Surrounded by mountain peaks rising from the clouds and stunning aerial views of the Andes combined with its many agricultural terraces and mystical stone constructions \u2013 it\u2019s easy to see why Machu Picchu reigns the penultimate destination for many travelers headed to South America. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu attracts millions of visitors each year curious to experience history far beyond a textbook.<\/p>\n
But despite all Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail have to offer, your South American adventure doesn\u2019t have to end there. With the culture of Cusco, the growing gastronomy scene of Lima, the folkloric traditions of Puno, and the diverse geographical features, Peru offers endless experiences waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n
For the adventurous at heart, it\u2019s the perfect destination. And no matter how long your vacation may be, there are ways to experience Peru beyond Machu Picchu.<\/p>\n
Day 1: Arrive in Cusco
\nDay 2: Climatize to the altitude while sight-seeing Cusco
\nDay 3: Train to Aguas Calientes; hike or bus to Machu Picchu; stay overnight in Aguas Calientes
\nDay 4: Train back to Cusco for additional sight-seeing
\nDay 5: Depart Cusco<\/p>\n
Note: If you want a bit more adventure and don’t mind traveling at a slightly quicker pace, there\u2019s an alternate Day 3 \/ Day 4 option. On Day 3, take the earliest train to Aguas Calientes, hike or bus to Machu Picchu, and take the latest train back to Cusco. On Day 4, spend a full day touring Rainbow Mountain. This option allows you to explore beyond Machu Picchu.<\/p>\n
Day 1: Arrive in Cusco
\nDay 2: Climatize to the altitude while sight-seeing Cusco
\nDay 3-6: Go on a 4-day\/3-night Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu from Cusco
\nDay 6: Tour Machu Picchu, then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes; stay overnight in Aguas Calientes
\nDay 7: Train back to Cusco for additional sight-seeing
\nDay 8: Depart Cusco<\/p>\n
OR<\/p>\n
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
\nDay 2: Sight-see Lima; take a Peruvian cooking class by day, and go on a Lima food tour by night
\nDay 3: Fly from Lima to Cusco
\nDay 4: Climatize to the altitude while sight-seeing Cusco
\nDay 5: Train to Aguas Calientes; hike or bus to Machu Picchu; stay overnight in Aguas Calientes
\nDay 6: Train back to Cusco for additional sight-seeing
\nDay 7: Go on a full-day Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco
\nDay 8: Depart Cusco<\/p>\n
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
\nDay 2: Sight-see Lima; take a Peruvian cooking class by day, and go on a Lima food tour by night
\nDay 3: Fly from Lima to Puno; climatize to the altitude while sight-seeing Puno
\nDay 4: Go on a full-day Lake Titicaca \/ Uros Floating Islands tour from Puno
\nDay 5: Fly from Puno to Cusco
\nDay 6: Sight-see Cusco
\nDay 7: Train to Aguas Calientes; hike or bus to Machu Picchu; stay overnight in Aguas Calientes
\nDay 8: Train back to Cusco for additional sight-seeing
\nDay 9: Go on a full-day Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco
\nDay 10: Depart Cusco<\/p>\n
Note: If your trip is 12 days long, consider sandboarding in Huacachina or visiting the Nazca Lines which can both be done with a day trip from Lima.<\/p>\n
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
\nDay 2: Sightsee Lima; take a Peruvian cooking class by day, and go on a Lima food tour by night
\nDay 3: Go on a full-day Huacachina or Nazca Lines tour from Lima
\nDay 4: Fly from Lima to Iquitos
\nDay 5: Sight-see Iquitos
\nDay 6: Explore the Amazon Rainforest
\nDay 7: Fly from Iquitos to Puno; climatize to the altitude while sight-seeing Puno
\nDay 8: Go on a full-day Lake Titicaca \/ Uros Floating Islands tour from Puno
\nDay 9: Fly from Puno to Cusco
\nDay 10: Sight-see Cusco
\nDay 11: Train to Aguas Calientes; hike or bus to Machu Picchu; stay overnight in Aguas Calientes
\nDay 12: Train back to Cusco for additional sight-seeing
\nDay 13: Go on a full-day Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco
\nDay 14: Depart Cusco<\/p>\n
Note: If you\u2019d like to tweak the 10-day or 14-day itineraries to include an overnight hike to Machu Picchu but aren\u2019t sure if you want to use up four full days, consider choosing a shorter overnight hike option. Many tour companies provide various hike durations ranging from 2-day\/1-night hikes to 7-day\/6-night hikes. We recommend hiking Machu Picchu at the end of your trip in case you endure any elevation or fitness-related complications.<\/p>\n
Any of the above itineraries can be altered based on preference, but this day-by-day plan is a good place to start. Truth be told, unless you have a month-long vacation, you probably won\u2019t \u201csee it all,\u201d but that\u2019s okay. Whether you have five days or two weeks, Peru is a country you\u2019ll want to visit time and time again. Contact your Ensemble travel agent to start planning \u2013 your Peruvian adventure awaits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Surrounded by mountain peaks rising from the clouds and stunning aerial views of the Andes combined with its many agricultural terraces and mystical stone constructions \u2013 it\u2019s easy to see […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[278],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-americas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n