Peru in 10 Days
The mistake on a first Peru trip is flying into Cusco and hiking the next morning. This plan sleeps low in the Sacred Valley first, so you reach Machu Picchu acclimatised instead of dizzy.
10
Days
£70–£120 / $90–$150 per person per day
Per day
May–September (dry season); shoulder April and October are quieter
Best time
11
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Lima
Morning · Land, taxi to Miraflores or Barranco
Afternoon · Malecón clifftop walk, Parque Kennedy
Evening · Ceviche dinner and an early night
Lima properly
Morning · Centro Histórico and the San Francisco catacombs
Afternoon · Larco Museum, then Barranco's street art
Evening · Pisco sour at a bar with a view
Fly to the Sacred Valley
Morning · Early flight to Cusco, transfer straight down to Urubamba
Afternoon · Rest, coca tea, do nothing at 2,800m
Evening · Light dinner — altitude ruins big meals
Pisac and Maras
Morning · Pisac ruins before the tour buses arrive
Afternoon · Maras salt pans and the Moray terraces
Evening · Back to Urubamba
Ollantaytambo
Morning · Climb the fortress terraces
Afternoon · Wander the Inca street grid, the only one still lived in
Evening · Early train to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Morning · First bus up, Circuit 2 with a guide
Afternoon · Huayna Picchu or Mountain ticket if you booked one
Evening · Train and transfer back to Cusco
Cusco
Morning · Qorikancha and the cathedral
Afternoon · San Blas galleries and San Pedro market
Evening · Plaza de Armas at dusk
Rainbow Mountain or Humantay
Morning · Pre-dawn pickup for the trailhead
Afternoon · Hike and return — this is the hardest day, at 5,000m
Evening · Nothing. Eat, sleep
Slow Cusco
Morning · Sacsayhuamán walk from town
Afternoon · Chocolate museum, textile co-op, souvenir run
Evening · Last Andean dinner
Home
Morning · Flight to Lima
Afternoon · Connect internationally — leave 4 hours in Lima
Evening · —
Local tips that save you money
- Machu Picchu entry is capped and sold by circuit and time slot — book 2–3 months out for high season.
- Altitude: land in Cusco, leave Cusco. Sleep the first two nights at 2,800m in the valley, not 3,400m in the city.
- Carry cash in small soles notes for markets, colectivos and toilets.
Peru: common questions
How many days do you need in Peru?+
This plan covers 10 days, which is the sweet spot for Peru without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit Peru?+
May–September (dry season); shoulder April and October are quieter. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to Peru cost?+
Budget roughly £70–£120 / $90–$150 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in Peru?+
One internal flight Lima–Cusco, then colectivos and private transfers in the Sacred Valley. The train to Aguas Calientes must be booked in advance — there is no road.
