Peru is arguably the most vibrant country I’ve visited in South America so far. The friendly people, rich history, delicious and varied food are among the few things that have captured my heart.
From the desert coast of Lima to the stunning Peruvian Andes, 10 days isn’t quite enough to see all of Peru but it should give you a good taste of it. My 10 day Peru itinerary is more focused on hiking and the Peruvian Andes, but I’ll also add some alternative options below that are popular alternatives.
(You can skip to the 7 day itinerary as well if 10 days is too long).
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions on Peru Itinerary
Is 10 days enough in Peru?
No – you definitely have to pick and choose between regions and what you want to do. The two absolute must see cities are Cusco and Lima, and if you go to Cusco it doesn’t make sense if you don’t see Machu Picchu as well.
We decided that hiking in the Peruvian Andes is our other main objective, and that’s pretty much 10 days for us. But there is so much more to see in Peru!
How many days are needed for Peru?
Ideally, I think you need to spend 2 weeks to a month to travel through Peru and immerse yourself. I’d say 7 days is a minimum and 10 days is a good start, but of course, it depends on how much time you have.
What is the best itinerary for Peru?
The best itinerary for Peru is the one that best suits your interests and dates. This itinerary was made based on the fact that we only have limited time in Peru (and South America) but we want to see Lima, Cusco, and do a proper hike to Machu Picchu!
Essential Information for travelling in Peru
Languages in Peru
Spanish
84% of the population speaks Spanish and while you can get by with English in touristy areas, it’s important to learn a few words and have your translation app ready.
According to my Spanish friend, the accent is different across South America and Peruvians have a pleasant accent.
Quechua
Quechua, the OG language of the Inca Empire, is still spoken by 13% of Peruvians, especially around Cusco. Most of our guides and porters for our Salkantay Trek speak Quechua to each one!
Aymara
Aymara is spoken by 1.7% of Peruvians and is an ethnic group that lives in the south as you can also find them in Bolivia which is across the border. If you travel to Lake Titicaca, you’ll likely hear some Aymara.
Currency in Peru
The currency for Peru is the nuevo sol or S/.
You’ll usually get it in 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 notes and the exchange rate is around 1 S/ = 0.26 USD = 2.06 HKD.
Exchanging Money in Peru
It’s best to bring USD in cash to exchange money in Peru. In Lima, you’ll find more bank ATMs to withdraw money, but the likelihood of finding a fee-free ATMs get slimmer as you travel to other cities.
The exchange rate for sol is quite stable and we found it best to exchange money at the Casas de Cambio at Tourism Information Centers.
Cash or Card in Peru
When we were in Lima it was much easier to pay by card compared to when we were at Cusco. You’ll definitely need cash for souvenir, and street food, and some smaller restaurants.
Sim Cards in Peru
If you land in Lima – I cover buying Sim cards in Lima here. It’s cheapest to go directly to the telecom company but it would be a bit more time consuming, so it might be worth it to purchase E-Sims for the arrival day.
Note: if you are going to be hiking or in the Amazon, you won’t be able to get good signal.
If you go to multiple country and just want to make sure you have internet to fall back on, a regional e-sim is a good idea.
Altitude Sickness in Peru
If you are heading to Cusco, especially if you are flying in from sea level, chances are you will be affected by altitude sickness.
10 day Peru itinerary
The 10 day itinerary to Peru is focused on seeing the two largest cities in the country and hiking to Machu Picchu. This can easily be swapped into a shorter itinerary if you pick a shorter hike.
Day 1: Arrival in Lima + Miraflores roam
Welcome to the capital of Peru and the second largest city in South America. Some hot tips for your transport from the airport:
- Uber is available in Lima, and you can use the airport WiFi to connect (or better yet, an E-sim)
- Don’t book your Uber too early as there’s limited time for picking up
- Get Transfer offers pretty good price car pick up if you prefer to save some hassle
- You can also opt for hotel pick up but they are likely to be more expensive but definitely more hasslefree
Miraflores
Most people stay at Miraflores on their trip to Lima and it’s for a good reason. The vibrant neighbourhood is less than 1 hour from the airport with many street art, great eateries, and a beautiful promenade.
We stayed at a hotel that is an easy walking distance to the sea and watched the beautiful sunset before heading off to dinner at Cosme Restaurant y Bar.
Where to stay in Miraflores
Mid-range: Casa Andina Standard Benavides is in the center of Miraflores and a perfect budget choice. They have a good buffet breakfast, friendly staff, and comfortable rooms.
Best Western Plus Urban Larco Hotel is on one of the main streets in Miraflores and a good choice for those who like to be in the center of action. It is a smaller hotel so expect it to be a bit crowded during busy hours.
Splurge: Hilton Lima Miraflores is a modern hotel with well equipped rooms close to the sea front of Miraflores. There is also gym and an outdoor pool
JW Marriot Hotel Lima is right by the cliff front overlooking the sea with an amazing view and spacious rooms. It’s across the road from the larcomar mall.
Day 2: Food tour in Lima + historic center/Larco Museum
Today is the day to take up as much of Lima’s essence as possible, and that’s through two things: food and history!
Lima Tasty Tours
An absolute must for food lovers, we took part in Just For Foodies tour by Lima Tasty Tours and everyone in the group could not stop talking about it for the rest of the trip.
We not only got to try some of the most classic dishes in Peruvian cuisine, but also many of the local exotic fruits. Our guide also taught us a lot about the history of Lima and Peru in relation to food. More on the entire experience here.
Historic Center/Larco Museum
The afternoon is all about history. If you are fast, it’s possible to do both in the afternoon. But traffic can be bad, so it’s best to choose one and do the other if you still have time.
The historic center of Lima is like an open air museum with monuments, squares, and churches to visit. Some of the top places to visit are:
- Plaza de Armas – The historical heart of Lima, surrounded by the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Government Palace
- Cathedral de Lima – A stunning church occupying the plot designated by Pizarro, featuring various architectural styles
- Convento de San Francisco – Known for its beautiful architecture and eerie underground catacombs (the only one we got tickets to see)
Larco Museum is about 30 minute taxi ride from the historic center and one of the most beautiful museums I have been to. It is one of the best places to learn about Peruvian history with well-organised artefacts and pieces placed chronologically.
They also have a beautiful museum restaurant and an erotic pottery exhibition next to it that’s free to visit.
Note: if you have more time, I’ll spend an extra day in Lima – you can check my full Lima itinerary here along with more dining recommendations.
Day 3: Lima to Cusco
Flight from Lima to Cusco
We flew the next morning from Lima to Cusco, which is the fastest way to travel between the cities with numerous flights a day.
A quick warning that flying from 0 to 3000m+ above sea level can result in altitude sickness!
An alternative to flying would be taking the bus or tours like Peru hop to make your way up while sight-seeing. But you need to budget around 3-4 days for the whole process.
Cusco
Cusco was the heart of the Inca Empire and re-structured under Spanish rules to become one of the most vibrant towns that see hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Think uneven, stone-paved pavements, alleyways, bricks, churches, and colonial buildings surrounded by mountains and you’ll have Cusco. It is one of the oldest living cities in the Americas and if I had more time, I’d definitely spend it here, too.
After we settled into our hotel, we took a walk around Cusco city center to soak in the atmosphere and the vibe.
Cicciolina Restaurant dinner
Cicciolina is one of the top restaurants in Cusco and for a good reason. The Italian and Peruvian fusion eatery is not one of the most attentive restaurants I’ve been to, the price tag is also not bad.
They gave us bread baskets and the four of us shared 1 starter, 2 mains, and a dessert. The starter was their special of the day, a quail egg scallop bite.
For the main dishes, we ordered the chicken with polenta and Peruvian yellow potato gnocchi. Our favourite was the Lucuma and chocolate mousse. The price came to about 100 soles per person.

Address: C. Palacio 110, Cusco 08002, Peru
Opening times: 12:30 – 21:30
Where to stay in Cusco
Mid-range: Union Hotel Cusco has a homey B&B style with the best breakfast spread and Kiki the alpaca as resident. It’s about a 7 minute walk from the main square on cobble-stone street.
One thing I’d say is that they have free airport pick up but not only forgot us but made us pay for the taxi. The rooms are also on the darker side.
If you want to stick to Casa Andina (yes, it’s a chain!), the Casa Andina Standard Cusco Catedral is even closer to the main square and surprisingly modern inside.
Xima Hotel is where we stayed for a night after the hike and it’s a bigger scale hotel about 10 minutes from the main square on the main road. It’s a bit dated but has an old school charm to it and a big buffet breakfast.
Day 4: Cusco Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuaman – which sounds like sexy woman, is an Inca ruin on the higher slopes of Cusco. A lot of people would hike up there from the city center as an acclimatisation hike.
We encountered a friendly local on the way up and our Spanish friend strike up a conversation with him and we ended up going horse riding to see a few free ruins instead for 50 soles.
Given that the Sacsayhuaman entrance ticket is 50 soles, it’s more or less the same.
If you are interested in horse riding tours, here are a few I found online:
- 3 hour horse riding with a family ranch
- A more off-the-beaten path horse riding trail
Mistura Grill Cusco
We had a hearty lunch at Mistura Grill Cusco which has window seats overlooking Cusco’s main square. The portion was huge and the food was decent.

Unless you normally eat larger portions I recommend you split one order between two.
Address: Portal de Panes 137, Cusco 08002, Peru
Opening times: 10:30 – 23:30
Relaxing Time Massage
As we flew in from Lima to Cusco, 3 out of 4 of us got altitude sickness so we went to get a massage to feel better.
I tried the Inca Massage and it was pretty good, but doesn’t seem too different to the cheaper deep tissue!
Briefing for Salkantay Trek
There is a briefing for the Salkantay Trek at the Alpaca Expeditions main office. Almost all multi-day hikes except for the 2D1N Machu Picchu trip would require briefing the day before departure! So many sure to account the time for that.
Organika Restaurant
Another amazing restaurant in Cusco, Organika serves – you guessed it – organic food. The food is delicious and they not only have traditional Peruvian food on the menu but also pizza and pasta!
We got the alpaca fillet because it’s their signature, and it’s actually so delicious. We also got a pizza and their carrot cake (served in little bites). Everything was super yum.
Address: Ataud 154, Cusco 08000, Peru
Opening times: 11:00 – 22:00
Day 5: Cusco + start of Salkantay Trek
We spent most of the morning packing for our hike and had a huge breakfast at our hotel. Since we had an earlier departure, we decided that it was better to eat a big breakfast than hurrying to eat lunch.
We mostly wanted to just roam around the city but we did find a gem:
ChocoMuseo aka Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum is a free-to-visit chocolate shop with exhibitions for you to learn about cacao fruit. It’s also a great place to buy some chocolate as souvenir and or as fuel for the hike.
They also run workshops and tours as well if you have more time.
Address: Plaza Regocijo, Cusco 08000, Peru
Opening times: 9:00 – 20:00
Salkantay Trek Start!
Day 6 – 10 Salkantay Trek + Machu Picchu
For the most important part of our trip: the Salkantay Trek and Machu Picchu, we decided to go with Alpaca Expeditions. You can see the full review and what the hike is like in my Salkantay Trek blog post.
The two most important factors to deciding whether you want to go on this hike for your trips are:
- Is it dry season? The rain and mud can make the experience very unpleasant. We went at the end of the wet season and the pouring rain on day 1 made it quite grueling.
- Are you sensitive or badly affected by high altitude? Because that can also make your hike difficult and less enjoyable.
7 day Peru itinerary
If you only have a week, the best option is to shorten the trek to a 2D1N Machu Picchu hike instead, and have one less day in Cusco.
You might still get affected by altitude sickness, but since the 2D1N trip is not physically demanding, it should be ok with altitude sickness pills.
Day 1-3 Lima
The same as above!
Day 4 Cusco
If you only have one afternoon in Cusco, I recommend just walking around the city center (around the square), and eating at either Cicciolina or Organika Restaurant.
Day 5-7 2D1N Machu Picchu Hike/train trip
There are quite a few options for Machu Picchu 2D1N trip, depending on the level of activeness you want to go for:
- 2D1N hike on the Inca Trail which starts at 4 am on day 1 passing the Sun Gate, but overnighting at a hotel in Aguas Caliente before Machu Picchu the next morning.
- If you are on a budget, this 2-day trip also includes some hiking with van transfer only to see Machu Picchu
- Instead of hiking, you’ll see the Sacred Valley on day 1 and then Machu Picchu on day 2 on this 2 day trip from Cusco
Day Trip to Machu Picchu
There are also day trips option to Machu Picchu but be prepared that it would be a very long day of travel! But if your time is short then this would be a good option:
- This 1 day trip will get you to Machu Picchu via bus and train
- If you don’t want to wake up too early and don’t mind arriving back to Cusco late, this 1 day trip takes you to Machu Picchu in the afternoon
Other options for Peru itinerary
If you are a none-hiker who stumbled across this itinerary, or if you just want to see more options, here are some places that I would have liked to see if I had time:
Starting from northwest to southeast:
Amazon Rainforest
While Peru is most famous for the Peruvian Andes, it is also home to a significant part of the Amazon Rainforest. Only 5% of the population lives here, but it is also home to many floral and fauna. Top sights include Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos, and Manu National Park.
- This 2D1N trip takes you to the confluence with Nanay and Amazon River from Iquitos
- This 3 day tour from Puerto Maldonado is popular and visits Tambopata National Reserve tour with jungle trek as well
Paracas
Paracas is only a few hours south of Lima and is known as the gateway to the Ballestas Islands and the national park of the same name. You can see the abundant sea life around the island and desert meeting the sea.
- You can take a day trip to Paracas and Huacachina from Lima if you have time. There is a luxury bus version and a regular version.
Huacachina
This desert oasis near Ica is perfect for sandboarding and dune buggy rides. But it’s also close to Pisco where you can try the national liquor at a local vineyard.
Nazca Lines
These ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert floor are one of the world’s most intriguing archaeological mysteries.
- You can hit Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca Lines on this 2D1N trip!
Arequipa
Known as the “White City” due to its beautiful colonial architecture made from white volcanic stone, it also boasts the stunning Santa Catalina Monastery.
- You can take this 2D1N trip from Arequipa to Puno via Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, this natural wonder offers breathtaking views and is a great spot for trekking. You might also be able to spot the Condor birds – some of the largest in the world..
Puno and Lake Titicaca
Puno is the gateway to Lake Titicaca and home to many traditional festivals. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, famous for its floating islands made by the Uros people. If you take the overland route from Peru to Bolivia, it is a natural stopping point!
- Don’t forget to take a lake tour from Puno and cruise on the highest lake in the world!