7 days Peru: Lima + Cusco + Machu Picchu

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Lima

   Direct Paris-Lima (LIM) flight 12h Air France (3-4/week) or via Madrid Iberia (€500-1100 low season, €900-1800 high season June-August). No visa for French (90 days, passport 6 months). Land Jorge Chavez airport (Callao, 12 km from Lima centre). Time difference -6h winter, -7h summer (Lima doesn't observe DST). Transfer to Miraflores: Green Taxi official taxi PEN 60-90 (~€20), Uber PEN 45-70, Airport Express bus PEN 25. Settle hotel Miraflores (Belmond Miraflores Park PEN 800-1500, JW Marriott PEN 600-1200, mid-range hotels PEN 200-400). Evening first ceviche (Punto Azul, La Mar de Gaston Acurio, El Mercado - PEN 60-120/person) + pisco sour national cocktail. Lima = world gastronomic capital (Central, Maido, Astrid y Gaston ranked Best Restaurants Latin America).

   Tips

   • · Paris-Lima flight: 12h direct Air France or via Madrid
   • · No visa for French (90 days, passport 6 months)
   • · Time diff -6h winter / -7h summer (Lima no DST)
   • · Lima = world gastronomic capital (Central, Maido top 10)
   Lima →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Lima: Historic Centre + Miraflores + Barranco

   Morning Lima Historic Centre UNESCO 1991: Plaza Mayor (1535 Cathedral + Government Palace 11:45am guard change + City Hall), San Francisco Monastery (catacombs 25000 skeletons + library 25000 ancient books, PEN 20 entry), Casa de Aliaga (Americas' oldest continuously inhabited house, 5 generations same family since 1535). Lunch Surquillo Market (authentic popular market) or Maido (gourmet Nikkei Peruvian-Japanese, world's top 5 according to World's 50 Best, PEN 600-1000 tasting menu booking 2-3 months ahead). Afternoon Miraflores: Larcomar (shopping centre on cliff Pacific view), Parque del Amor (entwined couple statue + Gaudi-style mosaics), Huaca Pucllana (adobe pyramid 200-700 AD in city centre!). Barranco: bohemian quarter, artist studios, street art, fundo del Olivar, legendary Puente de los Suspiros (make a wish crossing while holding your breath). Dinner Barranco Isolina (taberna criolla traditional, PEN 80-150).

   Tips

   • · UNESCO 1991 Historic Centre: Plaza Mayor + San Francisco Monastery
   • · Government Palace guard change: daily 11:45am
   • · Maido: world's top 5 gastronomy, book 2-3 months ahead
   • · Barranco Puente de los Suspiros: wish while holding breath
   Lima →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Lima → Cusco flight + acclimatisation

   Morning Latam/Sky/JetSmart Lima → Cusco (CUZ) flight (1h30, PEN 250-500 return, several flights/day, arrival as early as 6am). ALTITUDE WARNING: Cusco at 3,400 m altitude — altitude sickness (soroche) risk for 30-50% of visitors: headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue. PROTOCOL: COMPLETE rest first 24h, +50% hydration, light meals, avoid alcohol, coca tea (mate de coca, traditional coca leaf infusion, free at all hotels), Diamox prescription pills optional (consult doctor BEFORE). Settle hotel: Belmond Monasterio (1592 former monastery, oxygenated rooms, PEN 1500-3000), JW Marriott El Convento (PEN 1000-1800), Casona del Inca boutique (PEN 400-800). Afternoon LIGHT WALK: Plaza de Armas (historic centre, Cathedral + Compania de Jesus), Calle Loreto (original Acllahuasi Inca wall), Coricancha (former Inca Sun Temple covered by Santo Domingo conquistador, visible granite foundations, PEN 25). Dinner Cicciolina (Mediterranean + Peruano Creole, PEN 80-150, premium quality).

   Tips

   • · 3400m ALTITUDE: rest 24h, +50% hydration, coca tea
   • · Soroche (altitude sickness): 30-50% visitors, optional Diamox
   • · Lima-Cusco flight: 1h30, PEN 250-500 return
   • · Belmond Monasterio: 1592 former monastery, oxygenated rooms
   Cusco →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Sacred Valley

   Day Sacred Valley of the Incas (Urubamba, 80 km from Cusco, altitude 2,800-3,000 m LOWER than Cusco - good for acclimatisation). Guided excursion (PEN 100-180/person, 8am-6pm, bus + guide + lunch included) OR private (PEN 300-500). 3 main sites: Pisac (morning, traditional Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday market + Inca archaeological site above village + Q'enqo agricultural terraces), Urubamba lunch (Tunupa, Killa Wasi - PEN 60-120), Ollantaytambo (afternoon, Inca fortress in active military operation during Spanish conquest, original Inca urban plan preserved, 200-step monumental stairs). Back Cusco evening (90 min drive). Dinner Map Cafe or Limo (Plaza de Armas view, PEN 100-180).

   Tips

   • · Sacred Valley: 80 km from Cusco, LOWER altitude (acclimatisation)
   • · Guided excursion: PEN 100-180/person, 8am-6pm
   • · Pisac market: Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday, traditional crafts
   • · Ollantaytambo: preserved Inca fortress, 200 steps
   Cusco →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Train + Machu Picchu

   SIGNATURE DAY Machu Picchu. Wake 5-6am. Vistadome or Hiram Bingham (Belmond) train Cusco/Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes (3h30 from Cusco, 1h30 from Ollantaytambo, $200-500 return Vistadome, $600-900 Hiram Bingham luxury). Arrive Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu foot village, 2,040 m). Shuttle bus Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu site ($12 return, 30 min winding road). Machu Picchu entry (PEN 200, BOOKING MANDATORY 2-3 MONTHS AHEAD, strict time slot). Circuit choice: Circuit 1 (classic, 1h30) iconic citadel view + Guard House, Circuit 2 (agricultural terraces), Huayna Picchu Circuit (mountain behind, 2-3h demanding ascent, supplement ticket, BOOKING 6 MONTHS AHEAD). Iconic photography: early climb to avoid crowds + golden light. Back Aguas Calientes end of day. Local dinner + Aguas Calientes hotel night (Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo PEN 1500-3500, El Mapi by Inkaterra PEN 600-1200).

   Tips

   • · Machu Picchu: BOOK 2-3 MONTHS ahead (strict time slot)
   • · Vistadome train: $200-500 return, Hiram Bingham luxury $600-900
   • · Aguas Calientes-site shuttle bus: $12 return, 30 min
   • · Huayna Picchu: 2-3h demanding ascent, 6-MONTH BOOKING
   Machu Picchu →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Back Cusco + Sacsayhuamán

   Morning return train Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo OR Cusco. Afternoon Sacsayhuamán (Inca fortress above Cusco, 3,700 m altitude, 20 min taxi PEN 25-40 OR 30 min walk ascent). Cyclopean megalithic granite walls up to 200 tons per stone, perfect mortarless assembly (Inca technology still mysterious to modern engineers). Q'enqo + Tambomachay + Puca Pucara included in Boleto Turistico (PEN 130, 10 Cusco + valley sites). Panoramic Cusco view. Dinner Pacha Papa (traditional Peruvian cuisine, Plaza de Armas view, PEN 80-150) or Inkazuela (contemporary Peruano Creole, PEN 100-180).

   Tips

   • · Sacsayhuamán: Inca fortress, megalithic walls 200 tons
   • · Boleto Turistico: PEN 130, 10 Cusco + Valley sites
   • · Sacsayhuamán: 30 min ascent or 20 min taxi (PEN 25-40)
   • · Pacha Papa: traditional cuisine Plaza view, PEN 80-150
   Cusco →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Cusco → Lima flight + Paris return

   Morning Cusco → Lima flight (1h30, PEN 250-500). 3-4h margin for Lima international connection. Airport souvenir shopping or Lima centre if evening flight: Cacaosuyo chocolate (fine Peruano chocolate, PEN 30-60 bar), artisanal pisco (Macchu Pisco, Pisco Portón PEN 80-200/bottle), alpaca textile (shawls, gloves, beanies PEN 50-200), Chulucanas ceramic (black and brown crafts). Lima → Paris CDG flight direct 12h Air France or via Madrid Iberia. +6h time difference back to France. End of Peruano trip. Last-minute tips: customs form Peruano to fill before departure, archaeological objects declarations FORBIDDEN (heavy penalties).

   Tips

   • · Cusco-Lima flight: 1h30, 3-4h international connection margin
   • · Souvenirs: Cacaosuyo chocolate (PEN 30-60), pisco (PEN 80-200)
   • · Alpaca textile: PEN 50-200, world-class quality
   • · WARNING: archaeological objects FORBIDDEN to export (heavy penalties)
   Lima →

Frequently asked questions