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 seashore 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 (although I crammed numerous actions into my journey).

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

Properly, after all, numerous that has to do with what you’re going for: the Amazon, the mountain 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 probably the most historic websites and the most important points of interest. However there’s additionally the Amazon, the seashore cities, and smaller ruins within the north.

To present you some concepts on potential routes, listed below are my prompt itineraries for visiting Peru:

Peru Itinerary: One Week

I might solely go to Peru for one week should you’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 under), after which do the hike. After that, you’ll be able to spend a pair days enjoyable in Cusco earlier than flying residence.

Peru Itinerary: Two Weeks

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

Days 1–3: Lima
Fly into Lima (should you’re coming from the US, 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 potential. The capital is a big metropolis residence to over 11 million individuals. Most guests consider the neighborhoods of Miraflores, Downtown, and Barranco, as these are the place the vast majority of the points of interest are and since they’re the most secure districts.

My prompt 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 information. Lima has numerous free strolling tour corporations, however two I like to recommend are Milky Way and Free Walking Tours Peru.

Airbnb Experiences – Airbnb has numerous unimaginable meals excursions, cooking lessons, and historical past walks price trying out. I believe they’re an underrated useful resource as I’ve achieved some wonderful actions through the platform. Regardless of your curiosity, you’ll be capable of discover one thing distinctive.

Museo Larco – This personal museum options an in depth assortment of pre-Columbian artwork, gold, and jewels in an outdated 18th-century mansion with an attractive 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 incredible 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 heart 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 – Positioned within the district with the identical identify, Surquillo is my favourite market on the town. It’s enormous and there are numerous little eating places right here. For those who’re seeking to buy groceries and eat some unimaginable 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 instances to the current, with a concentrate on native artists. Additionally they have a rotating listing 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 academic 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 individuals 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 you’ll want to eat, eat, and eat some extra. The primary restaurant is right here as are a number of the different high ones. Simply remember that a majority of those higher-end spots shut on Sunday and that you just’ll must make reservations months upfront (although should you arrive once they open, you would possibly be capable of get a seat attributable to a last-minute cancelation). Some which can be well worth the expense are:

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

Subsequent, relying in your pursuits, you 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 really want greater than an evening in every place if you’re quick 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 unimaginable, energetic vibe, actually vibrant meals scene, and wonderful Spanish structure. It additionally makes for a great base to discover the close by canyons and mountains the area is legendary for. I may have spent weeks within the metropolis I beloved it a lot (as did my pals). However, if yo solely have a couple of days, I like to recommend spending two days exploring the 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 corporations 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’ll be able to go by yourself), encompassing the gorgeous work, ornate decorations, and big organ.

Mundo Alpaca – This free museum provides 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 achieved.) Plus, you’ll be able to even feed a number of the animals on the heart.

Santa Catalina – Taking on a whole metropolis block, this convent is to not be missed. Based in 1580, it was energetic for hundreds of years. You get to discover a collection of putting cloisters, chapels, and even an artwork gallery. I might advocate getting a information for 20 soles, so that you get extra historical past and context. The excursions final about an hour (however you’ll be able to see it by yourself after as properly).

Yanahuara Mirador – Positioned outdoors the town heart, this viewpoint provides you sweeping vistas of the town and surrounding countryside. The district of the identical identify can be a quiet, fairly neighborhood usually freed from vacationers that’s price exploring (try La Nueva Palomino, an unimaginable restaurant serving cheap Peruvian meals).

The Church of the Firm – That is one in every 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 unimaginable work by native artists (and Virgin and Little one by Bernardo Bitti) and gold altarpieces. Plus, you’ll be able to go to the cloisters, which at the moment are a gallery!

For effective eating, my two favourite spots have been China and Indigo, which each function progressive Andean meals. For a scrumptious Peruvian holes-in-the-wall, try Picanteria La Mundial. I additionally advocate a breakfast spot known as Isidro, run by two Peruvians who frolicked coaching in NYC. And Munanqui (a café) has a number 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 value round $40 USD.

Days 8–12: Cusco
From Arequipa, you’ll be able to 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. The truth is, spend as a lot time right here as you’ll be able to! It lives as much as all of the hype, and it’s stuffed with world-class eating places, a lot of artwork museums, fascinating historic websites, and exquisite structure.

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

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

Free strolling tour – As you’ll be able to inform, I really like a free strolling tour, and there are half a dozen corporations right here. Your lodge or hostel can join you with one, or you should use the businesses talked about in earlier sections. Simply keep in mind to tip on the finish!

Saqsaywaman – This citadel complicated on the northern outskirts of the 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 possibly can rent a information outdoors the doorway, as there’s no signage right here. It’s additionally tremendous simple to get to (you’ll be able to stroll there or take the bus).

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

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 objects on show right here, a lot of that are n load from the Larco Museum in Lima (its mum or dad museum). For those who 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 concerning the historical past of coca and its significance to native tradition, in addition to the way it grew to become outlined by cocaine over the centuries. I used to be actually impressed by the extent of element within the descriptions. For those who’re going to mountain climbing, likelihood is you’re going to be chewing cocoa leaves, so you’ll want to cease by. It’s small, however fascinating!

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

Franciscan Convent – This lovely convent is stuffed with majestic tapestries, work, and cloisters, and includes a ornamental church. There’s little or no signage, however the pamphlet they provide you is de facto 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, however it makes for a brief cease if you wish to study extra concerning the area’s historical past.

San Pedro Market – That is the biggest 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 mountain climbing. Everybody goes to go to Machu Picchu, however I wouldn’t advocate doing it in a single day, as a result of you must stand up soooooo early from Cusco. As an alternative, I might go to Ollantaytambo the evening earlier than after which both take the practice or you are able to do hike from Km104. (For extra data on trekking Machu Picchu, check out this post.)

For those who’re all for 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 might, come again to Cusco for a day and loosen up or fly to Lima for a day there earlier than your flight.

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

Various Two-Week Itinerary

Conversely, should you needed to go to the Amazon, you can minimize 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 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 might comply with the above two-week itinerary but additionally add within the following:

Do extra mountain climbing – There are such a lot of hikes within the Sacred Valley (and round Peru generally) that when you have the time, you can hike as a lot as you need. You’ve those I discussed about in addition to multi-day treks within the Colca Canyon, up north within the Amazon, and plenty of 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 concerning the jungle and river. In Iquitos, you’ll be able to take 3-5 day river cruises.

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

Mancora – Positioned up north, Mancora is a well-known seashore city and an incredible place for world-class seafood. It’s form of a celebration spot, however you can too go to with out partying. It’s additionally fairly distant, so one of the best ways to get there’s to fly.

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

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