01Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco
The strongest first route when you have around 11 nights and want the highlands in the right sequence.
View illustrative itinerary
The Loop Take
THE ORDER OF THE HIGHLANDS MATTERS.
For a first classic Peru route, start in Lima, move to the Sacred Valley, visit Machu Picchu and finish in Cusco. It gives you a lower first highland base before Cusco, and stops Machu Picchu becoming a rushed day between flights.
Choose the route
ADD A NEW CHAPTER ONLY IF IT EARNS THE NIGHTS.
The Amazon, Arequipa and Colca are excellent additions for a longer trip. They should not be squeezed into a short highland route.
01Add the Amazon
Worth doing when you have enough extra nights to justify the internal flights and lodge transfers.
Choose Arequipa and Colca instead
A longer-trip alternative for volcanic landscapes, canyon country and a different southern Peru chapter.
Where to stay
USE THE SACRED VALLEY AS A REAL BASE.
Lima is worth two nights if food and city life matter to you. The Sacred Valley is the first highland base, not simply a day excursion from Cusco. Cusco then works as the final historic-city chapter, after Machu Picchu or with enough time either side.
01Lima
For a proper arrival, food and a softer start before the Andes.
02Sacred Valley
For a lower first highland stay and a more relaxed route to Machu Picchu.
Cusco
For history, restaurants and a final highland base once the route has settled.
Good to know
MACHU PICCHU NEEDS A REAL PLAN.
Machu Picchu entry uses official tickets and circuits, and the right ticket must be available for your date. Rail timings, permitted luggage, seasonal access and local disruption should be checked before the route is confirmed.
Tickets and circuits
Book the official entry route that suits the dates and the way you want to visit.
Altitude
Plan the valley and Cusco sequence carefully. Individual wellbeing is not something a guide can promise.
Transport
Rail, road and local conditions can change, so we check them close to travel.
A shape to begin with
THE HIGHLANDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
An illustrative 11-night route through Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. It puts the key stops in an order that makes sense rather than trying to make them all fit quickly.
Start with the highlands
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU WANT TO GIVE PERU?
Tell us whether food, archaeology, the Andes, the Amazon or a quieter pace is the priority. We will build the right sequence before adding the extras.
Start planning