When to visit Peru
There is never really a bad time to visit the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The rainy season is officially November through April, with more rain in January - March, but even during the rainy season, it does not usually rain all day and some find the fertile valleys and quick changes in weather to add to the charm.
The weather in the Sacred valley is quite similar all-year round, with temperatures rising in the afternoon when the sun is strong and temperatures dropping sharply in the evenings.
Peak season is June through October, in particular July, when you are advised to book further in advance hotels, flights and train and entrance tickets for Machu Picchu.
The perfect amount of time to visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu is 5 days, including travel days, although you can easily spend up to a week. If you have very limited time and your main priority is visiting Machu Picchu, we recommend skipping Cusco and only staying in the Sacred Valley, with a suggested itinerary of:
Day 1: Arrival Cusco airport, transfer to Sacred Valley, and take it easy day
Day 2: Activities in Sacred Valley depending on your interests!
Day 3: Visit to Machu Picchu (day trip) returning to Sacred Valley in evening
Day 4: Departure day to Lima or elsewhere
This can be reduced to three days, but we don’t recommend it. If you have more time, we recommend an additional day in the Sacred Valley and a night or two in Cusco, especially if you have time to add in a night or two after your visit to Machu Picchu. Cusco not only has many archaeological and historical sites, but the best tourist shopping in Peru and a full range of restaurants and nightlife.
There is an additional option to stay overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu base town), but it’s not necessary. Unless you are a real archaeological or photography buff, most people find that one visit to Machu Picchu is enough, and can easily be accommodated in a one-day day trip, especially from the Sacred Valley which is closer to Machu Picchu than Cusco, and it’s not worth it to check in and out of of hotels and bring a separate bag to Aguas Calientes (large suitcases are not permitted on the train).
Planning your trip
With more time. . .
There are so many things to visit in Peru that it’s hard to decide, but some our favorites:
The Southern Loop:
Paracas and Ica:
Arequipa and Colca Canyon:
Puno and Lake Titicaca:
The Jungle: Most popular are the lodges in Tambopata, as it’s a quick flight from Cusco. Fly from Cusco to Puerta Maldonando and then go by car and boat to your lodge. Iquitos is also a great option, but it requires a flight from Lima and the better lodges (with more wildlife) are further by boat from the city. If you love wildlife and really have more time, Manu can’t be beat, but it is more adventurous.
The Beach: In the summer months of Peru (January - March), you can go to the beach just outside of Lima, but in the winter months, we recommend the north, in particular Mancora and Punta Sal.
What to Pack
Layers, layers and more layers. The weather in Cusco and the Sacred Valley goes from quite cold to hot and sunny in the same day. Year-round in the Sacred Valley we recommend jeans or long pants, a T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt, sweater or fleece and puff or polar jacket. As you will add and remove layers during the day (and carry them with you), we recommend clothing and jackets that are flexible and light weight, as well as a lightweight day backpack or shoulder-cross bag.
In addition to your clothing, warm socks, and comfortable walking shoes, we recommend you bring: sunglasses and sun screen. a rain jacket (even if not rainy season), bug repellent, a hat, refillable water bottles, chapstick, and of course your camera. An iPad or light laptop is a nice addition to check your photos, stay in touch or watch movies in the evenings.