10 Days in Peru

This 10-day tour hits the high points of southern Peru in a schedule that allows for gradual acclimatization to altitude.

DAY 1
Early-morning arrival in Lima, fly to Cusco, and head to Pisac, where you’ll overnight.

DAY 2
Tour Sacred Valley, with visits to Moray and Ollantaytambo.

DAY 3
Wander around Ollantaytambo and catch the evening Backpacker train to Aguas Calientes, your base for seeing Machu Picchu.

DAY 4
Rise early to explore the ruins of Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, you can either hike to Huayna Picchu or indulge in a gourmet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. Then take the train for a two-day stay in Cusco.

DAYS 5–6
Tour Cusco, taking two days to soak in the sights. Travelers with a bit more time may want to extend this trip from Cusco with a visit to biodiverse Parque Nacional Manu (five–seven days) or a visit to Lake Titicaca (three–five days).

DAY 7
Hop a morning flight to Arequipa to see the city’s elegant Monasterio Santa Catalina and Plaza de Armas.

DAY 8
Leave early the next morning for Colca Canyon and keep a sharp eye out for herds of vicuña along the way. The adventurous can mountain-bike the final descent to the Colca Lodge, where you will star-gaze that night and soak your weary feet in riverside hot springs

DAY 9
Rise the next morning to tour Colca. See Andean condors and stone villages before returning to Arequipa.

DAY 10
Catch a morning flight from Arequipa to Lima, where you have a chance to see colonial architecture, shop, and have a gourmet meal before catching your flight home.