Try Avianca/Taca. Do you have miles? They should be part of Star Alliance.

Yes I am a star alliance member will check both airlines thanks much

I'm thinking trying to cram macchu piccu/ Lima into a week is too much especially since I want to trek up... Anyone else second that?

If you don't trek it's definitely doable. Unless you have already been at altitude and don't need to acclimate.

but you can also see it at leisure and perhaps do walks up to the Sun Gate, or to Huayna Picchu, or the two day trek (which is really a one day trek). And there are other day walks around the area such as down from Pisac or around Ollantaytambo, as well as other treks that don't require all the permits.

Oh that is very very helpful thank you!

One more: is it possible to do these other treks without paying out of the ass then? One poster who wrote about her trek in may last year said it could USD 515 each to do their trek. Could we do half that?

The day treks you don't need a guide but there is an admission ticket (eg Pisac Ruins). Anything around Cusco tends to be expensive.

Don't know the cost of these other multi day treks such as Salkatanay or Lares, but surely the two day on part of the Inca Trail is less.

There are other parts of Peru worth exploring as well, I recently went to Chachapoyas and the Kuelap ruins are every bit as good as Machu Picchu. There are other day and multiday hikes in that area but it takes a bit more planning and travel time.

We did the Lares to Ollantaytambo trek in 2008, the cost was around $250 pp for two of us on a private trek (although I am sure that prices will have risen since then) our guide was Miguel Jovens whom we met at the SA Explorers Club in Cusco and who comes highly recommended. The he was self employed and not attached to a trekking company so his rates were a lot more reasonable than other operators we tried in Cusco. More details and photos of our trek are on our blog ( entries # 58 & 59)

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/candcthai/1/tpod.html

The trek is reasonably strenuous and as mlgb points out acclimatisation is essential. If you have 10 days you could easily fit in a few days acclimatisation in say Ollantaytambo and the trek. If you are really into trekking go for it, if not, then as mlgb says there are loads of day walks and sights to visit in the SV which are within easy reach of one another.

www.andeantravelweb.com is a non profit organisation and has a lot of useful info on sights, tours, treks etc.

This is incredibly helpful. Thanks very much everyone and especially with the website suggestions. I was just overwhelmed with how to find trek information online.