Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley: Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need in Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley?

• Most travelers spend 9-12 days in Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley combined
• Visiting Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley in 7 or 8 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
• With 13 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
• The most common extensions are Puno, Paracas, and Amantani Island

How Many Days to Spend in Lima
How Many Days to Spend at Machu Picchu

Recommended Itineraries for Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

Recommended Itinerary for 9 Days

This 9-day itinerary brings you to Peru's most stunning landscapes. Head to the Inca capital of Cusco to explore the colorful textile markets and small towns of the Sacred Valley and take the short Inca Trail to the famous Machu Picchu ruins. Next, travel east to Puerto Maldonado, your launch point to the lush Amazon. Spend three days viewing wildlife, like the giant river otter, river cayman, and vibrant parrot species, while enjoying a comfortable stay at an eco-lodge. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days

Go from the Sacred Valley to the Amazon with this 10-day itinerary. Explore the markets, small towns, and Inca ruins around Cusco before walking a section of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Then, travel east to Puerto Maldonado, your launch point to the rainforest. Spend multiple days viewing wildlife like the giant river otter and tropical parrots, and spend your nights in the comfort of an eco-lodge. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 12 Days

From Lima to the Amazon, this 12-day itinerary has it all. Take in the sights and flavors of the capital city, then head east to Puerto Maldonado, a jumping-off point for a journey to the rainforest. Spend three days staying at a jungle lodge and seeing wildlife like colorful parrots and giant river otters, then travel to Cusco and the Sacred Valley to learn about Inca history. Finish with hikes to Machu Picchu and vibrant Rainbow Mountain—the perfect way to end this whirlwind trip. Read more

Extended Itineraries

10-Day Itinerary Including Puno

From Cusco to the Amazon rainforest, this grand Peru tour is ideal for adventurous travelers, nature lovers, and history buffs. The highlights are many: explore Indigenous/colonial Cusco, visit the Uros floating islands, and witness the majesty of Machu Picchu. Then travel south to Puerto Maldonado and the Amazon, where you'll stay in a rainforest lodge and embark on nature tours to spot exotic wildlife. Read more

15-Day Itinerary Including Paracas

From Inca ruins to the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands, the 15-day version of this itinerary shows you the many sides of Peru. Experience metropolitan Lima, the incredible Nazca lines, and the Inca capital of Cusco. Walk a section of the Inca Trail, followed by a day at Machu Picchu. Then, make your way to Puerto Maldonado, where you'll spend three days viewing wildlife on jungle excursions while enjoying a comfortable stay at an eco-lodge. Read more

16-Day Itinerary Including Puno & Amantani Island

Experience the best of Peru with this comprehensive tour. Spend three days at an ecolodge in the Amazon rainforest, where you'll view wildlife like the giant river otter and multiple parrot species. Next, travel to Cusco and the Sacred Valley to learn about its ancient ruins and take short treks to Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu. End your trip at Lake Titicaca, immersing in the culture of this region's famous islands. Read more

How to travel between Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

How to get to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu needs little introduction—it's South America's most famous and most visited travel destination. Getting to this complex of Inca ruins, as almost every Peru-bound traveler wishes to do, always involves first traveling to Cusco. Read more

How to get to the Peruvian Amazon
The Amazon jungle, or Peru's Amazon Basin, covers a huge swathe of Peru: almost half of the country's land area, in fact. To get to the Peruvian Amazon, however, there are three key entry points: north, central, and south. Read more

How to get to the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is the name given to the valley of the Río Urubamba and the pretty tradition-rich towns and villages that cling to its sides amidst a clutch of Inca ruins. The valley begins twists and turns beneath steep mountainsides north of Cusco. Cusco is the only real access point to the Sacred Valley because it acts as one of Peru's biggest transport hubs. All travel to the Sacred Valley, therefore, first necessitates a journey to Cusco. Read more

How to get from Lima to Cusco
The most popular place to head from Lima is Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca and the jumping-off point for Machu Picchu. For those with limited time, the easiest means of getting there is to fly. Flight prices per person are still not that much more expensive than heading overland by bus and cheaper than heading overland by private transfer. It's not recommended to drive yourself due to road conditions and other dangers. Read more