Peru in 10 Days: Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Puno

Ten days let you link four areas: Lima and Ica, Cusco with Machu Picchu, Arequipa with Colca, and Puno on Lake Titicaca. The catch is that each transfer between cities eats up almost a day, so you need to choose what to sacrifice.

By MachudayEditorial review 12/11/2026

From Cusco Train and bus

Machu Picchu terraces and Andes mountains among the clouds — From Cusco

Guide in English and Spanish

Machu Picchu Tour with Tickets

9.1 / 10 · 682 reviews14 to 18 hrs

Not included · Food and drinks.

If the tour is cancelled

If a strike or bad weather forces a cancellation and the date can't be changed, the entry ticket (about 200 PEN) is not refunded.

Source Civitatis · Checked 12/11/2026

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Source Civitatis · reviews 10/11/2026https://www.civitatis.com/en/cuzco/machu-picchu-day-trip-tickets/?aid=10795&cmp=machuday-en-roteiro

What's included

Pickup and drop-off in Cusco
Round-trip train
Round-trip bus up and down
Citadel entry ticket

Tour options

Lagoon of the Huacachina oasis — From Lima

Guide in English and Spanish

Ica, Huacachina and the Ballestas Islands in a Small Group

19 hrs

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Source Civitatishttps://www.civitatis.com/en/lima/ica-huacachina-ballestas-islands-day-trip/?aid=10795&cmp=machuday-en-roteiro

Plaza de Armas in Arequipa — From Arequipa

Guide in Spanish and English

Colca Canyon 2-Day Trip Ending in Arequipa or Puno

9 / 10 · 387 reviews2 days

Not included · Lunches, dinner and show, hot springs admission and Colca Canyon entrance (paid separately)..

From€67.80

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Source Civitatis · Checked 13/11/2026https://www.civitatis.com/en/arequipa/colca-canyon-two-days/?aid=10795&cmp=machuday-en-roteiro

Archaeological terraces of Ollantaytambo — From Puno

Guide in Spanish and English

Trip to the Uros Islands and Taquile

8.7 / 10 · 474 reviews8 to 10 hrs

Not included · Drinks.

From€30.73

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Source Civitatis · Checked 13/11/2026https://www.civitatis.com/en/puno/trip-uros-islands-taquile/?aid=10795&cmp=machuday-en-roteiro

Day by day

Day 1 · Lima, Ica and Huacachina
Start on the coast. According to the tour listing, the excursion from Lima combines Paracas, the Ballestas Islands, Huacachina and Ica, with a wine, pisco and tejas tasting and a guide in English and Spanish. It is a very long day.
Huacachina
Day 2 · Transfer to Cusco and rest
Change areas with a domestic flight and leave the rest of the day unplanned. This is the day to adapt to the altitude.
Altitude
Day 3 · Cusco: city and nearby ruins
Explore the center and the surroundings before heading to the Valley and Machu Picchu.
Cusco
Day 4 · Sacred Valley
A full day in the Valley, with Pisac and Ollantaytambo as the usual stops.
Sacred Valley
Day 5 · Machu Picchu
Fix this day first. According to the listing, the excursion from Cusco includes the train, the bus, the citadel entry ticket and a guide in English and Spanish during the visit.
Day trip from Cusco
Day 6 · Transfer to Arequipa
Another travel day. Rest and stroll around the center.
Arequipa
Day 7 · Colca Valley
According to the listing, the two-day route leaves from Arequipa, includes one night with breakfast and a guide in English and Spanish, and can end in Arequipa or in Puno.
Colca Canyon
Day 8 · Colca: Condor Cross and departure
The second day of the Colca route. If you end it in Puno, you are already at Titicaca; if you return to Arequipa, factor in that time.
Colca Canyon
Day 9 · Puno and Lake Titicaca
According to the listing, the excursion to the Uros Islands and Taquile includes transport by bus and boat, a guide in English and Spanish, entrance to the islands and lunch (optional).
Lake Titicaca
Day 10 · Buffer day and return
Keep the last day as a cushion for flights and transfers. If all goes well, you have free time.
What to see in Peru

How to order the areas

Starting in Lima and on the coast brings you close to sea level before you climb to Cusco. After that, Arequipa and Puno come as a southern stretch, with Colca on the way. This order avoids retracing your steps and puts Machu Picchu in the middle of the trip, when you are already adapted.

Transfers between cities

The long legs are done by plane or by bus. Check with each operator which option each leg has and how long it takes; on this page we give no schedules or prices because they change. Count almost a day for each long transfer.

What to cut if you're short on time

If 10 days feel like too little, the first stretch to cut is the coast or Puno. Machu Picchu and the Valley stay; the rest depends on your interests. For a shorter version of Cusco, see the 3-day itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Peru in 10 days?

Yes, by linking four areas at a tight pace, with flights or buses between them. If you prefer a calmer trip, cut down to two or three areas.

Where do I start?

In Lima or on the coast, so you reach Cusco already acclimatized, and finish in the south, in Arequipa or Puno.

What do I book first?

Machu Picchu, because the ticket and the train depend on the date. The other areas adapt around that day.

How do I get between cities?

By plane or bus, depending on the leg. Check the option and the duration with the operator before booking.

What does the Ica and Huacachina excursion include?

According to the tour listing, bus transport, a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands, a guide in English and Spanish, and a wine, pisco and tejas tasting. Meals and tourist taxes are extra.

How is this different from the Trip to Peru page?

Here you get a day-by-day 10-day plan; the other explains how to order your bookings around Machu Picchu.

Peru in 10 Days: Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Puno

Machu Picchu Tour with Tickets

What's included

Tour options

Ica, Huacachina and the Ballestas Islands in a Small Group

Colca Canyon 2-Day Trip Ending in Arequipa or Puno

Trip to the Uros Islands and Taquile

Day by day

Day 1 · Lima, Ica and Huacachina

Day 2 · Transfer to Cusco and rest

Day 3 · Cusco: city and nearby ruins

Day 4 · Sacred Valley

Day 5 · Machu Picchu

Day 6 · Transfer to Arequipa

Day 7 · Colca Valley

Day 8 · Colca: Condor Cross and departure

Day 9 · Puno and Lake Titicaca

Day 10 · Buffer day and return

How to order the areas

Transfers between cities

What to cut if you're short on time

Frequently asked questions

Keep planning your trip