10-Day Peru Itinerary: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca
Your first trip to Peru in 10 days: Lima, Cusco, the full Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, then the Ruta del Sol bus across the Andes to Lake Titicaca and the Uros and Taquile islands.
Peru Highlights is our 8-day Peru Essentials route plus Lake Titicaca. You start at sea level in Lima, fly to Cusco for a rest day, the city, the full Sacred Valley with two nights in the Valley and Machu Picchu. Then, already acclimatized, you take the Ruta del Sol tourist bus across the altiplano to Puno, spend a day on the lake with the Uros and Taquile islands, and fly home from Juliaca. Puno sits higher than Cusco, which is why it goes last. Want the full budget with hotels and flights? See what a Peru trip costs.
LimaHistoric center and Barranco
Machu PicchuGuided visit, train from Ollantaytambo
Two nights in the ValleyBefore Machu Picchu, no 4 am start
Private pickup at your hotel in the Valley, with your luggage.
Day
Ollantaytambo, Pisac and Chinchero at your own pace, with your own guide and vehicle. Lunch isn’t included; your guide will suggest where to eat.
17:30
Drop-off at your hotel in Cusco, luggage included.
Private Sacred Valley tour with guide
Drop-off at your hotel in Cusco
Night in Cusco
Day8
Day 8: Ruta del Sol to Puno
Morning
Transfer from your hotel to the Cusco bus station and Ruta del Sol tourist bus with a guide: a full day across the Andes with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, the La Raya pass and Pukara, and a buffet lunch on the way.
Evening
Pickup at the Puno bus station and transfer to your hotel. Puno sits at about 3,830 m, higher than Cusco, so take it easy tonight.
Pickup at your hotel in Puno and boat to the Uros floating islands, built from totora reeds.
09:00
Sail on to Taquile and a 1-hour walk up to the village, with views across the lake.
12:00
Fresh-trout lunch on Taquile and time to see its famous textile work.
15:45
Back in Puno.
Hotel pickup
Boat and guide
Lunch
Night in Puno
Day10
Day 10: Fly from Juliaca and home
Morning
Transfer from your hotel in Puno to Juliaca airport (about 1 hour) and flight to Lima, where you connect with your flight home. The flight isn’t in the base price: we can book it and add it to your quote.
Transfer to Juliaca airport
Make it yoursEvery package is a starting point. Pick what you’d change and we’ll include it in your quote.
Times are the usual schedule of each tour and are confirmed with your final itinerary. Prefer Machu Picchu at opening time? Add a night in Aguas Calientes.
What’s included
Airport pickup and drop-off in Lima
Airport pickup in Cusco
Private Maras & Moray tour, ending at your hotel in the Sacred Valley with your luggage
Private Sacred Valley tour, ending at your hotel in Cusco with your luggage
Transfers to and from the bus stations in Cusco and Puno
Ruta del Sol tourist bus Cusco – Puno with guide and lunch
Transfer from Puno to Juliaca airport
Private tours in Lima, Maras & Moray and the Sacred Valley; all other tours in group, with guide
Hotel pickup for every tour
Machu Picchu train, round trip
Bus up and down to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu entrance and guide
Breakfast and lunch on Machu Picchu day
Lunch on Taquile
Not included
International flights; domestic Lima – Cusco and Juliaca – Lima flights quoted on request
Hotels (quoted on request)
Boleto Turístico (entrance to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Sacsayhuamán and other sites; bought in Cusco)
Meals not listed
Tips
Travel insurance
Prices
Base tripPer person, based on 2 travelers. Tours, transfers, Machu Picchu and the Ruta del Sol bus. Private tours in Lima, Maras & Moray and the Sacred Valley; group tours elsewhere.
From $944
With 3★ hotelsPer person, based on 2 travelers sharing a double room. Comfortable 3★ hotels with breakfast, such as Tierra Viva or Casa Andina Standard. The exact price depends on your dates.
About $1,430
Base trip + domestic flightsTours, transfers, Machu Picchu and the Lima – Cusco and Juliaca – Lima flights with a checked bag. Hotels not included.
About $1,261
Flight Lima – CuscoOne way. Carry-on only and non-refundable, or with a checked bag and refundable.
About $97 / $159
Flight Juliaca – LimaOne way. Depends on the season.
About $160
Night on Lake TiticacaSwap day 9 for the 2-day homestay: Uros, a night on Amantaní and Taquile. Adds one day.
+ $26
Humantay Lake or Rainbow MountainAn extra day in Cusco before the bus to Puno, when you’re acclimatized.
+ $65 each
The Amazon instead of TiticacaSwap Puno for 3 days in Tambopata after Machu Picchu.
On request
Private toursYour own guide and vehicle. Train and bus are shared.
On request
HotelsComfortable 3★, Boutique 4★ or Luxury 5★.
On request
Want hotels included? Choose “Include hotels in my quote” in the form and pick 3★, 4★ or 5★.
Questions about this trip
Is 10 days enough for Peru?
Yes, for Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca at a calm pace, with a rest day for the altitude. To add Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, see our 14-day Peru itinerary.
Why go to Lake Titicaca after Cusco?
Puno sits at about 3,830 m, higher than Cusco. Arriving from Cusco, you’re already acclimatized, and the Ruta del Sol bus climbs gradually across the altiplano. More in our guide to acclimatization in Peru.
Are the domestic flights included?
Not in the base price. We can book the Lima – Cusco and Juliaca – Lima flights as part of the trip: about $97 to $159 one way to Cusco and about $160 from Juliaca, depending on the season and the bag. International flights you book yourself.
Can I sleep on Lake Titicaca?
Yes. Swap the Uros and Taquile day for the 2-day homestay with a night on Amantaní Island, for $26 more and one extra day.
Can I do this trip privately or with hotels?
Yes. Every tour can go private with your own guide and vehicle, and we can add hotels from 3★ to 5★ in each city. Tell us in the form and we’ll quote it.
