How many days do you need in Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley?
- Most travelers spend 14-15 days in Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley combined
- Visiting Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley in 11 to 13 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 16 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
How Many Days to Spend in Lima
How Many Days to Spend at Machu Picchu
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Recommended Itineraries for Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley
Recommended Itinerary for 2 Weeks
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lima, Explore | Lima |
| Day 2 | Food Tour in Lima's Historic City Center | Lima |
| Day 3 | Transfer to the Amazon, Explore | Tambopata |
| Day 4 | Jungle Excursions | Tambopata |
| Day 5 | Transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas | Sacred Valley |
| Day 6 | Hike with Llamas, Chicha & Ceramics Workshop | Sacred Valley |
| Day 7 | Via Ferrata, Ziplining, Glamping at Huilloc Community | Sacred Valley |
| Day 8 | Hike from Huilloc to Ollantaytambo, Lunch at Alqa | Sacred Valley |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Aguas Calientes, Afternoon at Machu Picchu | Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Cusco via Sacred Valley, Free Time in Cusco | Cusco |
| Day 11 | Picnic & Art workshop at Sacsayhuaman | Lima |
| Day 12 | Transfer to Paracas, Visit Paracas National Reserve | Paracas |
| Day 13 | Private Boat to the Ballestas Islands, Sunset Desert Adventure | Paracas |
| Day 14 | Transfer to Lima, Depart |
For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Peru, you'll want to see it all—and this two-week itinerary comes close. After an exciting food tour in Lima, set off for the epic landscapes, starting with a remote lodge in the lush Amazon. Next, fly to the high-altitude Andes for hikes and cultural activities—including time in Machu Picchu—before ending at a Sahara-like desert next to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you'll meet local artisans, llama herders, and even marine life in the "Peruvian Galápagos." Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 15 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lima, Explore | Lima |
| Day 2 | Lima City & Food Tour | Lima |
| Day 3 | Paracas National Reserve Tour | Paracas |
| Day 4 | Ballestas Islands & Nazca Lines Tour | Paracas |
| Day 5 | Free Day in Lima | Lima |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Cusco, Explore | Cusco |
| Day 7 | Cusco City Tour | Cusco |
| Day 8 | Sacred Valley Tour: Cusco, Chinchero & Ollantaytambo | Ollantaytambo |
| Day 9 | Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu | Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu |
| Day 10 | Machu Picchu Excursion | Cusco |
| Day 11 | Free Day in Cusco: History & San Pedro | Cusco |
| Day 12 | Transfer to the Amazon | Puerto Maldonado |
| Day 13-14 | Jungle Excursions | Puerto Maldonado |
| Day 15 | Transfer to Lima, Depart |
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 ecolodge. Read more
How to travel between Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Paracas, Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley
How to get from Lima to Paracas
Travel from Lima to Paracas is a transition from one of South America's biggest cities to one of its nearest major wildlife reserves. Paracas is the catch-all word for the Paracas National Reserve and the nearby village (where transport from Lima arrives), which is also known as El Chaco. Going by private transfer all the way from Lima to Paracas (260 miles; 418 km) is the quickest and most enjoyable way to travel this route. Bus options (or a combination of bus and private transfer) are also available. Read more
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 amid 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
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