Overview
Machu Picchu is the reason most people come to Peru, but the country around it is just as rewarding: Lima is one of the world's great food cities, the Sacred Valley is full of Inca terraces and market towns, and Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Amazon are each a short flight away. Altitude shapes every itinerary. Cusco sits at about 3,400 meters, so build in time to acclimatize rather than flying in and hiking the next day. Ten days covers Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu; two weeks lets you add Lake Titicaca or the Amazon.
Main regions
Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Start with our Machu Picchu destination page and the 3-day Cusco itinerary. Cusco's colonial center is built on Inca walls; the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, the Moray terraces and the Maras salt pans) is lower and warmer; and Machu Picchu is reached by train to Aguas Calientes or on foot via the Inca Trail.
Lima. The capital is Peru's food capital too, with some of the world's most acclaimed restaurants as well as superb ceviche at simple cevicherías. Stay in Miraflores or bohemian Barranco on the clifftops above the Pacific.
Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. The "White City", built from volcanic stone beneath the El Misti volcano, is a relaxed base for the Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest, where Andean condors soar in the morning.
Lake Titicaca. From Puno, visit the floating Uros reed islands and stay overnight with a family on Amantaní or Taquile island, at 3,800 meters.
The Amazon. Puerto Maldonado (a short flight from Cusco) for jungle lodges in the Tambopata reserve, or Iquitos, reachable only by air or river, for deeper expeditions.
The coast and the north. Paracas and the Ballestas Islands' sea lions, the Huacachina desert oasis and the Nazca Lines to the south; the Chan Chan ruins, the Kuélap fortress and the Gocta waterfall in the north.
Best time to visit
- May to September (dry season in the Andes): clear skies and cold nights in Cusco, the best time for Machu Picchu and hiking. June to August is peak season: book Machu Picchu tickets, trains and Inca Trail permits months ahead. Cusco's Inti Raymi festival takes place on 24 June.
- April and October to November: shoulder months with fewer crowds and occasional showers. A good compromise.
- December to March (wet season): heavy rain in the Andes and the Amazon, with landslides that can disrupt trains. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. This is, however, Lima's sunny summer.
Lima's coast is often grey and overcast from May to November under a sea mist locals call garúa, even though it rarely rains.
Getting around
- Domestic flights: LATAM, Sky and JetSMART connect Lima with Cusco (about 1 hour 20 minutes), Arequipa, Puno (Juliaca), Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos.
- Trains to Machu Picchu: PeruRail and Inca Rail run from Cusco (Poroy station) or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. From there, Consettur buses climb to the site in about 25 minutes (roughly $24 return for foreigners), or you can walk up in about 90 minutes.
- Buses: long-distance companies such as Cruz del Sur offer comfortable reclining-seat buses between Lima, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco, often overnight.
- In Lima: use Uber or Cabify rather than hailing street taxis; traffic is heavy, so allow extra time for the airport.
Visa basics
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most of the Americas don't need a visa for tourism. The immigration officer decides your length of stay, up to a maximum of 183 days in a year, but 90 days is the usual grant, so ask for more at the desk if you need it. Your passport needs at least six months' validity. Keep your passport with you when you visit Machu Picchu, since it is checked against your ticket at the entrance.
Typical daily costs
Prices as of September 2026, at about 3.39 soles to the US dollar:
- Budget (S/ 120–180, about $35–53): hostel dorm, set-menu lunches (menú del día for S/ 12–20), long-distance buses.
- Mid-range (S/ 350–550, about $105–160): a boutique hotel, restaurant meals, taxis, guided tours.
- Comfort (S/ 1,000+, about $295+): luxury lodges, tasting menus in Lima, private guides and first-class trains.
The biggest cost is Machu Picchu itself. Entry for foreign adults is about S/ 163 on the standard circuits, with more for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, and it must be booked for a specific circuit and time. Buy only on the Ministry of Culture's official site or through an authorized agency. Train tickets cost roughly $60–150 each way depending on the class and season. Tip about 10% in restaurants, and tip guides and porters on treks.
Top destinations
- Machu Picchu: start with the Machu Picchu destination guide and the full Cusco and Machu Picchu travel guide for tickets, circuits and acclimatization.
- The Sacred Valley: Pisac market, Ollantaytambo's fortress and the Maras salt pans.
- Lima: ceviche, Barranco's art scene and clifftop sunsets.
- Lake Titicaca: reed islands and a homestay on Amantaní.
- Arequipa and the Colca Canyon: colonial architecture and condors.
Continuing through South America? Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are both direct flights of about four and a half to five hours from Lima. Or let our trip planner build a day-by-day Peru route around your dates.