This trip is a great way to see so much of Peru. You start in Lima, the country’s capital, and then move on to Cusco (3,399 m / 11,152 ft), which used to be the Incan capital. We’ll get to see all kinds of cool stuff. There are World Heritage sites, beautiful old colonial churches, and a ton of traditional art and architecture.

All the Must-See Spots

We’ll visit so many amazing places. We’ll see the Plaza de Armas, the famous twelve-angled stone street, Loreto Street, and the Coricancha (3,399 m / 11,152 ft). We’ll also get up to Sacsayhuaman (3,701 m / 12,142 ft), Pisac (2,972 m / 9,751 ft), Moray (3,500 m / 11,483 ft), and Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft). And of course, there’s Machu Picchu, plus the stunning Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft) and the incredible Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m / 16,466 ft).

We get to explore the Sacred Valley, which is so awesome. The first stop is at Mirador Taray (3,450 m / 11,318 ft) for this panoramic view that’s just incredible. Then we’ll visit the Pisac Inca Ruins (2,972 m / 9,751 ft) and their indigenous market. From there, we go see the cool Moray circular terraces (3,500 m / 11,483 ft) and the Salineras of Maras (3,385 m / 11,105 ft). We’ll have lunch in Urubamba (2,871 m / 9,419 ft). The day ends with us boarding a train to Aguas Calientes for the night.

The day starts early with a full-on exploration of Machu Picchu. We’ll have a guided tour and for anyone feeling extra energetic, you can do one of the optional hikes up either Huayna Picchu (2,693 m / 8,835 ft) or Machu Picchu Montaña (3,082 m / 10,111 ft). In the afternoon, it’s time to head back to Cusco. The trip back is by bus and train and we should arrive at the hotel around 7:30 p.m. It’s a long day, but worth every minute.

The day starts super early, with a 4:30 a.m. pickup. We’re heading for a day trip out to Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), which I’ve heard is just stunning. It’s a really beautiful hike to get to the turquoise lake. I’m excited for it. After spending some time there, we hike back down and get on a bus to head all the way back to Cusco. It’ll be a long day, but so worth it for the views.

The day starts super early, a 4:30 a.m. pickup. We’re driving all the way out to the Ausangate area (over 4,000 m / 13,123 ft). The main event is hiking uphill to see both Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m / 16,466 ft) and the Red Valley. The views are just supposed to be incredible. You’ll be looking at these amazing panoramas the whole time. After a long day of hiking, we get on a bus and head back to Cusco, arriving around 6:00 p.m. It’s a long but unforgettable day.