10 days in Peru Itinerary
Travelers heading to Peru will be shocked at just how diverse this country is.
Whilst we always see photos of Machu Picchu and other towering mountains, this country is also home to impressive lakes, hot deserts and tropical rainforest.
Whilst having a lot of time is ideal for traveling through Peru, sometimes it’s not possible if you are on a strict schedule or for other reasons.
In this article we’ll explore our customized 10 days in Peru itinerary, where you will get to know both the capital and some exciting Andean destinations.
10 Days in Peru itinerary
Lima (Days 1-2)
Arriving in Lima, we’ll have 1 day to enjoy everything that this up-and-coming Latin capital has to offer. We recommend staying at the Selina Miraflores Hostel during your time here, given its in a great location which makes this itinerary easy to follow.
On your first day you can first head to the Costa Verde, which is where we can walk (or rent a bike) along its infamous green cliffs. Those who love surfing can also catch some waves on Playa Makala – with this section of Peruvian coast well-known for its consistent waves.
You can also head to Barranco to see its artsy streets and sites, before taking an Uber to Museo Larco to learn all about Peru’s ancient history.
On our second day we’ll explore the highlights of the Historic Centre, first heading to the Plaza de Armas to see colonial buildings and impressive architecture.
We can then head to the San Francisco Catacombs, which is home to over 75,000 skeletal remains (and is the second largest of its kind on the planet).
🏁 Lima Itinerary:
- #1: Costa Verde
- #2: Barranco
- #3: Museo Larco
- #4: Plaza de Armas
- #5: San Francisco Catacombs
Cusco (Days 3-5)
From Lima we’ll fly over to Cusco (given the bus will be way too long for our itinerary).
This imperial city is located within the Peruvian Andes, and is renowned for its ancient history given it was the major stronghold of the Inca.
Here we can spend these days exploring the main highlights of the historic center, including the cathedrals around the Plaza de Armas as well as the narrow white streets of the San Blas neighborhood. It’s also worth heading up to the Mirador de Cristo Blanco for some awesome views over Cusco.
You’ll also want to use a day to head on a day trip to the Ausangate National Park, where we will home for a few hours in the Andes spotting all kinds of bright and colorful lakes (including red, green and bright blue. We suggest heading on this day tour which includes your entrance, transport as well as breakfast and lunch.
🏁 Cusco Itinerary:
- #1: Plaza de Armas
- #2: San Blas
- #3: Mirador Cristo Blanco
- #4: Ausangate National Park
Sacsayhuamán Ruins (Day 6)
Whilst Cusco has its charm (and you’ll find it hard to leave – but trust us it’s worth it), you’ll also find many incredible sites located throughout the nearby Sacred Valley region.
One of the very best ancient ruins you can visit here is Sacsayhuamán, which is in our opinion worth spending a half-day to full-day to really appreciate the site and surrounding region.
The Inca were known for their fine masonry work, and this site is by far one of their best ever creations. Although each stone boulder can weigh up to 128 tons, the Inca managed to maneuver these together in such a way that the gaps between them are air-tight (with no adhesive used).
The legend goes that you can’t even stick a needle between the corners where two stone slabs meet!
We recommend heading on this day tour which includes transport and your entrance (as well as 3 other Inca Ruins). It’s important to hold onto this entrance ticket after, as it’s the same versatile ticket that is used to enter many of the other novel attractions dotted around the Sacred Valley.
The Sacred Valley – including Pisac and Ollantaytambo (Day 7)
Having already scratched the surface of Cusco’s beautiful surrounding regions, today we will dive deeper into the very best that the Sacred Valley has to offer.
Pisac is one of these towns, which is famous for its peaceful setting, bohemian markets and its archaeological ruins. Colectivos run between Cusco and Pisac daily, with the ride taking around an hour.
Ollantaytambo is another must-visit in this region, which is home to the imposing Ollantaytambo Ruins which are carved into the mountain’s edge. There’s also a really great market just outside the entrance for picking up souvenirs like a poncho or chullo.
Other worthwhile sites to visit in the Sacred Valley (depending how early you start and how you use your time) include Moray Ruins and the Maras Salt Pools. You’ll also find some memorable Peruvian hikes here too.
🏁 Sacred Valley Itinerary:
- #1: Pisac
- #2: Ollantaytambo
- #3: Moray Ruins
Machu Picchu (Days 8-9)
You may be wondering why we’ve left Machu Picchu so late in our itinerary, and there’s a good reason for this.
Throughout the previous week you will have been seeing various types of Incan ruins, as well as appreciating how they developed as a culture. This means when you do finally reach Machu Picchu, it will be more than a postcard site for you.
Getting here is easy, and we recommend joining this day tour which includes all transport and your entrance ticket. During this time you can also hike up to the alternative mirador of Huayna Picchu, which is higher and gives a more authentic view over the ancient site.
The nearby town of Aguascalientes is where you’ll be based, and there’s more to this town than just Machu Picchu. If you have more time, then you can hike around the forested mountains as well as visit the Hot Thermal Baths which are great for relaxing any tired muscles.
🏁 Machu Picchu Itinerary:
- #1: Machu Picchu
- #2: Hike up Huayna Picchu
- #3: Visit the Thermal Baths
Puno (Day 10)
Arriving back in the evening to Cusco from Machu Picchu, we’ll now take an overnight bus to Puno in the far south of Peru.
This city has a cute plaza at its center with beautiful colonial buildings, however is better known for being the gateway to Lake Titicaca for most travelers arriving to this point.
This incredible lake was known as the Birthplace of the Sun by the Inca, and has many beautiful vistas along its ridged lake edges. From Puno we can visit the stunning Uros Islands, which are famous as they are made entirely out of totora reed – meaning the houses built on-top are literally floating with no extra support!
Here we can also learn from the natives who live on these islands full-time, and get a chance to see their regional handicrafts. We highly recommend joining this day tour when you arrive in Puno, which will sort all logistics for you so you don’t have to dash around.
As well as visiting the Uros, you’ll also visit the beautiful island of Taquile where you’ll have a locally-prepared lunch made for you.
🏁 Puno Itinerary stops:
- #1: Plaza de Armas
- #2: Uros Islands
- #3: Taquile Island
Things to know before traveling to Peru
- Budgeting for Peru – This South American country remains a cheapie, and those on a simple backpacking budget can easily live off $20-25 a day (you’ll sleep in a dorm bed, eat local meals etc). See our Peru packing list for ideas on how to travel smart. If you’re in a couple or want better standards, then plan for around $30-40 where you can upgrade to a private room, eat at nicer restaurants and also use Uber more frequently.
- Follow Our Safety Guidelines – Much of the Peruvian Andes is very safe, where only the crazy driving along the roads will be the main thing to watch out for. However in Lima it can be unsafe in areas (outside of Miraflores and Barranco), so be sure to use common sense when heading to other areas. You can read more about this and other tips in our Peru Safety Guide before or during your trip.
- Pack Warm Layers – Although the weather can vary depending on when you’re visiting in the year, the regions visited in this itinerary (The Andes) are going to be cool year-round. This means you’ll need a jumper like this one, long trousers and a coat. Even better is to have gloves and a reliable woolly hat ready for some of the more remote, higher-altitude hikes. Lima is also cool from May until August, however any other month can get quite hot so also bring some light clothes too.
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Peru 10 Day Itinerary
Thanks for reading our 10 days in Peru itinerary.
This South American country is a really memorable one, which is full of all kinds of ancient ruins, proud cultures and scenic landscapes.
Unfortunately we may not always have the time to see things slowly, which is why we’ve created a customized 10 day itinerary to help you see the highlights of Peru in a timely fashion.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Peru Itinerary for more ideas of what to add to your trip.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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