Things to do in Peru in 7, 10 & 14 days
Peru, home to the majestic rainforests of the Amazon and the valleys of Machu Picchu is a small and beautiful country. It has inspired travelers, historians, and adventurous travelers for centuries. Follow this Peru travel guide to witness the beautiful landscapes of this country in 7, 10, and 14 days.
Things to remember for a trip to Peru:
- The best time to visit Peru is the dry season (May to October). The wet season (December to March) is the rainy season but is also the hottest time of the year.
- Make sure to book all of your tickets for sightseeing well in advance.
- Pack the right set of clothes and footwear for your trip. Make sure to carry a good pair of shoes as you will have to walk around in a lot of places apart from the local transportation. If you need some packing tips, check out our packing tips for your next adventure.
- Sole(S/) is the currency of Peru.
- As for budget, 110 to 130 Soles(€29.38 to €34.72) per day will be the reasonable budget for a trip to Peru.
- For transportation, you have a lot of options depending on your budget and trip duration. If you rent a car to drive around make sure you have copies of the rental agreement and your passport.
- Board the Peru Hop buses for your bus travel as it’s cost-friendly.
- It is also recommended to be vaccinated for Yellow fever, chickenpox, and Hepatitis at least a week before your trip to Peru for one’s own safety.
7-Day itinerary:
Day 1: Lima
Where to stay: Lima House, 1900 Backpackers hostel Lima, Hotel Estelar Miraflores.
Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, and a city famous for its food and heritage. Your flight will land at the Jorge Chavez international airport. Rent a car for exploring the city as it is cheap and time-saving. From the airport, drive to the Historic Center of Lima where you can do the following things:
- Jiron de la union: Meander through the Jiron de la Union which is considered to be the significant street of this historical site.
- Chifa: Try the city’s popular culinary cuisine- ‘chifa’. It is a popular Chinese-Peruvian dish in Barrio Chino which is the Lima Chinatown. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Historic Center.
- Plaza de Armas de Lima: Take a walk down to the Plaza de Armas de Lima. It is just a minute away from the Historic Center and you will need to get tickets for entry. It is one of the important destinations in Lima and is situated in the heart of the city.
- El Circuito Mágico del Agua: End the day by visiting the El Circuito Mágico del Agua. It is a beautiful fountain that ought to be visited in Lima. It is the perfect place to visit after sunset as you’ll get to witness a stunning water show for which you need to get tickets.
Day 2: Lima
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El Beso -
Museo de Art de Lima (MALI)
On day 2, visit the Museo de Art de Lima (MALI). This museum is home to more than 1000 Peruvian artworks. Spend enough time exploring the museum. After spending time exploring the top sites of the Lima district, board a bus to Miraflores. Stroll through the district of Miraflores and explore the cuisine and culture of the place. It is all about the restaurants, parks, and beaches. Here are some things to do in Miraflores:
- Parque del Amor: You can take a walk down to the Parque del Amor or more commonly called “Park of Love”. This park was built to celebrate love in all forms.
- El Beso (The Kiss): A sculpture built by a renowned Peruvian artist to represent love. Spend some time relaxing here before heading off to the next destination.
- Larcomar shopping center: The biggest mall in the city, to shop until you drop.
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Day 3: Cusco
Where to stay: Casa San Blas boutique hotel, Sonesta hotel Cusco, Illa hotel.
Once you finish visiting Lima, take a short flight to Cusco. You will arrive at the Alejandro Velasco Astete international airport. Cusco is one of the oldest cities in Peru and considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. Make sure to get the Boleto Turistico. It is the ticket for tourists to visit the important sites in Cusco and outside the city i.e., Sacred Valley (Machu Picchu cannot be visited with this ticket). You can visit 16 sites and it is valid only for 10 days.
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Plaza de Armas -
San Pedro -
Ceviche
- Plaza de Armas: Begin your visit to Cusco by wandering through the Plaza de Armas. It is the main square of the city known for the colonial buildings and cathedrals. Spend a couple of hours strolling through the shops and restaurants and admiring the beautiful cathedrals.
- Cusco Cathedral: Visit the Cusco Cathedral. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in the city built for a period of 100 years. It was constructed in the Gothic style.
- Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus: You should also visit the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of the Jesus ). It was built in Spanish Baroque architecture on the ruins of the Incan palace. These two cathedrals are some of the prominent buildings in the Plaza de Armas.
- San Pedro market: Later in the day stroll around for a couple of hours with some food tasting and shopping in San Pedro market.
- Ceviche: You should also try ceviche, a national food of Peru which is one of the popular things to do in Peru.
Day 4: Cusco
On day 4, spend your last day in Cusco exploring the Incan sites and the history of the Incan Empire.
- Sacsayhuaman: Start by visiting the Sacsayhuaman. This was a military fortress built on the outskirts of the city.
- Tambomachay: Then visit Tambomachay. It is also an Incan site built with aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls into a three-stepped terrace. This place was known as the ‘Bath of the Inca’ as it was used as a spot for a spa by the rulers of the Incan empire back then.
- San Blas: Meander through the cobblestone streets of San Blas. Drive or take a cab ride to this neighborhood.
- San Blas temple: visit the famous San Blas temple
- Hilario Mendivil art gallery: Spend your day admiring beautiful artwork.
- San Blas observatory: End your day by visiting the San Blas observatory for the perfect view of the sunset.
Day 5: Sacred Valley
Where to stay: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, Hotel Amaru Valle – Urubamba.
On day 5 explore the Sacred Valley. The recommended option to get here is to rent a car and drive to the valley from Cusco. This valley is quite commonly known as the ‘Rio Urubamba Valley’ in Peru. You will be visiting the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero.
- Pisac: The ruins of this archaeological site have been a popular tourist attraction in the valley. You can also visit the markets and admire the mountains in Pisac.
- Pisac Market: The Pisac Market is a famous tourist attraction mainly for its stalls of jewelry, handicrafts, alpaca weavings, and many souvenirs that attract tourists. Shop some souvenirs from your trip as it is also one of the interesting things to do in Peru.
- Urubamba: Stop by for lunch at Urubamba.
- Ollantaytambo: Head out to the village Ollantaytambo which is 30 minutes from Urubamba by boarding the shuttle bus. This village was the largest archaeological site of the Incan empire.
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Pisac -
Urubamba -
Ollantaytambo
- Chinchero: Explore the Incan site of Chinchero.
- Centro de Textiles Tradicionales: Weaving was one of the important professions and craftsmanship of the people of the Quechua community. Traverse this site to see the process of weaving in the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales.
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Day 6: Machu Picchu
Where to stay: Inti Punku Machu Picchu Hotel & Suites, Tayta Machu Picchu.
After your time in Sacred Valley, take a cab to the Ollantaytambo station and from there take the train to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is also known as the “Lost City of Inca.” It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Peru and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. A long-distance bus is the best way to get to these legendary ruins. Since the site is so popular, make sure you book your tickets in advance! Spend an entire day visiting the historical city of Inca.
- Inti Punku: A famous site for hiking trails.
- Huayna Picchu: Hike to the top of the Huayna Picchu mountains and you get to view the entire Inca city from up there.
- Temple of the moon: From Huayna Picchu, you will also get to see the Temple of the moon up there. This temple is said to be a mysterious site for years which makes it more intriguing for tourists to visit it.
Make sure to book your tickets to Machu Picchu very much in advance, even before your train/bus tickets as they are difficult to get in the time you may want to go. Moreover, to explore Machu Picchu, a guided tour is the recommended option.
Explore the serene mountains and the ruins of this lovely town before returning to Cusco to depart.
Day 7: Depart from Cusco
After a week in Peru, head home by flying out of the city of Cusco. Board the train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo station and from there board the bus to the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport to depart the country.
10 Day Itinerary:
Day 7: Puno
Where to stay: Casona Plaza Hotel Centro, Sonesta Hotel Posadas Del Inca Puno.
From Cusco, board a bus to Puno. The journey is quite long, it takes around ten hours but worth it! You can see beautiful scenery from your seat on the bus.
- Andean landscape: The Andean landscape is one of the attractions of this journey.
- Andahuaylillas: You will also be stopping by Andahuaylillas, the home of the “Sistine Chapel of America” and the Temple of Wiracocha. Explore these sites to get an insight into the history of the Incan empire.
Throughout your entire journey, you will see some of the scenic views of this charming city. After you reach Puno, transfer to your hotel.
Day 8: Lake Titicaca
The next day, visit Lake Titicaca, one of the pristine lakes in Puno. This lake is considered to be the largest lake in South America and the largest navigable lake in the world. Uros, Amantani, and Taquile are the most visited out of the 42 islands on the lake. First head out to the floating islands of Uros on a motorboat, explore the culture and the cuisines of the islands. See some of the houses built on that island out of reeds and go on a short boat ride on a reed canoe. After that take a motorboat ride to the Amantani islands. There you will again experience the local cuisine and participate in some of the cultural activities of the people of the island. You will be spending the night here and staying at one of the houses of the local families.
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Day 9: Taquile island
On day 9, you will be visiting Taquile island. The inhabitants of this island have craftsmanship in weaving. You will be wearing their traditional attire and learn about their traditional methods of weaving and farming. Spend a few hours on the island and go back to Puno on a motorboat. Head back to Cusco by bus or go to Juliaca first and take a flight from there to Cusco. On the last day, board the flight from Cusco to depart the country.
14 Day Itinerary:
If you want to extend your trip by another three more days- 2 weeks in total, then you should consider following this itinerary.
Day 10: Arequipa
Where to stay: Hotel Corregidor Arequipa, Hotel Riviera Arequipa
After you visit the Tequila island head back to Puno and board the bus to Arequipa on the same day. The journey is about 6 hours. Spend the next two days visiting the city of Arequipa.
- Colca Canyon: It is one of the must-visit sites in Arequipa for some captivating views of the ranges. This canyon is said to be one of the world’s deepest canyons. Book a guided tour and get your tickets for the entrance to the canyon at any checkpoint. You will have a lot of activities to do such as mountain biking, rafting, and ziplining.
- La Calera thermal waters: take a short cab ride to the La Calera thermal waters for a relaxing soak. They have numerous pools with picturesque views of the mountains so you can choose the one you like.
Day 11: Arequipa
On day 11, begin by visiting the Santa Catalina monastery. It is a beautiful monastery built in the 16th century representing the colonial architecture of Arequipa. It showcases the pictorial works of various artists. Spend enough time exploring this monastery which is one of the popular sites in the city.
- Plaza de Armas: Meander through the various shops and restaurants in the Plaza de Armas.
- Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa and the Church of the Company (La Compañia de Jesus Church): There are also other churches which you can visit like the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa and the Church of the Company (La Compañia de Jesus Church). These churches are also situated in the Plaza de Armas.
After spending enough time, board the bus to Nazca which will take you there the next morning. The journey is about 10 hours so night travel is the best option as you can rest up and also save time the following day to explore.
Day 12: Nazca & Huacachina
Where to stay: Hotel Las Dunas ( Huacachina) & Hotel Bamboo Lodge
You will arrive in Nazca early morning, check in to your hotel and freshen up before you start sightseeing. You will begin your visit by seeing the famous Nazca lines. These lines have become a UNESCO World Heritage site. You could go on an airborne tour to see the geoglyphs from up there. If you feel that is expensive, you could go see it from an observation tower. These towers are set up for visitors to watch these geoglyphs in a cost-efficient way.
- Cahuachi pyramid: Take a guided tour of this ancient pyramid and get an insight into the Nazca civilization.
- Museo Arqueológico Antonini: Visit the Museo Arqueológico Antonini. It consists of 6 galleries showcasing some of the artefacts and excavations of the Nazca civilization.
After sightseeing in Nazca, board the bus to Huacachina which is about 2 and a half hours. Huacachina is a village built around an oasis. Though it is a tiny village it has a number of restaurants and resorts. Go on a sandboarding tour in the sand dunes of Huacachina and watch the stunning view of the sunset. Spend the night in Huacachina.
Day 13: Paracas
Where to stay: Hotel Riviera Inca Paracas
The next day, board the bus to Paracas. This town is quite known for its beaches. Visit the Paracas National Reserve. This reserve is home to some of the varied species of birds such as the Humboldt penguins and sea lions. You can explore this reserve by minibus or even by cycling. And as always, a guided tour of the reserve is recommended. You can later spend the rest of your day strolling by the beaches.
Day 14: Depart
After spending about 2 days in Nazca, Huacachina and Paracas head out to Lima. Go to the Jorge Chavez international airport to depart after your 2-week trip in Peru.
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