8 days in Peru: the classic Cusco itinerary, day by day
Eight days is the length most travellers wish they had chosen. It covers the icons — Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu — plus the best mountain day trips, with enough room to acclimatize and actually enjoy them. This is the day-by-day plan we use in our own 8-day package.
The 8 days at a glance
| Day | Plan | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and Cusco City Tour | Easy |
| 2 | Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, Pisac | Easy |
| 3 | Machu Picchu by train | Moderate, long day |
| 4 | ATV ride to Maras and Moray | Easy |
| 5 | Humantay Lake | Demanding |
| 6 | South Valley: Tipón, Pikillacta, Andahuaylillas | Easy |
| 7 | Rainbow Mountain | Demanding |
| 8 | Departure | — |
Days 1–2: Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Day 1. After your airport pickup, take it easy and join the Cusco City Tour: the Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. It is a gentle introduction to Inca history and to the altitude.
Day 2. The Sacred Valley is lower and warmer than Cusco, perfect for your second day: Chinchero’s weavers, the circular terraces of Moray, the Maras salt pans, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the ruins and market of Pisac. Read about each site in our Sacred Valley guide.
Want this trip organized for you?
Our Cusco Complete 8-day package follows exactly this plan, with transport, guides and entrances (from US $890).
Day 3: Machu Picchu
The highlight. An early start takes you by road to Ollantaytambo, then by train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes and by bus up to the citadel for a guided visit. You return to Cusco in the evening. Entry is by timed ticket on a fixed circuit, so book early — see Machu Picchu tickets and circuits. Prefer to sleep near the ruins? Ask us to add a night in Aguas Calientes.
Days 4–6: adventure, lakes and quiet valleys
Day 4. A fun, easy day: an ATV ride to Moray and the Maras salt mines through the countryside.
Day 5. Your first big hike: the turquoise Humantay Lake, beneath the glaciers of Salkantay. By now you have had four days to adjust. Details in our Humantay Lake guide.
Day 6. A relaxed cultural day in the South Valley: the painted church of Andahuaylillas, the Wari city of Pikillacta and the water temple of Tipón — some of the least crowded sites near Cusco.
Days 7–8: Rainbow Mountain and departure
Day 7. The highest day of the trip: Rainbow Mountain, at over 5,000 m, with the Red Valley beyond. Leaving it for the end means your body is ready. Read our Rainbow Mountain guide.
Day 8. Transfer to the airport or bus station. If your flight is late, use the morning for San Pedro Market or a last walk through San Blas.
Variations
- Add Lake Titicaca: swap the ATV and South Valley days for the road to Puno and the Uros and Taquile islands — see our Cusco and Lake Titicaca 8-day package.
- Prefer fewer early starts: replace Humantay with a free day in Cusco.
- Short on time: see how many days you need in Peru for 5-day options.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for the Cusco region: the city, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain, with time to acclimatize.
Before. Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco, while Rainbow Mountain is over 5,000 m, so it is best saved for the end of your trip.
Yes, by replacing two lighter days with the road to Puno and a day on the lake. Our Cusco and Lake Titicaca 8-day package does exactly that.
No. Machu Picchu can be visited as a long day trip from Cusco, but a night in Aguas Calientes gives a calmer pace.
Most days are easy. Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain are demanding high-altitude hikes, placed late in the trip so you are acclimatized.
