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Peru · 7-12 days

Peru Classic: Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu

12.1°S · 77.0°W
At a glanceThe headline South America trip. Fly Lima-Cusco, acclimatise in the Sacred Valley (lower) before Cusco, then train to Machu Picchu. Dry season May-Sep; book MP tickets and any Inca Trail permits months ahead.
~14h flight estimate7 to 12 days£30 to £270+ per dayStraightforward
Before bookingEntry rules, health advice and local conditions change. Always check current official advice.Check current FCDO advice

The itinerary

  1. Lima2 nights
  2. Cusco3 nights
  3. Sacred Valley2 nights
  4. Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)1 night

Why this trip works

This itinerary combines history and culture, adventure, food and drink, and natural landscapes across Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes). Bringing the stops together gives the holiday a clearer progression and makes better use of the outward journey than booking each place separately.

How flexible is it? This itinerary can credibly be planned with a balanced to very active daytime pace, quiet to lively evenings and popular to hotspot crowd settings within its fixed route. The typical version has active days, balanced evenings and a hotspot setting. The quiz selects the closest credible version rather than treating it as one fixed product.

Best time to go

The strongest travel period is May to September. April and October are good quieter alternatives. Getting around is mainly by internal flights and trains.

Jan22°COther
Feb22°COther
Mar22°COther
Apr22°CShoulder
May22°CBest
Jun20°CBest
Jul20°CBest
Aug20°CBest
Sep21°CBest
Oct22°CShoulder
Nov22°COther
Dec22°COther

Cost

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £30 a day at the budget end, around £80 a day mid-range, and £270+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1410 to £1970 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes. Available accommodation spans cheap & cheerful, simple, comfortable, premium and luxury. The quiz prices the highest available tier that fits your selected minimum and total budget.

Places on this trip

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need for Peru Classic: Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu?

This itinerary works best over 7 to 12 days across 4 stops: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes).

When is the best time for this trip?

The strongest travel period is May to September. April and October are useful quieter alternatives.

How much does it cost?

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £30 a day at the budget end, around £80 a day mid-range, and £270+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1410 to £1970 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes.

Other multi-stop trips

Andes Gringo Trail: Cusco-Titicaca-La Paz-Uyuni Peru, Bolivia · 10-16 days ~14h flight estimate£25+/day4 stops China Scenic: Chengdu-Guilin-Yangshuo China · 8-12 days ~11h flight estimate£35+/day3 stops Peru: Lima, Machu Picchu & the Amazon Peru · 10-18 days ~13h flight estimate£25+/day4 stops Northwest Argentina: Salta-Cafayate-Humahuaca Argentina · 6-10 days ~14h flight estimate£30+/day3 stops South America Grand Loop: Peru, Bolivia, Chile & Argentina Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina · 24-30 days ~13h flight estimate£35+/day8 stops NZ Highlights (both islands): Auckland-Rotorua-Queenstown New Zealand · 8-12 days ~23h flight estimate£60+/day4 stops
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