What You Need To Know
Peru Travel Guide
Peru Unveiled
Peru Travel Guide for the Ultimate South American Retreat
Peru – WOW. It’s truly, honestly, one of the most beautiful countries I’ve been to. And I’ve been to a lot! The entire country is just breathtakingly beautiful – from its snowcapped mountains to Inca ruins to its indigenous population – every inch of that country is just out of this world.
As South America’s third largest country (behind Brazil and Argentina), Peru is in western South America. It is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, in the east by Brazil, southeast by Bolivia, south by Chile, and west by the Pacific Ocean.
What I really loved about Peru aside from its scenery was its rich history: it’s the origin of the Inca civilization! Other cool facts to entice you to visit: it is home to most of the world’s alpacas, it’s home to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the Amazon River starts in Peru, and Peru is known for its food!
The country is fairly big, so it will take quite a while to really get to see everything it has to offer. I went backpacking in Peru as part of a trip to South America, where I backpacked both Peru and Ecuador. In total, I spent a month and a half in Peru. That was enough time for me to feel like I got to see everything, but the country kept me wanting more! However, I know not everyone has the luxury of time, so I will recommend two types of itineraries below.
How To Experience Peru
My Recommended Itinerary for Peru
My Recommended Itinerary for Backpacking Peru:
First, I will talk about the journey I took, which is popular for those backpacking Peru. I started off flying from the states to the capital, Lima. I spent about a week in Lima, mostly because I was working so I had to explore at a slower pace. However, I think you could spend 3-4 full days here to see everything.
Most people will then make their way south from Lima, but I knew from all my pre-trip research that I wanted to first head north to one of the best places in the world for hiking, Huaraz. Huaraz is located deep in the Andes Mountain range and is filled with tons of hikes – from day hikes to multi-day hikes. To get there from Lima, I took an 8-hour overnight bus with Cruz del Sur. I spent a week in Huaraz – mostly to acclimatize to the altitude so I could do the hikes I wanted. If you want to do quick day hikes, you should plan for about 4 days. The first two days are to get used to the altitude, then the last two you can do one hike a day. If you’re wanting to do one of the multi-day hikes, then obviously plan to be here longer.
From Huaraz, I headed back down to Lima and from there, caught a 4-hour bus south to Paracas. Compared to other cities, there wasn’t too much to do in Paracas, but it’s home to what’s known as the “Poor Man’s Galapagos.” I spent three full days in Paracas, however I felt that was a bit much. You can honestly see everything in one day.
After Paracas, I took an hour bus to Ica. Ica is the gateway town to a place you’ve maybe seen on social media: a tiny village surrounding a small oasis in the middle of the desert, known as Huacachina. I spent four full days here and like my time in Paracas, felt this too was a bit much. You can see and do everything in a day or two.
After Huacachina, I took a 12-hour bus to the charming, colonial-style city of Arequipa. This was one of my favorite stops on my Peru backpacking trip and a UNESCO heritage site. I stayed in Arequipa for four full days and honestly, I could’ve done more! I’d recommend staying 3-4 days here to really see everything.
Next, I took a 6-hour bus to Puno. Puno itself doesn’t have anything to do, the real attraction is visiting Lake Titicaca, famous for its floating islands that indigenous people still live on to this day. You should spend just one night in Puno before heading to Lake Titicaca, where I recommend at least one night also (this is what I did).
Lastly, my final stop was Cusco of course! From Puno, I took a 7-hour bus to Cusco. I spent a little over a week in Cusco, mostly to acclimatize before hiking the Inca Trail but also, there is just so much to do there! Hiking the Inca Trail itself took 4 days. So in total, I was down here for about two weeks. Cusco is probably the city I’d recommend spending the most time in. I would say to spend at least 4-5 days in Cusco (if you are NOT hiking the Inca Trail).
If backpacking Peru, you can also do the above itinerary in reverse: start in Cusco and then make your way to Lima.
My Recommended Itinerary for Visiting Peru:
Just reading the journey I took when I backpacked Peru sounds like a lot – and I know not everyone can do it! If you want to visit Peru but are short on time, here’s what I think you can do: base yourself in Lima first and spend 2 full days exploring the city itself. You can do a day trip from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina. I know a girl in my hostel who did this. It’s doable, but it will be a VERY long day for you! So that’s 3 full days in Lima.
I would not go north to Huaraz unless you are an avid hiker and it’s a must-do for you. Otherwise, catch a flight to Arequipa, where you stay 2 days. From there, I would fly straight to Cusco and stay 3 days. Spend 2 days exploring Cusco and 1 day visiting Machu Picchu.
This would bring your trip to a total of 8 days, which is what most people are working with. If you have a bit longer, then add Huaraz or Puno, and spend more time in Cusco.
Vanessa's Insider Tips
My Travel Tips for Peru
Here are some helpful Peru travel tips to know before you go:
- Visa Requirements: U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays under 6 months.
- Local currency: Local currency is the Peruvian sol.
- Language: Peru has a large indigenous population, so Quechua and Aymara are spoken. Spanish, of course, is mostly spoken. I only spoke Spanish when I was here, but can say that in most cities, I think you should be able to find English speakers at hotels and restaurants.
- Plugs: If coming from the States, you’ll need a converter and adapter.
- When to Go: See my travel guide for each individual city, as they vary. I was in Peru mid-April until early June though and had beautiful weather everywhere I went.
- How to Get Around: When backpacking Peru I got around by bus and can highly recommend Cruz del Sur. For overnight buses, the seats fully recline like a bed, and you have a privacy curtain. You can either book via their website or on sites such as BusBud. You can also fly between some of the major cities like Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco.
- Peru Solo Female Travel: Peru overall as a country is an excellent destination for a fun solo female trip! Peru is part of the Gringo Trail in South America, so you will encounter TONS of other backpackers. You’ll have no problem meeting and connecting with other people! Personally, I felt safe in every city I visited. Some of the major ones, like Lima and Cusco, had heavy police presence. I was able to walk around alone at night in every stop I made without a single problem – I always say that’s the true test for me as to whether a place is safe for solo female travel.
