Lima & Cusco – Complete Itinerary To Know The Best Of Peru

Lima and Cusco, are you in doubt about which Peruvian city to choose? Lima brings together the best of the big cities and concentrates most of the public buildings and institutions of art and culture, for example.

Once in Cusco, which is surrounded by an aura of mystery – a city that stopped in Inca times, with its stone ruins and points of departure to know this impressive civilization, in the archaeological sites preserved as World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO as a whole archaeological site.

When in doubt about which to choose, know a little of everything! A perfect package for you to enjoy a backpack or even a romantic trip. In 7 days it is possible to know the two cities – including some walks in the neighboring cities, as we will see below:

Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru. A great metropolis, with historical buildings, museums, monuments and noble tourist districts like Barranco and Miraflores. The city offers, among other things, fine cuisine and beautiful parks.

Days 1 and 2 – Lima and the beauties of colonization

• The best place to stay is in Miraflores, one of the nicest neighborhoods in Lima;

• Enjoy walking through the beautiful Parque Kennedy and Parque Central de Miraflores – many flowers, shops, craft fairs.

• Visit the Mario Testino Museum and know many photographs of this Peruvian photographer; • Take time to rest in one of the restaurants around the city. The local gastronomy surprises as much as the international dishes. You can bet on Cordano, the oldest bar in the city – 100 years in operation. Also visit Galeria Lucía de La Puente, one of the most renowned contemporary art galleries in South America.

• Then take a taxi to see the Larco Museum – a museum dedicated to the pre-columbian peoples.

• On the way back to the center of the city, take in the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s Palace, the San Francisco Convent (famous for its catacombs) and the Government Palace.

• End the day at La Reserva Park. This park has 13 huge fountains and every night, at 19:15, 20:15 and 21:30 there is a musical spectacle of water and light to let you enchanted. You should be exhausted now, so go to your hotel and have a good night, next day, you’re travelling to Cusco.

Cusco

Cusco is an enigmatic city, full of ruins and popular Inca culture. Enjoy every moment of this theme. Maybe you do not adapt to the altitude of the city, so when you arrive in Cusco, however strange it may be for you, do not miss a cup of coca leaf tea – a local experience necessary to avoid vertigo and high blood pressure. For vertigo, buy soroche pills at the pharmacy.

Days 3 and 4 – Cusco and archaeological sites

• Try to stay near the Plaza de Armas (* every Spanish colonization city has a Plaza de Armas)

• During a walk, take time to visit the Cathedral, Plaza San Francisco and then to Qorikancha. In this archaeological site there is an ideal museum to know a little of the history of the first inhabitants of Cusco – there are several guides that can guide the tour. • Guarantee your tickets to Machu Picchu in advance at the Ministry of Culture

• There are many local restaurants, but you can lunch at the traditional Mercado San Pedro, a fair with several regional delicacies.

• Walk through the city towards the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, climbing a staircase;

• You can also meet Pukapukara, Kenko and Tambomachay on the same day, either on foot or by van or taxi.

Day 5 – Chinchero, Moray and Salinas

• In Cusco you can take a van (called Colectivo) that runs through the Sacred Valley to Chinchero. In this little town you will see some Inca terraces and incredible views of the mountains; A truly ecotourism experience is waiting for you!

• Still in Chinchero, take another van until the Maras detour – this point is right in the middle of the way – take one of the taxis to Moray and Salinas. Moray has intriguing layered terraces, used for the cultivation of the Incas. In Salinas de Maras it is possible to know 5,000 tanks of extraction and salt, still in activity since pre-Inca times.

There are many monuments different from the landscapes of the Sacred Valley. They are 33 meters above sea level, so prepare yourself first with the local guides;

• The tour is intense, so it is suggested that you return to Cusco to spend the night.

Day 6 – Ollantaymbo and Aguas Calientes

• Your backpack day has come, prepare a small backpack with what you need for a night out of the hotel. Please keep the rest in the hotel safe. Take a Collective to Ollantaymbo to see the ruins of the city.

• After that, buy train tickets to Machu Picchu and sleep in Aguas Calientes – if you take a hot bath, you will feel at a natural SPA!

Day 7 – Machu Picchu

• The adventure begins at 5 am, prepare a sandwich and climb to Machu Picchu to see the ruins in the first shift from 6 to 12 noon. To better understand the region, hire a local guide.