One week, four landscapes, no camping. This 8-day Peru tour starts on the Pacific cliffs of Lima, climbs to the Inca streets of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, enters Machu Picchu on one of the first buses of the morning, stands on the color bands of Rainbow Mountain and ends with a boat day among the islands of Lake Titicaca. Every night in a named hotel, every day with a local guide.
Flights within the tour, trains, tickets, the tourist bus across the altiplano and every pickup are handled by one 100% Peruvian team based in Cusco. You bring your passport and your camera; we take care of everything around them.
Tour Type Group / Private
Starts/Ends Lima - Lake Titicaca
Destinations Lima - Cusco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - TiticacaPeru Tour 8 Days: Lima, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca - Overview
The Peru Tour 8 Days is for travelers who want the big names of southern Peru in one trip, with hotel beds instead of tents. An afternoon in Lima, a day in Cusco at an easy pace, the Sacred Valley by road and the train into the cloud forest, then Machu Picchu with your guide while the morning is still quiet. By Day 5 you are used to the altitude, so Rainbow Mountain comes at the right moment. The tourist bus south to Puno turns a long drive into a day of churches, ruins and a 4,335 m / 14,222 ft pass, and Lake Titicaca closes the trip with the Uros floating islands and the knitters of Taquile.
Hotels are named, your Machu Picchu ticket and train seats are booked in your name, and we tell you which circuit you have before you pay the balance. TreXperience is a 100% Peruvian tour operator based in Cusco: the people who plan this route are the same ones who answer when you land.
Tour Highlights:
- Lima in one afternoon: the Miraflores cliffs, the Huaca Pucllana pyramid, the historic center and the catacombs of San Francisco, with a pisco tasting.
- Cusco and the Sacred Valley: the Twelve-Angled Stone, Qoricancha and Sacsayhuaman, then Pisac, Moray, the Maras salt pans and Ollantaytambo.
- Machu Picchu early: the Expedition train, a night in Aguas Calientes, one of the first buses up and 2 to 3 hours with your guide.
- Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley: natural color bands at 5,200 m / 17,060 ft, at your guide’s pace, with horses if you want them.
- Cusco to Puno by tourist bus: Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, the La Raya pass and the Pukara museum, with lunch on the way.
- Lake Titicaca: the Uros floating islands and a walk through Taquile, with lunch on the island.
The Tour Day by Day
Day 1: Arrival in Lima - Afternoon City Tour
Airport pickup and your hotel in Miraflores. In the afternoon: Parque del Amor, Huaca Pucllana, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor and the catacombs of San Francisco, with a pisco tasting.
Day 2: Flight to Cusco - Afternoon City Tour
Morning flight to Cusco and time to rest at altitude. In the afternoon: the Plaza de Armas, the Twelve-Angled Stone, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
Day 3: Sacred Valley - Pisac, Moray and Maras - Train to Aguas Calientes
A camelid center, the valley viewpoint, Pisac and its market, lunch in Urubamba, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo, then dinner and the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes.
Day 4: Machu Picchu Guided Tour - Return to Cusco
One of the first buses up, 2 to 3 hours inside the citadel with your guide, then the train to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer to your Cusco hotel.
Day 5: Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley - Cusco
Pre-dawn pickup, breakfast on the road and the hike to the Vinicunca viewpoint, then the Red Valley when conditions allow. Lunch and back to Cusco.
Day 6: Cusco to Puno - Tourist Bus with Guided Stops
A day on the tourist bus with guided stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, the La Raya pass and Pukara, and lunch on the way. Evening arrival in Puno.
Day 7: Lake Titicaca - Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island
Boat to the reed islands of the Uros, then Taquile for a walk through the village, lunch and time by the lake. Back to Puno.
Day 8: Puno - Transfer to Juliaca Airport
Breakfast and a one-hour drive to Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima, where the TreXperience service ends.
Included
- Pre-trip assistance and local support from Lima to Puno
- Lima airport pickup (Day 1) and transfer to Lima airport (Day 2)
- One-way economy flight from Lima to Cusco (Day 2) [TO CONFIRM]
- Cusco airport pickup (Day 2) and transfer from Puno to Juliaca airport (Day 8)
- All transfers and ground transport for the included tours
- 1 night at Casa Andina Standard, Miraflores, Lima, or similar
- 3 nights at San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar
- 1 night at Ferré Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, or similar
- 2 nights at Casa Andina Standard, Puno, or similar
- Breakfast every day from Day 2 to Day 8
- Lunch on Days 3, 5, 6 and 7
- Dinner on Day 3, in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes depending on your train time
- Lima City Tour with entrance tickets and pisco tasting
- Cusco City Tour and Sacred Valley tour with all entrance tickets
- Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back
- Buses between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu (Day 4)
- Machu Picchu entrance and 2 to 3-hour guided tour (Day 4)
- Private transfer from Ollantaytambo to your Cusco hotel (Day 4)
- Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour with entrance tickets
- Tourist bus from Cusco to Puno with guided stops and lunch
- Lake Titicaca boat tour to the Uros islands and Taquile, with entrance tickets
- Professional English-speaking guides on all tours
Not Included
- International flights and the flight from Juliaca to Lima (Day 8)
- Meals not listed: all meals on Day 1, lunch on Days 2, 4 and 8, and all dinners except Day 3
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (US$75 each)
- Horse rental at Rainbow Mountain
- Early check-in in Lima on Day 1, unless confirmed separately
- Train and hotel upgrades
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal expenses and tips
Machu Picchu Tickets and Circuits
Your Machu Picchu ticket is issued in your name for a specific entry time and circuit. We request Circuit 2, the classic route with the postcard view and the heart of the citadel, whenever it is available for your date; if it is sold out, we book the best circuit on sale and tell you before you pay the balance. See our Machu Picchu circuits guide or the official circuits and routes.
Extra Hikes at Machu Picchu
- Huayna Picchu Mountain - US$75 per person, about 2 hours round trip, on Day 4 after the tour.
- Machu Picchu Mountain - US$75 per person, about 3 hours round trip, on Day 4 after the tour.
One mountain only. Separate ticket, booked in advance, and the time slot must fit your entry time and your train.
Optional Upgrades
Private service: your own guide and vehicle on the Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain days. Trains, the Machu Picchu buses, the tourist bus to Puno and the lake boat are shared services.
Also on request: the Vistadome panoramic train instead of the Expedition, 4-star or 5-star hotels, an extra night in Lima before the tour, and extensions to the Colca Canyon and Arequipa after Puno or to the Amazon.
Full Itinerary of Lima to Lake Titicaca 8 Days
Eight days from the coast to the Andes and the highest navigable lake in the world. Here is each day with times, meals and hotels: no surprises in the logistics, only on the road.
Day 1: Arrival in Lima - Afternoon City Tour
Welcome to Peru. We meet you at Lima airport and drive you to Casa Andina Standard in Miraflores, or similar, a few blocks from the ocean. Settle in, have lunch on your own and catch your breath before the afternoon.
Around 2:00 p.m., your guide picks you up. First the ocean side: Parque del Amor on the Miraflores cliffs, with its mosaic walls and the sculpture El Beso, and a view of Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca adobe pyramid in the middle of the city. Then the old center: Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor with the Government Palace and the Cathedral, and the Convent of San Francisco with its library, cloisters and underground catacombs. There is a pisco tasting along the way. Back in Miraflores around 6:00 p.m. Rest early: tomorrow you fly to the Andes.
- Meals: not included
- Tour: half day, about 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Hotel: Casa Andina Standard, Lima, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Arrive in Lima in the morning to join the tour; if you land later, ask us about a night before the tour. Walking shoes, a light jacket, sunscreen and some cash. More in our Lima travel guide.
More time in Lima? Arrive a day earlier and we add an extra hotel night, a food tour through the markets and cevicherías of the city, or a free morning on the Miraflores boardwalk. Contact us to customize.
Day 2: Flight to Cusco - Afternoon City Tour
After breakfast, we take you to Lima airport for the flight to Cusco, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Our Cusco team meets you at arrivals and drives you to San Agustín Internacional, or similar, a short walk from the main square. You are now at 3,400 m / 11,155 ft: use the late morning to rest, drink water and eat light. Walking slowly today makes a real difference.
Around 1:00 p.m., your guide picks you up. On foot: the Plaza de Armas, the old Inca streets, the Twelve-Angled Stone and Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, where Inca walls stand inside a colonial convent. Then by vehicle to the sites above the city: Sacsayhuaman and its huge zigzag walls, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, with its still-running fountains, and a stop at Cristo Blanco for the view when time allows. Tomorrow’s chapter: the Sacred Valley.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel
- Tour: half day
- Hotel: San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar 3-star hotel
- Maximum altitude: about 3,700 m / 12,139 ft
- Difficulty: easy, with walking and stairs at altitude
Tips: Walk slowly, drink water, skip alcohol today and tell your guide if you feel unwell. Bring a warm layer, rain protection and sunscreen. The next two days are lower than Cusco, and most people find them easier. See our guide to altitude in Cusco.
Day 3: Sacred Valley - Pisac, Moray and Maras - Train to Aguas Calientes
Pickup around 7:00 a.m. for the most scenic day of the trip. First a camelid center to see llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos up close, then a viewpoint over the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba River. Next, Pisac: terraces and temples above the valley, then time at the market, known for textiles, ceramics and silver. Lunch at a local restaurant in Urubamba.
In the afternoon, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras Salt Mines, thousands of pools still worked by local families. Last stop, Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town with water channels running down its streets. Dinner is included tonight, in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes depending on your train time. Then the Expedition train follows the river into the cloud forest, and you check in at Ferré Machu Picchu, or similar. Rest well: tomorrow you are on one of the first buses up.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Transport: tourist vehicle and Expedition train
- Hotel: Ferré Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, or similar 3-star hotel
- Altitude: Aguas Calientes, 2,040 m / 6,693 ft
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with walking and stairs at the sites
Tips: Bring a small overnight bag of about 5 kg / 11 lb; train luggage is limited. Leave your main suitcase at your Cusco hotel or in our free storage. More in our Sacred Valley guide.
Day 4: Machu Picchu Guided Tour - Return to Cusco
The day the whole trip builds toward. After an early breakfast, you take one of the first buses up the switchbacks to Machu Picchu; the early light and the quiet of the first hour are worth the alarm. Show your original passport and ticket at the gate, and enter on the route your ticket allows; we request Circuit 2 whenever it is available. For 2 to 3 hours, your guide walks you through the terraces, temples, houses and water channels and explains how and why a city was built up here. There is time for photos. If you booked Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, the hike comes after the tour, according to your ticket time and train.
Bus back down, lunch on your own in Aguas Calientes, then the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo, where our private vehicle takes you to your Cusco hotel. Arrival is usually around 7:30 p.m., depending on the train.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel
- Guided tour: 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
- Return: bus, Expedition train and private transfer to Cusco
- Hotel: San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with stairs and uneven stone paths
Tips: Original passport, small daypack, rain protection, sunscreen, hat, water and some cash. Large bags, drones, tripods and food are not allowed inside. See our Machu Picchu rules guide. Go to bed early: tomorrow starts before dawn.
Day 5: Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley - Cusco
Pickup at 4:30 a.m. for a three-hour drive into the Ausangate range, with breakfast at a local restaurant on the way. From the trailhead, a steady walk of about 1.5 to 2 hours brings you to the viewpoint of Vinicunca, Rainbow Mountain, at about 5,200 m / 17,060 ft. The stripes are natural minerals; the air is thin, so your guide sets a slow, safe pace and you stop as often as you need. Horses can be rented at the trailhead if you prefer not to walk up.
When the weather and your legs agree, continue about 30 minutes to the Red Valley, a quieter landscape of red hills with far fewer people. Then back down, lunch at a local restaurant and the drive to Cusco, arriving around 6:00 p.m.
- Meals: breakfast and lunch at local restaurants
- Hike: about 10 km / 6.2 mi round trip, including the Red Valley
- Highest point: about 5,200 m / 17,060 ft
- Hotel: San Agustín Internacional, Cusco, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: moderate to challenging, because of the altitude
Tips: Warm layers, gloves and a hat for the cold start, sunscreen and sunglasses for the sun, water and snacks. If you feel unwell, tell your guide; the viewpoint is not worth pushing through symptoms. More in our Rainbow Mountain guide.
Day 6: Cusco to Puno - Tourist Bus with Guided Stops
After breakfast, pickup for the tourist bus south across the altiplano, about 10 hours with guided stops: the church of Andahuaylillas, called the Sistine Chapel of the Andes for its painted ceilings; Raqchi, with the tall walls of the Temple of Wiracocha; and the La Raya pass at 4,335 m / 14,222 ft, the highest point of the road, with snow peaks on both sides.
Lunch at a restaurant on the way, then the Pukara museum and its stone sculptures from one of the oldest cultures of the lake. You arrive in Puno in the evening and we take you to Casa Andina Standard, or similar, near Lake Titicaca. Stops may vary with the bus schedule.
- Meals: breakfast and lunch
- Bus: about 10 hours, including stops
- Highest point: La Raya pass, 4,335 m / 14,222 ft
- Hotel: Casa Andina Standard, Puno, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: easy
Tips: Keep a warm layer and water with you; the stops are short. Puno sits at 3,827 m / 12,556 ft, a little higher than Cusco, so take it easy tonight. See our Puno guide.
Day 7: Lake Titicaca - Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island
After breakfast, pickup and a boat onto Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 m / 12,507 ft. First the Uros floating islands, built and rebuilt from totora reeds by the families who live on them; they show you how an island is made and how daily life works on the water.
Then about two hours across open water to Taquile, where the men knit and the island’s textile art is on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage list. A walk up the stone path to the village, lunch at a local restaurant with the lake below, and time to wander before the boat back to Puno, around 5:00 p.m. Last night in Puno.
- Meals: breakfast and lunch
- Tour: full day by boat
- Altitude: 3,812 m / 12,507 ft
- Hotel: Casa Andina Standard, Puno, or similar 3-star hotel
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with stone steps at altitude on Taquile
Tips: Sunscreen and a hat; the sun on the lake is strong. A warm layer for the boat and small bills if you want to buy textiles from the knitters. More in our Lake Titicaca guide.
Day 8: Puno - Transfer to Juliaca Airport
After breakfast, we pick you up at your hotel and drive about an hour to Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima, not included. The TreXperience service ends here. You landed on the coast eight days ago; you leave having stood inside Machu Picchu, on top of Rainbow Mountain and on an island made of reeds.
- Meals: breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer: about 1 hour from Puno to Juliaca airport
- Not included: flight from Juliaca to Lima
Want more of Peru? Add the Colca Canyon and Arequipa after Puno, or the Amazon before you fly home. Write to us and we suggest the best order for your dates.
Peru Tour 8 Days Price and Booking
Prices are per person in US dollars. They include all hotels, the Lima to Cusco flight [TO CONFIRM], the Expedition train, the Machu Picchu entrance and guided tour, the Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca tours, the tourist bus to Puno, all listed tickets, local guides and ground transport. International flights and the flight from Juliaca are not included.
Small-Group Tour Price
| Traveler Type | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Adults | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| Students under 25 with a valid university ID | US$30 off the adult price |
| Children under 17 | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
Private Tour Price
Your own guide and vehicle, at your pace, on the Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain days. Prices depend on group size and availability.
| Number of Travelers | Adults (Per Person) | Students and Children (Per Person) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 2 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 3 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 4 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 5 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 6 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 7 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 8 to 16 travelers | US$[TO CONFIRM] | US$[TO CONFIRM] |
| 17 or more travelers | Contact us for a group rate | |
Note: Private service covers the guided tours and transfers. Trains, the Machu Picchu buses, the tourist bus to Puno and the lake boat are shared.
Booking and Payment
- Deposit: US$600 per person to secure your Machu Picchu ticket, train seats and hotels. Balance online or at our Cusco office by card, PayPal or wire transfer.
- Send each traveler’s full name, passport number, date of birth, passport expiry and nationality. Machu Picchu tickets and train seats are issued in your name and can’t be changed or transferred.
- For May to September, book at least two months ahead; Machu Picchu tickets are limited per day and per circuit. See our Terms and Conditions.
- Tell us about dietary needs, pregnancy or any heart, lung, knee or mobility concern, and why you’re traveling. It helps us prepare.
Student and Child Discount
Students under 25 with a valid university ID (name, photo, university and expiry date) get US$30 off the adult price. ISIC cards are not accepted. Children under 17 may qualify for lower official Machu Picchu rates; send the ID or date of birth when booking and we confirm the discount.
Customization and Upgrades
- Private service on all guided days.
- Vistadome panoramic train instead of the Expedition, one way or both ways.
- Hotel upgrades to 4-star or 5-star in Lima, Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Puno.
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on Day 4, US$75 per person.
- Extra nights and extensions: a day more in Lima, the Colca Canyon and Arequipa after Puno, or the Amazon.
Changes depend on availability and may change the price. Contact us for a quote.
Packing List for the Peru Tour 8 Days
Three climates in eight days: the mild, often gray coast of Lima, the warm cloud forest around Machu Picchu with afternoon showers, and the cold, bright altiplano of Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca, where mornings freeze and the midday sun burns. Light layers cover all three. More in our Peru Packing List.
Essentials
Original passport (checked at the airports, the train, Machu Picchu and the bus), medication, documents, insurance details and some cash in soles for meals on your own and small purchases on the islands.
What to Wear?
Comfortable walking shoes with grip, breathable layers and a light rain jacket for Machu Picchu, and a warm jacket, hat and gloves for Rainbow Mountain, the bus day and the lake, where it can drop below freezing before sunrise.
What to Put in the Daypack?
1.5 liters of water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, a rain poncho and a warm layer. The high-altitude sun is strong even when the air is cold.
What to Pack for the Night in Aguas Calientes?
A small bag of about 5 kg / 11 lb with a change of clothes, toiletries and a charger; train luggage is limited, and your suitcase waits at your Cusco hotel or in our free storage. See our Machu Picchu packing list.
What We Provide
Hotels, the Expedition train, the Machu Picchu entrance and buses, the tourist bus and the lake boat, all listed tickets and guides, and a first-aid kit and oxygen on the Rainbow Mountain hike.
Optional Gear and Extra Items
Trekking poles with rubber tips for Rainbow Mountain, a power bank, a small umbrella for Lima, motion-sickness remedies for the bus and boat, and anything your doctor recommends for altitude.
Travel Information for the Peru Tour 8 Days
The practical side of the trip: flights, altitude, pace, Machu Picchu tickets, hotels and transport, luggage, booking times and weather.
Flights and Arrival Times
The tour starts in Lima and ends at Juliaca airport, one hour from Puno. International flights and the Juliaca to Lima flight on Day 8 are not included; the Lima to Cusco flight on Day 2 is included [TO CONFIRM]. A morning arrival in Lima on Day 1 lets you join the afternoon city tour; early check-in is not included unless confirmed separately. For Day 8, choose a Juliaca flight from late morning onward and send us the details; we confirm your pickup time. Wait for our recommended times before buying any flight.
Altitude and Acclimatization
The itinerary is built to climb gradually. Lima is at sea level. Cusco, on Day 2, is at 3,400 m / 11,155 ft, with a rest before an easy afternoon tour. Days 3 and 4 drop to the Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes at 2,040 m / 6,693 ft and Machu Picchu at 2,430 m / 7,972 ft. Rainbow Mountain, about 5,200 m / 17,060 ft, comes on Day 5, after three days in the region. The bus crosses the La Raya pass at 4,335 m / 14,222 ft, and Puno and the lake sit around 3,800 m / 12,500 ft. Walk slowly, drink water, eat light, avoid alcohol the first day and tell your guide about any headache or nausea. See our guide to altitude in Cusco.
Difficulty and Daily Pace
There is one real hike: Rainbow Mountain on Day 5, about 10 km / 6.2 mi round trip, not technical, but slow because of the altitude, with horses for rent at the trailhead. Machu Picchu is 2 to 3 hours of walking with stairs, Taquile has stone steps up to the village, and the city tours are a few hours on foot. The long days are by vehicle: Day 5 starts at 4:30 a.m., and Day 6 is about 10 hours on the tourist bus with stops. Your guide sets the pace and carries a first-aid kit and oxygen on the hike.
Machu Picchu Tickets, Circuits and Rules
Your ticket is issued in your name for a set entry time and circuit. We request Circuit 2, the classic route with the postcard view, whenever it is available for your date, and we tell you which circuit you have before the balance is due. Bring the original passport used for your booking. No large bags, drones, tripods or food inside, and the route is one way. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain need a separate ticket booked in advance. See our circuits guide and rules guide.
Hotels, Trains and the Tourist Bus
Hotels: Casa Andina Standard in Miraflores, Lima; San Agustín Internacional in Cusco (three nights); Ferré Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes; and Casa Andina Standard in Puno (two nights), or similar 3-star hotels with private bathroom and breakfast. Trains: the Expedition from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back, with the Vistadome panoramic train as an upgrade. The Cusco to Puno leg is a tourist bus made for travelers, with a guide on board, reclining seats, restroom and short guided stops; stops may vary with the schedule.
Luggage on the Train Days
Train luggage is limited to a small bag of about 5 kg / 11 lb per person, so pack an overnight bag for the one night in Aguas Calientes. Your main suitcase stays at your Cusco hotel or in our free storage and is waiting for you on Day 4. On the flight from Lima and the bus to Puno, your full luggage travels with you; standard airline baggage rules apply, so check your fare before you pack.
Booking Timeline and Payments
Machu Picchu tickets are limited per day and per circuit, and the trains have limited seats, so for May to September book at least two months ahead, and as early as you can for any date. We request your ticket and train seats once we have your passport details and the US$600 deposit, and we tell you right away if your preferred circuit is sold out. The balance is paid online or at our Cusco office by card, PayPal or wire transfer, under our Terms and Conditions.
Weather and Best Time to Travel
The Andes are drier from April to October and wetter from November to March. Machu Picchu can see showers in any month, Rainbow Mountain can see snow in the wet season, and Lake Titicaca is sunny by day and cold at night all year. Lima is gray and mild from May to October and sunny from December to March. No season guarantees clear skies, so bring layers and a rain shell whenever you travel. See our Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Peru Tour 8 Days
Quick answers to what travelers ask us most before booking this trip.
Is this a good tour if I don’t want to trek?
Yes. You reach Machu Picchu by train and bus, every night is in a hotel, and the only real hike is Rainbow Mountain, which you can shorten with a horse or swap for a free day in Cusco. The rest is sightseeing with some stairs at altitude. Prefer to walk into Machu Picchu? Our Andean Highlights 9 Days follows the same route with the Short Inca Trail.
Why does the tour end in Puno instead of returning to Cusco?
Because going one way saves you a full day of backtracking. The road from Cusco to Puno is a destination in itself, and Juliaca airport, an hour from Puno, has daily flights to Lima. You see Lake Titicaca without repeating the bus, and you can add the Colca Canyon and Arequipa after Puno if you have more days.
Can I arrive in Lima a day earlier or add a food tour?
Yes. Many travelers land in Lima at night, so an extra night before the tour is the easiest way to start rested. We can also add a guided food tour through Lima’s markets and cevicherías, a half day in Barranco, or a free morning on the Miraflores boardwalk. Contact us with your flight details and we build the extra day around them.
Can I skip Rainbow Mountain if I don’t feel well?
Of course. Tell your guide the evening before or on the morning itself and stay in Cusco to rest; nobody is pushed up a mountain. If you would rather plan a lighter day from the start, tell us before the trip and we swap it for a free day or a gentler visit, such as Humantay Lake or more time in the Cusco region. Tell us before booking about any knee, heart or lung concern.
Which circuit will I get at Machu Picchu, and can I add Huayna Picchu?
We request Circuit 2, the classic panoramic route, whenever it is available for your date, and confirm your circuit before the balance is due. You can add Huayna Picchu (about 2 hours round trip) or Machu Picchu Mountain (about 3 hours) on Day 4 for US$75 per person; both sell out fast and must fit your entry time and your train, so tell us when you book.
What meals are included, and can you handle special diets?
Breakfast at every hotel from Day 2, lunch in the Sacred Valley, at Rainbow Mountain, on the bus day and on Taquile, and dinner on Day 3 before the train. Other meals are on your own, with plenty of restaurants near every hotel; your guide can recommend a few. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy requests can usually be arranged if you tell us in advance.
Is this tour suitable for families and older travelers?
Yes, with one honest note: Rainbow Mountain is high and cold, and the bus day is long. Families with children and travelers who prefer a gentler pace often book the tour private, keep Rainbow Mountain optional and add a rest day. Every night is in a hotel, the guides set the pace, and children under 17 may qualify for reduced Machu Picchu rates.
Can I travel solo, book it private or extend the trip?
Yes. Solo travelers can join a small-group departure or book the private rate for one. Couples, families and friends can book the whole tour private, with their own guide and vehicle on every guided day. For more of Peru, the most popular additions are the Colca Canyon and Arequipa after Puno, or the Amazon, and the Nazca Lines before Cusco. Ask us for a quote.