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From Lima to Machu Picchu: how to plan your trips around Peru

From Lima to Machu Picchu: how to plan your trips around Peru

Lima deserves several days in its own right, but it's also the gateway to the rest of Peru. With the well-connected Jorge Chávez airport and its network of domestic flights, from Lima Penthouse you can easily organize the country's great excursions and return to your base in Miraflores. Here are the essentials.

Cusco and Machu Picchu

This is the Peru trip. From Lima there are daily flights to Cusco (just over an hour). From there you reach the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Key tips:

  • Set aside at least 3 or 4 days for Cusco and Machu Picchu; a same-day round trip from Lima isn't realistic.
  • Cusco sits at 3,400 m: take your first day slowly to acclimatize to the altitude.
  • Machu Picchu tickets and the trains sell out; book them weeks (or months) in advance.

Lima Penthouse is the perfect base for the days before and after: you arrive, acclimatize at sea level, rest and sort out the logistics in peace.

Paracas and the Ballestas Islands

If you're after a shorter getaway, south of Lima (about 3-4 hours by road) lies Paracas, with its National Reserve of desert and sea, and the Ballestas Islands, teeming with sea lions, penguins and birds. It can be done as a one- or two-day trip. Nearby are the Huacachina oasis and the Nazca Lines.

Arequipa and the Colca Canyon

Arequipa, the "White City" built from volcanic sillar stone at the foot of the Misti volcano, is one of the country's most beautiful cities. From there you can visit the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world and the best place to see the Andean condor in flight. There are direct flights from Lima.

The Amazon: Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado

For a completely different experience, Iquitos (reachable only by air or river) and Puerto Maldonado are the gateways to the Peruvian Amazon, with lodges deep in nature, incredible wildlife and navigable rivers.

Our recommendation

If it's your first trip to Peru and you have a week or more, the most balanced combination is: Lima (food and culture) + Cusco/Machu Picchu, adding Paracas or Arequipa if you have the days. Use Lima Penthouse as your base camp between flights: arriving at a comfortable penthouse, with a kitchen and a terrace, after several days of travel is hugely appreciated. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll help with the planning.