Classic Peru

Arrive in Lima at any time. Most international flights land by late morning, leaving a full afternoon to drop your bags and get oriented. Settle into a hotel in Miraflores or Barranco; both are walkable, ocean-facing districts with plenty of cafes and restaurants. A short taxi ride gets you to the historic center for a look at the Plaza Mayor and the cathedral.

A morning flight from Lima brings you to Juliaca, the airport serving the Lake Titicaca region. From there, it’s a one-hour overland journey to Puno, a port city sitting at a serious 3,827m (12,556 ft). The altitude is no joke. The first day is best spent acclimatizing: walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and keep activity to a minimum. A slow walk through the city's markets is about the right speed.

The day is spent on the water. A boat from Puno harbor heads out across the deep blue of Lake Titicaca, first to Taquile Island, known for its community-run restaurants and exceptional textiles. After lunch, the boat continues to a smaller, less-visited village on the lakeshore for an overnight homestay with a local family. This is a direct look into rural life in the Altiplano—expect to share meals, help with daily chores, and communicate with a mix of Spanish, Quechua, and hand signals.

After a final morning with the host family, the boat returns towards Puno. The route back includes a stop at the Uros Floating Islands, an archipelago of man-made platforms woven entirely from the lake's buoyant totora reeds. Residents demonstrate how the islands are built and maintained, layer by layer. Back in Puno by afternoon, there's time for an optional trip to the Sillustani burial towers, a pre-Inca site just outside the city.

This is a full travel day. The bus journey from Puno to Cusco takes seven to eight hours, cutting north across the stark, high-altitude plains of the Altiplano. The scenery is vast and sparsely populated, a landscape of rolling grasslands and distant peaks. You'll arrive in Cusco in the evening with just enough time to check in, find dinner, and prepare for the Sacred Valley.

A full day is dedicated to exploring the Sacred Valley, the fertile river corridor that was once the heartland of the Inca Empire. The route from Cusco stops first at a women's weaving cooperative in the village of Ccaccaccollo, followed by a pottery-making demonstration in Cuyo Chico. Lunch is at a community-run restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, which serves traditional food using local ingredients. The day ends in Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town whose cobblestone streets are shadowed by terraced ruins. You can hike up to the storehouses for a view or find a local chichería (corn beer bar).

The trek begins. A van from Ollantaytambo leads to the trailhead at Piscacucho, also known as Km 82. After crossing the checkpoint, the first day is a relatively gentle introduction to the trail. The path follows the Urubamba River before climbing slowly through a broad valley, passing the terraced Inca site of Llactapata. The 11km hike takes five to six hours, ending at the first campsite near the village of Wayllabamba. A crew of porters and a cook manage the camp logistics, so you only need to carry a daypack.

This is the most demanding day of the trail. The morning starts with a long, steep ascent to the highest point of the entire trek: Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass, at 4,198m (13,769 ft). The air is thin and the climb is a grind, but the views from the top are worth the effort. From the pass, the trail descends sharply into the Pacaymayo valley on the other side. Most hikers reach camp by early afternoon, leaving plenty of time to rest and recover before the next day's push.

Today's section of the trail covers the most ground and crosses two more passes. The first, Runquraqay, sits at 3,950m. From there, the path descends before climbing again to a second pass at 3,700m, with views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba on clear days. The trail, often original Inca stonework, then drops into a lush cloud forest, passing the ruins of Phuyupatamarca—the 'Town Above the Clouds.' The final campsite is pitched near the stunning ruins of Wiñay Wayna ('Forever Young'), perched on a steep hillside overlooking the Urubamba River.

The final day begins before dawn with a short hike to the Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. If the weather holds, this is where you get the iconic first view of Machu Picchu, illuminated by the morning sun. From the gate, it's a 45-minute descent to the citadel itself. After a guided tour of the ruins, a bus takes you down the winding road to the town of Aguas Calientes. There's time for lunch before boarding a train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a final vehicle transfer back to Cusco for a well-earned shower.

A free day in Cusco offers a chance to recover from the trek or explore the city's layered history. Wander the cobblestone streets of the San Blas artisan quarter, visit the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun), or browse the sprawling San Pedro Market. For those with energy to spare, day trips can be arranged to sites like Rainbow Mountain, though many will prefer a slow day of coffee shops and museums.

There are no planned activities for the final day. After breakfast, you can pack out and arrange for onward travel. Cusco's airport has connections to Lima and other destinations, or you can continue your journey overland.