Peru: the Sacred Valley
Acclimatise low, climb slowly, and see Machu Picchu before the crowds.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why go
Private Peru journeys: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca, with private guides and time to acclimatise.
Peru is a trip you have to plan for altitude. We start in the Sacred Valley, lower than Cusco, and move up slowly. Machu Picchu is a morning, not a race.
Private guides make the difference here: the archaeology, the markets, and the food all open up with the right person beside you.
Peru is a journey of altitude and timing. We land in Lima, then move to the Sacred Valley first so that you acclimatise at a lower height before Cusco, and reach Machu Picchu by train or on a private trek with camps set up ahead of you.
The dry season from May to September has the clearest skies. Add the Amazon or Lake Titicaca if you have a third week, or a few nights in Lima for food that is among the best on the continent.
- Best time
- May to October for the dry season in the Andes. Lima is best from December to April.
- Journeys
- 1 example itinerary
What to see and do
The Peru we would show you
- Private guides in Lima, the Sacred Valley, and Cusco
- Machu Picchu timed for the quieter entry
- Lodges in the Sacred Valley for acclimatisation
- The Amazon or Lake Titicaca as an extension
Example journeys
Itineraries in Peru
Starting points with a guide price. Each is redrawn around your dates, party and pace.
Ways to travel here
Peru by the kind of trip
Peru private journey
Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco, in the right order.
Peru expeditions
The Sacred Valley, a private trek to Machu Picchu and the Amazon or Lake Titicaca, with altitude planned for.
Peru for couples
The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu by train and Cusco, in small hotels with a private guide, at a gentle pace.
Good to know
Questions about Peru
How do we handle altitude?
Two nights in the Sacred Valley before Cusco, and a plan that does not rush. Most travellers are fine.
Is it suitable for families?
For children over eight or so, yes. Younger children find the altitude and the pace harder.
How do we handle the altitude?
Arrive in the Sacred Valley first, which is lower than Cusco, and spend two nights there before moving higher. We pace the itinerary and keep the first days gentle.
Is the Inca Trail the only way to Machu Picchu?
No. The train from the Sacred Valley is comfortable and scenic, and there are shorter and quieter trails. Permits for the classic trail are limited and sell out months ahead.
Plan a private journey to Peru
A specialist replies personally with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No obligation for the first conversation.