- Lauren Wood
6 Day, 5 Night Cusco & Machu Picchu Itinerary
It's a short trip, but you'll see A LOT in just 6 days.

Day 1: Traveling to Cusco
There are no direct flights from the United States to Cusco, so chances are, your flight will go through Lima.
The airport in Lima is small and easy to navigate. The security lines went rather quickly and there were virtually no lines for passport control in the morning. They have pretty standard security lines: laptops and tablets in their own bin, watches come off but shoes stay on. There are plenty of eateries—both inside the terminal and out—before and after security.
We enjoyed a really wonderful breakfast at Tanya Cafe near gate 13. I enjoyed a traditional Peruvian breakfast of scrambled eggs, yuca, sausage and toast that was delicious. For three of us—one full breakfast, three juices and six cups of coffee—it was only about $40 USD.
Before flying to Cusco, it is advisable to start taking altitude sickness pills and keep taking them for the duration of your stay. Locals also swear by coca tea as a remedy. Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
2 Nights in Cusco
Where We Stayed:
Palacio del Inka - A Marriott Bonvoy Property. We stayed in a “Colonial Family” room with 3 double beds - $795 for 2 nights ($265pp)
Things to See:
Plaza de Armas
Cusco Cathedral
Alleys San Blas neighborhood
L’Atelier Cafe on Calle Carmel Alto
Plaza San Cristobal (spot for sunset views)
Restaurants:
Morena
Cicciolina
Uchu, Peruvian Steakhouse
Limo, reservations: limo@cuscorestaurants.com
Chicha
Fallen Angel (strange ambiance)
Rucula
Organika
Yaku
L’Atelier cafe in San Blas (coffee)
Limbus Restobar (views)
K’Intuchay (views)
Pachapapa
Saledonia
Our two favorite restaurants were Morena and Chicha. Below are a ton of photos of our food and drinks at Morena, which not only has incredible food and cocktails, but also offers amazing views of the square at Plaza de Armas.