Organizing trips to Peru can be a daunting task because there are so many things to see, things to do, and options to choose from when it comes to logistics. However, it is possible to see the most popular treasures of Peru-Lima, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, and Machu Picchu – even if you just have 1 week to spend in the country. Here is one itinerary worth considering.

Day 1 – Fly into Lima, spend the night
Your flight into Lima might be in the afternoon or evening. In any case, either spend a night catching up on rest and sleep at your hotel, or if you have time, explore some of the city’s most attractive parts such as the Plaza de Armas or the Miraflores neighborhood and its strip of clifftop urban parks known as the Costa Verde.

Lake Titicaca

Day 2 – Fly to Puno, enjoy Lake Titicaca
In the morning, fly from Lima to Juliaca, and from there take a bus or transfer to Puno, the town at the edge of the infamous Lake Titicaca. In the afternoon, go on a tour of the world’s highest navigatable lake and see the age-old reed boats and floating reed islands that the locals have called home for centuries.

Cusco Restaurants

Day 3 – Bus to Cusco, explore the city
In the morning, take the bus to Cusco which means you will arrive in the ancient Inca city in the early evening. The altitude will hit some visitors more than others, so just in case, relax in the evening, be sure to drink plenty of water, and refrain from strenuous exercise and alcohol. Also, enjoy a lovely meal at one of Cusco’s many fine restaurants!

Machu Picchu

Day 4 – Cusco city tour, then to Machu Picchu
Cusco was once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire which stretched as far as Ecuador down through Peru and into Chile. Later, the Spanish colonized it and it became one of the most significant Spanish settlements in South America. Your Cusco city tour will take you to see the varied architecture left behind, as well as a number of local ruins to whet your appetite for Machu Picchu. In the evening, take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the Inca citadel so you are fully prepared to get going the next morning.

Sacred Valley

Day 5 – Machu Picchu!, then to the Sacred Valley
Wake up very early in the morning in order to get to the massive archaeological site in time to see the sunrise. It is an experience that many have regarded to the point of spiritual. With a tour guide as part of your Machu Picchu tours, he will show and explain the various parts of Machu Picchu to you, useful because there are no informational signs posted anywhere. In the evening, take a train to the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.

Day 6 – Tour the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley was the breadbasket that fed the Inca Empire, and their stepped agriculture terraces can still be brilliantly seen today. The valley is verdant and lusciously green all year round, giving it such unforgettable beauty. A tour of the Sacred Valley will present you with a few smaller ruins sites as well as a chance to take in the regional landscapes.

Day 7 – Back to Lima
Either the day before or on the 7th day depending on the time of your flight, you will have to go back to Cusco to fly back to Lima. Once in Lima, you can continue on with your Peru holiday and other destinations, or spend some more time in one of the most historically significant cities in the story of South America.