Peru: the Sacred Valley
Acclimatise low, climb slowly, and see Machu Picchu before the crowds.
Peru · Private journeys
Peru private journey
Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco, in the right order.
The order matters: Lima, then the Sacred Valley to acclimatise, Machu Picchu as a morning, and Cusco last. Private guides throughout.
The Amazon or Lake Titicaca extend it.
Where we go
Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu by train or on foot, Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and Arequipa, and Lima for one of the world's great food cities. The Amazon at Tambopata or Manu adds a second, completely different Peru.
How the week runs
We arrive low and sleep lower than we visit: the Sacred Valley first, Cusco after, so altitude is handled gently. Private guides at the sites, the scenic train or a lodge-to-lodge trek to Machu Picchu, and time in the valley's villages and markets. Twelve to fourteen nights covers the south properly; add the Amazon for a week more.
Who it suits and when
Couples, families with teenagers and anyone drawn by history, mountains and food. May to September is the dry season and the time to walk; the shoulder months are greener and quieter, and the sites are open all year.
- Best time
- May to October for the dry season in the Andes. Lima is best from December to April.
- Suits
- Travellers who want a guide rather than a group · Culture-led trips with time for food and walking · Return visitors who have done the obvious route
- Also see
- Peru overview · Private journeys everywhere
Example journeys
Private journeys itineraries in Peru
Good to know
Questions about private journeys in Peru
How do we handle altitude?
Two nights in the valley before Cusco. Most travellers are fine.
Is there a planning fee?
No. The first conversation and the proposal are free. You pay when you accept the plan.
Plan private journeys in Peru
A specialist replies personally with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No obligation for the first conversation.