Fly IAD to Lima Saturday morning, reach Peru before dinner, acclimate in the Sacred Valley, protect Machu Picchu and Thanksgiving in Cusco, then return to IAD Sunday afternoon.
Avianca’s Saturday 5:50 AM departure is the best IAD-only value/schedule balance. It reaches Lima at 4:30 PM and the Sunday return preserves the full final weekend.
IAD both ways, one protected ticket, and a verified Classic baseline of $4,744.35 for five. Nothing is booked yet; the fare is checked twice daily.
Take the 7:35 AM nonstop to Cusco and the 9:30 AM nonstop back to Lima. The base total is currently $635 for five before the required Plus fare upgrade.
International and domestic tickets remain separate. Both plans preserve an overnight buffer in Lima, and both require the fare tier that explicitly includes standard seat selection and one checked bag per traveler.
The route is Lima → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu Pueblo → Cusco → Lima. It limits altitude exposure at the start and avoids backtracking.
This is the executable Nov. 21–29 plan built around the selected Avianca itinerary and recommended LATAM domestic pair. Tap any tile for exact timing, operational notes, maps, and direct links.
For a group of up to 13, transportation, meal planning, and altitude pacing need to be arranged in advance.
Start at sea level, sleep lower in the Sacred Valley, avoid heavy exertion early, and never push higher while symptomatic.
For 13 travelers, arrange luggage-capable vehicles with seat belts and an explicit late-train plan.
Target Friday, November 27 at 7:30 PM with Alturas Mater Vegetal. The children need hotel-vetted childcare or another responsible adult; do not leave them alone during the three-hour dinner and transfers.
Do not add the Amazon, Arequipa, Puno, Paracas, or another high-altitude day to this itinerary.
Check Machu Picchu availability before purchasing flights, then book the remaining items in this order.
Schedules, fares, entry inventory, and operational rules can change. These are the direct refresh points behind the plan.
Avianca Classic baseline: $4,744.35 for five. Recheck the exact Nov. 21–29 itinerary, seats, bags, and connection times.
Open international →Recommended domestic pair: Nov. 22 at 7:35 AM and Nov. 27 at 9:30 AM. Base total was $635 for five; select Plus.
Open domestic →Official Ministry of Culture path for Machu Picchu entry availability and circuits.
Official tickets →Current May–December 2026 timetable and travel recommendations. Recheck before purchase.
2026 timetable →Preparation, acclimatization, symptoms, and when not to continue ascending.
Read guidance →Target: six adults on November 27 at 7:30 PM. Alturas Mater Vegetal is S/1,630 each: S/9,780 total, roughly $2,875 before card FX fees.
Check reservation →Status: planning only. No flights, tickets, hotels, trains, or restaurants are booked. Airfare was refreshed August 2, 2026 and remains volatile; checkout must explicitly confirm the required fare tier, five standard seat selections, and five checked bags each way.