10 days in Peru: Lima, Islas Ballestas, Huacachina, Cusco, Maras & Moray, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Ruta del Sol & Lake Titicaca. From $950/person.
Ten days is the right amount of time to understand Peru.
This itinerary extends the 7-day Peru Highlights tour with three additional days that make a significant difference: the archaeological sites of Maras and Moray (two of the most underrated Inca sites in the Sacred Valley), and the journey from Cusco to Puno along the Ruta del Sol — a panoramic overland route past Inca ruins, high-altitude villages, and the La Raya pass at 4,335m — arriving at Puno for a full day on Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca from the Peruvian side means the Uros Floating Islands: man-made islands built entirely from totora reeds, inhabited year-round by the Uros people, one of the oldest communities in the Andes. It is one of the strangest and most compelling places in South America.
Ten days. Peru end to end.
Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima. Meet your private transfer and travel to your hotel in Miraflores. The rest of the day is free to rest and recover from your journey.
Overnight: Lima
Travel south of Lima for a full day of unforgettable experiences.
Start with a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, home to Humboldt penguins, sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Continue to a traditional Pisco vineyard for a tour and tasting.
In the afternoon, discover Huacachina Oasis, surrounded by towering desert dunes. Enjoy approximately 2 hours of dune buggy rides and sandboarding, including descents down dunes reaching around 100 meters.
Highlights: Ballestas Islands · Pisco tasting · Huacachina Oasis · Dune buggy · Sandboarding
Overnight: Lima
Fly from Lima to Cusco. In the afternoon, explore the historic heart of the Inca Empire.
Visit Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), followed by the impressive archaeological complex of Sacsayhuamán. Continue to Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
Each site reveals a different side of Inca cosmology, engineering and urban planning.
Highlights: Qorikancha · Sacsayhuamán · Qenqo · Puca Pucara · Tambomachay
Overnight: Cusco
Discover two extraordinary sites in the Cusco region.
At Moray, concentric agricultural terraces descend into a natural depression. The unique microclimates created at different levels are believed to have allowed the Incas to experiment with crops and growing conditions.
Continue to Salineras de Maras, a spectacular network of thousands of salt pans cascading down the mountainside. Fed by a natural saltwater spring, the pools have been used since pre-Inca times and continue to be managed by local communities.
Highlights: Moray · Salineras de Maras · Inca agriculture · Andean landscapes
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, beginning at Pisac, famous for its dramatic terraces and artisan market.
Continue to Ollantaytambo, one of the best-preserved Inca settlements, where you will explore its impressive fortress and terraces.
After lunch, board the PeruRail Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, traveling through the spectacular cloud forest along the Urubamba River.
Highlights: Pisac · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · PeruRail · Urubamba River
Overnight: Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Rise early and take the bus to Machu Picchu for a guided exploration of this legendary Inca citadel.
Discover its temples, terraces and ceremonial spaces while learning about the history and significance of one of South America's most iconic archaeological sites.
After the tour, enjoy some free time before returning to Aguas Calientes. Board the PeruRail Expedition train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a private transfer to Cusco.
Highlights: Machu Picchu · Guided tour · Aguas Calientes · PeruRail
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Depart early from Cusco for the approximately 3-hour drive to Cusipata. After breakfast, begin the hike toward Vinicunca, better known as Rainbow Mountain.
At approximately 5,200 meters above sea level, the mountain's distinctive colors are created by mineral deposits exposed by geological processes and glacial retreat.
Enjoy spectacular views across the high Andes before returning to Cusco.
Highlights: Vinicunca · High-altitude Andes · Mountain landscapes · Cusipata
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Travel from Cusco to Puno along the spectacular Ruta del Sol, a full-day journey across the Peruvian altiplano.
Pukara
Explore this important pre-Inca archaeological site and its museum featuring altiplano sculpture and ceramics.
La Raya Pass — 4,335 m
Reach the highest point of the journey, where vast Andean grasslands meet snow-capped peaks.
Raqchi
Visit the impressive Temple of Viracocha, one of the largest surviving Inca structures.
Andahuaylillas
Discover the remarkable 17th-century colonial church known for its richly decorated Baroque interiors.
Lunch is served along the route before arriving in Puno in the evening.
Highlights: Pukara · La Raya Pass · Raqchi · Andahuaylillas · Altiplano
Overnight: Puno
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Spend a full day exploring Lake Titicaca, one of the world's highest navigable lakes at approximately 3,812 meters above sea level.
In the morning, travel by boat to the Uros Floating Islands, remarkable communities built from layers of totora reeds. Learn about the traditions, construction techniques and daily life of the Uros people.
Continue to Taquile Island, renowned for its exceptional textile traditions. The island's handwoven textiles are recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Enjoy lunch on the island before returning to Puno.
Highlights: Lake Titicaca · Uros Islands · Totora reeds · Taquile Island · Andean textiles
Overnight: Puno
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
After breakfast, transfer from your hotel in Puno to Juliaca Airport for your return flight to Lima and international connections.
Or continue to Bolivia.
Extend your journey across the Andes and travel from Puno to Copacabana, approximately 3 hours by bus, crossing Lake Titicaca by ferry at the Strait of Tiquina.
Ask us about extending this itinerary into Bolivia.
Meals: Breakfast
Three additions make a meaningful difference. Maras and Moray (Day 4) add two of the Sacred Valley’s most fascinating and least-crowded sites. The Ruta del Sol (Day 8) is a genuine overland journey through the altiplano that most visitors skip entirely. And Lake Titicaca (Day 9) — from the Peruvian side with the Uros Floating Islands — is one of the most otherworldly places in South America.
The Uros Floating Islands are a group of approximately 120 artificial islands on Lake Titicaca, constructed from harvested totora reeds. The islands are built on floating platforms of dried reeds, anchored to the lake bottom. The Uros community has lived on the lake for centuries — originally to avoid domination by more powerful Andean groups. Today the islands are permanent communities, with schools, churches, and community centers, all built from reeds.
The Ruta del Sol (Route of the Sun) is a tourist bus service connecting Cusco and Puno with stops at four archaeological and cultural sites en route. It takes a full day but includes lunch and a bilingual guide. The alternative is a direct 6-hour bus with no stops. The Ruta del Sol is significantly better.
Yes — this is one of the most natural multi-country connections in South America. From Puno, a 3-hour bus crosses the Bolivian border via the Strait of Tiquina to Copacabana. From there, La Paz is 3.5 hours. Andes 2 Amazon specializes in exactly this Bolivia extension. Ask us for a combined Peru + Bolivia quote.
Cusco is at 3,400m. We recommend arriving on Day 3 and not doing any strenuous activity until Day 4 at the earliest. By Day 7 (Rainbow Mountain at 5,200m), most travelers have acclimatized sufficiently after 4 nights at altitude. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours, and ascend at a steady pace.
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