🏼🏔🌿

Peru
December 2025

Cusco · Sacred Valley · Machu Picchu · Rainbow Mountain

11Days
1Country
4Travellers
9,500ft+Altitude

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1
Tampa → Miami → Lima
Wed Dec 24 · Travel Day
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  • Drive Tampa → Miami (~5hrs, allow for traffic and stops)
  • Spirit Flight FLL → Lima · Departs 4:45pm · Arrives 10:35pm
  • Overnight in Lima
✓ Spirit Conf. XHMMVY✓ Avis car rental
2
Lima → Cusco → Sacred Valley
Thu Dec 25 · Travel + Acclimatize
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  • Jetsmart flight Lima → Cusco · Departs 5:00am · Conf. JY7H8D
  • Taxi from airport at 7:30am → stop at Pisac en route (~2.5hrs total with Pisac stop and photo breaks)
  • Arrive Ollantaytambo · Check in · Rest and acclimatize (9,500 ft)
✓ Jetsmart Conf. JY7H8D 🏠 Valle Mistico · Ac. Estudiante 291, Ollantaytambo ⚠️ Altitude: take it easy — drink plenty of water
3
Sacred Valley Exploration
Fri Dec 26 · Ollantaytambo base
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  • Moray Terraces — Inca agricultural laboratory
  • Maras Salt Mines — thousands of terraced salt pans
  • Ollantaytambo Fortress — impressive Inca ruins and sun temple
Optional
  • Pinkuilluna Hike — views over the valley
4
Train → Aguas Calientes + Machu Picchu
Sat Dec 27 · Entry 3pm · Circuit 2B
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  • Inca Rail train · Departs 7:22am · Arrives 10:30am
  • Check in to hotel · freshen up
  • Machu Picchu — Circuit 2B · Entry at 3:00pm
✓ Inca Rail Conf. 597874 ✓ Machu Picchu — Circuit 2B · 3pm 🏠 Prolongación Imperio de los Incas Mz. 5, Aguas Calientes
5
Machu Picchu Sunrise + Train to Cusco
Sun Dec 28 · Entry 6am · Circuit 1B
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  • Machu Picchu — Circuit 1B · Early entry 6:00am · Sunrise over the ruins
  • Peru Rail train back · Departs 1:37pm
  • Arrive Cusco (~30 min from station) · check in to Airbnb
✓ Machu Picchu — Circuit 1B · 6am ✓ Peru Rail Conf. UHTQKH 🏠 Avenida Tullumayo 374, Cusco 08002
6
Cusco City Day
Mon Dec 29 · ~12,500 ft
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  • San Pedro Market — colorful local market, textiles and food
  • Q'enqo Canyon — viewpoint or mini trail
  • Awanacancha Llama Farm — meet llamas, alpacas and vicuñas
Optional
  • Tipón Terraces — Inca water temple
  • Pikillacta Ruins — pre-Inca walled city
7
Humantay Lake Hike
Tue Dec 30 · Full day hike
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  • Humantay Lake — stunning turquoise glacial lake at 14,000 ft
  • Full day guided tour from Cusco · ~2.5hrs drive each way + high altitude hike (depart ~5am, return by 5pm) + 4–5hrs hiking (allow full day, depart early ~6am)
8
Cusco Highlights + New Year's Eve
Wed Dec 31 · Sunset at Cristo Blanco
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  • Cristo Blanco Mirador — panoramic city views · best at sunset
  • San Blas neighborhood — artists' quarter, narrow cobblestone streets
  • Saqsaywaman — massive Inca fortress overlooking Cusco
  • New Year's Eve celebrations in Plaza de Armas 🎆
9
Rainbow Mountain or Palcoyo
Thu Jan 1 · New Year's Day
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  • Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) — multicolored Andean peak at 17,000 ft · full day guided tour
  • OR Palcoyo Mountain — easier alternative, similar colors, less crowded
⚠️ Very high altitude — acclimatization essential before this day
10
Cusco → Lima → Miami
Fri Jan 2 · Travel Day
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  • LATAM flight Cusco → Lima · Departs 2:15pm
  • Spirit flight Lima → FLL · Departs 11:50pm · Arrives 5:40am
✓ LATAM Conf. UHTQKH ✓ Spirit Conf. XHMMVY ⏰️ Pack and checkout early — flight at 2:15pm
11
Miami → Tampa
Sat Jan 3 · Home
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  • Arrive FLL 5:40am · pick up Avis car
  • Drive Miami → Tampa (~5hrs, allow for traffic) 🏠

What to Pack

📄 Documents
Passport (each)
Digital passport copy
Flight tickets
Machu Picchu tickets
💊 Health
Altitude medication
Pain reliever
Motion sickness meds
Electrolyte packets
Band-aids / blister pads
👕 Clothing
Packable rain jacket / poncho
Warm layers
Underwear x5–6
Socks incl. warm pair
📷 Electronics
Phone + charging cable
Power bank
Kids headphones
🧠 Accessories
Sun hat / cap
Scarf / neck warmer
Sunscreen
Cash (USD + Soles)
💕 Footwear
Sturdy hiking shoes
Light sandals (optional)

Key Reminders

🏔️
Cusco sits at 11,150 ft — plan a rest day on arrival to acclimatize properly
💧
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol the first 2 days at altitude
🎫
Machu Picchu tickets are timed-slot entry — don't miss your window
🥊
Nights in Cusco and Ollantaytambo are cold even in December — pack warm layers
💵
Carry Peruvian Soles for local markets and tips — cards not always accepted
🌧️
December is start of rainy season in Peru — pack a poncho or waterproof jacket