7 Day Peru Itinerary
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Last Updated on July 12, 2023 by James Bustamante
Journey Machu Picchu provides a large variety of fully customizable Peru tour packages throughout the country. One of our most popular trips is our 7 Day Peru Itinerary.
This complete description will go through all the details and a precise schedule of everything you can see and experience during the tour of some of Perú’s most memorable sites.
It should be noted that this package includes your Hike to Machu Picchu as well as all necessary entrance tickets, passes, and tours.
It takes you across many of Peru’s most majestic locations, such as Cusco and Sacred Valley, ending it with a guided tour of the Incan ruins known as Machu Picchu.
7 Day Peru Itinerary Outline
- Arrival in Lima – Transfer to Lima Hotel.
- Lima City Tour – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- Arrival to Cusco – Acclimatization Day.
- Cusco City Tour – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
- Sacred Valley Tour – 8:45 am – 6:30 pm.
- Machu Picchu Tour.
- Departure from Cusco.
Day 1: Arrival In Lima
Welcome to Lima! Once you exit the arrivals gate, we’ll have one of our drivers waiting with a sign with your group’s name/last name.
To start this 7-Day Peru Itinerary, you’ll be taken to your hotel in the Miraflores district, only a few short blocks from the boardwalk, with fantastic shoreline views.
One of the benefits of this particular package is that it focuses on showing you all the major sites from Lima to Machu Picchu and back.
After our team has picked you up from the airport, you will be transferred to your Lima Hotel, which can take around 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day.
Please note that your hotels (for the entire package) are chosen from a previously provided list and will be specified on your personalized itinerary for reference.
Once you’ve checked in at the hotel, our driver and guide will depart for the day. As travelers, taking it easy on the first day is better, especially if you come from a country with a different time zone.
Please take these first 24 hours to rest and eliminate your jet lag.
Day 2: Lima City Tour
After an early wake-up, you’ll have some time for breakfast at your hotel before heading to the lobby. Your pick-up for the Lima city tour will be scheduled between 8:30 am and 9:00 pm, depending on your hotel’s location.
On your second day in this beautiful metropolitan city, you’ll be able to take in the sights and sounds while on a tour of Lima, the capital of Peru. This Lima city tour will include the following:
- Guided city sightseeing tour of Lima.
- Visit famous landmarks such as the Santo Domingo Convent, the Cathedral of Lima, and the Lima Historical Center.
- All entrance fees and round-trip transportation is included.
- Take in the views of the Pacific Ocean from Miraflores.
Day 3: Arrival at Cusco
After an early wake-up call, you will be picked up from your Lima Hotel (about 3 to 4 hours before your flight times) and transferred to the Jorge Chavez International Airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. This flight will take over an hour, eventually arriving at Cusco at 11,150 feet or 3,400 meters.
It is essential that you take it easy on the first day, rest as much as you can, drink plenty of water, and don’t overeat. You may feel something known as “soroche” (lightheaded / altitude sickness), which should only affect you on the first day. After that, local remedies such as coca leaf tea can significantly help discomfort.
Day 4 Cusco City Tour
This will be your first free day in Cusco, where you can explore the majestic city. You will have time to check out one of the many museums or visit San Pedro Market.
Once the afternoon comes around, you’ll meet your expert guide for a tour of Cusco, where you’ll see the Cathedral, the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), and the massive ruins of Sacsayhuaman that overlook the city.
The Qorikancha museum is close to the plaza, only about 5-8 minutes walking distance. It’s a small museum that boasts five fantastic sections where they explain the history of the forefathers that came to these lands.
The Cathedral, in addition to its official status as a place of worship, has become a significant repository of Cusco’s colonial art. It also holds many archeological artifacts and relics you won’t see elsewhere.
The Cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the City of Cusco listing in 1983. However, no photography is allowed inside the Cathedral and not near any of the paintings.
The Sacsayhuaman ruins are a walled complex on the northern outskirts of Cusco, Peru, at an altitude of 3,701 m.
The site is used to celebrate the Inti Raymi, an annual Inca festival on the shortest day of the year in terms of the time between sunrise and sunset and the Inca New Year.
This religious ceremony was held in honor of the god Inti, one of the most revered deities in the Inca religion, and takes place every year on June 24th near Sacsayhuaman.
They also hold the Warachikuy Festival annually on the third Sunday of September, including rites, warlike dances, battles, and competitions between community members.
After finishing your tour of Sacsayhuaman, you will head back to the city of Cusco to end the day with dinner at one of Cusco’s finest restaurants.
Traveler’s Tip: Make sure to bring the following items to ensure you have the best time while on your Cusco city tour
- Sun Hat – It can get quite sunny.
- Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended) – the sun in the Andes can burn even if cold due to the high elevation.
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho in case it rains.
- Water – For hydration.
- Camera for all the fantastic pictures!
Day 5: Sacred Valley Tour
Get ready for an incredible day, as the Sacred Valley tour is one of the most popular activities for this region in the seven-day Peru Itinerary. It is situated slightly lower than Cusco and can help with acclimatization.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas was a crucial area for the Inca empire, and it functioned as both an agricultural, spiritual, and political center.
Many Inca and Pre-Inca sites can be found throughout its length, and the Sacred Valley tour visits the two main areas, Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
Pisac is a small, Andean community that keeps its traditional way of life and offers visitors spectacular Inca ruins that cling to the cliffside high above the town.
The confluence of Andean traditions and new-age mysticism – throw in plenty of textiles and souvenir shopping – has made Pisac the highlight of any trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
However, it’s essential to try and get to them in the early morning or later the in the afternoon as it becomes incredibly crowded once the large tourist buses turn up.
It’s entertaining to watch hundreds of humans from a distance as they make their way up the 200 large steps and resemble an ant colony.
The town is at an altitude of 2,792 m, so don’t be surprised if you’re breathing a bit hard on your way to the top.
It should be noted that entry to the ruins is only possible with the Cusco Boleto Turistico – a multisite ticket that covers many of the best Sacred Valley ruins.
Journey Machu Picchu provides this ticket as part of your 7 Day Peru Itinerary and a buffet lunch for the group. Once the full-day tour ends, you will be transferred to your Cusco city hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 6: Machu Picchu Tour
The day you’ve been waiting for! You will be picked up from your hotel early in the morning and transferred to Ollantaytambo. This 2-hour ride will take you through the Sacred Valley among incredible natural vistas, eventually arriving at your destination.
Your group will then head to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you will take a train for a 1.5-hour ride along the rushing Urubamba River – until you reach the extraordinary Andean cloud forest.
Once you reach the train station, your guide will pick you up and take a short tour of Aguas Calientes, the small town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Optional: You may spend the night in Aguas Calientes and take your Machu Picchu tour the following morning, adding an extra day to your package.
Once you’re ready, you will take a 20-minute shuttle to the top of the mountain.
Upon arrival, you’ll witness the ancient Inca citadel, a mystical location hidden for hundreds of years.
Your professional tour guide will take you around Machu Picchu’s most important sights.
Traveler’s Tip: You can also hike up the two extra peaks within Machu Picchu: Mount Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
Each peak has a separate entrance ticket and cost. We can guarantee the extra permits with your initial Machu Picchu reservations. After your tour, you can check out the area and take all the pictures you want.
You may even glimpse some local wildlife as llamas roam the area freely. You’ll then take a train ride back to Ollantaytambo and a transfer back to your hotel in Cusco.
Day 7 Departure From Cusco
Today we end the 7 Day Peru Itinerary. So pack your bags, enjoy breakfast, and prepare for your transfer to the airport and your journey back home. You will be picked up from your hotel lobby 2.5 hours before your domestic flight times.
Tailor Your 7-Day Peru Itinerary
The seven-day Peru itinerary is not set in stone. All of the activities and destinations can be tailored. For example, we can add the Rainbow Mountain tour to the trip schedule and remove the Sacred Valley. Some travelers prefer to spend less time in Lima, so we can do Lima in one day and add an activity to the Cusco portion of the trip. We can also add days to include more day tours in the surrounding highlands. Some of the most popular day hikes are the following:
- The Rainbow Mountain Tour
- The Humantay Lake Tour
- The Sacred Valley Tour
- The Maras Salt Ponds
- The Moray Tour
- A Visit to Chincheros
- The Route of The Sun Tour to Lake Titicaca
Travelers can take one of our other breathtaking Cusco tours or Sacred Valley excursions or browse our full range of fully customizable Peru tours to see how to extend your Latin American vacation.
*Note: Activities may vary due to weather conditions and other considerations.
Conclusion
If you want to know more about Peru, Cusco, and Machu Picchu Travel, check out the rest of our blog posts at Peru Travel Blog and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our special packages.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 7 Day Peru Itinerary
Will the 7-day Peru itinerary include my Machu Picchu permits?
Yes. All packages, including the Machu Picchu Hike, will also include your entrance permits.
Can I take Huayna Picchu and Mount Machu Picchu on the same day?
No, you can only take one per day.
How can I see both Huayna Picchu and Mount Machu Picchu?
You will have to spend an extra day in Aguas Calientes as well as purchase an additional day long pass to Machu Picchu in order to climb the other peak.
Can I customize the 7-day Peru Itinerary with other activities, tours, and/or destinations?
Yes, we specialize in customizable Peru tour packages. You may also add or subtract days from the package.
Is this Machu Picchu package available year-round?
Yes, you can reserve this package throughout the entire year.
Can I upgrade trains with this package?
Yes. We can upgrade the expedition to the Vistadome or Hiram Bingham if you prefer.
Which train should I take to Machu Picchu?
This all comes down to your budget and preference. The expedition train is the least expensive with the Vistadome having better views and being a bit more comfortable. The Hiram Bingham is the luxury choice.
When is the best time to take the train to Machu Picchu?
It depends on your Machu Picchu permit schedule and your itinerary. If you are on the “express tour,” for example, you’ll need to leave Cusco as early as possible. Remember that overall it will take around 3.5 hours between boarding, train travel, and the shuttle to Machu Picchu. This all needs to be done before actually entering.
How long is the train ride to Machu Picchu?Train rides take between 50 minutes to 3 and a half hours, depending on the train/route chosen.
Is this 7-day Peru Itinerary based on private or group tours?
This package is priced out as a group tour but can be taken as a private tour upon the traveler’s request.
How big will the 7-day Peru Itinerary group be?
We prefer to always keep groups small. The average group size will be 4-8 people in total.
