10 Day Peru Itinerary: An Exciting Incan Adventure

Peru is a magical land filled with many sites of the Inca Civilization. The highlight of Peru will be a visit to Machu Picchu, the most famous of the Inca ruins. However, Peru offers so much more than Machu Picchu! It contains part of the Amazon, the world’s highest navigable lake, and tons of history. The following is a sample 10 day Peru itinerary that highlights some of the main sites.

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Peru hotels here!

Best Time to Visit Peru

The best time to visit Peru is during the wintertime, which is May to September. This is also their peak season, so keep that in mind when booking things. The weather will be cold but good for hiking Machu Picchu or partaking in other outdoor activities. December to March is the wettest season, so you will want to avoid that time. 

How to Get to Peru

The main airport in Peru is located in Lima. There are international flights here from all over South America and most parts of the world. Depending on the time and where you are flying from, you can find flights from $400 round trip. 

Once in Peru, both Cusco and Puno have smaller domestic airports to transport you to the various parts of the country. 

Currency in Peru

Peru uses the Peruvian Sol. 1 Sol equals around $0.25 USD, thus making everything very affordable.

Other Peru Tips

I also recommend buying the Cusco Tourist Ticket as it is cheaper than paying for the sites individually included in this itinerary. Make sure you also read up on how to manage altitude sickness before traveling to Peru. Some of the elevations can be difficult for some people to handle.

Day 1: Arrival in Lima

Start your 10 day Peru itinerary in Lima, the capital of Peru. Lima was established in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro but was inhabited by indigenous people prior to that time. You will need at least one night in Lima to rest before you ascend to the higher altitude. Lima overlooks the Pacific Ocean, so the area has several nice beaches. It also has a few sites to explore, such as the Government Palace, the Palace of the Archbishop, and the Cathedral of Lima. Make sure to check out some of the delicious restaurants as well. 

Day 2: Lima to Cusco to Urubamba

Cost: $30 Flight to Cusco, Ollantaytambo Ruins (included in Cusco Tourist Ticket)

Next up on this 10 day Peru itinerary, fly to Cusco, as the bus takes a really long time. Fly to Cusco in the morning, then immediately transfer to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Visitors can take a bus or a taxi to this area from the airport in Cusco. A 50-minute taxi runs $35-$50 and is the quickest way to get from the airport in Cusco to Urubamba. An hour and a half bus ride costs about $2. You will have to take a taxi to the bus station, which costs around $7.

You can also opt to base yourself in Cusco. Make sure to take it slow and spend some time getting acclimated to the higher altitude. Spend the morning and early afternoon resting or walking around the area. This afternoon, visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is the former estate of the Incan ruler Pachacuti, who conquered the area. For people who hike the Inca trail, this is usually the starting point of the journey.

Day 3: Urubamba

Cost: Maras ($2) and Moray (included in Cusco Tourist Ticket)

Today on this 10 day Peru itinerary, spend time exploring more of the Sacred Valley. Start the mornings at the salt mines of Maras. There are hundreds of terrace ponds that accrue salt. Visitors are able to walk around the salt ponds, and you can even try the salt right from the ponds. Visitors can also buy some salt packs from the local people. After spending about an hour at Maras, head over to the ruins of Moray. These Incan ruins are famous for their circular terrace, an example of the Incan terrace farming system. The Inca would plant different crops on each level to help with irrigation. 

Day 4: Urubamba to Machu Picchu to Cusco

Cost: $80

Spend today exploring Machu Picchu, a must-see site on any 10 day Peru itinerary. It will be a long but rewarding day to see the massive ruins of the Inca society. Although the cheapest option is to see Machu Picchu on your own, you can also take a guided tour. Read more about your Machu Picchu options in this post. Make sure to take water and snacks with you, as the elevation will be at 8,000 feet! You can choose to spend the night in Aguas Caliente or transfer back to Cusco. 

Day 5: Cusco

Cost: None (Cusco Tourist Ticket)

Either transfer to Cusco from Aguas Caliente in the morning or wake up already in Cusco. Spend the day exploring the wonderful city of Cusco. Stop for a visit at the Choco Museum or shop at the San Pedro Market. Grab lunch in the Plaza de Armas at one of the many cafes in the area. You can also use your Cusco Tourist Ticket to visit sites such as the Contemporary Art Museum, Pachacutec Monument, or the Regional Historical Museum.

Day 6: Cusco -Day trip to Rainbow Mountain

Cost: $35-$100, depending on what tour you book

If you are up to it, make the long trek to see Rainbow Mountain. Be warned, this is a LONG day and requires a great amount of strenuous hiking. There are many tours available to book prior, or you can choose to book one once in Cusco. Jo from Backpack and Bushcraft has an awesome guide to an alternative Rainbow Mountain, Palccoyo if you do not want to deal with the crowds at Rainbow Mountain. Palccoyo is a lot less crowded and not as difficult of a hike. You can also choose to take one of these day trips from Cusco.

Day 7: Cusco to Puno

Cost: $10+ transportation

It will be a long day of travel to get to Puno, but it is worth it to see the world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. There are three ways to get to Puno from Cusco: plane, train, or bus. An hour-long flight costs around $50 and is the quickest option if you are short on time. If you fly, you will have to take an hour-long taxi ride to Puno. The train takes about 10.5 hours and costs about $200. The bus ride is about 7.5 hours and costs around $10. It will take most of the day to get there, so take it easy upon arrival, as the altitude is over 12,000 feet. 

Day 8: Puno

Cost: $22 Uros Islands Tour, $17 Sillustani TombsToday, take a day trip to the Uros Islands. These man-made islands are in the middle of Lake Titicaca and are inhabited by the Uros people. On the islands, you get to interact with the local people and see how they live. Make sure to check out the woven artwork made right there by the local ladies. In the afternoon, check out the Sillustani Tombs. The Sillustani Tombs are a pre-Incan cemetery and are located above the ground. You will have to book a tour to go, and you can book in Puno or online ahead of time.

Day 9: Puno to Lima

Cost: $40 Flight to Lima

Catch an early morning flight back to Lima. Spend your last night exploring Lima and wandering through the markets. Make sure to check out the Saint Francis Monastery and the Parque de la Reserva. Do not forget to try a Pisco Sour, a local Peruvian beverage.

Day 10: Depart for Home

Say goodbye to Peru and head home with the memories you made on this trip. Many flights leave early in the morning, so make sure to get a good night’s sleep.

*Note: Visitors can eliminate days 6-8 and spend the time in Lima or depart for home. You can also choose to go to the Peruvian Amazon instead of Puno. No matter what, a 10 day Peru itinerary makes for a perfect trip.

* You can also get around by buying a bus pass and using the Peru Hop busses.

Total Costs for a 10 Day Peru Itinerary

• Airfare: $470
• Cusco Tourist Pass: $39
• Transportation: $20+
• Activities and Tours: $155+
• Total: $840+ 

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