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.