Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. 2 days in Cuzco, the honest budget version Two days covers the free city sights and Sacsayhuaman on the Boleto Turistico, not Machu Picchu on any real budget. This is the shortest, cheapest plan in this lineup; the 3-day itinerary is the first one with room for a proper Machu Picchu add-on, building up through the 4-day , 5-day and 6-day versions.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. 3 days in Cuzco, the first plan that fits Machu Picchu Three days is the shortest realistic window that adds Machu Picchu onto the free-sights plan: Day 1 acclimatises in Cuzco, Day 2 covers the Sacred Valley on colectivos and the Boleto Turistico, Day 3 goes to the ruins and back.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. 4 days in Cuzco, the honest budget version Four days buys real room for Machu Picchu without stretching the budget past reason: Day 1 acclimatises for free, Day 2 works the Sacred Valley on the Boleto Turistico, Day 3 is the one expensive day at Machu Picchu itself, and Day 4 spends the ticket you already own on a near-free Cuzco day.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. 5 days in Cuzco, the budget plan with room to spare Five days extends the 4-day plan by one extra day without a second expensive one: Days 1 and 2 acclimatise and cover the Sacred Valley on the Boleto Turistico, Day 3 is the one costly Machu Picchu day, and Days 4 and 5 spend that same ticket on the Southern Valley ruins, then go free entirely on a mirador day instead of a paid extra.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. 6 days in Cuzco, the budget plan with the ticket fully used Six days extends the 5-day plan by one more Boleto Turistico day rather than a second expensive one: acclimatise, cover the Sacred Valley, spend the one pricey day at Machu Picchu, add the Southern Valley, rest for free around San Blas, then use the same ticket a final time at Sacsayhuaman and Chinchero.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use. Cuzco’s real budget wins are free, not Machu Picchu Plaza de Armas, San Blas, and San Pedro Market cost nothing to walk through, and that’s most of a first full day in Cuzco covered for free.

Two days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Two days in Lima realistically covers Miraflores, Barranco and a Centro Historico half-day, not the whole country, and definitely not Machu Picchu (a separate flight-plus-train trip to Cusco, never a Lima day trip). Peru’s currency is the sol, PEN, running roughly S/3.38 to S/3.41 per US dollar in 2026 (the old “Nuevo Sol” name was dropped back in 2015). Lima sits at sea level, so altitude is a non-issue here, unlike Cusco’s thin air.

Three days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Three days in Lima covers Miraflores’ free clifftop parks and Parque Kennedy’s cats, a Barranco-plus-Centro-Historico half day, and the Larco Museum paired with a real cheap-eats food day, all on the Peruvian sol. Lima sits at sea level, so there is no altitude concern here, unlike Cusco’s roughly 3,400 meters; the sol runs roughly 3.38 to 3.41 to the dollar in 2026.

Lima in 4 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs) Four days keeps the 3-day itinerary ’s spine, Miraflores, Barranco, the Centro Historico and the Larco Museum, then adds a full day trip to the Pachacamac ruins. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to worry about, and the trip runs comfortably on Peruvian soles. Staying longer? The 5-day itinerary adds Paracas. Book these before you go Compare rates in Miraflores or Barranco on Booking.

Five days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Five days in Lima keeps the 4-day itinerary ’s route whole, Miraflores, Barranco plus a Centro Historico half-day, the Larco Museum and a cheap-eats food day, then Pachacamac’s ruins, and adds the one day trip the shorter plans skip: a long run south to Paracas and the Islas Ballestas, priced here at bus-and-boat rates rather than an all-inclusive tour. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to plan around, unlike Cusco’s roughly 3,400 meters, and the sol runs roughly S/3.

Six days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Six days in Lima on a budget covers the full circuit: Miraflores, Barranco, a Centro Historico half-day, the Larco Museum, Pachacamac’s ruins, a long Paracas/Ballestas day, and a closing day mixing Callao Monumental with San Isidro’s El Olivar. Peru’s currency is the sol, PEN, roughly S/3.38-3.41 per US dollar in 2026. Lima sits at sea level, so this trip carries no altitude planning, unlike Cusco.

Seven days in Lima on a budget, with daily costs Seven days is enough to see Lima properly on a budget without touching Cusco or Machu Picchu, which sit a separate flight and several more days away and don’t belong bolted onto the end of this trip. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to worry about, only the sol (PEN), running roughly 3.38-3.41 to the US dollar in 2026.