I spent 7 months traveling through South and Central America, and saved the best destination for last: Peru.
After saying goodbye to my husband, who I’d been traveling with, I flew into Lima to meet my mom for a mother-daughter holiday.
Over the next 5 weeks, we hiked, ate, and adventured our way through Peru. I had high expectations for the country, and they were exceeded.
Yes, Peru is that good.
Chances are, you don’t have as much time as I had. But even with less time, you can absolutely see the highlights and have an unforgettable trip. And this blog post will show you exactly how to do that.
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How many days in Peru
Ideally, you’d want at least a month to explore Peru. And even then, you still wouldn’t see it all.
The good news is, the country is also great for shorter trips. Just don’t try to squeeze in too much.
I’d say ten days in Peru is the bare minimum to really enjoy it, but you’d need to stick to one or two destinations.
My 10 day Peru itinerary
Lima: 2 days
Lima is the capital and the starting point of most Peru itineraries. It’s a foodie destination, known for its fantastic restaurants.
I recommended staying in Barranco, which is a short drive from the tourist hotspot of Miraflores. I preferred Barranco as it’s a colourful neighbourhood that’s not as chaotic as its neighbour. The streets are safe to walk on, it’s a short walk from the beach, and there’s a restaurant on every corner.
Barranco is a 40-minute drive from the airport. It’s best to spend 2 nights here, which will give you one full day to explore Lima.
Where to eat in Barranco | Isolina, Caleta Dolsa Coffee, Pan Sal Aire, Awicha, Terminal Pesquero Cevichería Barranco, La Panetteria Barranco.
Where to eat in Miraflores | Cevichería Barra Maretazo, Terrua Cafeteria, Punto Azul, L’autentica Pizza – Sede San Martín, Manolo.
Where to stay in Lima | I stayed at this beautiful guesthouse in Barranco. It offers a stunning location overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is a short walk from restaurants and cafes.
Day 1
After arriving at your accommodation in Barranco, head to the Bridge of Sighs and wander through the streets around here before heading to one of the many restaurants for dinner.
Day 2
On your second day, I recommend booking a food tour. Here’s the one I did. It was one of the best tours I’ve ever done! We had a small group and spent 4 hours eating our way through Lima.
It’s best to book a late afternoon tour so that you have the morning to visit Miraflores. Popular spots include Parque Kennedy and Parque del Amor, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Cusco: 2 days
On day 3, you’ll be heading to Cusco. This city offers a stark contrast to Lima and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.
Walking through the cobblestone streets, you’re surrounded by a mix of Inca stone walls and Spanish colonial buildings, with the Andes as a backdrop.
I loved Cusco!
It has a magical energy about it, and it’s the kind of city where you could easily spend days without ever getting bored.
It’s a little touristy, but the atmosphere is so lively and welcoming that it’s hard not to love it.
Where to eat in Cusco | Kusykay (I ate here several times), Morena, Soqa, Huaraca Grill, and Experiences Arte y Café for balcony views.
Where to stay in Cusco | I stayed at this loft apartment near Plaza De Armas. The owner was so lovely and provided us with a delicious breakfast hamper each morning. The San Blas neighbourhood is another popular area. I’ve written this detailed guide on all the places to stay in Cusco.
Day 3
Book a morning flight from Lima to Cusco, which is only an hour away by air.
In the afternoon, explore the main square, Plaza de Armas, which is always buzzing – whether it’s locals gathering, street performers, or travelers sipping coffee from one of the balcony cafés. If you have time, pop into the San Pedro Market.
Day 4
Today you’ll explore Sacred Valley, which includes four main sites: Pisac Ruins, Ollantaytambo, Maras Salt Mines, and Moray Circular Terraces. It’s a packed day and can feel a little rushed, but with limited time, it’s absolutely worth it.
There are plenty of day tours from Cusco, but I recommend the one I did – here it is. It was a little pricier, but the small group size (just 8 people) meant less waiting around and more time to actually enjoy the sites.
Amazon or Salkantay Trek
From Cusco, you’ll want to choose between the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu or a trip into the Amazon Rainforest at Manu National Park.
Unfortunately, it’s not realistic to do both, so pick the one that excites you most.
Amazon (3 days)
There are a few different places to experience the Amazon in Peru.
I flew from Lima to Iquitos, which is the main hub. But it’s also one of the trickier spots to reach.
Since you’ll likely have less time than I did, I’d recommend visiting the Amazon from Cusco instead, at Manu National Park. There you can go jungle trekking, spot monkeys and capybaras, and take boat rides down the river. I heard great things about this tour from Cusco.
Salkantay Trek (5 days)
Peru is one of the world’s top hiking destinations, so if you enjoy trekking, make sure to take advantage of it.
I chose the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, one of the best alternatives to the Inca Trail. It’s more affordable, less crowded, and takes you through some of the most diverse and breathtaking scenery in Peru. I’ve written a guide on how difficult the Salkantay Trek is, so check it out if you’re considering it.
There’s a 4-day option where you take a bus for part of the trail, but you’d miss one of the best sections. I highly recommend doing the full 5-day hike to get the complete experience. See tour options here.
Alternative options from Cusco
If you’d prefer not to do either the Salkantay trek or the Amazon tour, there’s plenty to do in Cusco.
Peruvian cooking class | I couldn’t get enough of the food in Peru. After doing the best food tour in Lima, I decided to book a cooking class in Cusco. We started in San Pedro Market, where we sourced fresh local ingredients, then headed to the kitchen to make an array of delicious foods and cocktails. Here’s the one I did.
Humantay Lake | Humantay Lake is a breathtaking turquoise glacial lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. If you do the Salkantay trek, you’ll hike here on day 1. But you can also visit on a day tour from Cusco. It’s a tough hike, and the altitude makes it even more challenging.
Rainbow Mountain | Rainbow Mountain is one of the most iconic landmarks in Peru. But it’s ridiculously crowded and touristy, making the hike not enjoyable. You’ll also have to wait in a long queue to get that photo with the mountain as the backdrop. The tours are cheap (here), but I suggest skipping it.
Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes): 2 days
Aguas Calientes is a small town at the foothills of Machu Picchu.
If you’ve chosen the Salkantay Trek, you’ll spend a night in Aguas Calientes at the end of the trek and visit Machu Picchu on your final day. Your Salkantay itinerary includes everything – entrance to Machu Picchu and the return transfer to Cusco. So you won’t need to arrange any of this yourself.
If you went with the Amazon tour instead, you’ll end up back in Cusco at the end of your trip and will need to spend the night there. The next day, I recommend heading to Aguas Calientes, which is a 5-hour journey from Cusco.
Where to stay in Aguas Calientes | You’re going to want to be close to the river and train station. After the Salkantay Trek, we stayed at this hotel, which was tucked away in a quiet street. The rooms were massive, and it was the best place to rest our heads after 4 long days of hiking.
Day 8
Take the train to Aguas Calientes town. There are two main operators: Inca Rail and Peru Rail.
They offer different options departing from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo. The more popular option is to take a bus to Ollantaytambo and then the train to Aguas Calientes. You can book the entire journey here. Tickets do sell out, so best you book in advance.
Day 9
Visit Machu Picchu early. Try to catch the first bus up and book tickets for Circuit 2. This circuit has the most iconic views.
After exploring the ruins, head back to Aguas Calientes for lunch before taking the train to Ollantaytambo and then the bus back to Cusco. You’ll arrive fairly late, so plan to spend the night in Cusco.
Cusco/Lima: Final day
Day 10
On your final day in Peru, you’ll wake up in Cusco.
Depending on your flight schedule, you can either catch an early morning flight out of the city or spend a last few hours wandering Cusco’s streets before flying in the afternoon. From there, you’ll connect to your international flight home from Lima.
Alternatives for more than 10 days in Peru
If you have more time, here are a few other destinations you could add to your Peru itinerary.
Huaraz | Huaraz is Peru’s hiking capital, famous for the Laguna 69 hike and Laguna Paron. It’s off the beaten track and surrounded by absolutely stunning landscapes. Huaraz is a bit out of the way and involves an 8-hour bus ride from Lima. You need at least 4 additional days if you want to add Huaraz to your Peru itinerary.
Colca Canyon | Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. You can hike it over two or three days, starting from Arequipa, and take in some truly incredible views along the way.
Huacachina | Huacachina is a tiny desert town south of Lima. The whole village wraps around a lagoon lined with palm trees. Sandboarding down the dunes is the main attraction here.
Nazca Lines | The Nazca Lines are massive geoglyphs (markings) carved into the desert that are best viewed from the sky. They form huge shapes of animals, plants, and geometric designs, and remain one of Peru’s greatest mysteries.
Top tip: Peru Hop is a popular hop-on-hop-off bus that makes its way from Lima to Cusco. This allows you to stop at all the tourist sites including Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, and Puno. It’s more expensive than traveling independently, but it is a great option if you want to see all the sites and squeeze a bit more in your Peru itinerary.
Best time to visit Peru
The best time to visit Peru is between April and October. This is the dry season with plenty of sunny days. I planned my trip for July, and while this is peak season, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be.
I don’t recommend planning your trip for November to March, as you’ll have constant rain. It’s just not worth it.
Is Peru worth it
Yes, Peru is amazing! I couldn’t believe how diverse the country is and how much it has to offer. My highlights included visiting Machu Picchu, exploring the Amazon rainforest, and eating the best ceviche I’ve ever had!
If you’re planning on visiting Peru, check out my other posts.
Did you like PeruHop? Did it feel too touristy? My husband and I will be going to Huaraz then back to Lima then we have a few weeks to our trek in Cusco and are currently debating Peru Hop. Just curious of your experience
Hi Tarrah,
I didn’t do PeruHop as I never went south (I had an extra week and decided to visit the Amazon from Iquitos instead). However, if you have extra time and are interested in visiting Nazca/Arequipa/Puno, then PeruHop is a great option. Friends of mine did it and highly recommend it.
Enjoy!
Carryn