Hi there,

So exciting!

A few quick thoughts:
-This is a lot for 10 days; travel can take up quite a lot of time. Depending on what you like to do (it looks like you love cities and culture), you may want to pick two places and spend a bit more time there...
-You may want one more day in Peru given the altitude and the time it takes to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
-A very full day in Cusco might include a tour of Qoricancha, the sun temple; a visit to artistic San Blas; a quick peek in the beautiful colonial cathedrals in the central plaza, a quick trip to the Inca fortress of Sachsayhuaman. BUT that is a lot and you may find yourself quite tired given the altitude
-From Cusco, it will take you approximately 3 hours by train to arrive in Aguas Calientes. You'll then take a bus - estimate 1/2 hour, including leaving train, getting to bus, driving to the site - to the top. Even if you leave Cusco early, you won't arrive at Machu Picchu until the afternoon and you'll need to leave around 5 pm to make your train back to Cusco. Many people prefer to travel to Aguas Calientes, spend the night there and then head up to Machu Picchu early (5 am) when it's less crowded. This gives you a full day to explore and relax in this special place.
-There are also lovely small towns, fabulous ruins and great activities (horseback riding, biking, rafting) to visit in the Sacred Valley

So perhaps you might consider something like this:
1: Fly into Lima (Lima too has great culture and restaurants and is worth a visit)
2: Morning flight to Cusco - visit Sachsayhuaman; head directly to Sacred Valley (visit ruins in Ollantaytambo) and spend the night in Aguas Calientes (you might visit a living museum - weaving and llamas if ruins aren't your thing)
3: Machu Picchu; evening train back to Cusco
4: Tour Qoricancha, San Blas, Plaza de Armas, dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants (Chicha or Cicciolina)
5: Fly to Santiago
6: Santiago
7: Santiago to Rio
8: Rio
9: Rio
10: Rio to home

I lived in Cusco, thus the detailed advice about that part of your trip. But I can ask colleagues about the rest of your trip if you would like. Feel free to email me with other questions: emily@kuodatravel.com

Ten days is barely enough time to see one country, much less three.

This will be a very costly itinerary where you could easily spend half of your time waiting at airports or on planes.

Please rethink it or add a few more weeks!

Way to crammed www.latinamericaforless.com for some clues
on itinerary.Juhst do the Gringo Trail to MP maybe
some beach in Chile or vivamancora.com Sky airlines
way cheaper than LAN to Chile. Distances are vast flights expensive.You really need more time Good luck!

adventures.worldnomads.com/destination/168/itinerary/23.aspx

This is a realtistic doable journey in the time you have.

@ kuodatravel
Thanks for the ideas. I will in touch via email shortly.

Thanks everyone, I understand your thoughts about not spending several days in each place, but my husband and I enjoy the pace of this trip. We are just trying to fill in the blanks. I do think Santiagio is the place we will choose for the middle days of the trip.

I still would love input about recommended airlines for our domestic flights from Lima to Santiagio and Sant. to Rio.

Any packages that anyone could suggest would be appreciated, too.