Essential Peru: Cuzco and Machu Picchu
Duration : 10 days
Route : Lima (1 night) → flight to Cuzco → Sacred Valley Pisac and Ollantaytambo (3 nights, acclimatization) → Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu (1 night) → Cuzco (3 nights) → Lima (1 night)
Custom travel to Peru
Peru is one of South America's most enchanting destinations, where Inca ruins meet coastal desert and Amazonian jungle, where colorful Andean markets dialogue with Lima's haute cuisine, and where every region reveals its own character. From the lost city of Machu Picchu to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, from Lake Titicaca to the floating Uros islands, through the mysterious Nazca Lines and the Tambopata Amazon jungle, the country offers a diversity of landscapes, cultures, and flavors that makes it one of the world's most fascinating destinations.
Highlights
- Machu Picchu: the lost city of the Incas
- Cuzco and the Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras
- Lake Titicaca: Uros, Taquile, Amantani islands
- Lima: South America's culinary capital
- Peruvian Amazon: Tambopata, Manú, Iquitos
- Nazca desert and lines, Huacachina oasis, Paracas
Sample itineraries
Grand Peru tour
Duration : 16 days
Route : Lima (2 nights) → Paracas and Huacachina (1 night) → Nazca (1 night, overflight) → Arequipa (2 nights) → Colca Canyon (1 night) → Puno and Lake Titicaca (2 nights) → Cuzco (3 nights) → Sacred Valley (2 nights) → Machu Picchu (1 night) → Lima (1 night)
Peru and Amazon
Duration : 14 days
Route : Lima (1 night) → flight to Cuzco → Sacred Valley (3 nights) → Machu Picchu (1 night) → Cuzco (2 nights) → flight to Puerto Maldonado → Tambopata Amazon lodge (3 nights) → flight to Lima (2 nights)
When to go
Peru is ideally visited May to October: dry season in the Andes (Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Titicaca), with blue skies, cool morning temperatures (5-10 °C) and warm daytime (18-22 °C). June-August is high season, Machu Picchu books 3-4 months in advance. Rainy season (November-March) makes trails muddy and the Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance, but Andean landscapes are then green. The coast (Lima, Paracas) is paradoxically humid and gray (garúa) in June-October, sunny December-March. Amazon: dry season May-October (better for walking), wet season November-April (higher rivers, easier canoe access).
- Dry season (Andes) (May – September), Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Amazon
- Dry shoulder season (October – November), Andes, Lima, All Saints festivities
- Rainy season (Andes) (December – March), Sunny Lima, beaches, lush Amazon, end-of-year festivities
- Humid shoulder season (April), Green Cuzco and Sacred Valley, Holy Week festival
Practical information
Peru is generally safe in tourist zones, main risks are Lima pickpockets (Miraflores less, historic center more), taxi scams (prefer Uber or Cabify), and acute mountain sickness (AMS) above 3,000 m. For altitude: arrive progressively (Sacred Valley at 2,800 m before Cuzco at 3,400 m), drink plenty, avoid alcohol and exertion the first days, chew coca leaves (legal and beneficial). Tap water not recommended, prefer bottled water. Tipping (10% in restaurants, a few soles for guides and porters) is appreciated. A few Spanish and Quechua words (allillanchu = hello, urpillay = thank you) always appreciated.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for a Peru trip?
May to October offers the best conditions in the Andes (Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Titicaca): dry season, blue sky, cool mornings (5-10 °C) and warm daytime temperatures (18-22 °C). June-August is high season, the most requested but also the most crowded: book Machu Picchu 3-4 months ahead. Rainy season (November-March) makes trails muddy and closes the Inca Trail in February for maintenance, but Andean landscapes turn green and prices soften. Curiously, the coast (Lima, Paracas) is humid and gray (garúa) from June to October, but sunny from December to March, the opposite of the Andes. In the Amazon, the dry season (May-October) is best for jungle walking, while the wet season (November-April) raises river levels and eases canoe access to lodges.
How long for a Peru trip?
Minimum 10 days for the essential itinerary: Lima, the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras-Moray) to acclimatize gradually to altitude, then Machu Picchu and Cuzco. Allow 14 to 16 days for the grand tour, which adds the desert coast (Paracas, Nazca Lines overflight), Arequipa and Colca Canyon (condor flight), and Lake Titicaca with its floating Uros islands. To combine Andes and Amazon (Tambopata), plan for 14 days. Travelers who also want to explore the little-visited north (Chachapoyas, Kuelap fortress, Gocta falls) or push on to the Cordillera Blanca (Huaraz) should allow 21 days or more.
What budget for a custom Peru trip?
As a guideline, expect from €2,400 per person for 10-12 days in the Comfort tier (3-4★ boutique hotels, restored haciendas in the Sacred Valley, domestic flights and Vistadome train included), excluding international flights. The Premium tier, from €4,200 for 14-16 days, includes exceptional hotels (Belmond Hotel Monasterio, Inkaterra La Casona) and a private French-speaking guide on key stops. The Exclusive tier, from €8,500 for 14 to 21 days, offers addresses like the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge at the foot of Machu Picchu or the luxury Andean Explorer train. Expect €700 to €1,400 for a Paris-Lima round-trip flight with one layover.
Do I need a visa to travel to Peru?
No visa for French, Belgian, and Swiss citizens, as well as the UK, US, and Canada, for stays under 90 days. The passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond the return date. On entry, you receive an embarkation/disembarkation card (TAM, Tarjeta Andina de Migración) to keep carefully throughout the stay and present on exit: losing it can cause fees or administrative hassle. No vaccine is mandatory for a classic Andes-and-Lima itinerary, but the yellow fever vaccine is recommended if your itinerary includes the Amazon (Tambopata, Manú, Iquitos).
How to handle altitude sickness in Peru?
Cuzco (3,400 m) and Puno (3,800 m) often cause acute mountain sickness (AMS). Precautions: start with the Sacred Valley (2,800 m) before Cuzco, drink plenty, avoid alcohol and exertion the first days, chew coca leaves (legal). Diamox (prescription) prevents AMS.
How do I get around in Peru?
Domestic flights (LATAM, Sky, JetSmart) are essential to connect major stops: Lima-Cuzco (1 h 20), Lima-Arequipa (1 h 30), Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado (30 min for the Amazon), Lima-Iquitos (2 h). The train is the only way to reach Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo: the panoramic Vistadome (1 h 30) for most travelers, or the luxurious Hiram Bingham (3 h, with gastronomic lunch and bar car) for a Belmond experience. For medium distances on the coast or in the southern Andes (Lima-Paracas-Nazca, Cuzco-Puno), the luxury Cruz del Sur bus is comfortable and safe. A private car with driver is recommended in the Sacred Valley and for Colca Canyon, where mountain roads require local experience. There's no reliable public transport outside cities: private transfers remain the best option for tourists.
Should I do the Inca Trail to see Machu Picchu?
No, the Inca Trail is an experience for trek enthusiasts (4 days, 45 km, significant elevation, altitude max 4,200 m). For classic travelers, the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo (1 h 30) is comfortable and panoramic. For a luxury experience: Hiram Bingham train (Belmond, 3 h with gastronomic lunch).
When to book Machu Picchu?
At least 3-4 months in advance in high season (June-August). Entry slots are limited (5,500 visitors/day) and Huayna Picchu (annex climb) even more restricted (200 spots/day, 2 slots). The Inca Trail books 6 months in advance (500 spots/day, including 200 for hikers and 300 for porters).
Is Peru safe for a trip?
Generally safe in tourist zones. Main risks are pickpockets in Lima, particularly in the historic center and bus terminals (Miraflores and Barranco are quieter), street taxi scams (prefer Uber or Cabify, booked ahead), and acute mountain sickness above 3,000 m (Cuzco, Puno). Avoid walking alone at night outside tourist neighborhoods, keep valuables out of sight, and avoid remote areas of the north and non-tourist jungle outside organized lodges. Tap water is not recommended anywhere in the country, prefer bottled water. Solo female travelers travel safely with the usual precautions, Peru being one of South America's most popular solo destinations.
Is Peru suitable for a family trip?
Yes, from age 8 (due to altitude). Safety, warm welcome for children, kid-friendly experiences (llamas in the Sacred Valley, panoramic train, Titicaca navigation, Amazon wildlife). Favor Sacred Valley (acclimatization) + Machu Picchu + Lima for a first family trip.
Can I combine Peru with other South American destinations?
Yes, Peru combines easily with its Andean neighbors. Bolivia (Uyuni salt flats, La Paz) is accessible from Puno or Cuzco and naturally extends a visit to the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. Ecuador (Quito, Galápagos Islands) and Chile (Atacama Desert) are other frequent extensions, best added at the end of the trip. These combinations generally require 3 to 5 extra days per destination.
Do I need to speak Spanish to travel in Peru?
It's not essential but helpful. Spanish and Quechua are the country's languages, and English remains limited outside tourist areas (hotels, restaurants for travelers, guides). In major cities and tourist sites (Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lima), you'll get by without trouble. I systematically provide French-speaking guides on the key stops of your trip, which greatly limits the need to speak the language locally. A few basic Spanish words are always appreciated for informal exchanges in markets or Andean villages.