Lima 7-Day Itinerary

Activities

1. 10:00 LIM airport arrival + Uber to Miraflores 1.5h

   Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM) arrival. Uber/Beat ONLY ($12-18, 30-50 min) — NEVER street taxi (kidnapping risk). Check-in Miraflores hotel.

   Cost: Uber $12-18 TIP: Uber/Beat/InDriver apps only. Authorized taxi $25-35 (Taxi Verde at airport). New terminal opened 2025.
2. 13:00 Lunch at La Mar Cebichería (canonical ceviche, queue 60 min) 2.5h

   Gastón Acurio's iconic ceviche restaurant. Lunch only — closes 17:00. Ceviche Mixto + Tiradito + Sudado + Pisco Sour. Queue 30-60 min standard.

   Cost: $20-50 TIP: Arrive 12:30 for opening. No reservations. Cash + card.
3. 16:00 Malecón Pacific cliffs walk + Parque del Amor + Larcomar 2.5h

   Malecón 8km cliff walk along Pacific Ocean. Parque del Amor (lovers' park + sculpture). Larcomar cliffside shopping mall + sunset views.

   Cost: Free + shopping discretionary TIP: Sunset 1h before pretty. Iconic Pacific views + paragliders overhead.
4. 19:00 Larco Museum (open till 22:00) 2.5h

   World's most comprehensive pre-Columbian art collection + Inca + Moche + Chimú gold + ceramics + erotic art annex. Café Larco in gardens for sunset dinner.

   Cost: S/35 ($9) TIP: Only major museum open late (till 22:00). Café Larco dinner in gardens.
5. 22:00 Pisco Sour evening at Carnaval bar (World's 50 Best Bars) 1.5h

   Carnaval (San Isidro, World's 50 Best Bars #18 in 2023) — Pisco-based cocktails + Peruvian ingredients showcase. 21+ only.

   Cost: $15-40 TIP: Reservation weekends. Smart casual. Pisco flight $15-25.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Uber to Centro Histórico Plaza Mayor 2h

   Uber from Miraflores ($5-8, 25 min). Plaza Mayor (founded 1535 by Pizarro) + Cathedral (Pizarro's tomb) + Government Palace.

   Cost: Uber $5-8 + Cathedral S/15 ($4) TIP: Watch valuables. Pizarro's tomb in cathedral. Day only — leave before dark.
2. 11:00 San Francisco Catacombs + Casa Aliaga 2h

   San Francisco Monastery + catacombs (25,000 skulls underground, 1546-1808) + Casa Aliaga (1535 oldest continuously inhabited house in Western Hemisphere).

   Cost: S/20 + S/30 ($14) TIP: Catacombs spooky but iconic. Casa Aliaga reservation 1 day ahead.
3. 13:30 Lunch at Hotel Bolívar (Pisco Sour 1924 birthplace) 1.5h

   1924 Hotel Bolívar (Plaza San Martín) claims Pisco Sour invention. Lunch + Pisco Sour S/30 ($8) historic setting (Hemingway, Ava Gardner stayed).

   Cost: $20-40 + Pisco Sour TIP: Day only — Centro Histórico unsafe at night. Iconic Pisco Sour.
4. 15:30 Huaca Pucllana pre-Inca pyramid in middle of Miraflores 2h

   Uber back to Miraflores ($5-8). Huaca Pucllana — 1,500-year-old pre-Inca adobe pyramid in middle of upscale Miraflores. Guided tour 45 min.

   Cost: S/15 ($4) TIP: Surreal — ancient pyramid surrounded by modern condos. Night-time visit (till 22) with restaurant Huaca Pucllana.
5. 18:00 Magic Water Circuit (Parque de la Reserva sunset) 1.5h

   13 fountains synchronized to music + sunset to 22:00. Largest fountain complex in the world. S/4 ($1) entry. Walking distance from Plaza Bolognesi.

   Cost: S/4 TIP: Best after sunset 19-21. Family + photo-friendly.
6. 20:00 Anticuchería Grimanesa Vargas (Netflix Chef's Table) 2h

   Doña Grimanesa Vargas' anticuchería (beef heart skewers, S/12-18 each) + picarones donuts. Netflix Chef's Table featured.

   Cost: $5-15 TIP: Cash only. Queue 20-40 min. 18-23 hours only (Mon closed).

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Uber to Barranco + Puente de los Suspiros walk 2.5h

   10-min Uber from Miraflores ($3-5). Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs, 1876) + colorful street art + MATE (Mario Testino museum, $9) + boutique shops.

   Cost: Uber $3 + MATE $9 TIP: Most photogenic + Instagrammable Lima neighborhood. Bohemian artistic vibe.
2. 13:00 Lunch at Isolina Taberna Peruana (Barranco creole) 2h

   Modern Peruvian creole canonical. Lomo Saltado tradicional + Ají de Gallina + family-style portions (1 for 2-4 people). World's 50 Best Discovery.

   Cost: $30-60 TIP: Reservation 1 week ahead. Family-style order. Smart casual.
3. 16:00 Pacific Cliff paragliding (Costa Verde) optional 1.5h

   Pacific Cliff paragliding from Miraflores ($80, 10 min flight). Optional but iconic Lima experience. Free Cliff sunset walking if not flying.

   Cost: $80 paragliding or free walking TIP: Pre-book online. Reservation Lima Paragliding Club. Sunset best timing.
4. 18:30 Sunset dinner at Cala Restaurant (Costa Verde beach) 2.5h

   Pacific Ocean cliffside dining on Costa Verde beach. Sunset views + ceviche + paella + beach club bar evenings.

   Cost: $30-70 TIP: Reservation for sunset table 1 week ahead. Most photogenic Lima sunset dinner.
5. 21:30 OPTIONAL Splurge: Central restaurant ($300-500, book 3 months ahead) 4h

   World's #1 restaurant 2023 (Central by Virgilio Martínez). 16-course altitude-themed tasting. Book 3 months ahead — fills within hours.

   Cost: $300-500 per person TIP: Reservation centralrestaurante.com.pe day-90 midnight. Smart attire mandatory. Replace Cala dinner with Central.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 LIM → CUZ flight (1.5h, $80-200 LATAM/Sky) 1.5h flight

   Lima airport to Cusco airport. LATAM/Sky/Star Peru/JetSmart flights 1.5h direct. Book early for best prices.

   Cost: $80-200 TIP: Book 1-2 months ahead. LATAM most reliable. Cusco airport (CUZ) at 3,400m altitude — altitude shock from sea level Lima.
2. 12:00 Cusco hotel + REST (altitude 3,400m) 3h

   Cusco hotel check-in. REST 2-3 hours mandatory + coca tea + no alcohol first 24h. Altitude affects 50%+ travelers.

   Cost: Free + coca tea TIP: Coca tea unlimited at hotel. Acetazolamide pills helpful. Slow walking only.
3. 15:00 Plaza de Armas + Cusco Cathedral exterior + light walk 2h

   Light walking Plaza de Armas + Cusco Cathedral (1654 exterior + Inca foundation walls). Don't sprint upstairs (altitude).

   Cost: Free + Cathedral S/40 ($11) optional TIP: Easy walking only. Hire local guide S/30 optional.
4. 18:00 Early light dinner + REST 1.5h

   Light dinner at Cicciolina ($12-30) or Inkazuela ($12-30). NO alcohol first 24h (altitude amplifies).

   Cost: $12-30 TIP: Early to bed. Altitude makes you tired.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Sacred Valley day tour ($50-80) 10h tour

   Sacred Valley day tour with English-speaking guide + hotel pickup. 1h drive to Pisac (2,800m altitude — significantly easier breathing than Cusco's 3,400m, used as acclimatization day). Includes Pisac + Ollantaytambo + Maras + Moray + buffet lunch.

   Cost: $50-80 per person TIP: Sacred Valley lower altitude (2,800m vs Cusco 3,400m) = real relief on Day 5 after Day 4 altitude shock. Tour includes Maras + Moray. Private tour upgrade $150-250 per group.
2. 09:30 Pisac Inca Ruins + Sunday market 2.5h

   Pisac Inca terraces (1,000-year-old agricultural terraces still in use) + Pisac Sunday market (Tue / Thu / Sun) for handwoven alpaca textiles + Andean ceramics + silver jewelry from regional artisan villages.

   Cost: Included in tour + Cusco Tourist Ticket S/130 ($35) TIP: Pisac terraces 1h moderate hike. Market haggle 30-50% off marked prices. Cusco Tourist Ticket covers 16 sites (Sacsayhuamán, Q'enko, Tambomachay, etc.) — buy in Cusco day 4 morning.
3. 12:30 Buffet lunch + Ollantaytambo Living Inca City 3h

   Sacred Valley buffet lunch at Urubamba (Andean cuisine — quinoa soup, alpaca steak, choclo corn). Ollantaytambo Inca temple-fortress (still inhabited continuously since 1400s — only such 'living Inca city') + 6 massive megalithic stones in Sun Temple.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Steep 200 stone steps to Ollantaytambo Sun Temple top. Pace yourself + hydrate (altitude). Wear closed-toe shoes.
4. 16:00 Maras Salt Mines + Moray + return Cusco 3h

   Maras 3,000+ pre-Inca salt terraces (white salt pools cascading down hillside, harvested by local families since pre-Inca times) + Moray Inca circular agricultural terraces (Inca crop-experiment center, 30°C temperature variation between terrace rings). Return Cusco 19:30.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Maras salt pools iconic photo at golden hour. Moray circular terraces are Instagram-favorite. Light layers needed (windy).

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 04:30 Pre-dawn Cusco → Poroy station → Vistadome train Machu Picchu 3.5h train

   Hotel pickup pre-dawn (taxi to Poroy 20 min). Vistadome train Cusco→Aguas Calientes 3.5h ($200 RT).

   Cost: $200 RT train (Vistadome) TIP: Vistadome panoramic + scenic. Or Hiram Bingham luxury ($1,000 RT with brunch + dinner).
2. 10:00 Bus Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu + 3h guided tour + entry 5h

   30-min bus from Aguas Calientes ($24 RT). Entry $300 advance-only + on-site guide $40. 2-3h Inca citadel exploration.

   Cost: $24 bus + $300 entry + $40 guide TIP: Pre-book entry 1+ month ahead via machupicchu.gob.pe. Hire guide essential for Inca history.
3. 15:30 Aguas Calientes lunch + return Vistadome train 5.5h

   Lunch at Indio Feliz (Aguas Calientes #1, $20-50) + return Vistadome train 16:30 to Cusco.

   Cost: $20-50 lunch TIP: Indio Feliz queue 30+ min. Train station 30 min early.
4. 20:30 Cusco late dinner + REST 1.5h

   Cusco arrival ~20:30. Late dinner at Cicciolina (open 23:00). Pisco Sour reward for exhausting day.

   Cost: $15-30 TIP: Exhausted — rest.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Sacsayhuamán Inca Fortress (12 Wonders of Peru) 2h

   30-min walk uphill from Plaza de Armas (steep — altitude factor at 3,600m). 1100s Inca fortress + 200-ton stones fitted without mortar (an engineering mystery still studied today). Site of annual Inti Raymi June 24 reenactment.

   Cost: S/130 Cusco Tourist Ticket (covers 16 sites) TIP: Morning best — less crowds + better light. Hire local guide S/50 for Inca history context. Wear layers — cold morning, warm midday.
2. 10:30 Souvenir shopping at Cusco Tourist Market + late breakfast at Cicciolina 2.5h

   Cusco Tourist Market (Centro Histórico) for alpaca textiles + ceramics + silver jewelry + haggle 30-50% off marked prices. Late breakfast at Cicciolina Plazoleta Nazarenas ($12-30, queue 30-45 min standard — most-recommended Cusco brunch).

   Cost: $12-50 TIP: Last chance souvenir shopping. Alpaca scarves S/30-80, sweaters S/80-200, hats S/30-60. Cash + card most stalls.
3. 13:30 Cusco → Lima flight (LATAM 1.5h) 1.5h flight

   CUZ airport check-in + LATAM / Sky / Star Peru / JetSmart 1.5h flight to Lima. Morning flights more reliable (Cusco afternoon altitude weather causes occasional cancellations).

   Cost: $80-200 TIP: Allow 2h before domestic flight. Morning flights cheaper + more reliable than afternoon.
4. 16:30 Lima final foodie + airport transfer 3h

   Final foodie in Lima — La Mar lunch ($20-50) if early enough, Tanta Larcomar ($15-35 quick) for Pacific cliff sunset, or quick at LIM airport ($15-30). Allow 3h before international flight from new Jorge Chávez terminal.

   Cost: $15-50 + Uber $15 TIP: International flights typically late-evening Lima departure (22:00-02:00 to North America / Europe). New Jorge Chávez terminal opened 2025 — easier navigation than old terminal.

Meal Recommendations