Travel Lima’s colonial centers, fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines, sample pisco and desert oasis life, then ascend through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. This 10-day itinerary blends cultural highlights with manageable outdoor sections and careful acclimatization for high-altitude visits.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step off the plane in Lima and the Pacific wind pushes your attention toward the city’s cliffs and mosaic parks; a week later the air in Cusco bites cool and thin, as if the Andes themselves are testing your curiosity.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
10 days
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness recommended—able to walk 2–4 hours over uneven stone terraces and climb stairs at altitude
Wildlife
History
The route links pre-Hispanic engineering—Inca agricultural terraces and ceremonial centers—with colonial Lima; Nazca Lines remain an unresolved ancient geoglyph tradition and Tacama winery dates back to the 16th century.
Conservation
Machu Picchu uses timed visitor circuits and capacity limits to reduce wear; follow leave-no-trace practices, support community-run handicraft markets, and minimize single-use plastics on the tour.
Reserve your spot on the 10-Day Taste Peru Experience: Lima, Nasca, Cusco & Machu Picchu today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Acclimatize before heavy walking
Spend at least one full day in Cusco (3,400 m) before intensive hiking; consider acetazolamide if prone to altitude sickness.
Book Cusco flights early
Arrive to Cusco on a morning flight as required—afternoon arrivals can jeopardize same-day train and tour logistics.
Bring motion-sickness remedies for Nazca flight
The overflight uses small aircraft with tight turns; anti-nausea tablets and a window seat help the experience.
Pack a compact daypack
Carry water, sun protection and a light shell for Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley walks—weather can shift rapidly at altitude.
Sturdy hiking shoes
Provides traction and comfort on cobbles, terraces and wet trails in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Light insulated jacket
Warmth for cold mornings and high-altitude sites like Cusco and mountain viewpoints.
winter
Reusable water bottle with filter
Keeps you hydrated through dry desert sections and in high altitude where hydration matters.
Sun protection (hat, SPF, sunglasses)
Strong sun on high-elevation terraces and coastal deserts makes UV protection essential.
summer