My Real Thoughts on a 7-Day Peru Trip: Lima, Cusco & Ica (2025)
So, people are often asking what a one-week trip to Peru is actually like. Honestly, it’s a lot to pack in, but you get to see some incredibly different parts of the country. This trip pretty much covers three unique spots: the big city life in Lima, the old-world feels high up in Cusco, and then, you know, a literal desert oasis in Ica. Basically, it’s an adventure that keeps you on your toes. We did this very same 7-day, 6-night tour and, frankly, it was a whirlwind. At the end of the day, you see so much, from amazing food to ancient ruins and massive sand dunes. It’s almost a little hard to process it all as it’s happening. Anyway, this is a look at what that week really feels like, day by day, so you can figure out if it’s the right kind of trip for you.
Days 1 & 2: First Steps in Lima, A City with Seriously Good Food
Alright, so your plane touches down in Lima and, well, the first thing you feel is that coastal air, which is actually a bit humid and grey, you know, what they call the garúa. Still, after you drop your bags, you’ll probably head straight for Miraflores. This neighborhood is, like, really modern and safe, with these great green spaces right on the cliffs looking over the Pacific Ocean. As a matter of fact, the sound of the waves crashing below is pretty much the first thing I remember hearing. It’s a very good spot to just sort of get your bearings and shake off the long flight.
Frankly, the main event in Lima is the food. It’s literally some of the best in the world. For instance, we went to this small spot and had ceviche that was so fresh, it almost felt like it was still swimming. The lime, the chili, the fresh fish—it’s a taste that, you know, just wakes you up completely. You could honestly spend your two days just eating. By the way, we also took a little time to see the historic center of Lima, which is a bit different. It’s got all this old colonial-style architecture and huge plazas. So, you kind of get a feel for the two sides of the city: the modern, relaxed coast and the seriously grand, historic heart.
Days 3 & 4: Up in the Clouds, Finding Cusco’s Charm
Next, you take this quick flight from Lima and suddenly you’re in a whole new world. I mean, landing in Cusco is a pretty big change. The first thing you’ll notice, obviously, is the altitude. You step off the plane and the air just feels thinner, you know? It’s really important to take it easy on that first day. As a matter of fact, our guide told us to drink lots of coca tea, which pretty much all the locals do. You just want to walk slowly and let your body get used to being over 11,000 feet up. It’s no joke.
Once you start to adjust, though, Cusco is sort of magical. The city is built on these old Inca foundations, and you can literally see it in the stonework at the bottom of the buildings. We just spent a lot of time wandering through the little cobblestone streets, which are really narrow and full of small shops and cafes. Of course, the main hub is the Plaza de Armas. It’s this huge, open square with two massive churches and, like, incredible balconies all around. At night, it’s all lit up and it’s a seriously pretty sight to see. You just sort of feel the history all around you in a very real way.
Day 5: The Big One – Actually Seeing Machu Picchu
So, this is the day that is, basically, the reason most people come to Peru. And honestly, it lives up to the hype. The day starts really early, catching a train from a station near Cusco to a little town called Aguas Calientes. The train ride itself is, you know, part of the whole experience. It goes right through the Sacred Valley, and the views out the window of the mountains and the river are just absolutely amazing. It’s almost like a little show before the main event. You can’t help but feel the excitement building up.
From Aguas Calientes, you take this wild bus ride up a winding road to the entrance of Machu Picchu. And then, well, you walk through the gate and there it is. Seriously, that first moment you see the lost city of the Incas spread out in front of you, with the big peak of Huayna Picchu in the background, is something you won’t forget. It’s just so much bigger and more impressive in person than in any picture. We just spent hours walking around, seeing the different temples and houses, and trying to imagine what life was like there. The whole place has this quiet, almost spiritual feel to it, even with other people around. It’s just a bit surreal, at the end of the day.
Day 6: A Wild Switch to the Desert Oasis of Ica
Okay, so after all that high-altitude history, the trip takes a really sharp turn. We took a flight back toward the coast and then a bus for a few hours south of Lima to the Ica region. And suddenly, you are completely surrounded by desert. I mean, giant, rolling sand dunes as far as you can see. In the middle of it all is this little place called Huacachina, which is a real, actual oasis. It’s this small lagoon with palm trees, and it’s surrounded by a tiny town, which is then surrounded by just massive dunes of sand. It’s a very dramatic sight, to be honest.
The main thing to do here, of course, is the dune buggy ride. Frankly, it’s a bit like a rollercoaster. These powerful, open-air vehicles just tear up and down the incredibly steep dunes at high speed, and it’s a total adrenaline rush. It’s actually a little scary but really fun. The drivers will stop at the top of some of the tallest dunes, and then you get to try sandboarding. Basically, you lie on your stomach on a board and just slide all the way down. We were all laughing like kids. So, watching the sunset over the desert from the top of a sand dune was probably one of the most memorable parts of the whole week.
Day 7: Sipping Pisco and Saying Goodbye
For the last day, things slowed down just a little bit. Since the Ica region is, you know, the birthplace of Pisco, Peru’s national drink, it made sense to check out how it’s made. We went to this local vineyard, a place that was sort of rustic and had been making Pisco for a really long time. They showed us the whole process, from the grapes to the distilling, which was actually quite interesting. And of course, we got to try a few different kinds. A little tasting was a very relaxed way to spend our last morning, to be honest.
After that, it was pretty much time to head back. We took the bus for the final trip back to Lima’s airport, with our heads full of these completely different memories. One day you’re in the mountains seeing ancient wonders, and the next you’re sliding down a sand dune. In some respects, a 7-day trip feels really short because there is so much to do. You are constantly moving from place to place. At the end of the day, it’s an incredible way to see a lot of Peru in a short amount of time, you just have to be ready for the fast pace of it all.
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