A good Peru honeymoon itinerary gives you Machu Picchu, the Andes and Lima’s food without leaving you exhausted or short of breath halfway through the trip. I live in Lima and plan routes like these every week. Below you’ll find what to do with 7, 10 or 14 days, the order that makes the altitude easy, what it costs for two, and the mistakes we see couples make.
Quick answer
- Ideal length: 10 days. Seven covers Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu; 14 adds the desert, the Amazon or Lake Titicaca.
- Order: go up slowly. Rest your first afternoon in Cusco (3,399 m) and sleep a night in the Sacred Valley (about 2,800 m) before Machu Picchu.
- Best months: April, May, September and October. Mostly dry in the Andes and quieter than June to August.
- Cost for two: about USD 2,400 to 3,000 for 8 days mid-range, with hotels, tours, Machu Picchu and domestic flights. International flights are extra.
- Book Machu Picchu 2+ months ahead, 3+ for June to August.
| Days | Route | Start from |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Lima (1 night), Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu | 6-day Cusco plan, from USD 535 |
| 10 | Lima, Paracas and Huacachina, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu | 8-day Peru plan + 2 days in Ica, from USD 889 |
| 14 | Lima, Arequipa, Colca, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu (or the Amazon instead of the south) | 14-day plan, from USD 1,016 |
Prices are per person, based on 2 travelers in group tours, and cover tours, transfers and the full Machu Picchu day. Hotels and flights come on top.
Is Peru a good honeymoon destination?
Peru is a good honeymoon destination for couples who want to do things together: Machu Picchu, Andean villages, one of the best food scenes in Latin America and desert dunes a few hours from Lima. It is not a lie-on-a-lounger honeymoon. Many days start early, Cusco sits at 3,399 m, and moving between regions means domestic flights or long drives.
My honest test: if you both get restless by day three at a beach resort, Peru will suit you better than most honeymoon classics. If one of you mainly wants sand and a pool, plan Peru as the first part of the trip and finish somewhere built for that.
How many days do you need for a Peru honeymoon?
Ten days is the sweet spot for a Peru honeymoon: enough for Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu plus one more region, with a free afternoon every couple of days. Seven days covers Lima and the Cusco area. Fourteen days lets you add Lake Titicaca and Arequipa, or the Amazon, without rushing.
The number I watch more closely is hotel changes. On a honeymoon I’d keep it to one every two nights at most, because each move costs you half a day of packing, transfers and check-ins. If you’re only doing Cusco, our guide to how many days in Cusco breaks it down further.
7-day Peru honeymoon itinerary
With 7 days, spend one night in Lima and the rest around Cusco: a rest afternoon, the city, the Sacred Valley, a night in the Valley and Machu Picchu by train from Ollantaytambo. It follows our 6-day Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu itinerary with Lima added on the way in.
- Day 1: Land in Lima, hotel in Miraflores, sunset on the clifftop Malecón and your first ceviche.
- Day 2: Fly to Cusco (about 1 h 20 min). Afternoon off: coca tea, a slow walk, early night.
- Day 3: Cusco city tour: Qorikancha and the Inca sites above town. Free afternoon in San Blas.
- Day 4: Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
- Day 5: Maras and Moray, then a private transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
- Day 6: Machu Picchu by train from Ollantaytambo, back to Cusco in the evening.
- Day 7: Fly home via Lima.
Our tip for a honeymoon: add a night in Aguas Calientes before Machu Picchu, either as an eighth day or in place of the Maras and Moray day. You skip the 6:10 am train, take an early bus up and have the afternoon to yourselves. Worried about the altitude? Ask us to send you from Cusco airport straight down to the Valley on day 2 and do the city at the end.
10-day Peru honeymoon itinerary
With 10 days, add two days in the desert south of Lima before the Andes: the Huacachina dunes at sunset and the Ballestas Islands by boat. Then follow the same Cusco route. It’s the version I’d pick for most couples, because it mixes ocean, desert and mountains and keeps the altitude for the second half.
- Days 1 and 2: Lima. Our Lima evening food tour fits a honeymoon well: a cocktail by the Pacific at sunset, a tasting menu next to the lit-up Huaca Pucllana pyramid and Peruvian chocolate in Barranco (from USD 145 per person).
- Days 3 and 4: Paracas and Huacachina. Bus to Ica, then a buggy ride, sandboarding and a sunset picnic in the dunes with wine, blankets and lanterns (from USD 69 per person, private from 2 people). The next morning, the Ballestas Islands by speedboat and back to Lima.
- Day 5: Fly to Cusco and rest.
- Days 6 to 9: Cusco, the Sacred Valley, a night in the Valley and Machu Picchu.
- Day 10: Fly home via Lima.
This is our 8-day Peru itinerary plus our 2-day Paracas and Huacachina plan: from USD 889 per person (USD 719 + USD 170) for tours, transfers and Machu Picchu, before hotels and flights. If you like cooking together, swap the food tour for our Lima cooking class (ceviche, causa and pisco sour, from USD 59, with a private option).
Peru Essentials
The classic first trip: a taste of Lima, then Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu at an easy pace.
Reply the same day · No commitment
14-day Peru honeymoon itinerary
With 14 days you have two good options. The classic is our 14-day Southern Peru itinerary: Lima, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca, then Cusco and Machu Picchu, in the order that makes the altitude easiest. The slower option is the 10-day route above plus 3 days in the Amazon at Tambopata, flying from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado.
Be honest about which one fits you. The southern route has a 3:00 am pickup for the Colca and a 6-hour van ride across the altiplano to Puno: huge scenery, not many lie-ins. The Amazon version has fewer hours on the road, a jungle lodge and warm nights, and is the more relaxed way to end a honeymoon. The Southern Peru plan starts at USD 1,016 per person; the Amazon version we quote for your dates.
How do you handle altitude on a Peru honeymoon?
Handle the altitude by going up slowly: rest the afternoon you land in Cusco (3,399 m), sleep at least one night in the Sacred Valley (about 2,800 m), and leave high hikes like Rainbow Mountain (over 5,000 m) for the end of your trip, or skip them. Machu Picchu itself sits lower than Cusco, at about 2,430 m.
According to the CDC Yellow Book, altitude symptoms usually start 2 to 12 hours after you arrive and tend to ease within 12 to 48 hours if you don’t go higher. The CDC also advises no alcohol for the first 48 hours, so save the pisco sours for the Valley. That’s why we never put a big activity on your first day up there. For the altitude of every stop, see our guide to acclimatization in Peru.
Honeymoon in Cusco and Machu Picchu: where to splurge
For a honeymoon in Cusco and Machu Picchu, spend on three things: a good hotel in the Sacred Valley, one night in Aguas Calientes and a private guide. Save on the rest. Cusco’s center is walkable, and a 3 to 4-star hotel there costs about USD 95 to 117 a night for a double room (rates we quoted in 2026).
We don’t sell a fixed honeymoon package or a set list of romantic hotels. We pick hotels for your budget and quote them with your trip. These are the names couples usually ask about:
A hotel in the Sacred Valley
This is where a honeymoon starts to feel like one: gardens, mountain views and quiet nights, about 600 m lower than Cusco. Rooms run from about USD 50 to 210 a night at 3 to 4-star places, and much more at Sol y Luna, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba or Belmond Hotel Río Sagrado. Ollantaytambo is the practical base, a short walk from the train station.
A night in Aguas Calientes
Sleeping at the foot of Machu Picchu means no early train and an easy morning entry. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel are the classic picks. Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel right at the entrance to the citadel.
The train and telling hotels it's your honeymoon
The standard trains to Machu Picchu are comfortable, with big windows. If you want the train to be an occasion, the Belmond Hiram Bingham is the luxury option, with meals on board, and we can quote it instead of the regular train. Tell us it’s your honeymoon and we’ll mention it when we book your hotels. Some hotels add a small touch, but don’t count on an upgrade.
Cusco hotels and a private guide
In Cusco, Belmond Monasterio, Palacio Nazarenas and Inkaterra La Casona are the romantic classics, and the JW Marriott El Convento runs about USD 260 to 380 a night. Our Cusco plans run as group tours by default. Going private is the upgrade that changes the feel of the days most: your pace, your stops, no waiting for other passengers. Our Machu Picchu full day tour starts at USD 329 per person with train, bus, entrance and guide.
When is the best time for a Peru honeymoon?
The best time for a Peru honeymoon is April to May or September to October: mostly dry in the Andes, green after the rains in April and May, and quieter than the June to August peak. December to March is the rainy season in Cusco and the Amazon, but summer on the coast, when Lima and Paracas are at their sunniest.
Getting married around December or January? Peru still works, just plan around it. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance (SERNANP, via Andina), afternoon rain is common in Cusco, and the desert and Lima are at their best. Machu Picchu itself stays open, and the train is the way in.
How much does a Peru honeymoon cost?
A mid-range Peru honeymoon costs about USD 2,400 to 3,000 for two for 8 days, and about USD 3,600 to 4,400 for two weeks, with 3 to 4-star hotels, guided tours, Machu Picchu and domestic flights. A luxury week with private guides and 5-star hotels runs about USD 4,600 to 5,400 for two, more with Belmond. International flights come on top.
| Trip | Per person | For two |
|---|---|---|
| 8 days, mid-range | USD 1,200 to 1,500 | USD 2,400 to 3,000 |
| 14 days, mid-range | USD 1,800 to 2,200 | USD 3,600 to 4,400 |
| 8 days, luxury | USD 2,300 to 2,700 | USD 4,600 to 5,400 |
Honeymoon extras worth budgeting: the evening food tour in Lima (from USD 145 per person), the sunset picnic in Huacachina (from USD 69), a night in Aguas Calientes and a private guide. One saving most couples miss: foreign tourists staying in Peru 60 days or less don’t pay the 18% IGV tax on hotel rooms if they show their passport and entry record at check-in. Ask your hotel to apply it. The full breakdown is in our Peru trip cost guide.
Peru honeymoon mistakes we see every year
Most honeymoon problems in Peru come from planning, not from Peru: booking Machu Picchu late, putting the hardest hike in the first days, and trying to see too much. These are the ones we fix most often:
- Booking Machu Picchu late. Since September 2026, tickets can’t be held without paying, and June to August dates go first. Book 2+ months ahead on Tu Boleto, the Ministry of Culture site, or let us handle it (see how to buy Machu Picchu tickets).
- Rainbow Mountain on day two. At over 5,000 m it’s the hardest day of most Cusco trips. Do it last or skip it.
- The 4-day Inca Trail the week after the wedding. It’s a real trek with camping, and permits sell out months ahead. If you’re running on wedding fumes, take the train.
- Flying from Lima to Lake Titicaca first. Juliaca airport sits at about 3,825 m. Reach the lake from Arequipa, or from Cusco once you’re used to the altitude.
- Too many regions. Five regions in ten days means a flight or a bus every other day. Pick two or three.
Plan your Peru honeymoon with us
Tell us your dates, how many days you have and the kind of trip you want, slow and comfortable or full of activities, and we’ll send you a day-by-day itinerary with hotels for your budget, private or group. It’s free, with no commitment, and we reply the same day. We can book your domestic flights inside Peru as part of your trip; your international flight you book yourself.
FAQ
Is Peru good for a honeymoon?
Yes, for couples who want culture, food and mountains more than a beach resort. Plan for some early starts and the altitude in Cusco (3,399 m), and add Paracas or the Amazon for slower days.
How many days do you need for a Peru honeymoon?
Ten days is ideal for Lima, Paracas and Huacachina, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Seven days covers Lima and the Cusco area; 14 days adds Lake Titicaca and Arequipa or the Amazon.
What is the best month for a honeymoon in Peru?
May and September are the safest bets: dry in the Andes and less crowded than June to August. April and October work too, with a slightly higher chance of rain.
How much does a Peru honeymoon cost for two?
About USD 2,400 to 3,000 for 8 days mid-range and USD 3,600 to 4,400 for two weeks, with hotels, tours, Machu Picchu and domestic flights. International flights are extra.
How far in advance should we book Machu Picchu for our honeymoon?
At least 2 months ahead, and 3 or more for June to August. Since September 2026, tickets are sold only through official channels (the Ministry of Culture site or registered agencies) and must be paid within 15 minutes.
Can our honeymoon tours be private?
Yes. Our Cusco plans run as group tours by default, and we quote private guides and transport with your trip. Some tours, like the Huacachina sunset picnic, have a private option from 2 people.
