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🇵🇪 Itinerary · Peru · 7 days

1-week Peru itinerary 2026: Cusco and Machu Picchu

7 well-paced days: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The ideal format to discover the Inca heartland, with acclimatisation and detailed budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

4 places

Average budget

€1,500-2,200

Total distance

~1,200 km

Profile

First visit

Season

May-Sep

Lima 1d · Cusco 2d · Sacred Valley 1d · Machu Picchu 2d · Cusco 1d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Peru 1-week itinerary map: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€65/pers

Lima · Arrival & first night

  • Afternoon Arrival in Lima, transfer to Miraflores. Malecón seafront.
  • Evening First ceviche and a walk in Barranco.
🛌 🛌 Miraflores · e.g. Casa Andina (1 night)·🚕 Taxi or Uber·Peru guide →
2

~€85

Lima → Cusco · Toward altitude

  • Morning Flight Lima → Cusco (1h20, ~€80). Arrival at 3,400 m, quiet day to acclimatise.
  • Afternoon Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, coca-leaf infusion. Rest.
🛌 🛌 Cusco · e.g. Palacio del Inka (2 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight
3

~€70

Cusco · Inca capital

  • Morning San Blas district, cobbled lanes and artisan workshops.
  • Afternoon Sacsayhuamán fortress, cyclopean blocks above the city.
  • Evening Alpaca dinner at San Pedro market.
4

~€80

Sacred Valley · Pisac & Ollantaytambo

  • Morning Pisac market and terraces, Inca ruins above the valley.
  • Afternoon Ollantaytambo fortress, the last Inca bastion, settle in the village.
🛌 🛌 Ollantaytambo · e.g. El Albergue (1 night)·🚐 Private car or collectivo
5

~€150

Machu Picchu · The lost city

  • 6am Train Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes (1h30, ~€70 round trip).
  • 9am Bus up to the site, guided tour of Machu Picchu (ticket to book months ahead).
  • Afternoon Optional climb of Huayna Picchu (separate time slot).
🛌 🛌 Aguas Calientes · e.g. Sumaq Hotel (1 night)·🚆 Train + 🚌 shuttle
6

~€70

Machu Picchu → Cusco · Return

  • Morning Second early visit to the site (morning light) or the Aguas Calientes baths.
  • Afternoon Return train then transfer to Cusco.
🛌 🛌 Cusco · e.g. Palacio del Inka (1 night)·🚆 Train + 🚐 road
7

Flight

Cusco → Lima → France · Return

  • Morning Last shopping (alpaca textiles, coffee) at San Pedro market.
  • Afternoon Flight Cusco → Lima then return flight to Paris.
✈️ Domestic flight + ✈️ return flight

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,000
  • 🏨 Hostels: €18/night
  • 🍽️ Menús del día: €10/day
  • ✈️ Domestic round flight: €150
  • 🎫 Machu Picchu & sites: €200
Recommended

Comfort

€1,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,100
  • 🏨 3★ hotels: €70/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed restos: €25/day
  • ✈️ Domestic round flight: €160
  • 🎫 Train, guide & entries: €300

Premium

€4,200

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €2,400
  • 🏨 5★ & lodges: €250/night
  • 🍽️ Fine dining: €70/day
  • 🚆 Hiram Bingham train: €480
  • 🎫 Private guides: €300

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The Inca essentials.

2 weeks

2 weeks

The full southern circuit, from the Pacific to Titicaca.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour: South, Amazon, North and the rainbow mountain.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This short itinerary leans on the Lima-Cusco domestic flight to save time, then the collectivo in the Sacred Valley and the train to Machu Picchu. Cusco's altitude (3,400 m) calls for a quiet day on arrival.

✈️

Lima → Cusco flight

€80 · 1h20 · LATAM or Sky

🚐

Sacred Valley collectivo

A few € · Cusco-Pisac-Ollantaytambo

🚆

Train Ollantaytambo → Machu Picchu

€70 round trip · 1h30 · PeruRail or Inca Rail

🚌

Aguas Calientes → site shuttle

€12 round trip · 25 min of switchbacks

Adapt by season

Dry season for Machu Picchu

From May to September the sky is clear over Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley trails are dry. The rainy season (December-March) often blurs the view of the site and muddies the paths: aim for the morning, clearer, and keep a spare day in case of mist.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In August 2025 I gave Cusco a real quiet day before Machu Picchu: zero altitude sickness afterwards, while a rushed friend spent his first night with headaches. At 3,400 m, slowing down on day one changes everything.
  • • The Machu Picchu ticket booked 3 months ahead for the 7am slot: clear site, few people.
  • • Sleeping in Ollantaytambo rather than Cusco the night before: you take an earlier, closer train.
  • • The coca infusion on arrival in Cusco: a real boost against soroche.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Add a night in Aguas Calientes for a second visit at daybreak.
  • • Skip the second morning at the site if you'd rather spend time in Cusco.
  • • Book Huayna Picchu only if you're comfortable with heights.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week enough for Peru? +
Yes for the Inca heartland: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. This itinerary leaves out Arequipa, Colca and Titicaca, best saved for 2 weeks.
How do you handle the altitude when arriving straight in Cusco? +
Plan a quiet day on arrival (3,400 m), drink plenty, avoid alcohol and exertion, infuse coca leaves. This itinerary builds in that acclimatisation time from day 2.
Do you need to book Machu Picchu in advance? +
Yes, absolutely. Daily quota, tickets gone months ahead in dry season. Book the train at the same time.
What's the best time? +
May to September (dry season) for clear skies. The rainy season (December-March) often blurs the view and muddies the trails.
Can you visit Machu Picchu without a guide? +
A guide is now required at the site entrance, per circuit. You can book a shared guide on site or a private guide in advance.
What budget for one week? +
Count €1,500 in backpacker mode, €1,800 in comfort (3★ hotels), flight from Europe included. Machu Picchu (train + entry + guide) stays the heaviest cost.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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