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Does this 11-day Peru + Ecuador itinerary make sense? (Altitude optimized)

Hey all β€” would love a sanity check on this itinerary. Tried to optimize for altitude acclimation while still moving efficiently. I’m a pretty aggressive traveler and enjoy hiking, but don’t want to completely burn out.

πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺ Peru β€” 8 Days

Day 1: NYC β†’ Lima (Miraflores/Barranco)
Day 2: Lima (easy culture + food day, sea level acclimation)

Day 3: Lima β†’ Cusco β†’ Ollantaytambo (straight to Sacred Valley)
Day 4: Sacred Valley (Pisac, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo β€” keeping it light)

Day 5: Machu Picchu (main event, optional Sun Gate or Huayna Picchu) β†’ Cusco
Day 6: Cusco (recovery + light exploring: ruins, San Blas, cafes)

Day 7: Rainbow Mountain (early hike, full rest after, no flights)
Day 8: Cusco β†’ Lima β†’ Quito

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¨ Ecuador β€” 3 Days

Day 9: Quito Old Town (historic center, food, cable car if weather is good)
Day 10: Cotopaxi National Park day trip
Day 11: Fly home

Key thinking:

  • Built in acclimation (Sacred Valley before Cusco)
  • No travel same day as Rainbow Mountain
  • Trying to balance efficiency + not feeling rushed

Questions:

  1. Is Rainbow Mountain too much after Machu Picchu + Cusco? (I’m open to cutting it if it’s overkill)
  2. Is 2 nights Sacred Valley enough before MP?
  3. Is Cotopaxi worth it for such a short Ecuador leg?
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Tagged with

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#Ecuador
#altitude acclimation
#Machu Picchu
#Sacred Valley
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#Cusco
#Lima
#Rainbow Mountain
#Quito
#hiking
#Ollantaytambo
#Cotopaxi National Park
#Maras Salt Mines
#travel efficiency
#San Blas
#food
#cable car