Peru packs Inca stonework, Andean markets and one of South America's great food cities into a first trip. Most visitors pair Lima, on the Pacific, with Cusco, the former Inca capital high in the Andes, about 1 hour 15 minutes apart by air. From Cusco, the terraced ruins and craft villages of the Sacred Valley lead to the train for Machu Picchu, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Ollantaytambo.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing, booking or altitude. Below them you will find every sight we cover in Lima and Cusco, including the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, followed by answers to common questions.
The 18 best things to do in Peru
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- 1CuscoBook ahead
Explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu was built around 1450 under the Inca ruler Pachakuteq, high in the mountains above the Urubamba River, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hiram Bingham brought it to scientific attention on July 24, 1911. A wall divides the agricultural sector, with its stepped terraces, from the urban sector, home to the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, the Intihuatana stone and the Temple of the Condor. Since June 2024 visits follow one of three circuits, Panoramic, Classic or Royalty, each with set routes. Most people ride the Consettur bus up from Machu Picchu Pueblo, about 25 minutes each way, and spend 2 to 3 hours inside.
Tip: Buy your entry ticket well ahead from the official ticket site, since it is valid only for the time slot you pick, and plan your train and bus around that hour.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco, Ministry of Culture of Peru (machupicchu.gob.pe); PeruRail; PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PeruRailS/[fee]; book a timed entry and circuit - 2Cusco
Walk Cusco's Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and in its UNESCO-listed historic center Inca stone walls stand alongside colonial churches and mansions. The Plaza de Armas is its heart. On it stands the Cathedral, built between 1560 and 1664 on Quishuarcancha, the former palace of the Inca Wiracocha. Behind its Renaissance facade are a main temple and two chapels, an altar carved in granite, silver work and a large collection of Cusco School paintings. The square makes an easy first walk: the Twelve-Angled Stone is a few meters away, and the San Blas neighborhood a few blocks uphill.
Tip: Cusco sits above 3,399 m, so keep your first day slow: walk the center gently, drink plenty of water and skip alcohol until you adjust.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)S/[fee] at the door - 3Cusco
See the Inca Temple of the Sun at Qorikancha
Qorikancha, known as the Golden Temple, was the main sanctuary of the Incas, built during the reign of Pachacutec, and its fine stonework was among the buildings that most impressed the Spanish conquerors. Today you can still see its Inca halls and walls, which share the site with the Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo, whose church was built in 1633 with a dome, cedar choir stalls and walls of Seville tiles. The temple museum adds artifacts, paintings, carvings and a scale model of how Qorikancha looked in Inca times. It stands at the corner of Avenida El Sol and Santo Domingo street, a short walk from the Plaza de Armas.
Tip: The temple museum opens only in the afternoon on Sundays, so plan a weekday or Saturday visit if you want the most time inside.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)S/[fee] at the door - 4Cusco
Walk among the giant walls of Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán, often translated from Quechua as satisfied falcon, rises on the hill about 2 km from central Cusco. Its walls are built from huge stone blocks, some over 9 m high and weighing up to 100 tons, fitted so tightly that no mortar was used. Construction is thought to have begun under Pachacutec and finished under his successor, Túpac Inca Yupanqui. Historians still debate whether it was a fortress or a ceremonial temple to the Sun. Every June 24 its esplanade hosts Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, with dancers in traditional dress. You can walk up from the Plaza de Armas in about 30 minutes.
Tip: Circuit I of the Boleto Turístico del Cusco covers Sacsayhuamán with Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, so see all four in one outing.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); COSITUC, Boleto Turístico del Cusco (cosituccusco.pe)Boleto Turístico, Circuit I (foreign visitors): PEN 70 (about $20) · Boleto Turístico, all circuits (foreign visitors): PEN 130 (about $38) · Boleto Turístico ticketLast verified
- 5Sacred Valley
Ride the train through the valley to Machu Picchu
Trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley and from Poroy, near Cusco, and arrive at Machu Picchu Pueblo, also called Aguas Calientes. From Ollantaytambo the ride takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, and from Poroy about 3 hours 30 minutes. A bus and train service from Cusco changes at Pachar station on selected departures. The standard Expedition train is the simplest option; Vistadome cars add panoramic windows and glass ceilings, and the Vistadome Observatory gives 360-degree views of the valleys, rivers and mountains along the way. PeruRail is one of two authorized operators on the route, and the train ticket does not include entry to the ruins.
Tip: Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and earlier for the June to August and December to January high season.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PeruRail; PeruRail - 6Cusco
Climb the Inca terraces of Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo was a strategic Inca military, religious and farming center in the Sacred Valley, about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours by road from Cusco. In 1536 Manco Inca's army forced Spanish troops under Hernando Pizarro to retreat here. Climb the stone terraces to the Temple of the Sun, at 2,851 m, where six huge rectangular blocks stand, the largest over 4 m high, hauled from a quarry about 9 km away. The town below keeps its Inca streets and a water channel system that still works today. Across the valley, the Pinkuylluna storehouses are a signposted, free climb from the square with views over the town.
Tip: Many Machu Picchu trains leave from Ollantaytambo station, so explore the ruins in the morning and take an afternoon train.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PeruRailBoleto Turístico, Circuit III (foreign visitors): PEN 70 (about $20) · Boleto Turístico, all circuits (foreign visitors): PEN 130 (about $38) · Boleto Turístico ticketLast verified
- 7Cusco
Browse Pisac's market below its Inca terraces
Pisac lies in the Sacred Valley about 45 minutes by road from Cusco. On the mountain above town, the archaeological park was one of the most important Inca centers, known for its many farming terraces and towers, where the Incas grew corn, quinoa, potatoes and kiwicha. Down in the main square, hundreds of stalls sell alpaca weavings, chullo hats, silver jewelry, flutes and backpacks made by local artisans and nearby communities, alongside valley produce, cheese empanadas and chicha de jora, a fermented corn drink. Locals do their weekly shopping here too. The park is part of the Sacred Valley circuit of the Boleto Turístico del Cusco.
Tip: Bargaining is expected, so compare a few stalls before you buy, and pack a warm layer for the afternoon chill.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); COSITUC, Boleto Turístico del Cusco (cosituccusco.pe)Boleto Turístico, Circuit III (foreign visitors): PEN 70 (about $20) · Boleto Turístico, all circuits (foreign visitors): PEN 130 (about $38) · Boleto Turístico ticketLast verified
- 8Lima
Stroll Lima's historic center from the Plaza Mayor
Lima was founded on its Plaza Mayor in 1535, and the historic center around it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. The square is ringed by the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Cathedral, where the city's founder, Francisco Pizarro, is buried. From the square, walk Jirón de la Unión, the center's main street, past colonial and republican wooden balconies to Plaza San Martín, opened in 1921 around a monument to the liberator José de San Martín. Old taverns and restaurants around both squares serve pisco sours and sandwiches. The center is about 20 minutes from Miraflores.
Tip: Time your walk for the midday changing of the guard at the Government Palace on the Plaza Mayor.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)Free to visit - 9Lima
Trace 5,000 years of ancient Peru at Museo Larco
Museo Larco tells more than 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history through pre-Columbian art. Rafael Larco Hoyle founded it in 1926 at the Chiclín hacienda and in the 1950s moved it to Lima, into an 18th-century mansion in Pueblo Libre surrounded by gardens. The collection holds about 45,000 pieces. Beyond the permanent exhibition, you can walk between shelves of 30,000 catalogued ancient ceramics in the visible storage, and the Erotic Gallery shows pre-Columbian erotic art. Exhibit texts come in seven languages, and the garden café-restaurant is open to all. The museum opens every day, holidays included, and is about 35 to 50 minutes from Miraflores by taxi.
Tip: Buy tickets online for a discount and quicker entry, and stay for a meal on the café terrace overlooking the gardens.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Museo Larco (official); Museo Larco (official); Museo Larco; Museo LarcoGeneral admission: PEN 50 (about $15) · Pay at the door or onlineLast verified
- 10Cusco
Shop the artisan lanes of San Blas
San Blas, a few blocks uphill from the Plaza de Armas, has been home to craftspeople since Inca times, when the area was called T'oqokachi. Its cobbled lanes hold artisans' galleries and workshops, and its church, built in 1563 and the oldest in the city, keeps a carved wooden pulpit from the 17th century. On the way up, Hatun Rumiyoc street passes the Twelve-Angled Stone, a polished block in a wall of the Inca palace of Sinchi Roca, now the Archbishop's Palace, which is free to see. At the top, the Mirador de San Blas has restaurants and bars looking out over the valley of Cusco.
Tip: Walk up in the late afternoon to watch the sunset over Cusco, and take the steep lanes slowly at this altitude.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)Free to visit - 11Cusco
Have breakfast at Cusco's San Pedro Market
San Pedro is the oldest food market in Cusco, about 10 minutes on foot from the Plaza de Armas. It opened on June 7, 1925, and its roughly 1,150 stalls sell everything from breakfast to household goods. Fruit juice stands are busy from early morning, and the food stalls serve local dishes such as fried trout, chiri uchu and corn with fresh cheese. Shoppers come for potatoes, maize, coffee, cheese and quinoa, and a crafts section sells sweaters, chullo hats and ceramics by local artisans. Healers also come here to buy seeds, huayruro beans and coca leaves for their rituals.
Tip: It opens at 6:30 AM, so come for breakfast before a day of sightseeing and keep your phone and wallet close in the busy aisles.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficePay as you go - 12Lima
Walk the Miraflores clifftops above the Pacific
Miraflores sits on top of the Costa Verde cliffs, and its seafront is a long green strip of parks, flower gardens, sports courts and monuments high above the Pacific. Walk or cycle the signposted routes, stop in the clifftop parks, and watch paragliders sail over the shore, a flight both visitors and locals try. At the end of Avenida Larco, the Larcomar shopping center is set into the cliff, with shops, restaurants and sea views. A few blocks inland, Parque Kennedy is the district's busy center, with street artists selling their work and stalls of Lima desserts such as picarones and suspiro a la limeña.
Tip: Come in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset over the ocean, the classic way to end a day in Miraflores.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)Free to visit - 13Lima
Eat your way through Lima's food scene
Lima calls itself the culinary capital of Peru, and its cooking blends pre-Hispanic and colonial recipes with Asian and European influences. Start with the classics, cebiche and causa limeña, then try chifa, the Chinese-Peruvian cooking of the historic center's Chinatown. Neighborhood markets run food tours and cooking workshops where local cooks explain each ingredient. Save room for Lima's desserts, including suspiro a la limeña, mazamorra morada, picarones and turrón de Doña Pepa. To drink, order pisco, the national spirit, in a pisco sour or a chilcano, or try chicha de maíz, the traditional corn drink.
Tip: Join a market food tour early in your trip: it explains the dishes and ingredients you will meet on menus for the rest of your stay.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru) - 14Lima
Descend into the catacombs of San Francisco
The San Francisco church and convent in Lima's historic center was built between 1546 and 1672, and its crypts held the burials of more than 25,000 people until 1808, when a new open-air cemetery ended burials under churches. Pits up to 5 m deep beneath the church, dug to soften earthquake shocks, later became ossuaries where skulls and long bones still lie. Above ground, the visit takes in a library of more than 20,000 volumes, a cloister lined with Seville tiles from 1620, and paintings from the workshops of Zurbarán and Rubens. The narrow, dim passages give the tour its famous atmosphere.
Tip: Pair it with the Plaza Mayor on the same morning, since both sit in the walkable historic center.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)S/[fee]; visits are guided - 15Lima
Cross the Bridge of Sighs in Barranco
Barranco, on the cliffs next to Miraflores, is Lima's bohemian district of colorful colonial-style houses, galleries, bars and independent shops. Its best-known sight is the Bridge of Sighs, a wooden bridge built in 1876 near the Municipal Park; legend says a wish comes true if you cross it holding your breath. Below it, the Bajada de los Baños, a natural ravine turned pedestrian walk lined with bars, cafés and restaurants, leads down toward the Costa Verde beaches and an old lookout over the Pacific. Museums include the MAC, the MATE and the Museo Pedro de Osma, which opens Tuesday to Sunday. The district is small enough to see in an afternoon.
Tip: Arrive in the late afternoon, walk the Paul Harris clifftop path at sunset, then come back for dinner along the Bajada de los Baños.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); Museo Pedro de Osma (Fundación Osma)Free to visit - 16Lima
Tour the adobe pyramid of Huaca Pucllana
Long before the Spanish founded Lima, the ancient Lima culture built huacas, truncated mud-brick pyramids that served as ceremonial and funerary centers. Huaca Pucllana, right in the heart of Miraflores, is the best known: a pyramid about 25 m high made of small adobe bricks, with squares and enclosures around it. Excavations have uncovered tombs, pottery and mummies, and the site is protected as Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Visits are guided, with the guide included in the ticket and no reservation needed. A restaurant on the grounds looks out over the ruins, a popular spot for dinner.
Tip: Check the opening days before you go, since the official listing gives day visits every day except Tuesday.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); Ministry of Culture of Peru (gob.pe)S/[fee]; guided visit included - 17Sacred Valley
See the Moray terraces and Maras salt pans
Two sights in the Sacred Valley district of Maras make one of the classic day trips from Cusco. At Moray, circular terraces called muyus are carved deep into the ground in rings, creating different microclimates in what appears to have been an Inca center for agricultural experiments. Nearby, the Maras salt mines cover a mountainside with thousands of white pools fed by natural salt springs. Maras salt is exported for its quality and low sodium, and village shops sell it in everything from chocolate to cosmetics. Moray is part of the Sacred Valley circuit of the Boleto Turístico del Cusco, along with Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
Tip: Most visitors combine the two on one Maras and Moray tour; bring sunscreen, a warm layer and cash for the salt shops.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); COSITUC, Boleto Turístico del Cusco (cosituccusco.pe) - 18Cusco
Climb Huayna Picchu above the citadel
Huayna Picchu, or Waynapicchu, is the steep peak in the background of the classic Machu Picchu photo. It reaches 2,720 m, and the Incas carved stairways into its rock, probably using it as a lookout over the valley. The climb begins at the Sacred Rock and passes high farming terraces that seem to hang over the drop, with a side path to the Temple of the Moon, a ceremonial cave with finely carved niches. From the top you look straight down on the citadel and the Urubamba River far below. The climb is Route 3-A, within the Royalty circuit, so it needs its own ticket, and there is a single path up and down.
Tip: Spend a day or two in Cusco first to adjust to the altitude, and book this ticket early, since places on the mountain are limited.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco, Ministry of Culture of Peru (machupicchu.gob.pe)
Every sight, city by city
Aguas Calientes Hot Springs, Machu Picchu Pueblo
Hot spring pools about 1 km from the center of Machu Picchu Pueblo.Entry: S/[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsCusco Cathedral
Built from 1560 to 1664 on the site of an Inca palace, with a Renaissance facade on the Plaza de Armas.Entry: S/[fee] at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMachu Picchu
The Inca city built around 1450 under the ruler Pachakuteq, with farming terraces and the Temple of the Sun.Entry: S/[fee]; book a timed entry and circuitSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMachu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
The town below Machu Picchu, with restaurants, bars and hotels by the river and the station.Entry: Pay as you goManuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum, Machu Picchu Pueblo
The Ministry of Culture museum for Machu Picchu, beside the river road near Puente Ruinas.Entry: S/[fee] at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMirador de San Blas
A viewpoint above San Blas with several restaurants and bars looking over the center.Entry: Pay as you goOllantaytambo Archaeological Park, Ollantaytambo
Inca terraces and the Temple of the Sun monoliths above a town that keeps its Inca-era streets and channels.Entry: Boleto Turístico ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsPinkuylluna, Ollantaytambo
Inca storehouses on the slope facing Ollantaytambo, reached by a signposted climb from the town.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsPisac Archaeological Park, Pisac
Inca terraces and towers on the mountain above Pisac, about 45 min from Cusco.Entry: Boleto Turístico ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsPisac Market, Pisac
A craft and food market on Pisac's main square, selling weaving, empanadas and valley produce.Entry: Pay as you goPlaza de Armas, Cusco
Cusco's main square, framed by the Cathedral and the arcades of the colonial center.Entry: Free to visitQ'enqo
An Inca ceremonial site whose rock is carved with channels, galleries and altars, near Sacsayhuamán.Entry: Boleto Turístico ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsQorikancha
The Inca Temple of the Sun, with the Santo Domingo church and convent built on its walls.Entry: S/[fee] at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSacsayhuamán
Inca walls of fitted stones, some over 9 m high, on the hill above Cusco.Entry: Boleto Turístico ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSan Blas
Cusco's artisans' quarter of steep cobbled lanes, workshops and the 1563 San Blas church.Entry: Free to visitSan Blas Market
A neighborhood market selling crafts, dairy products and home cooking such as chupe soup.Entry: Pay as you goSan Francisco Convent, Cusco
A convent on San Francisco Square with a two-floor collection of colonial religious art.Entry: S/[fee] at the door. Closed Saturdays and SundaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSan Pedro Market
Cusco's oldest food market, opened in 1925, with about 1,150 stalls of produce, crafts and cooked food.Entry: Pay as you goTambomachay
An Inca site of terraces, channels and ceremonial fountains where water still flows.Entry: Boleto Turístico ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsTwelve-Angled Stone
A finely fitted Inca stone with twelve angles in a wall on Hatun Rumiyoc street.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsBajada de los Baños
A pedestrian lane below the Bridge of Sighs lined with bars, cafés and restaurants toward the sea.Entry: Pay as you goBridge of Sighs, Barranco
Barranco's wooden footbridge from 1876, the center of the district's evening strolls.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsCathedral of Lima
The cathedral on the Plaza Mayor, considered the most important church in Peru.Entry: S/[fee]; check visiting hours at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsHuaca Pucllana
An adobe pyramid of the Lima culture rising 25 m among the streets of Miraflores.Entry: S/[fee]; guided visit included. Closed TuesdaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLarco Museum
A museum of ancient Peruvian art in Pueblo Libre, open every day of the year.Entry: Pay at the door or onlineSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLarco Museum Café
The museum restaurant in the Larco gardens, open daily into the evening with free access.Entry: Pay as you goLarcomar
A shopping center built into the Miraflores cliffs, with restaurants looking over the Pacific.Entry: Pay as you goMagic Water Circuit
Thirteen lit fountains in the Parque de la Reserva, with an evening show of music, lights and water.Entry: S/[fee] at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMiraflores clifftop parks (Parque del Amor)
About 5 km of parks and paths along the Costa Verde cliffs, known for sunsets and paragliding.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsMuseo de Arte de Lima (MALI)
An art museum in central Lima, open Tuesday to Sunday, a short ride from the Parque de la Reserva.Entry: S/[fee] at the box office or online. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsParque Kennedy
The central park of Miraflores, with street artists and traditional Lima desserts sold in the paths.Entry: Free to visitPedro de Osma Museum
A Barranco summer mansion from 1906 holding a large collection of colonial art.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsPlaza Mayor
Lima's main square, where the city was founded in 1535, framed by the Cathedral and Government Palace.Entry: Free to visitPlaza San Martín
A 1921 square with arcaded buildings, ringed by bars and restaurants at the end of Jirón de la Unión.Entry: Pay as you goSan Francisco Monastery
Colonial church and convent whose crypts held more than 25,000 burials until 1808.Entry: S/[fee]; visits are guidedSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Peru for a first trip?
Start with Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel above the Urubamba River, and the train ride there from Ollantaytambo. In Cusco, walk the Plaza de Armas, see Qorikancha and the walls of Sacsayhuamán, and browse San Blas and San Pedro Market. Add a day in the Sacred Valley for Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In Lima, explore the UNESCO-listed historic center, Museo Larco and the Miraflores clifftops, and make time to eat: the city calls itself Peru's culinary capital.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)How many days do you need in Peru?
A week covers Lima and the Cusco region at a comfortable pace. Give Lima two days, then fly to Cusco, about 1 hour 15 minutes away; most flights to Cusco connect through Lima. Plan a day or two in Cusco to adjust to the altitude, a day in the Sacred Valley, and a full day for Machu Picchu. If you buy Machu Picchu tickets in person in Machu Picchu Pueblo, they are for the next day, so plan a night there.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PeruRail; Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco, Ministry of Culture of Peru (machupicchu.gob.pe)When is the best time for sightseeing in Peru?
For Cusco and Machu Picchu, the drier months from about April to October bring sunny days, around 20 °C by day and 10 °C at night. From November to March sudden rain and clouds are common, but there are fewer visitors and the landscape turns green. Trains are busiest from June to August and from December to January. If you are in Cusco on June 24, Inti Raymi fills Sacsayhuamán with dancers in traditional dress.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; PeruRail; PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru)Which attractions in Peru should you book ahead?
Book Machu Picchu first: entry is limited by circuit, date and hourly time slot, and tickets are sold online on the Ministry of Culture's site. Up to 1,000 tickets a day are sold in person in Machu Picchu Pueblo, but only for the next day. Huayna Picchu is a separate ticket with limited places. Book your train 2 to 4 weeks ahead, more in high season. In Lima, Museo Larco's online tickets give a discount and quicker entry.
Sources: PeruRail; Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco, Ministry of Culture of Peru (machupicchu.gob.pe); Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco, Ministry of Culture of Peru (machupicchu.gob.pe); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); Museo LarcoHow do you get around Peru as a visitor?
Fly between Lima and Cusco, about 1 hour 15 minutes. From Cusco, Pisac is about 45 minutes by road and Ollantaytambo about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Trains run from Ollantaytambo and Poroy to Machu Picchu Pueblo, where the Consettur bus climbs to the ruins in about 25 minutes. For taxis, use app-based services, ask your hotel to book one, or use the official desks at Lima airport, and avoid hailing cars on the street.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); PeruRail; PeruRail; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Government of CanadaHow do you handle the altitude in Cusco?
Cusco sits above 3,399 m, and altitude sickness is a real risk there, with headaches, tiredness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Take your first day easy, walk slowly, drink water often, eat light meals and avoid alcohol for the first few days. Many travelers drink coca tea, and some hotels offer oxygen. Spend a day or two adjusting before hard hikes, see a doctor if symptoms get worse, and check that your travel insurance covers medical evacuation.
Sources: PROMPERÚ (peru.travel, official tourism board of Peru); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; PeruRail