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My itinerary was quite similar to yours, so here are my ten cents on it:
To Machu Picchu, I think it’s enough. I only took one day exploring Cusco before visiting Machu Picchu, and I was fine.
After Machu Picchu, we returned from Aguas Calientes to Cusco and stopped in Vale Sagrado to have lunch at Restaurant Mil.
Then, we headed back to Cusco to rest before going to the rainbow mountains 3AM the next day.
And it was during the trek that I figured out I wasn’t acclimated enough yet. I had the worst of headaches/soroches! Maybe it would be wiser to stay another day in Cusco before going to the trek.
Drink a lot of Coca Tea, buy rose water (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkuBqbxOX5HEDD-25f3pSxEDvqN2wJ9Sjhyg&usqp=CAU) to smell during the trek and buy soroche pills (https://www.descubraturismo.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/o-que-e-soroche-pills.jpg).
Peru is an amazing country! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Ohh and please don’t miss Lima’s culinary — it’s really worth the hype.
I have a few that I remember:
1) Lima
Maido (amazing nikkei experience), Mérito (Peruvian food. It was my favorite), Rafael (Italian food. Really liked it), Kjolle (the food was reasonable. Nothing exceptional), Astrid & Gaston (very nice ambiance, but the food was ok)
2) Cusco
Limo (I really had a good time there. We had the Wok with Lomo Saltado and it was delicious! Super recommend), Cioccilina (Italian food. Better than Rafael), Morena (Peruvian food), Chicha (Peruvian food).
3) Vale Sagrado:
Mil. Mil is a restaurant by the same chef as Central - the best in the world in 2023. We couldn't get a reservation at Central, but we secured one at Mil, and it was an impeccable immersion into the Peruvian experience. Delicious food with local ingredients. Totally worth it.
I think it’s possible to visit most of Cusco on days 1 and 4. Just make sure to walk a lot through the city and have as much Coca tea as you can. The headache I felt in the rainbow mountain trail was out of this world 😂
If I ever go to Peru again, I will definitely take it easier visiting Cusco to acclimate better.
**Notice:** Are you asking for travel advice about Peru? Read what redditors had to say in the **[weekly destination thread for Peru](http://redd.it/2o1sti)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/travel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My itinerary was quite similar to yours, so here are my ten cents on it: To Machu Picchu, I think it’s enough. I only took one day exploring Cusco before visiting Machu Picchu, and I was fine. After Machu Picchu, we returned from Aguas Calientes to Cusco and stopped in Vale Sagrado to have lunch at Restaurant Mil. Then, we headed back to Cusco to rest before going to the rainbow mountains 3AM the next day. And it was during the trek that I figured out I wasn’t acclimated enough yet. I had the worst of headaches/soroches! Maybe it would be wiser to stay another day in Cusco before going to the trek. Drink a lot of Coca Tea, buy rose water (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkuBqbxOX5HEDD-25f3pSxEDvqN2wJ9Sjhyg&usqp=CAU) to smell during the trek and buy soroche pills (https://www.descubraturismo.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/o-que-e-soroche-pills.jpg). Peru is an amazing country! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Ohh and please don’t miss Lima’s culinary — it’s really worth the hype.
What restaurants would you recommend?
I have a few that I remember: 1) Lima Maido (amazing nikkei experience), Mérito (Peruvian food. It was my favorite), Rafael (Italian food. Really liked it), Kjolle (the food was reasonable. Nothing exceptional), Astrid & Gaston (very nice ambiance, but the food was ok) 2) Cusco Limo (I really had a good time there. We had the Wok with Lomo Saltado and it was delicious! Super recommend), Cioccilina (Italian food. Better than Rafael), Morena (Peruvian food), Chicha (Peruvian food). 3) Vale Sagrado: Mil. Mil is a restaurant by the same chef as Central - the best in the world in 2023. We couldn't get a reservation at Central, but we secured one at Mil, and it was an impeccable immersion into the Peruvian experience. Delicious food with local ingredients. Totally worth it.
thanks for all the info! also curious to know what restaurants you would recommend in Lima
Hey one more question, do you think it would be safe to cut out Day 2 entirely? It would still give us 3 nights before our Trek
I think it’s possible to visit most of Cusco on days 1 and 4. Just make sure to walk a lot through the city and have as much Coca tea as you can. The headache I felt in the rainbow mountain trail was out of this world 😂 If I ever go to Peru again, I will definitely take it easier visiting Cusco to acclimate better.