8-day itinerary
8 Days in Peru
Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
Peru's Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu deliver one of Earth's most spellbinding journeys, where ancient Inca engineering meets soaring Andean peaks and vibrant living culture. From the cobblestoned streets of Cusco to the cloud-draped citadel of Machu Picchu, every day feels like stepping inside a civilisation lost to time.
Morning: Land at Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, transfer to your boutique hotel in San Blas, and immediately sip coca leaf tea to ease the altitude at 3,400 m.
Afternoon: Take a gentle stroll through Plaza de Armas, admiring the gilded Baroque facade of Cusco Cathedral without overexerting yourself on day one.
Evening: Enjoy a light quinoa soup and grilled alpaca at Chicha by Gastón Acurio, then sleep early to let your body adjust.
Morning: Visit the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), the holiest Inca shrine, where Spanish colonisers built the Santo Domingo Convent directly on its gold-plated walls.
Afternoon: Walk uphill to the colossal zigzag fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose massive limestone blocks weighing up to 120 tonnes still baffle engineers today.
Evening: Explore the bohemian San Blas neighbourhood, browse ceramic workshops, and dine at MAP Café inside the Pre-Columbian Art Museum for elevated Novo-Andino cuisine.
Morning: Take a shared colectivo to Pisac market (busiest on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday) and haggle for hand-dyed alpaca textiles directly from Quechua weavers.
Afternoon: Drive to the dazzling Maras salt evaporation ponds — over 3,000 terraced pools cascading down the hillside — then walk through the circular agricultural terraces of Moray.
Evening: Check into a hacienda-style lodge in Urubamba, and enjoy a Pachamanca-style dinner of slow-cooked meats and potatoes prepared in an earth oven.
Morning: Explore Ollantaytambo fortress at dawn before tour groups arrive, climbing the steep ceremonial terraces for panoramic views over the town and the snowcapped Veronica peak.
Afternoon: Wander the perfectly preserved Inca grid streets of Ollantaytambo town — it is one of the last living Inca urban settlements in Peru — and visit the Temple of the Sun.
Evening: Board the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (85 minutes), watching the valley narrow dramatically into cloud forest as you descend.
Morning: Take the first bus up the switchbacks at 5:30 AM and enter Machu Picchu at opening to witness soft gold light flooding the Intihuatana stone and the Temple of the Three Windows in near silence.
Afternoon: Join a 2-hour guided circuit tour inside the citadel, learning about the agricultural, religious, and residential sectors, then hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for bird's-eye views.
Evening: Return to Aguas Calientes, soak tired legs in the natural hot springs (baños termales), and celebrate over ceviche and pisco sours at Indio Feliz restaurant.
Morning: Return to Machu Picchu for a second visit and hike the 45-minute trail to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) for the classic panoramic view of the citadel framed by mountains — the reward Inca Trail trekkers receive after 4 days.
Afternoon: Descend and take the walking path back down to Aguas Calientes (1 hour) through lush cloud forest instead of the bus, spotting orchids and Andean cock-of-the-rock birds along the trail.
Evening: Catch the late Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer by taxi to Cusco, arriving in time for a late dinner of lomo saltado in the Plaza de Armas area.
Morning: Day-trip to Chinchero village to witness a live traditional weaving demonstration by the Chinchero Weaving Cooperative — women in full traditional dress explain natural dye sources from plants and insects.
Afternoon: Visit the Chinchero Inca terrace ruins and its whitewashed colonial church built atop an Inca palace, then return to Cusco and browse Mercado San Pedro for local produce and street snacks.
Evening: Take a Peruvian cooking class with a local chef near San Blas, learning to make ceviche, causa, and alfajores before sitting down to eat your own creation.
Morning: Rise early for a final walk to the Cristo Blanco viewpoint above San Blas for sweeping sunrise views over the red-tiled rooftops of the entire city before packing your bags.
Afternoon: Stop at Chocolate Cusco near the Plaza Regocijo for single-origin Peruvian chocolate truffles and coffee, pick up last-minute gifts, then transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Evening: Board your flight home carrying coca leaves, vivid memories of an ancient civilisation, and an alpaca sweater that will make everyone ask where you have been.
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