From 1 Week to 1 Month

Peru is an enormous nation. To do it justice, you want numerous time. From the capital of Lima to the traditional metropolis of Cusco to the jungles of the Amazon to the seaside cities to the ruins of the Sacred Valley, Peru presents you with numerous choices.

I spent 2.5 weeks there and absolutely loved it. However even at a quick tempo, I nonetheless felt like I barely noticed something (though I crammed numerous actions into my journey).

So, in such a big nation, how do you break up a visit? How do you decide what to see and do? What sort of itinerary do you make?

Nicely, in fact, numerous that has to do with what you’re going for: the Amazon, the climbing, the historical past, or the meals?

Most first-time guests to Peru do the southern route: Lima, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, and Cusco/Sacred Valley. This route has essentially the most historic websites and the most important sights. However there’s additionally the Amazon, the seaside cities, and smaller ruins within the north.

To offer you some concepts on potential routes, listed here are my urged itineraries for visiting Peru:

Peru Itinerary: One Week

I’d solely go to Peru for one week for those who’re simply planning to hike the Inca Path. If that’s the case, I’d fly to Cusco, spend two days acclimatizing (and seeing the sights I like to recommend beneath), after which do the hike. After that, you possibly can spend a pair days enjoyable in Cusco earlier than flying house.

Peru Itinerary: Two Weeks

Two weeks lets you get a very good (albeit barely rushed) really feel of the nation. You’ll want to maneuver shortly (flying and in a single day buses will probably be a should), and also you received’t get numerous down time, but it surely’s a doable itinerary.

Days 1–3: Lima
Fly into Lima (for those who’re coming from america, you’ll land within the morning, so that you’ll get a full day) and spend your first day sightseeing and consuming as a lot as attainable. The capital is a huge metropolis house to over 11 million folks. Most guests focus on the neighborhoods of Miraflores, Downtown, and Barranco, as these are the place the vast majority of the sights are and since they’re the most secure districts.

My urged issues to do in Lima are as follows:

Free strolling tour – I really like free strolling excursions, as they’re an effective way to get to know a brand new place and its historical past, to get your bearings, and to attach with an area information who can share their insider ideas and data. Lima has numerous free strolling tour firms, however two I like to recommend are Milky Way and Free Walking Tours Peru.

Airbnb Experiences – Airbnb has numerous unbelievable meals excursions, cooking courses, and historical past walks value testing. I feel they’re an underrated useful resource as I’ve finished some wonderful actions through the platform. Regardless of your curiosity, you’ll be capable to discover one thing distinctive.

Museo Larco – This personal museum options an in depth assortment of pre-Columbian artwork, gold, and jewels in an previous 18th-century mansion with a phenomenal café with a pleasant backyard. There’s additionally a piece that includes pre-Colombian erotic artwork. Spanning over 5,000 years of historical past, it’s an awesome place to get a primer on Peru’s previous.

Huca Pucllana – This can be a enormous adobe and clay pyramid inbuilt seven staggered platforms. It’s huge and simple to get to because it’s in Miraflores, the principle district everybody stays in, so it’s very easy to see. It served as an vital ceremonial and administrative middle for the Lima tradition (a society that existed between 100 and 700 CE). Your ticket comes with a tour that lasts about an hour.

Surquillo Market – Situated within the district with the identical title, Surquillo is my favourite market on the town. It’s enormous and there are numerous little eating places right here. Should you’re trying to buy groceries and eat some unbelievable and cheap meals, that is the spot.

Museo de Arte de Lima – Opened in 1961, the Lima Artwork Museum is the principle artwork museum within the metropolis and has a group that features ceramics, textiles, sculptures, and work spanning over 3,000 years, from pre-Columbian occasions to the current, with a give attention to native artists. In addition they have a rotating checklist of non permanent exhibitions from worldwide artists, so there’s at all times one thing new to see.

LUM Museum – Formally known as the “The Place of Reminiscence, Tolerance, and Social Inclusion,” this instructional museum is devoted to the Peruvian inside battle of Eighties and Nineteen Nineties and honors its victims. There have been over 50,000 casualties from the battle, which occurred between the federal government and the Maoist guerilla group Shining Path (60,000 folks have been displaced as properly). It’s a sobering however must-visit museum.

Furthermore, Lima has among the best meals scenes on the earth, so make sure you eat, eat, and eat some extra. The primary restaurant is right here as are a few of the different prime ones. Simply take into account that a majority of those higher-end spots shut on Sunday and that you just’ll must make reservations months upfront (although for those who arrive once they open, you may be capable to get a seat because of a last-minute cancelation). Some which can be definitely worth the expense are:

• La Mar (seafood)
• Mercado (seafood)
• Maido (Japanese)
• Woman Bee (cocktails)
• Contraste (Peruvian)
• Central (Peruvian)

Subsequent, relying in your pursuits, you possibly can spend a pair extra days in Lima sightseeing and consuming (it’s a cool metropolis), or head down the coast to Paracas, Haucachina, and Nazca earlier than both coming again to Lima to fly to Arequipa (or simply taking the in a single day bus from Nazca). Paracas is legendary for its mangroves, Haucachina for its sand dunes, and Nazca for the Nazca traces and the archeological website, Cahuachi. You don’t actually need greater than an evening in every place if you’re brief on time.

Days 4–7: Arequipa
I completely love Arequipa. The White Metropolis (known as that due to the white volcanic stone used for the buildings) has an unbelievable, energetic vibe, actually vibrant meals scene, and beautiful Spanish structure. It additionally makes for a very good base to discover the close by canyons and mountains the area is legendary for. I might have spent weeks within the metropolis I cherished it a lot (as did my mates). However, if yo solely have a couple of days, I like to recommend spending two days exploring town after which an in a single day journey to the Colca Canyon, which is Peru’s Grand Canyon.

Right here’s what’s to not miss within the metropolis of Arequipa:

Free strolling tour – There are a few nice free strolling excursions run by the identical two firms as in Lima.

Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa – Located in the principle plaza, that is a very powerful Catholic church within the metropolis. Excursions right here take about 45 minutes (although you possibly can go by yourself), encompassing the gorgeous work, ornate decorations, and large organ.

Mundo Alpaca – This free museum offers you numerous details about alpacas, their significance to Andean tradition, and the way their fur is made into garments. (The indicators are actually detailed and properly finished.) Plus, you possibly can even feed a few of the animals on the middle.

Santa Catalina – Taking over a whole metropolis block, this convent is to not be missed. Based in 1580, it was lively for hundreds of years. You get to discover a sequence of hanging cloisters, chapels, and even an artwork gallery. I’d suggest getting a information for 20 soles, so that you get extra historical past and context. The excursions final about an hour (however you possibly can see it by yourself after as properly).

Yanahuara Mirador – Situated exterior town middle, this viewpoint offers you sweeping vistas of town and surrounding countryside. The district of the identical title can be a quiet, fairly neighborhood usually freed from vacationers that’s value exploring (try La Nueva Palomino, an unbelievable restaurant serving cheap Peruvian meals).

The Church of the Firm – That is certainly one of Arequipa’s most iconic church buildings, with imposing Baroque façade (the unique was destroyed in an earthquake within the 1800s) and inside. Inside, you’ll discover unbelievable work by native artists (and Virgin and Youngster by Bernardo Bitti) and gold altarpieces. Plus, you possibly can go to the cloisters, which at the moment are a gallery!

For high-quality eating, my two favourite spots have been China and Indigo, which each characteristic revolutionary Andean meals. For a scrumptious Peruvian holes-in-the-wall, try Picanteria La Mundial. I additionally suggest a breakfast spot known as Isidro, run by two Peruvians who frolicked coaching in NYC. And Munanqui (a café) has a few of the greatest sandwiches and tea choice I got here throughout within the nation.

For the Colca Canyon, there’s numerous operators round. I went through the corporate Peru Hop. Most in a single day excursions price round $40 USD.

Days 8–12: Cusco
From Arequipa, you possibly can both take an in a single day bus or fly to Cusco, an enormous metropolis with numerous actions and sights to discover. Don’t attempt to rush it. In actual fact, spend as a lot time right here as you possibly can! It lives as much as all of the hype, and it’s crammed with world-class eating places, a number of artwork museums, fascinating historic websites, and delightful structure.

I’d spend two days on the town to acclimatize your self earlier than doing any main hikes, because it’s 13,000 ft above sea degree!

A few of my favourite issues to see and do listed here are as follows:

Free strolling tour – As you possibly can inform, I really like a free strolling tour, and there are half a dozen firms right here. Your resort or hostel can join you with one, or you need to use the businesses talked about in earlier sections. Simply bear in mind to tip on the finish!

Saqsaywaman – This citadel complicated on the northern outskirts of town was constructed within the fifteenth century, although the earliest occupation of the location dates again even earlier, to round 900 CE. A UNESCO World Heritage Website, it’s a vastly spectacular construction and is certainly a must-see. You’ll be able to rent a information exterior the doorway, as there’s no signage right here. It’s additionally tremendous simple to get to (you possibly can stroll there or take the bus).

Qorikancha – Crucial Incan temple in Cusco is positioned within the coronary heart of town. Named “The Golden Temple” (as a result of the partitions have been as soon as lined in sheets of gold), it was the place the Excessive Priest resided and the place varied sacrifices have been held. It was demolished and was a church by the Spanish, however numerous the unique partitions are nonetheless there. It additionally options rotating artwork reveals.

The Pre-Columbian Artwork Museum – Opened in 2003, this museum devoted to the show of archaeological artifacts and examples of pre-Columbian artworks. There are nearly 500 gadgets on show right here, a lot of that are n load from the Larco Museum in Lima (its guardian museum). Should you missed the museum in Lima, this can be a good one to see as an alternative since they cowl numerous the identical stuff.

Coca Museum – Museo De La Coca is a tiny museum that goes into nice element in regards to the historical past of coca and its significance to native tradition, in addition to the way it turned outlined by cocaine over the centuries. I used to be actually impressed by the extent of element within the descriptions. Should you’re going to climbing, likelihood is you’re going to be chewing cocoa leaves, so make sure you cease by. It’s small, however fascinating!

Machu Picchu Museum – You’ll want to see this museum earlier than you go to the location because it offers numerous historical past in regards to the website and its rediscovery in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. There are informative shows, instructional movies in regards to the unique excavations, and artifacts from the location. It’s a pleasant primer to visiting the precise ruins.

Franciscan Convent – This stunning convent is crammed with majestic tapestries, work, and cloisters, and includes a ornamental church. There’s little or no signage, however the pamphlet they offer you is basically detailed. It was inbuilt 1572 by order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo. Don’t miss the library, which has a polyglot bible written in 5 languages.

Regional Historic Museum of Cusco – Opened in 1946, this museum does an honest job of explaining the historical past of the area, particularly earlier than the Spanish arrived. There’s an honest assortment of textiles, work, and ceramics. The opposite sections depart a bit to be desired, but it surely makes for a brief cease if you wish to study extra in regards to the area’s historical past.

San Pedro Market – That is the most important and most vibrant market on the town. If you wish to do any procuring, get some native produce, or simply wander round and snack, that is the place to do it!

San Blas – This space of Cusco is legendary for its artwork and eating places (enjoyable reality: the Incas initially settled artists from across the empire right here, and it’s been an artsy district ever since). The world has a bohemian vibe and it’s up on a hill, so there are a couple of good viewpoints too.

Then spend as many days you need climbing. Everybody goes to go to Machu Picchu, however I wouldn’t suggest doing it in a single day, as a result of you need to stand up soooooo early from Cusco. As an alternative, I’d go to Ollantaytambo the night time earlier than after which both take the prepare or you are able to do hike from Km104. (For extra data on trekking Machu Picchu, check out this post.)

Should you’re excited about different treks, there are additionally hikes to Palcoyo, Waqrapukara, Huchuy Qosqo, Pumamarca, and so, so, so many others. Actually, you’ve gotten a ton of choices!

After that I’d, come again to Cusco for a day and calm down or fly to Lima for a day there earlier than your flight.

Days 13 & 14: Lima
Spend your closing day or two sightseeing and consuming earlier than flying house.

Different Two-Week Itinerary

Conversely, for those who wished to go to the Amazon, you possibly can reduce out Arequipa, maintain the identical itinerary for Lima and Cusco and go to both Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos to see the Amazon. Puerto Maldonado has extra high-end jungle lodges, whereas from Iquitos you possibly can do some multiday river cruises. Each locations require flights to get to.

Peru One Month Itinerary

If in case you have a full month, I’d comply with the above two-week itinerary but additionally add within the following:

Do extra climbing – There are such a lot of hikes within the Sacred Valley (and round Peru typically) that when you have the time, you possibly can hike as a lot as you need. You might have those I discussed about in addition to multi-day treks within the Colca Canyon, up north within the Amazon, and many different locations!

Go to the Amazon – Peru is the place the Amazon River begins its journey to the Atlantic. Undoubtedly try both Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos to discover and study in regards to the jungle and river. In Iquitos, you possibly can take 3-5 day river cruises.

Puno/Lake Titicaca – You’ll be able to spend a few days in Puno, which is considerably between Cusco and Arequipa, and take within the famed Lake Titicaca, the very best lake on the earth. There’s not a lot in Puno however the lake is large. I’d spend 2-3 days right here.

Mancora – Situated up north, Mancora is a well-known seaside city and an awesome place for world-class seafood. It’s form of a celebration spot, however you may as well go to with out partying. It’s additionally fairly distant, so the easiest way to get there may be to fly.

Spend extra time within the different areas – You may as well add in additional days within the Colca Canyon, Nazca, Lima, or actually some other a part of the nation that fits your pursuits!

Peru is a huge nation. You’ll by no means have sufficient time, regardless of how a lot you’ve gotten (except you progress there). There’s far more to see than you may assume, so, as you make your itinerary, don’t stress an excessive amount of or attempt to jam all of it in. See what you possibly can and use the above recommendations as a place to begin. Try this, and also you’ll make sure you have an incredible journey!