Peru Travel Itinerary: My Guide to Planning an Epic Trip in 2025

Last Updated on March 29, 2025 by Oliver

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve planned a trip, searched for itineraries, and found plenty of ideas—but none that fit exactly how I wanted to travel. Maybe it was too rushed, too slow, or just not my style.

That’s why I’m putting together this Peru travel itinerary planner—not just a copy-paste itinerary, but a guide to help you build your own trip. I’ll share the routes I’ve taken, the must-visit spots, and how you can mix and match based on your time and travel style.

After just getting back from another trip to Peru, I figured it was time to put all my experiences into one guide—so you can see what’s possible and plan an epic trip that works for you.

How Many Days Do You Need in Peru?

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you should focus on and my favorite Peru travel itineraries, depending on how much time you have in Peru:

How I Spent 1 Week in Peru ( Peru Travel Itinerary 7 Days )

If you only have a week in Peru, Machu Picchu is the priority—everything else is just a bonus (yep, this basically becomes an itinerary for Machu Picchu only!). Traveling between places takes longer than you’d expect, so trying to fit in too much will just leave you exhausted. You might be able to squeeze in a day trip from Cusco, like the Sacred Valley or Rainbow Mountain, but otherwise, this itinerary keeps it simple:

• Day 1: Fly from Lima to Cusco
• Day 2: Explore Cusco and acclimatize (this is important to avoid altitude sickness)
• Day 3: Take the train to Aguas Calientes (the town outside Machu Picchu)
• Day 4: Visit Machu Picchu and take the train back at night
• Day 5: Take a day trip to Rainbow Mountain (or swap for Sacred Valley if you prefer ruins over hiking)
• Day 6: Fly back to Lima
• Day 7: Explore Miraflores in Lima and fly home

My Peru Travel Itinerary 10 Days

I love this 10-day itinerary because it’s realistic but still packed with adventure. If you have 10 days in Peru, you can see more than just Cusco and Machu Picchu, but you still won’t have time for everything.

I’ve done a 10-day Peru trip before, and it actually worked out better than I expected. You can either add Arequipa for some epic hiking and a different vibe, or if you want to slow things down, swap Arequipa for Huacachina (a desert oasis with sandboarding and dune buggying).

If you want to do a multi-day trek to Machu Picchu (like the 5 Day Salkantay Trek or 4 Day Inca Trail), it’s doable within 10 days—but in that case, I’d recommend spending your whole trip in Cusco and skipping Arequipa or Huacachina.

• Day 1: Fly from Lima to Arequipa
• Day 2: Explore Arequipa (gorgeous city + great coffee shops)
• Day 3: Hike Colca Canyon (or go big with El Misti or Chachani—where I threw up climbing, read more in my guide lol)
• Day 4: Travel to Cusco (flight or bus)
• Day 5: Explore Cusco (by now, you should be acclimatized)
• Day 6: Take the train to Aguas Calientes
• Day 7: Visit Machu Picchu and take the train back at night
• Day 8: Take a day trip to Rainbow Mountain or Sacred Valley
• Day 9: Fly back to Lima
• Day 10: Eat all the amazing food in Lima before flying home

Peru Itinerary 3 Weeks – This Is What I Would Do

Now we’re finally talking about seeing Peru properly. The shorter itineraries are fun, but they’re fast-paced, and you barely get time to enjoy each place. With 3 weeks, you can slow down, explore a bit deeper, and still see some of Peru’s most epic spots—without feeling rushed.

This 3-week Peru itinerary focuses on Lima, Huacachina, Arequipa, Cusco & Machu Picchu. It skips the Amazon, but that just means more time to soak up the landscapes and culture.

I think this is the best Machu Picchu itinerary because it gives you enough time to do one of the big hikes (Salkantay or Inca Trail) without rushing—plus, you still get to explore more of Peru beyond just Cusco.

• Day 1: Arrive in Lima (food tour, explore Miraflores, chill in Barranco)
• Day 2: Day trip to Paracas & Ballestas Islands, return to Lima
• Day 3: Take a bus to Huacachina, explore the oasis & enjoy a rooftop sunset
• Day 4: Sandboarding & dune buggy tour, then take a night bus to Arequipa
• Day 5: Arrive in Arequipa, chill day (coffee shops, Santa Catalina Monastery)
• Day 6: Explore Mundo Alpaca & viewpoints, relax before the trek
• Day 7-8: Colca Canyon trek (or a day trip if you prefer something shorter)
• Day 9: Extra day in Arequipa (recovery, food, or a cooking class)
• Day 10: Bus or flight to Cusco, start acclimatizing
• Day 11: Explore Cusco’s historic center & San Pedro Market
• Day 12: Day trip to Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, Moray, & salt mines)
• Day 13: Train to Aguas Calientes, explore the town
• Day 14: Visit Machu Picchu, return to Cusco at night
• Day 15:  Full Day trip to Rainbow Mountain (or just chill in Cusco)
• Day 16: Free day in Cusco (shop, eat, relax, whatever you want)
• Day 17: Fly back to Lima, last-minute exploring
• Day 18-19: Extra days in Lima (Barranco, more food, or surf at Miraflores)
• Day 20-21: Fly home

1 Month in Peru – How I Backpack Peru

If you’ve got a full month in Peru, this is where things get really fun. With 4 weeks, you can hit all the highlights without cutting corners. Instead of rushing, you’ll actually have time to soak in each place—plus, we’re adding Máncora at the end for some well-earned beach time.

This 1-month itinerary follows the same flow as the 3-week trip, but with extra days in each spot and a week of beach vibes in Máncora. But if a whole week at the beach isn’t your thing, you can swap a few days in Máncora for an Amazon adventure in Iquitos. I did some insane rainforest expeditions there—staying in a jungle lodge, spotting caimans, anacondas, and tarantulas—and it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in Peru.

• Day 1-3: Lima (food, Miraflores, Barranco, surf if you’re into that)
• Day 4: Day trip to Paracas & Ballestas Islands, return to Lima
• Day 5: Bus to Huacachina, sunset drinks at a rooftop bar
• Day 6: Sandboarding & dune buggying, night bus to Arequipa
• Day 7-8: Arequipa (explore coffee shops, Santa Catalina Monastery, chill)
• Day 9-10: One Day Colca Canyon trek (or explore more of Arequipa instead)
• Day 11-12: Extra days in Arequipa (because it’s worth it!)
• Day 13: Bus or flight to Cusco, start acclimatizing
• Day 14-15: Cusco city exploring (markets, viewpoints, chill days)
• Day 16: Sacred Valley day trip
• Day 17: Train to Aguas Calientes
• Day 18: Visit Machu Picchu, return to Cusco at night
• Day 19: Free day in Cusco (or Rainbow Mountain if you’re up for it)
• Day 20-21: Relax & enjoy Cusco (because you need a break from all the trekking)
• Day 22: Fly from Cusco to Máncora (via Piura airport)
• Day 23-28: Máncora (beach days, surfing, ceviche, total relaxation)
• Day 29: Travel back to Lima
• Day 30: Last day in Lima before flying home

Also, check out these articles for more information on Peru:

►The Best Things to Do in Cusco in 2025

►My Favorite Things to do in Arequipa Peru

►The Best Time To Visit Machu Picchu

►How to Get to Machu Picchu

►Where to Stay in Lima + Best Hotels and Areas

Peru Travel Guide (Where I Would Definitely Go)

Here are my favorite destinations in Peru—plus, why I think they should be part of your itinerary depending on how much time you have. I’ve been to all of these places myself, and they’re all amazing in their own way. You can absolutely ignore my itineraries above and just build your own trip from these spots.

Lima

The only reason Lima is even on this list? The food. Otherwise, get outta here. Lima has one of the best food scenes in the world, especially in Miraflores. We’re talking about actual Top 50 restaurants in the world. So, if you’re a foodie, spend some time here. If not? Move on.

Cusco

Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and my favorite town in Peru. There’s so much to do beyond Machu Picchu—Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, exploring Cusco’s old town. I could easily spend two weeks (or more!) here. In addition to its amazing activities, Cusco boasts some of the best restaurants in all of Peru.

Machu Picchu

I mean, obviously. This has to be on your itinerary. Honestly, why would you even come to Peru if you’re not visiting Machu Picchu? It’s a Wonder of the World, a UNESCO site, and the highlight of any Peru trip. I did the Salkantay Trek (5 days) on my first visit and took the train on my second—both were incredible, just depends on how much time and energy you have.

Arequipa

If there’s one underrated gem in Peru, it’s Arequipa. If you have more than a week (ideally two+ weeks), add this to your itinerary. The food and coffee scene is top-notch, the colonial architecture is gorgeous, and the hiking is unreal. I did the Colca Canyon trek, which was amazing, but I also climbed Chachani Volcano (6,000m)—probably one of the hardest (but most rewarding) things I’ve done.

Huacachina

Huacachina is not a must-see, but it’s a super fun detour. It’s a desert oasis (yep, Peru has a desert), and I had a blast hanging out at the pool bar and doing a sandboarding + dune buggy tour. Would I recommend going out of your way for it? Not really. But if you have time for a fun, chill day, it’s worth it.

Lake Titicaca

If I had to cut something from my itinerary, it would be Lake Titicaca. The lake itself is beautiful, and visiting the floating Uros islands is interesting, but that’s about it. That said, if you’re exploring South America and traveling overland between Peru and Bolivia, it’s worth a stop. Otherwise, you’re not missing much.

Amazon Rainforest & Iquitos

Iquitos is way out of the way, but if you have time, this is one of the coolest experiences you can have in Peru. You have to fly into Iquitos, then head deep into the rainforest on an expedition. I stayed in a jungle lodge for two nights, saw caimans, anacondas, and tarantulas, and just explored the wildest landscapes ever. Totally worth it if you want an off-the-grid adventure. Bonus: You can take a boat into Colombia from here (which I did—full guide on that coming soon!).

🌿By the way, if you’re looking for ayahuasca in Peru, this is the place!

Huaraz

Huaraz is Peru’s ultimate hiking destination, famous for Laguna 69 and other insane treks. But only go if you’re obsessed with hiking. Peru already has so many amazing hikes built into most itineraries, so if you’re not a hardcore trekker, I’d say skip it.

Mancora

I had no idea Máncora existed before I came to Peru, but wow—I loved it. It’s a chill surf town with cozy restaurants, beach bars, and surprisingly good nightlife. Nothing fancy, just good vibes all around. After weeks of hiking and exploring, this is the perfect place to full on relax for a few days (or a week).

Final Thoughts on Planning Your Peru Travel Itinerary

My biggest tip? The longer, the better. Seriously, I spent almost two months traveling through Peru, and I could’ve easily stayed longer. It’s my number one country for travel and backpacking.

That said, don’t cram too much in. I know you want to see everything, but trust me—you don’t want your trip to be one long sprint from airport to bus station to tour bus to bed. Take some time to actually soak in each place.

Give yourself rest days between big hikes. Wander around Cusco with no real plan. Sit down for a coffee, go for a nice dinner (Cusco has some seriously fancy spots), and just enjoy being there. Not every moment has to be packed with sightseeing and activities—just make sure you’re having a good time!

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