10 Things to Think About Before Traveling to Peru — Part 3: Why Your First City Matters More Than You Think

It’s easy to treat your first stop in Peru as just a layover. A place to rest for a night, shake off the flight, and move on quickly to the “real” trip. But in our experience, this is one of the most common planning mistakes—and it can quietly affect the entire journey.

Your first city sets the tone. If you get it right, everything that follows feels smoother, calmer, and more enjoyable.

Why Lima Is Often the Best Place to Begin

Lima sits at sea level. That may sound like a small detail, but after a long international flight, it matters more than most people expect.

By the time you land in Peru, your body is already working harder than usual. You’ve likely crossed time zones, slept poorly, and spent hours in dry cabin air. Starting your trip at altitude—especially in places like Cusco, the Sacred Valley, or Lake Titicaca—adds even more strain.

We often hear from travelers who flew straight to Cusco:
“I felt strange right away.”
“I thought I was fine, but just walking upstairs was exhausting.”
“I lost a whole day lying in bed.”

This isn’t a sign of being out of shape. It’s basic physiology.

By beginning in Lima, you give your body a day or two to recover—before adding altitude into the mix. The result? You feel better, faster.

What to Do in Your First Days

Your first few days in Peru don’t have to be quiet—but they should be gentle.

In Lima, you can walk comfortably, eat normally, sleep well, and adjust at your own pace. You’re still experiencing a new city—just without pushing yourself too hard, too soon.

This is also the ideal time to take care of a few simple but important tasks:

• Buying a SIM card
• Getting local currency
• Adjusting clothing layers
• Checking travel documents

It’s far easier to handle these details in Lima than in smaller, high-altitude towns where options are limited and energy is low.

A Common Mistake: Going Too High, Too Fast

On paper, many itineraries look like this:
Arrival → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu

It seems efficient—but in reality, it brings altitude shock early, when your body is least prepared for it.

A better—and much smoother—sequence for most travelers is:
Arrival → Lima (adjustment) → Sacred Valley (moderate altitude, slower pace) → Machu Picchu → Cusco (once you’ve acclimated)

This flow helps you ease into the experience instead of pushing through it. You rest when you need to, and enjoy more along the way.

Why It Changes the Whole Trip

When travelers begin their journey in the right place, they feel the difference almost immediately. They walk more, eat better, sleep better, and simply enjoy more. There’s less fatigue and more presence.

They notice the color of the buildings. The flavors at lunch. The quiet moments between sites. Because they’re not just managing symptoms—they’re actually experiencing the trip.

At Peruvisit, we always begin planning with the first city, not just the highlights. Because how you start has everything to do with how well the rest unfolds.