10 days in Peru is the perfect amount of time to explore what this incredible country has to offer. There is a lot to see and do all around, and this itinerary will take you to all corners of the country.
From the natural beauty of the Amazon rainforest to the ruins of Machu Picchu to the islands of Lake Titicaca, this itinerary will take you through it all and more.
* Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!
Welcome to the 10 Days in Peru Itinerary!
I put together this guide to show you on a day to day basis what to expect and how to go about it. It covers logistics, attractions, accommodations, and other helpful info along the way. Get ready for what is sure to be an incredible once in a lifetime experience!
Before diving into the itinerary be sure to check out the Peru Helpful Tips section to get you prepared for your trip.
Peru Map View
Take a look at the map below which shows you where each city that is part of this itinerary is located throughout the country.
Most flights from outside the country will land in Lima on the western coast, where you can then catch a flight across Peru to Puerto Maldonado, the starting point to explore the Amazon.
From there you will make your way to the Cusco region, making stops at Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, before heading down to Lake Titicaca, and ultimately departing from Lima.
A Detailed Peru Itinerary 10 Days
Now lets get on to the actual trip! The following is a detailed breakout of the daily attractions and activities on this 10 days in Peru itinerary. Feel free to scroll through and click on any more in depth posts along the way.
Days 1-3: Arrival & The Amazon
You start off your journey by flying into the capital city of Lima, where you will then catch your next flight to Puerto Maldonado – the starting point of your Amazon Rainforest experience.
If you get into Lima in the evening time, grab a flight the next morning. If you decide to take a red eye in, then just make sure you leave enough time to catch the flight onto Puerto Maldonado.
This experience will last the first 3.5 days of the trip. Some of the highlights include parrot and mammal clay licks, local farms, canopy views, and plenty more wildlife and nature.
There will be just so much to do and see during your time exploring the Amazon and having the chance to be immersed in the nature and surrounding beauty is a perfect way to start off your 10 days in Peru.
Instead of going into a detailed day by day approach here, I would recommend for you to take a look a the guide I put together about how to go about your time in the Amazon ⇒
» For everything you need to know about this portion of the itinerary check out the Amazon Rainforest Experience recap up on the site
You can check out some Puerto Maldonado lodges for your Amazon experience (nights 1, 2 & 3 of the itinerary) or book with Refugio Amazonas, one of the most highly rated lodges in the area.
Book your stay at Refugio Amazonas!
Day 4 – Fly to Cusco & Incan Ruins
It is time to retrace your steps as you head out of the Amazon and back down the river. Once you are back in the city of Puerto Maldonado, you will then head on off to the airport. Your next stop on the trip will be the city of Cusco!
There should be a few flights available late morning/early afternoon that will take you the hour or so to Cusco. Once landed, make your way to your hotel to check in and have some lunch before exploring the city.
You will most likely only have an afternoon to check out what Cusco has to offer but many of the attractions aren’t too far away from each other so it will still leave you with some time to check them out.
If you think you would like to have more time to explore Cusco feel free to spend an extra day here if you have the flexibility.
During your afternoon in Cusco you can visit any and all of the below:
1. Plaza de Armas
2. Qorikancha
3. Saksaywaman
4. Puca Pucara
5. Tambomachay
6. Qenko
» Take a look at 6 Awesome Things To Do in Cusco guide that will walk you through it all and take a look at some Cusco City Tours that can bring you all around the city
Cusco is filled with plenty of affordable and highly rated accommodation options. Take a look below for top rated options for nights 4 & 7 of the itinerary:
2) Hotel Costa Del Sol Ramada Cusco
Day 5 – Off to Machu Picchu
It is now time to see one of the most magnificent man made structures there is – Machu Picchu, which is also one the Seven Wonders of the World.
Getting to Machu Picchu is pretty simple. You will take a 30 minute or so cab ride to the Poroy train station (note that during the offseason of January to April, you might need to take a combo bus/train from Cusco instead).
Once there you will hop on a ~3 hour train to Aguas Calientes – the base town to Machu Picchu. When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, head on over to your hotel to drop your bags and then make your way to the bus stop to catch a ride up to Machu Picchu.
You can spend your first afternoon in Machu Picchu exploring the ins and outs of the historical site, and then on your second day, spend the morning doing a hike around the area.
» I would recommend taking a look at The Complete Guide to Machu Picchu to give you all the information you will need for your trip there
» Feel free to also browse through some top rated Machu Picchu tour options to help you out with your time around the area
» Aguas Calientes hotel options for your Machu Picchu overnight (night 5):
2) Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu
3) Taypikala Hotel Machupicchu
Day 6 – Machu Picchu Part II & Train to Ollantaytambo
Now while your first day at Machu Picchu included a lot of history and information about the Incan site, your second day will include a bit more of a hiking opportunity.
There are a few options here depending on your interest level – Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain and the Sun Gate – all of them are great hikes that will let you see Machu Picchu from a different perspective.
The first two options are limited as the government only allows a few hundred people up on these routes per day and the Sun Gate hike has no additional charge. You can check them out in more detail in the hiking section of the Machu Picchu Guide.
It is now time to head out of Machu Picchu and back down to Aguas Calientas. All of these hikes will probably take anywhere between 2-4 hours depending on fitness level and the amount of time taken to just sit back and enjoy the view.
There are plenty of trains in the afternoon that will take you from Aguas Calientas to your next destination – Ollantaytambo. Just make sure you understand your timing (especially with the first two hikes where you have a certain time slot), as you will have to book your train beforehand.
You most likely will be heading out to Ollantaytambo in the mid afternoon time, and after a 2 or so hour ride you will arrive at your destination.
Once you get off the train its time to hop in a taxi and make a quick stop at the Ollantaytambo Fortresss before going to your hotel for the night. These ruins are made up of huge rock formed terraces that line an entire mountainside.
Even after a few days of seeing a bunch of different ruins, this one will surely not disappoint. (Note that the ruins close at 6PM, so if you would like to get a glimpse of them make sure that train gets in a bit beforehand as its pretty close to the station).
After you have had enough time at the fortress, make your way to the city of Urubamba for night.
The Sacred Valley is full of some beautiful hotels to choose from. Here are some highly rated accommodations for night 6 of the itinerary to take a look at when deciding on where to stay in the area:
1) Sol y Luna – Relais & Chateaux
2) Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
3) Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
4) Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas
Day 7 – Urubamba and the Sacred Valley
During this day in the Sacred Valley you will need to hire a taxi or tour guide to take you to all the different sites around the area and also keep your luggage safe during your stops at each attraction.
The day will end back in Cusco where you can head back to your original hotel before you went to Machu Picchu.
1) Chincero
2) Moray
3) Maras Salt Mines
4) Pisac Market
» Take a look at our Perfect Day in the Sacred Valley guide that will walk you through everything you will need to know about the area
Day 8 – Travel to Puno
It is time to pack your bags and head down south to the city of Puno, the site of Lake Titicaca. There will be a couple options to get here depending on budget and preference.
The first option is a simple flight from Cusco to Juliaca and then an hour or so cab ride to Puno. The second option would be a ~6 hour long bus or taxi ride that will take you directly to Puno.
Depending when you leave, you might have some time to explore Cusco a bit more before heading out and visit any attractions you might have missed on your first day in Cusco.
If you choose either plane or bus you probably wont make it to Puno until mid afternoon at the earliest. This could leave you a few hours to explore the lake’s surroundings and the city of Puno itself.
Here you will be able to walk around the city center, passing through Plaza de Armas, markets and local restaurants. You can also head up to Parque Huajsapata where you can get a nice viewpoint of the city and lake.
If you have not yet booked a tour in advance for Lake Titicaca there are many opportunities to purchase one within the city, at your hotel and down by the pier area. Be sure to check a few of them out for the best price as most of the tours offer the same type of services.
Once you have done some exploring and are all set for the next day, grab some dinner and head back to your hotel to rest up as you will have an early morning the next day when you head out on the lake itself.
Puno is a beautiful lakeside town with plenty of accommodation options to choose from. You can find options in the city center or right on the lake itself. Here are some highly rated and valued hotels to check out for nights 8 & 9:
3) Sonesta Posadas del Inca Lake Titicaca Puno
Day 9 – Lake Titicaca
It is now time to make your way onto Lake Titicaca itself. You will hop on the boat and start the ride out further into the lake. You first will head out towards the Uros Islands, where you will learn from locals all about the history of the lake and how people live on it.
Your second stop of the day will be at Taquile Island, where you can wander and enjoy a unique and picturesque town. You will also have plenty of time to enjoy the lakes surroundings as you complete your day on Lake Titicaca.
» I would recommend for you to check out the Things To Do at Lake Titicaca for an in depth review of your day on the lake
Day 10 – Travel to Lima & Depart Peru
Your 10 days in Peru journey is now coming to an end. After heading into the Amazon, seeing Machu Picchu, exploring all types of Incan ruins and navigating Lake Titicaca, it’s time to head back to Lima.
You can head back to Lima early in the morning and explore the city for a bit before going back to the airport to catch your flight back home. Or you can time it correctly so you can just stay a little while in the Lima airport before your final flight.
A few quick side notes depending on if you want to add a day or two to your trip:
1) If you arrive on day 1 in the early AM and you don’t want to have such a long travel day on your first day, feel free to head to Puerto Maldonado first thing on day 2. This way you will be able to arrive in Lima, take a quick day tour and then rest up before continuing your journey to Puerto Maldonado.
2) There are also 2 day / 1 night options Lake Titicaca tours. The major difference is the ability to actually sleep in a homestay for a night on the lake (many of these tours would take you to Amantani Island for the night). You will also be able to do everything that the single day tour offers but have this additional experience – living, eating and interacting with the locals. If you haven’t done a homestay before they are quite the experience.
That does it all for 10 days in Peru. Hope you enjoy it! For more Peru itineraries and guides head on over to the Peru page on the site. If you have any questions feel free to comment below!
