The shape of the trip
Five home bases over two weeks. The first half is your mission work in the central highlands; the second half is the classic Cusco–Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu loop, ending with two nights back on the coast in Lima.
Half 1 · Jun 25 – Jul 1Coast & central highlands
Land in Lima, then a long bus up to Huancayo and on to Ahuac for the mission week — school lessons, work days, handicraft shopping, dance lessons, and time with host families.
- Lima (San Isidro) — one short overnight
- Ahuac, near Huancayo — five nights, volunteer housing
Half 2 · Jul 2 – Jul 9Cusco loop & home
Fly to Cusco, tour the city and ruins, drop into the Sacred Valley, reach Machu Picchu, then return through Cusco and Lima for the flight home.
- Cusco — Plaza de Armas base
- Urubamba (Sacred Valley) — two nights
- Lima (Miraflores) — final two nights on the coast
Day by day
Tap any day to open it: what's happening, where you sleep, what's included, and the worthwhile spots within reach of where you're staying. Free time is limited on the mission days and on travel days — the spots are there for whenever a window opens.
Packing
Built specifically for this trip: cold Andean nights, strong high-altitude sun, a humid cloud forest at Machu Picchu, a mission work week, and a strict 8 kg train limit on the Machu Picchu day. Check things off as you pack — your progress saves on this device.
Laundry strategy
You can pack light and wash mid-trip. The realistic window is Cusco and the Sacred Valley around days 8–12, when you're settled in walkable city bases. Most Peruvian laundries charge by the kilo (roughly 6–15 soles/kg) and turn it around same-day — drop a bag in the morning, pick it up clean and folded by evening.
quick stop
mission wk
best window
good
before MP wrap
final reset
Altitude & staying healthy
This is the thing to take seriously. You jump from sea level to ~3,250 m on day 2 (Huancayo/Ahuac), and Cusco sits even higher at ~3,400 m. Mild altitude sickness (soroche) is common and manageable; the goal is to ease the climb and know the signs.
DoEase into the height
- Hydrate hard — water, not much else, the first days
- Go slow on arrival; light meals, plenty of rest
- Try coca tea (mate de coca) — the local standby
- Keep walking pace gentle, especially uphill stairs in Cusco
- Ask a doctor before the trip about altitude medication
Avoid · Watch forThe warning signs
- Go easy on alcohol and heavy food the first 48 hrs
- Don't push through a bad headache — rest instead
- Headache, nausea, dizziness, trouble sleeping = normal-ish
- Tell a chaperone if symptoms are strong or worsen — confusion or breathlessness at rest needs attention fast
Know before you go
The practical stuff that's easy to forget until you're standing at a counter wishing you'd handled it at home.
MoneyCarry some cash
Currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN / S/). Cities take cards, but markets, small vendors, laundry, tips, and the central highlands often want cash. Carry small bills, keep some USD as backup, and tell your bank you're traveling.
Power220V, plugs A & C
Peru runs 220 V / 60 Hz, outlets take flat (A) and round (C) plugs. Phone and laptop chargers are usually dual-voltage (check for "100–240V"). A hair dryer or straightener from the US likely needs a voltage converter, not just an adapter.
Water & foodBottled only
Don't drink the tap water — stick to bottled or filtered, and use it for brushing too. Be a little cautious with raw produce and street food early on while you adjust.
PassportKeep it on you
Must be valid 6+ months past arrival. You'll show it at hotel check-in (it exempts you from the 18% lodging tax) and to enter Machu Picchu — bring it that day, don't pack it in the shuttled luggage.
Baggage limits by transport
You'll cross Peru on four different carriers, each with their own limits. The Perurail train to Machu Picchu is the chokepoint at just 8 kg — everything else is generous enough that a 40L travel backpack stays comfortably under limit.
Jun 26Cruz del Sur bus
Lima → Huancayo
Checked: 44 lb / 20 kg
Carry-on: 11 lb / 5 kg
Jul 2 & 7LATAM flights
Jauja → Lima → Cusco, and return
Checked: 50.7 lb / 23 kg
Carry-on: 26.4 lb / 12 kg
Jul 6 · THE LIMITPerurail Expedition train
Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes
One bag only: 8 kg / 17.6 lb
Max dimensions: 45 in / 115 cm total
Daypack only — your main bag gets shuttled hotel-to-hotel by the tour team.
Jun 25 & Jul 9American Airlines
CVG/MIA legs (your booking)
Checked: 50 lb / 23 kg
Carry-on: 22 lb / 10 kg
Standard international economy — confirm with your ticket.
ConnectivityPlan ahead
Consider an eSIM or a local SIM for data. Download offline maps of Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley before you go — and remember the group rule that exploring needs a minimum of four.
Quick reference
Emergency · Peru For Less (24h)If something goes wrong
Your flightsThe big movements
Group rulesThe ground rules
- Minimum of four for any meal or exploring on free time — and always tell a chaperone your plan.
- In rooms by 10:00 PM, lights out by 11:00 PM unless told otherwise.
- "Dinner on own" means smaller groups eat together and stay within walking distance of the hotel.
- Represent yourselves, Trinity, and the US with pride.
Included mealsAlready covered
- Lunches on the Cusco, Maras/Moray & Sacred Valley tour days (Jul 3–5)
- Qunuq Restaurant lunch on Machu Picchu day (Jul 6)
- Group dinner at Panchita in Lima (Jul 7)
- Everything else — pack snacks, and budget for meals "on own."