Peru Itinerary - From the Andes to the Desert
Peru
What To Know
Travelling
Airports: The main airport youll use is likely Lima airport, and then Cusco airport for that portion of the trip.
Documents: Besides the obvious passport requirement, coming from Canada they didnt require any additional documents (such as vaccinations or visas). Note that the hotels will always ask you for your passport and your first day of arrival in Peru.
Getting Around: I personally would not want to drive in Peru - its a bit hectic and takes alot of daring, so using a rental car isnt ideal (in our experience) in Peru, but always depends on your exact itinerary. For this itinerary, the use of ubers / taxis is fine. We went with Uber because it was easy to set a price on an app and there wasnt the negotiating or hustle side of it - and it was really cheap! The rest of the travel was through tour groups or by air!
Another cool option we found (if you have more time in Peru) is Peru Hop. It takes you to all the main places youd likely want to see, but youd have to do a bit of logistical coordination on your end.
Money
The local currency in Peru is the Sol. They usually take US dollars as well though, and credit cards / debit cards (and the use of machines at restaurants) are widely accepted.
The cost of hotels and ubers are generally pretty cheap, however tours and meals in the touristy areas (which is everywhere you mainly visit in Peru) are expected prices and usually a bit more expensive.
Safety
Altitude Sickness: As you will be trekking during this itinerary and visiting cusco, knowing about altitude sickness and preparing accordingly is SO important - for your health and also for you to have the best time on your trip. For us, as we havent had much experience with altitude, preparing included having three days of acclimitization in Cusco BEFORE the trek, taking Acetazolamide (commonly known as Diamox), taking it super easy and sleeping a bunch (despite having terrible sleeps), no alcohol, drinking coca tea / eating candies, hydrating a TON, and this was all before the trek even started.
General Safety: We felt pretty safe travelling around in general, but ofcourse always be alert and aware and avoid putting yourself in potentially dangerous situations / at risk.
Day One: Cusco
Today is a travel day. From your location to cusco may take a while and will likely have a stop in Lima (Lima is usually the cheapest airport to fly into). You likely wont have much time if today is a travel day, but if you do, consider just meandering the main square and doing some touristy-shopping (theres SO many of the same stores).
For dinner, head to la Pizza Carlo - we played it safe as we knew we had alot of big days coming up, but everyone has different goals!
Here are some hotel options for Cusco where you will stay until the start of your trek:
Day Two: Cusco
Today, if you’re feeling up to it, should be a day tour! Make sure youre taking it easy & resting up lots though and these tour options can be booked when you get to Peru (lots of availability usually) if you want to see how you feel first. Here are a few tour options for the day if you're feeling up to it
Rainbow Mountain: The Rainbow Mountain and its colourful hiking trails to visit bring tons of tourists to this spot. Travel through the countryside to get to this spot where you'll hike up to one of the most beautiful views!
Sacred Valley: This tour takes you to some of the best spots in the Sacred Valley which will fill your day with so many different adventures. There is so many different spots to explore here so you will see so much in this jam-packed day.
ATV Tour to Sacred Valley: If you're looking for some more adventure, visit the Sacred Valley by ATV! The amazing sights by ATV allow you more flexibility to take in some of the countryside scenery.
Breakfast should be included in your hotel and lunch is usually provided in the tour options. If you're not feeling up to a tour and just want to chill, continue to walk around, see the historical spots (take the hop on hop off bus), eat some local food, or indulge in a massage.
For dinner, head to a local spot tucked away just off the main street:
Day Three: Cusco
Today will be all about staying local & gearing up for tomorrow. In the morning, after sleeping in and resting ofcourse, head to the next few spots for some stunning views & epic shopping:
In the afternoon, book a chocolate making tour (from bean to bar!!!) where you spend a few hours learning about the chocolate making process and doing it yourself (or check out the cooking class below):
After you're all chocolate'd / chef'd out, itll almost be time for your brief for the upcoming trek (with Salkantay Trekking its usually at 5pm the day before your trek), so head there before dinner to get excited!
Again, breakfast is included in the hotel, but for lunch and dinner check out these spots:
Day Four - Seven: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
This will be the Short Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days total). We HIGHLY recommend booking this trek through Salkantay Trekking, which we will link below. This trek is challenging so you need to be in decent shape, but it's SO worth it!
We will eventually link more resources in here so you have our insider information, but this hike includes accommodations, guides, food, and so much more. It's an amazing and challenging experience that goes over four days and was really the highlight of our trip. This is a must for anyone who loves hiking and doesn't have their sights set on the Inca Trail. Here is our experience on the Salkantay Trek AND our packing guide!
We booked our tour direct through Salkantay Trekking and they have some of the best options, guides, chefs, tours, experiences, and honestly a 10/10 experience! Check out the options here:
However, if hiking isn't your thing, spend a day taking the train to Machu Picchu (you can book it through a tour, or coordinate it yourself which requires some logistics). This means you'd have more flexibility on the day / time you visit Machu Picchu if that's something that means a lot to you. This also means you'll have a few days extra - we would recommend spending extra time in the city of Lima as there's so much to explore there which this itinerary doesn't really dive into.
Day Eight: Lima
Wake up early and catch a flight to Lima - this will give you the most time to explore Lima today. You will definitely be exhausted from four days of hiking, but get checked into your hotel and head out for a super fun afternoon exploring Lima with a food and catacombs tour! This is the exact same tour we did and it was a great way to see some parts of the city you may not usually explore into, plus hit some of the tourist hot spots.
For food, breakfast will be at your hotel in Cusco before you leave, and definitely do not eat lunch before doing the food tour! For dinner, there are really ENDLESS options for restaurants, but here are some good options in the Miraflores location (where we highly recommend staying):
Here are some hotel options in the Miraflores area. Miraflores is where many tourists stay as it's a clean, hip, and trendy area in close proximity to the beach and some key spots around.
Day Nine & Ten: Paracas & Huacachina
This 2 day tour will bring you to some epic spots on the Peruvian coastline and to a desert oasis! Our tour was booked through Lima Experience, which the website is linked here:
Here is our FULL experience on this 2 day tour, over on our blog:
On the first day of the tour, expect to wake up early to be picked up & make your way to the coastline! You will do a morning trip to the Ballestas Islands where you will see tons of wildlife/marine life, then spend the afternoon chilling by the ocean OR opt for an ATV tour exploring the national reserve of Paracas (which we LOVED).
You will need to book a hotel in Paracas, so check out these spots:
On day two, another early wake up call for something super exciting! You can choose to start your day with a kayaking tour. The sunrise with the flamingos in the distance, kayaking on a calm ocean with lots of bird watching involved, and the chance at seeing seals a dolphins (we did - it was amazing!). However, if that doesn't float your boat, sleep in and relax until your meet up timing. You'll spend the afternoon exploring the desert and sand dunes of Huacachina which are amazing - you'll even see the sunset here and it is AWE inspiring.
Again, blog post to come on this two day tour, but we packed in ALL the extra tours and honestly, it was SO worth it. It was a busy but amazing two days. Breakfast can be included in your hotel, and one of your lunches is included, but for the other meals check out these spots in Paracas and Huacachina. Note that sometimes the tour makes you get food from specific locations due to time constraints because you can pre-order, but to be honest all of them were really great choices!
When you get back to Lima on Day 10 before heading out, make sure to reserve the same hotel you stayed at on Day 8!
If you're looking for some other tour options and itineraries that hit these spots, check out these:
1 day tour to Paracas & Huacachina: Here you'll do the two main things - a tour to the Ballestas Islands and dune buggying / sand boarding in Huacachina. These are the two don't miss experiences and if you're short on time, it's a great option to do them both in one day.
2 Day Tour Paracas & Huacachina: This is similar to the Lima Experience two day tour, which things moved around a little. This itinerary might be more up your alley so check it out - it see's all the things you need to in this area and gives you more time to chill in Paracas (which was one of our favourite parts).
2 Day - Wine & Pisco Route: This tour, whilst still visiting the most beautiful spots you need to see along the way, focuses more on the wine/pisco/beverage/gastronomical part of the journey! This region has a lot to offer and this tour will take your tastebuds there.
Day Eleven: Lima
The vacation has come to an end, so depending on what time your flight is today you may have some time to explore Lima! Here are a few tours and things to do:
Beach Day: There are so many beaches in Miraflores, so a quick google search will take you to the beach that fits your vibe the most.
Surf Lessons: Either rent a board or take some surf lessons - Lima is the perfect place to take a lesson!
Hop On Hop Off Bus: See the city's best spots on the typical hop on hop off bus. These things make tourism too easy!
Hiking Tour: Take a hike to Marcahuai - an off the beaten path adventure that will take you to some amazing view points that not many people visit!
But really, spend your last day relaxing before leaving. This vacation is honestly PACKED full of adventure from one thing, directly on to the next. But all these experiences are truly must see's in Peru in our experience!
For food, here are a few breakfast and lunch options for your day before you leave Peru.
Peace Out Peru!
We honestly LOVED our trip to Peru - this is a highly rated country amongst almost everyone who visits. This place has so much to offer from the Andes to the Desert, and we think you should try and see as much as possible. Be sure to check out our Thatch profile for more Peru & other country itineraries and insight, plus, check out our blog for more information on Peru (& more)!
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