How Many Days Do You Need in Peru? A Local’s Answer

You need at least 7 days in Peru to see Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu without rushing, and 10 to 14 days to add the south coast (Paracas, Huacachina, Nasca) or a less-visited region. Fewer than 7 days is possible, but most of it goes into flights and adjusting to the altitude.

Peru is bigger than it looks on the map. Lima and Cusco are a short flight apart, but buses on the coast and in the Andes take hours, and Cusco sits at about 3,400 m, so your body needs time. This is how many days each place really needs.

Days you need in each place

• Lima: 2 days. One for the historic centre and Miraflores, one for food and Barranco. See what to eat in Lima.
• Paracas and Huacachina: 2 days (1 if you only have time for a long day trip from Lima).
• Nasca: 1 extra day for the flight over the lines.
• Sacred Valley: 2 days. A good place to sleep first and adjust to the altitude.
• Machu Picchu: 1 day, or 2 if you want to sleep in Aguas Calientes and go up early.
• Cusco city: 2 days, plus 1 for Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake.
• Ayacucho or Pasco: 3 days each.

What fits in your days

• 5 days: Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu only, flying straight from Lima.
• 7 days: Lima plus Cusco and Machu Picchu.
• 10 days: Lima, Paracas and Huacachina, and Cusco with Machu Picchu.
• 14 days: all of the above plus Nasca, a trek or a region far from the crowds.

For full day-by-day versions, see our Peru itinerary for 7, 10 or 14 days.

Common mistakes

• Flying into Cusco and doing a big trek the next day, before adjusting to the altitude.
• Planning Machu Picchu on the same day as the international flight home.
• Underestimating bus times: Lima to Paracas is about 3.5 hours and Lima to Nasca about 7.
• Adding a new city every day. Every move costs half a day.

Not sure which places to drop? A local planner can sort it out with you in a 45-minute video session.