including the coast and the highlands. You can travel south of Lima to visit the Nazca lines and Paracas before heading to Arequipa and the magnificent Colca Canyon.  Arequipa is famous for buildings and churches constructed from the white volcanic ash from Arequipa’s volcanos, called "sillar". The city’s historic plaza is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Colca Canyon is the best way to see traditional Andean life and the magnificent giant Andean Condor in its natural habitat. Then fly from Arequipa to Cusco, to visit Cusco the Sacred Valley, and of course, Machu Picchu. Then head south and visit Lake Titicaca in Puno.

 

Longer

If you have a longer period of time in Peru, try and do a 3 week tour. This tour will allow you to visit the 3 geographical regions of Peru, the coast, the highlands, and the jungle region.
Three weeks will allow a visit to the Amazon basin and Tambopata reserve for excellent wildlife opportunities.  Whether you take an Amazon cruise or prefer a luxury eco-lodge in The Amazon basin, you can explore this mega-diverse region of Peru. Forty thousand plant species, 1,300 birds, 427 mammals, 378 reptiles, over 400 amphibian species, and around 3,000 varieties of freshwater fish are known to inhabit this natural paradise. The other popular option with a longer itinerary is to do a multi-day trek, as mentioned above.  Remember that multi-day treks will need a few days of acclimatization at least as well as a decent level of fitness.

 

Tambopata Nature reserve

In Conclusion

If you wanted to see all of Peru in a single visit, then you might need at least a couple of months of full-on traveling. There is a lot to see and many places to visit that are not even mentioned in this article. In the center of the country, the Cordillera Blanca also offers some amazing treks and activities for hikers. The northern beaches near Tumbes offer pristine, untouched coastlines where you might not even see another person. So, when trying to work out how long to spend in Peru, try to first think of the destinations you definitely want to see.  You might need more time than you thought in some cases while in others you might only need 4-5 days. The great thing is that there is always an excuse to come back to this remarkable country on another occasion!

 

Sacred Valley