bubo travel peru

Lacné dovolenky a poznávacie zájazdy do exotiky s BUBO

Odporúčané zľavy.

Počet zliav: 1402

Spojené štáty americké (USA)

USA - západ

Madeira (POR), Portugalsko

Portugalsko, Madeira

Spojené štáty americké (USA), Kanada

Toronto, Niagara, New York, Washington DC

Karibik, Antigua a Barbuda +2 Viac

Antigua, Toronto, Niagara, New York

Karibik, Mexiko

Mexiko veľký okruh

Mexiko - all inclusive 13 dní

Grenada, Karibik +2 Viac

Grenada, Toronto, Niagara, New York

Svätý Krištof a Nevis, Karibik +1 Viac

Svätý Krištof a Nevis, New York, Washington a Miami

Taiwan, Macao +2 Viac

Veľký okruh Čínou a Taiwanom

Srí Lanka - rajská záhrada

Srí Lanka - rajská záhrada a ajurvéda

Polárne oblasti, Amerika

Aljaška, Spojené štáty americké (USA) +2 Viac

Aljaška, Yukon - volanie divočiny

Gruzínsko - dobrodružný veľký okruh

Škandinávia, Island

Bali (IND), Singapur +2 Viac

Malajzia, Singapur a ostrov bohov Bali

Južná Amerika, Dominikánska republika +1 Viac

Machu Picchu a relax v Dominikánskej republike

Gruzínsko – cesta za vínom

Výstup na Jabal Toubkal a okruh Marokom

Azerbajdžan, Gruzínsko +1 Viac

Azerbajdžan, Gruzínsko, Arménsko

To najlepšie z Číny

Južná Amerika, Patagónia +5 Viac

Patagónia, Argentína, Brazília

Thajsko, Singapur +1 Viac

Thajsko, Malajzia, Singapur

Thajsko - najkrajšie more Ázie

Rwanda, Keňa

Gorily a safari v Afrike

Najviac garantovaných ciest do exotiky.

LAST MINUTE DOVOLENKY

Prihláste sa do svojho konta a využívajte všetky výhody BUBO klientov.

Ešte nemáte konto?

Get a FREE Essential Travel Apps and Websites Checklist!

The Ultimate 3 Week Peru Itinerary – How to Plan a Trip to Peru

Peru is one of the most visited countries in South America. In this guide we’ve put together the perfect 3 week Peru itinerary including beautiful cities such as Lima and Arequipa , crazy adventures like sandboarding in Huacachina , wildlife spotting in Paracas , hiking iconic trails such as the Salkantay Trek and of course visiting one of the new Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu.

Peru is one of the most diverse countries we’ve ever visited. One day you could be in a desert oasis and the next you’ll be surrounded by the Amazon Jungle or the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. There’s something for everyone in Peru whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, history lover or passionate foodie. We hope that our 3 week Peru itinerary will help you to plan your unforgettable adventure.

We also documented all of our adventures on YouTube where you can now watch the entire Peru Series for some visual inspiration.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something. Clicking these links won’t cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! Learn more about our affiliate policy.

Table of Contents

How to Start Planning Your 3 Week Peru Itinerary

We totally appreciate that Peru is a huge and very diverse country, filled with endless places to visit. So, if you have a short amount of time, it can be tricky to cram everything in.

Below we’ve highlighted a few points that you should consider as you’re planning your trip:

Step 1: Entry and Exit Points in Peru

The way we suggest starting to plan your 3 week Peru itinerary is to know your entry and exit points from the country. Are you only visiting Peru and flying in and out of Lima ? Or are you on a backpacking trip across South America? This means you might be crossing the land borders from Ecuador or Bolivia. If so, your itinerary might be slightly different and you could start from one end of the country and exit at the other.

Step 2: Your Personal Interests

It’s also important to think about your interests. We’re pretty sure that one of the reasons for your visit is to see Machu Picchu . Did you know that there are MANY ways you can reach Machu Picchu ? So, the question you need to ask yourself is: would you want to complete a trek, a shorter hike or are you not a keen hiker at all and would prefer to visit with a day trip from Cusco ?

The same method can be applied to other places in Peru too. For example, would you want to visit the Amazon Jungle or complete other treks in Huaraz ? If so, then you need to calculate how many days you’d need in total.

Once you know the answer to these questions, then you’ll know how many days they would take up from your 3 week Peru itinerary.

In case you have a very limited time in Peru, we recommend joining some organised multi-day tours. That way you won’t have to worry about planning, and you can fully enjoy your time in this incredible country.

Step 3: Acclimatisation Time in Peru

Once you have your number of multi-day adventures finalized, see how many days you’re left to play with. We’d also like to emphasize that you should take into consideration some acclimatisation time.

Places like Arequipa , Cusco , Puno and Huaraz are located at high altitude. Therefore, it’s important that you acclimatise before completing any high-altitude hikes and day trips like the Colca Canyon , Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek or the Rainbow Mountain day hike.

Trust us, you don’t want to feel ill during your time in Peru.

Step 4: Method of Transport in Peru

Lastly, don’t forget that Peru is huge. This means that travel distances are much greater than anywhere in Europe for example.

It’s good to decide how you’d like to get from A to B and check what viable options there are.

Flying to certain places in Peru is definitely the fastest method. However, it is way more expensive and there are many popular places that don’t even have an airport. So you’d have to take another method of transport to get there.

Whilst driving gives you more freedom and also allows you to access some off-the-beaten path places, driving in Peru looked pretty frantic. The distances are long and the narrow mountain roads can be dangerous.  Renting a car   might be a great option for short trips, but we personally wouldn’t choose to travel across the country in a hire car.

There are a few trains across Peru, which could be a great novelty experience. So we recommend checking out your options. Train travel will still be more expensive though, and again, you can only access a handful of places. Check trains with PeruRail .

Without doubt, travelling by bus will be your go-to method of transport in Peru. Buses are the cheapest and best way to get around the country.

Read Next: A Guide to Bus Travel Around Peru.

3 Week Peru Itinerary: A Complete Guide

Note that this 3 week Peru itinerary is fully customisable. You can add or skip a destination depending on your interests. We’re big hikers, so we were automatically drawn to places around the Andes. However, if you enjoy other types of destinations such as beaches, then definitely add those to your own itinerary.

We have many detailed guides for each location too, which go in-depth on how much time you ideally need in each place. So, make sure to check them out whilst you’re planning.

Day 1-3: Lima (Explore the Capital City of Peru)

If you’re heading to Peru, then visiting its capital city, Lima, is a must. You can spend as little or as long as you wish there, but about 3 days in Lima would give you the greatest chance to see the best of the city.

Lima is a city that’s got just about everything for an unforgettable city break. Do you want to learn about history? There’s plenty in the Historic Centre , not to mention the ancient pyramid in the middle of the upscale Miraflores District . Fancy seeing some murals and street art? Lima’s Barranco District has got you covered.

Do you want to relax in parks and enjoy some nature in a busy city? There are plenty of unique parks in Lima, some where you can even play with cats.

Is finding great restaurants and cafes with good food your priority. Well, there’s no shortage of places in Miraflores or Barranco. Perhaps shopping is your weakness? Then head to a unique shopping mall built into the side of the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Are you in a hurry? – Then you can just spend 2 days in Lima and head to Paracas on your third day.

Lima Blog Posts You May Like:

• A Complete Guide to Lima, Peru – Travel Tips and 3 Day Lima Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in the Miraflores District of Lima, Peru
• Best Things to Do in the Barranco District of Lima, Peru
• Things to Do in Lima’s Historic Centre, Peru

Day 4: Paracas (Visit the ‘Poor Man’s Galapagos’)

Paracas is a small port town located in the Ica Region, about 260 km (160 miles) south of Lima. 

Over the years Paracas has become a well-known beach resort and is favoured by both Limeños and tourists. Whilst the beach itself isn’t one to write home about, there are a few top sights that are well-worth stopping for, such as the Islas Ballestas and Paracas National Reserve. Plus, it’s a great sunny getaway before you head to the mountainous regions in Peru.

Are you in a hurry? – We recommend staying for at least one night, but if you’re only interested in visiting one attraction then you can head to Huacachina in the afternoon.

Click here to read our detailed Paracas guide.

Day 5-6: Huacachina (See the Biggest Sand Dunes in South America)

Huacachina is a tiny, natural desert oasis surrounded by some of the biggest sand dunes in South America . A place where thousands of adventure lovers and thrill-seekers come every year to do some crazy activities such as dune buggying and sandboarding.

You’ll probably need to spend at least one night in Huacachina. You can go for a sunset dune buggy ride and sandboarding experience upon arrival. Then the next morning you can hike the sand dunes for some incredible views. After that you can join a Pisco and Tejas tour before heading to Nazca.

Click here to read our detailed Huacachina guide.

Day 6: Nazca (Fly Over the Mysterious Nazca Lines)

Many visitors add a visit to the Nazca Lines in Peru to their 3 week itinerary. Whether you’re planning on flying over the lines or just enjoying the views from the Observation Tower, Nazca is definitely a worthwhile stop.

Are you in a hurry? – If you can’t fit in one night in Nazca, then you can just enjoy the Nazca Lines from the Observation Tower, have dinner in the city and hop on an overnight bus to Arequipa.

Do you have time to spare? – If so, we recommend booking at least one night in Nazca. Surprisingly, there are many interesting and unusual sites surrounding the city other than the Nazca lines. Therefore, if you have time, make sure to stay a bit longer.

Click here to read our detailed Nazca guide.

Day 7-8: Arequipa (Explore the White City of Peru)

Located in the south of Peru, in the Chili River Valley, is Arequipa. It is the second most populated city in Peru after  Lima.  The city is situated about 2,300m (7,550 feet) above sea level and at the foot of three massive volcanoes: Misti, Chachani and Pichupichu.

The city is referred to as the ‘White City’ ( La Ciudad Blanca  ) because of the white walls of many of its colonial buildings. The walls are made of  sillar  which is a local white volcanic stone.

Arequipa is one of the most architecturally beautiful cities in the world. So, it’s no wonder that just like  Lima’s Centro Historico , Arequipa’s historical centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’re short on time , then you can just wonder around its Historic Centre on the day you arrive from your night bus.

Do you have a bit longer? – Then about 2 days will be enough to see the city’s highlights in a less-rushed way.

Arequipa Blog Posts You May Like:

• 10 Best Things to Do in Arequipa

6 Day and Multi-Day Trips from Arequipa, Peru

Day 9-10: Colca Canyon (Hike in One of the World’s Deepest Canyons)

Located about 160km northwest of Arequipa is the magnificent Colca Canyon (Cañon de Colca). Situated in the Colca Valley in the Andes Mountains, the Colca Canyon was formed by a seismic fault between the volcanoes of Coropuna and Ampato.

The nearly 100 km (70 mi) long canyon is also one of the world’s deepest canyons. Its deepest point is approximately 3,400m which makes it twice as deep as the well-known Grand Canyon in the US.

You can visit the canyon in two main ways: via a tour or a trek. Now, a tour will normally include little to no hiking whereas a trek will take you down and then back up the canyon.

Depending on how much time you have and whether you enjoy hiking or not, you can join a day tour , multi-day tour or a multi-day trek. The most popular multi-day trek is a 2-day one, although you can also complete a longer trek if you have extra time.

Top Tip – Make sure to allow for some acclimatisation time in Arequipa if you’re planning on trekking in the Colca Canyon.

Colca Canyon Blog Posts You May Like:

• Colca Canyon Trek or Tour? – How to Prepare for Your Visit
• 3-Day Colca Canyon Trek via Llahuar, Peru – A Complete Hiking Guide

Day 11-12: Puno and Lake Titicaca (Visit the Highest Navigable Body of Water in the World)

Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, about 3,830 m (12,556 ft) above sea level in south-eastern Peru, is the city of Puno.

Many probably don’t know but Puno is known as the folklore capital of Peru. There are over 300 different local dances that represent old traditions inherited from the Incas and the Spanish colony.

However, the city is a popular stop on many people’s Peru itinerary because of Lake Titicaca. Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia and covering 3,200 square miles, it is one of South America’s largest lakes. Sitting at 3,810 m above sea level, Lake Titicaca is also considered the highest navigable body of water in the world.

Are you in a hurry? – If you don’t have much time, but still want to see Lake Titicaca, then you can arrive to Puno in the morning, go on  a short Lake Titicaca tour  which visits the Uros Islands and then head to your next stop on a night bus. This way you don’t even have to spend a night in Puno.

Do you have a bit longer? – If so, then you should stay at least a night in Puno. That way, you can have a wander around the city and also spend  a full day on Lake Titicaca.  If you can stay for two nights, you can even go on a  two-day tour on Lake Titicaca  and spend a night with a local family.

Top Tip – If you’re backpacking across South America, then you can leave Puno as your last destination and travel to Bolivia from there.

Click here to read our detailed Puno and Lake Titicaca guide.

Day 13-14: Cusco (Explore the Tourist Capital of Peru)

Located at 3,400m (11,154 ft) above sea level, Cusco is situated in the heart of one of the world’s most beautiful mountainous regions. Due to its close proximity to  Machu Picchu , Cusco is one of the most visited  cities in Peru .

The city is packed with places to visit and you could easily spend days exploring its attractions. There are many beautiful Inca Ruins, viewpoints, museums, and markets in Cusco to check out. Therefore, we recommend spending  at least 2 full days in the city.

How long to spend in Cusco? – If you’re doing the Inca Trail or  Salkantay Trek ,  you’ll normally have a briefing the evening before, so you won’t have much time to sightsee if you’re only there for a night.

If you’re not going on a multi-day trek to visit Machu Picchu and have already spent some time in higher altitudes, then you can just spend one full day in Cusco and head to Machu Picchu the next day. Alternatively, you can also spend at least a day visiting other sites in the Sacred Valley. In case you only have a few days to see the best of Cusco, then check out this 5-day tour that includes the top destinations in the area.

Cusco Blog Posts You May Like:

• 20 Things to Do in Cusco, Peru – A Complete Guide
• A Guide to Cusco’s Boleto Turistico (Tourist Ticket)
• 10 Best Day Trips from Cusco
• Vinicunca or Palccoyo? – Which Rainbow Mountain to Visit in Peru
• 2-Day Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain, Peru – A Complete Hiking Guide

Day 15: The Sacred Valley (Visit the Most Beautiful Inca Sites)

The  Sacred Valley of the Incas  is located northwest of the  city of Cusco.  Formed by the Urubamba River, the valley stretches between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

This jaw-dropping part of Peru is filled with beautiful Inca Ruins such as  Ollantaytambo, Maras Salt Mines, Moray Ruins  and  Pisac. You can visit them as part of a tour or independently depending on how much time you have.

Sacred Valley Blog Posts You May Like:

• Hiking in the Sacred Valley Without a Guide or Tour (Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray and Pisac)
• A Guide to Visiting Pisac Ruins
• A Guide to Visiting the Ollantaytambo Ruins
• How to Visit Maras and Moray (Salt Mines and Ruins)

Day 16-19: Salkantay Trek (Hike One of the Most Beautiful Treks in the World)

If you love hiking and trekking then you should add the Salkantay Trek to your 3 week Peru itinerary. It is a 75km (46 mi) long trek through the Peruvian Andes and is one of the most popular  ways to get to Machu Picchu.

The Salkantay Trek is still less popular or as famous as the Inca Trail. However, many consider it to be just as beautiful, if not more so. National Geographic Adventure Magazine even listed the Salkantay Trek as one of the best 25 treks in the world.

The trek is named after the Salkantay Mountain which reaches an altitude of 6,271 m (20,574 ft). It takes you through the Vilcabamba mountain range, where you’ll see glaciers and lagoons, before descending down into the Andean Jungle. During your hike you’ll also pass over the Salkantay Pass which is the highest point along the entire trek at 4,630 m (15,190 ft).

The Classis Salkantay Trek is 5 days long, however you can also complete a shorter version of this trek. Alternatively, you can also pick another iconic trek such as the Inca Trail or Jungle Trek.

Don’t like hiking? – Then skip the trek and visit Machu Picchu another way as detailed in this blog post. That way you’ll also save about 4 days which you can then fill up by visiting another location in Peru such as the Amazon Jungle.

Salkantay Trek Blog Posts You May Like:

• All You Need to Know Before Hiking the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
• Hiking the Salkantay Trek – A Day by Day Itinerary

Day 20: Machu Picchu (Visit One of the New Seven Wonders of the World)

Tucked away to the northwest of Cusco, Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Machu Picchu is without doubt on everyone’s itinerary when visiting Peru. It’s also considered one of the most visited places in the world.

According to historians, Machu Picchu was built by the Inca. The site consists of more than 150 buildings including houses, temples, sanctuaries and baths.

Whilst it was built in the 15th century nobody really knew about the site until Hiram Bingham found it in 1911. Whilst he might not have been the first one to discover it, he was vocal about his discovery and wrote a book called  ‘The Lost City of the Incas’  that gained a lot of attention and started bringing in visitors.

Many believe that Machu Picchu was a royal estate and a sacred site for the Inca nobles. Based on the stunning landscape surrounding the site, we can totally see why Inca leaders would pick this spot for their estate.

Machu Picchu Blog Posts You May Like:

• A First Timer’s Guide to Visiting Machu Picchu, Peru
• 10 Best Ways to Get to Machu Picchu

Day 21: Cusco to Lima (Saying Goodbye to Peru)

If you’re leaving the country from Lima, then from Cusco you can just fly back to Lima and connect with your international flight out of the country.

In case you’re on a backpacking trip and heading to Bolivia, then we suggest visiting Cusco first and ending your trip in Puno. From there you can take an international bus across the border to Bolivia.

If you’re heading north towards Ecuador , then we suggest starting your trip in Puno and making your way up to Lima and further north.

Additional Places to Add to Your 3 Week Peru Itinerary

Below are some popular areas in Peru that you might also want to visit. If you carefully plan your days, and perhaps use our tips to shorten the time spent in each location, you can easily add some extra destinations to your 3 week Peru itinerary.

Do you have 4 weeks to spend in Peru? If so, then you can also just add these places for a longer stay in the country.

Huaraz (Visit the Hiking Capital of Peru)

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like us, then you can consider adding Huaraz to your 3 week Peru itinerary. Located about 420 km north of  Lima , Huaraz is the capital of the Ancash Region. The city sits around 3,050 m (10,013 ft) above sea level in the middle of the Callejon de Huaylas valley.

The valley stretches for about 150km and it divides two mountain ranges, the Cordillera Blanca (‘White Mountains’) to the east, and the Cordillera Negra (‘Black Mountains’) to the west.

Many visitors from all over the world arrive in the city to go hiking, climbing, mountain biking or just to visit the mountains and glaciers of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range within Huascaran National Park.

• A Complete Guide to the Best Things to Do in Huaraz

A Guide to Hiking Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru

• A Guide to Visiting Pastoruri Glacier in Huaraz
• A Guide to Visiting Laguna Paron in Huaraz
• A Guide to Hiking Laguna Wilcacocha in Huaraz

Iquitos Amazon Jungle (The Ultimate Wildlife Experience)

Covering a staggering 5.5 million sq km across South America, the Amazon Jungle makes up over half of the world’s remaining rainforest. It is home to thousands of different species, from snakes and spiders, to monkeys and even dolphins.

The jungle stretches across nine countries on the continent, with Peru containing the second largest amount of rainforest after Brazil.

The Peruvian Amazonia itself comprises around 60% of the country. Deep inside the rainforest is the city of Iquitos, which is the largest metropolis in the Peruvian Amazon. From Iquitos you can take a boat deep into the heart of the Peruvian jungle to spend a few nights in a rustic lodge whilst exploring a tiny section of this incredible rainforest.

Mancora and Huanchacho (Peru’s Beach Destinations)

Let’s be honest, when someone mentions Peru, beaches aren’t the first things that come to mind. However, if you have extra time or you’re backpacking across the entire country, then you might want to stop in Mancora and Huanchacho.

This part of Peru is known to be the go-to place for surfing and other water activities. Mancora is also a great place for nightlife and filled with bars and restaurants. It’s definitely a more relaxed destination at lower altitude and with warmer temperatures that can be very tempting after spending a long time in the cold mountains.

Final Thoughts on Our 3 Week Peru Itinerary

We hope that you found this 3 week Peru itinerary useful when planning your adventures. The country is definitely filled with a huge variety of attractions, so we appreciate that it can be pretty difficult to fit everything in.

Our best advice is to be realistic with your time and interests and try to plan your trip around those. You’ll have a much better time if you just focus on visiting the places you really want to see rather than trying to jam-pack everything in.

We are incredibly grateful that we could spend not just 3 weeks but nearly 3 months in Peru. During this time, we took things slowly and stayed at places much longer than most people usually can. However, even spending that long in the country still didn’t allow us to see everything that we initially pinned on our map. Don’t forget, you can always return to a country and visit another part of it on a separate trip.

Have you ever been to Peru before? If so, how long did you visit for? What was your favourite place? If not, how long would you like to spend in the country? Let us know in the comments below.

Now, let your adventure begin,

Our Top Travel Resources

Accommodation:  For hotels we always use  Booking.com  and  Hostelworld  for hostels. We also book longer stays on Airbnb or  Vrbo.

Flights:  To find the best flight prices we always check  Skyscanner ,  Google Flights  or  WayAway.  Then we also check the airlines’ websites too for comparison.

Car Rentals:  We use  Discover Cars  when we want to rent a car as it compares local, national and international companies.

Activities:  If we book organised tours we always check either  GetYourGuide  or  Viator.

Foreign Currency:  Whenever we can we prefer to pay in local currency and for that we always use our  Wise card.   We can easily withdraw money from the ATM or pay by card at most shops and restaurants.

Travel Insurance: We never go anywhere without travel insurance. You never know what will happen on your trip, so good travel insurance like SafetyWing can protect you in case of injury, illness, theft and cancellations.

eSIM and VPN: To get data abroad we use  Airalo which is an app that allows you to download a prepaid eSIM to your phone in over 190 countries. Make sure to have a VPN to avoid hackers accessing your personal data when using public WIFI. We use  Surfshark  which is the only VPN that offers one account on unlimited devices. 

Remember…It all starts with a Pin…

Similar Posts

A Guide to Visiting Laguna Paron in Huaraz, Peru

12 Things to Do in Puno and Lake Titicaca, Peru

Best Things to Do in Huacachina, the Desert Oasis of Peru

10 Best Ways to Get to Machu Picchu, Peru

It has all you need! Thanks for a really useful guide 😍

Thank you Karan, we glad you found this itinerary useful 🙂

As always you deliver such in-depth itineraries on your blog. I loved reading this listicle of the top things to do in Peru and I’ll be saving this for a future trip. By the way, I love your photos they’re absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing this Kitti!

Thank you so much Kelly, your positive feedback means a lot! Hope you can visit Peru soon.

What a wonderful and detailed post about Peru. I’m jealous just reading about this amazing, and long, adventure. Looks like so much fun. The photography is great!

Thank you Sarah, we’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed reading our guide.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

Peru Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

Be aware of current health issues in Peru. Learn how to protect yourself.

Level 1 Practice Usual Precautions

• Updated   Oropouche in South America August 16, 2024 There are outbreaks of Oropouche in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Oropouche is spread by the bite of infected midges (small flies) and mosquitoes. Destination List: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru

⇧ Top

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil
• Avoid floodwater

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites, chagas disease (american trypanosomiasis).

• Accidentally rub feces (poop) of the triatomine bug into the bug bite, other breaks in the skin, your eyes, or mouth
• From pregnant woman to her baby, contaminated blood products (transfusions), or contaminated food or drink.
• Avoid Bug Bites

Chagas disease

• Mosquito bite

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Peru, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Peru. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Some diseases in Peru—such as dengue, Zika, louse-borne typhus, and Chagas disease—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses.

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Peru include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Many popular destinations in Peru, such as Machu Picchu, are at high altitudes. You may experience altitude sickness as a result. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent and treat altitude sickness.

See Travel to High Altitudes .

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Peru. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Peru’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in some parts of Peru. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave, and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Peru may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Peru, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

For information traffic safety and road conditions in Peru, see Travel and Transportation on US Department of State's country-specific information for Peru .

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

To call for emergency services while in Peru, dial 116 for the fire department and 105 for the police. Write these numbers down to carry with you during your trip.

Learn as much as you can about Peru before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on Peru from the US Department of State.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Peru for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

Other Destinations

If you need help finding travel information:

Message & data rates may apply. CDC Privacy Policy

File Formats Help:

• Adobe PDF file
• Microsoft PowerPoint file
• Microsoft Word file
• Microsoft Excel file
• Audio/Video file
• Apple Quicktime file
• RealPlayer file
• Zip Archive file

Tu carrito esta vacío

¿Tienes una cuenta?

Inicia sesión para finalizar tus compras con mayor rapidez.

Cargando...

Total estimado

S/. 0,00 PEN

¡ENVIO GRATIS! VÁLIDO EN LIMA METROPOLITANA

Colección: TRAVEL

Passport holder - black, passport holder - lilac, passport holder - sky, flat purse travel - black, flat purse travel - lilac, flat purse travel - sky, bolsa organizadora travel - black / s, bolsa organizadora travel - black / m, bolsa organizadora travel - lilac / s, bolsa organizadora travel - lilac / m, bolsa organizadora travel - sky / s, bolsa organizadora travel - sky / m, mochila travel cabina - black, mochila travel cabina - lilac, mochila travel cabina - sky.

MALETA MATTE FLUOR - COSMO / S

Maleta matte fluor - cosmo / l, maleta matte fluor - ginger / s, maleta matte fluor - ginger / l, maleta matte fluor - gum / s, maleta matte fluor - gum / l, maleta matte fluor - sour / s, maleta matte fluor - sour / l, pack matte fluor - cosmo, pack matte fluor - ginger, pack matte fluor - gum, pack matte fluor - sour, maleta foldable - black / s, maleta foldable - mint / s, maleta foldable - peach / s, maleta foldable - pink / s.

• Al seleccionar una opción, se actualiza toda la página.
• Se abre en una nueva ventana.

Borders Of Adventure

Leading Culture and Adventure Travel Blog by Becki Enright. Looking at the world with a different angle to change perceptions of misunderstood places, for the best in travel.

Adventure Travel , Peru

This Is How to Travel to Peru – All You Need to Know Guide

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to handpicked partners, including tours, gear and booking sites. If you click through or buy something via one of them, I may receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and allows this site to keep running.

A Peru travel guide to show you how to travel to Peru adventurously and safely, with tips on transport, treks and sightseeing highlights.

Those who travel to Peru are usually those also stepping foot on the South American continent for the first time since the country serves as an easy gateway to wider adventure.

Peru is a diverse spectrum of landscapes beyond its famed jungle and highlands and the stretch of desert on the west coast. It dazzles with its Colonial architecture, marvels with mystery as people seek out its ancient Inca sites and the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu, and tempts people into its untouched nature from deep canyon to high mountain peak as travellers seek out adrenalin fuel with a view.

Despite being more on the trodden path (with a chance to get off it a little), and because it is one of the cheapest of the 12 countries that make up the continent, travelling to Peru can still seem overwhelming for the first time visitor.

My visit to Peru also marked my first time in South America. I searched high and low to gather all the information I needed to capture the scenic and historical highlights, make the most of my budget and time, and stay safe when South America still has a less than desirable reputation in parts.

Here, I’ve pulled everything you need to know as a comprehensive one-stop Peru travel guide, from what to see and how much you spend, to safety and the most responsible, ethical travel choices you can make here.

Wet vs. Dry Seasons in Peru

Wet vs. dry landscape in peru, do you need a visa for peru, ecuador to peru, bolivia to peru, use the peru hop bus – the best bus travel in peru, flights to peru and travelling to and from lima airport, travelling in the north of peru, flights in peru – travelling from lima to cusco / cusco to lima, colca canyon, puno and lake titicaca, cusco and the sacred valley, free walking tours in peru, booking day trips and experiences, where to stay in lima, where to stay in paracas, where to stay in huacachina / ica, where to stay in nazca / nasca, where to stay in arequipa, where to stay in puno, where to stay in cusco, search and book a hotel in peru, the inca trail to machu picchu, the salkantay trek, the lares trek , taking the train to machu picchu, laguna 69 trek, trekking to rainbow mountain and red valley, trek in colca canyon, solo or group travel tours in peru, ccaccaccollo women’s weaving co-op, parwa community restaurant, parque de la papa, nunay reimy restaurant in cusco, the inti runakunaq wasin youth drop-in centre in cusco, positive social impact projects in lima, using the peruvian soles, atms in peru, cost of transport in peru, cost of treks in peru, cost of accommodation in peru, cost of trips and tours in peru, cost of food and drink in peru, safety tips for peru and scams to avoid, is lima safe, the best food in peru, internet in peru, drugs in peru, when is the best time to visit peru.

The easiest way to determine when is the best time to travel to Peru is by breaking it down into the country’s wet and dry seasons:

• May to October / November is the dry season in Peru
• December to March / April is the rainy season in Peru
• April and November are typically considered the shoulder seasons in Peru, where anything goes as the seasons pass over
• February is the hottest month in Peru, and August is the coldest.

Peru is an adventure holiday capital. Therefore, considering the country’s diverse topography from desert to jungle, the weather outcome also depends on where you plan to visit in Peru and what activities you will be doing.

For example, it’s not a good idea to visit the jungle highland and mountain areas to the north and those around Cusco and the Sacred Valley during the rainy season, where there is a high possibility of trails and pathways even to Machu Picchu being closed. Lima, conversely, would be more accessible since it is situated on the desert coastline.

As the Tourism website states, Peru is “a country of open doors,” and for American and Western European countries, no visa is required for travel.

The citizens of the following countries do not require a Peru visa :

• North America: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• South America: All South American countries.
• Central America: All Central American countries except Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
• Europe: All countries within the European Union (EU) and Switzerland.
• Africa: South Africa.
• Middle East: Israel.
• Asia: Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

However, check your country’s consulate for up-to-date information and any changes before you embark on your Peru holidays.

You can check if you need a visa and how many days you get upon entry here .

Tourist entry to Peru is a single entry stamp at the airport or land border that grants you a maximum stay of 183 days. You need a passport valid for at least six months and with at least two free pages. The entry stamp cannot be extended once you are inside the country, and any overstay time can be met with a fine.

Travel to Peru from Neighbouring Countries Overland

A Peru trip is surrounded by travel temptation, with borders to Ecuador and Colombia in the north, Bolivia and Brazil in the east, and Chile to the South. That makes Peru a perfect starting point for onward travel or the ideal country to travel to, paired with a neighbour.

Entering Peru from neighbouring countries overland requires you to do some immigration legwork afterwards. Immigration authorities may not allow you to leave Peru without proof of a valid exit stamp from the last country you visited, and it is required by law to apply for an entry stamp once you are in Peru. That is if you didn’t get an entry stamp at the land border. You will need to show authorities various documentation of your travel journey.

Via Huaquillas (the most popular), Macará or La Balsa at Zumba . If you enter Peru overland from Ecuador, you will need to get your passport stamped with a Peruvian entry stamp at the local immigration office where you are staying.

If you enter Peru from Bolivia via Copacabana , make sure your passport is stamped with a Peruvian entry stamp at the immigration office in Desaguadero or Copacabana (near Puno, which is a known traveller hub).

What is the Best Way to Travel Around Peru?

A large country with a lot of ground to cover, it’s important for this Peru travel guide to cover the best, safest and most cost-effective way to get around. Through means I’ve tried and tested. 

Furiously researching how I would travel from Lima to Cusco and see everything from the sand dunes, colonial cities and the manmade habitable lake islands in between, I mostly came across stories of dodgy local bus rides and rip-off taxi drivers.

Travelling within Peru is no longer difficult. In this research, I came across a great and relatively new bus service in Peru called Peru Hop, which gave me a pass to try out during my two-week journey from Lima to Cusco.

Peru Hop offers a multi-stop Flexi ticket in either direction between Lima and Cusco (and one that also takes you to La Paz, Bolivia), stopping at Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa and Puno in between. More than just a transport service, it acts as a flexible experience where you can tour Peru independently, adapting to your interests and itinerary. There are even extra, exclusive stops and Peru tours along the way.

It means having one ticket, one easy-to-use online booking system, maximum flexibility, and not dealing with rogue travel agents or the hassle of local bus stations. You can see the major cities and hotspots easily and safely (everyone who boards the bus has to have a valid seat booking, from which their passport details are logged) , be picked up and dropped off at your hostel, and have the help of an onboard local guide who speaks English and Spanish.

Tickets start from $159 (valid for one year); you can read my full Peru Hop review here .

Buses are the easiest means of getting around Peru, with the Peru Hop service being great for accessible travel on the southern loop through major sites.

The best-priced flights to Peru usually get you to Lima, which becomes the main starting hub for the majority of travellers. The company behind Peru Hop also operates the Airport Express Lima bus that has multiple stops in the city centre.

You can book online or show up and hope for space. This is a cheaper option than the taxi pick-ups organised by many hostels, although I much preferred the organised taxi option late at night.

Peru Hop currently doesn’t offer any bus service in the north of the country, which is a shame and is a service I hope comes in time. Many travellers I met making their way to northern Peru for grand treks such as Laguna 69 used local buses (with many citing there were enough gringos riding them not to feel too sketchy and isolated).

You can book buses here via the Cruz Del Sur website .

If you want to travel from Lima to Cusco (or vice versa) without any stops in between, the easiest way is via an internal flight. Many use Lima as a cheap flight route from their home city to then fly to Machu Picchu, making it a more popular direction.

While you might find a good deal with Peruvian Airlines, I recommend Latam, which has a good safety record, is more of an established pan South American airline, has regular routes between cities, and isn’t too expensive. You can land a flight for around $60 if you get lucky.

Sightseeing Peru – Where to Visit

Typically on the first visit to Peru, travellers will visit the ‘southern loop’ between Lima and Cusco, with Cusco often the only or main stopping point because of getting to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. This is a shame, as there are plenty of places to visit in Peru on this loop with great historical interest or famed natural landscapes.

Those with more time typically venture north for the famed Laguna 69 trekking route or do so on a second visit.

You will likely start in Peru’s capital because of the regular flight routes. Lima is a sprawling coastline metropolis, with much of its outer residential areas completely off-limits. Most visitors stay in the safer touristic neighbourhood of Miraflores, from which you can mix modern city hangouts with Inca ruins and beaches. Others stay in the bohemian area of Barranco, known for its artist and alternative scene.

Downtown Lima is accessible from both and is usually visited as part of a day trip. It’s largely sketchy beyond the small cluster of squares and streets where you’ll find grand buildings from cathedrals to Palaces around Plaza de Armas and colourful streets peppered with ornate wooden balconies as you wander between local cafes, restaurants and stores.

Huaca Pucllana Inca Ruins in Lima.

Coastal Paracas may not have much going on apart from its super chill vibes, but people come here to head out on a speedboat to visit the protected Ballestas Islands. Dubbed the “Poor Man´s Galapagos”, this is a chance to spend two hours spotting wildlife, including pelicans, penguins, birds and sleepy sea lions in the Paracas National Reserve. 

The contrasting sweeping desert plains of Paracas National Park, marked by cliff drops and jagged rock formations, are also another highlight. However, there are plenty of nature-focused things to do if you decide to stay for a few lazy days.

The coastline of Paracas National Reserve, Ballestas Islands, Peru.

See the famed Paracas Candelabra geoglyph rock carving.

Huacachina is all about the mighty sand dunes. As soon as you arrive in this desert oasis town, you’ll realise it’s surrounded by a ring of golden mounds.

The best way to experience them is by strapping yourself into a sand buggy and enjoying a fast and bumpy nature coaster ride to some of the highest points and stomach-churning ploughs down. Alternatively, you can also learn how to Sandboard down, which is a real thrill ( beginner tips here ). Travellers also come here to indulge at the nearby Pisco vineyards.

The sand buggy ride to the Huacachina sand dunes in Peru.

The 2,000-year-old geometric Nazca Lines are a world-famous site, despite the fact we still do not know exactly why these markings in the desert were created . This UNESCO world heritage site remains a mystery, and you can’t pass through without taking a look for yourself.

Three of the Nazca Lines can be viewed for free from a tower that is perched along the Trans American Highway. Still, the best way to see all the mysterious shapes and symbols is via a dizzying plane flight as you curve around the desert basin trying to spot the spider, condor, monkey, whale and astronaut.

View from the plane shows a road cutting through some of the geoglyphs carved into the Nazca Desert. A viewing tower has been set up for those who do not want to fly over. 

Can you spot the astronaut? It’s one of the famed desert soil-carved Nazca Lines in Peru.

Arequipa is a beautiful city decked in colonial architecture, with a panorama of mountain peaks, including the dominant Misti volcano. For a historical introduction and some hidden neighbourhoods and viewpoints, take the free walking tour offered daily.

A full day alone can be granted to the Santa Catalina Convent (Monasterio D Santa Catalina), dubbed “a city within a city.”

The Misti Volcano can be seen from the streets of Arequipa, Peru.

Visit the Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa.

Four hours from Arequipa is Colca Canyon – the second deepest canyon in the world that is said to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.

Attracting everyone from day-trippers to hardened trekkers, not only can you view the Andean Condor birds in flight from above, as well as find majestic viewpoints to surrounding volcanoes, but also you can hike down into the Canyon, stay overnight in the oasis below and hike out at sunrise. It was a painful, but unforgettable landscape to experience.

Join the locals visiting Colca Canyon on a day trip from Arequipa, Peru.

A condor in flight in the Colca Canyon – a highlight of a visit here.

Puno is famous for Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake on Earth at over 3,800 meters above sea level.

It’s here that people visit the man-made floating reed islands, with the chance to stay overnight with a local family on one of the remote islands a bit further out. I recommend this option if you have time, as I found the half-day and day tour trips set up only for tourists. Not to mention it has induced a culture of begging, even amongst the local children.

Others come to Puno, extending their lake visit as a means to also connect into Bolivia via Copacabana.

Visit Puno to see Lake Titicaca.

Travel to Peru and visit the unique reed houses on the floating islands on Lake Titicaca, Peru.

Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is, of course, the starting point for those on their way to the famed Machu Picchu – the grand highlight of any Peru trip.

However, there’s more to Cusco than a gateway for those making the pilgrimage to the ancient Inca Site. The centre of Cusco itself is full of sites, including Colonial architecture and stone walls and ruins of Inca days that line the steep cobble-stoned streets.

Fun tours in Cusco can be found in abundance if you want deeper historical and cultural insights. Hip coffee shops, vegan cafes and restaurants, independent design stores and funky hangouts define the city, especially in the bohemian San Blas neighbourhood.

The high altitude cobbled streets of Cusco valley.

There are also a few key sites and treks that make for great day trips from Cusco, including.

The Salinas Salt Ponds are a terrace system of evaporated salt ponds a short drive from the town of Maras, located around one hour outside of Cusco. A man-made layered landscape in the Sacred Valley, these salt basins have been in use since the days of the Incas, with a section now open to the public to marvel at.

One of Peru’s best places to visit is the Salinas Salt Ponds in the Sacred Valley, Cusco.

Moray is an archaeological site of ringed Inca ruins in a remote area near Maras (and easily combined with Salinas). Defined by its circular terraces at a plateau of 3,500 metres, it is believed this was used for agricultural research, with the different terrace levels having unique microclimates.

Sacsayhuaman is a hilltop Inca citadel that sits on the northern fringes of Cusco and is said to be a fortress overlooking the city. It is known for its huge dry stones that fit together in the same way as those on the old Inca walls in Cusco – without any mortar or filling such as soil or clay.

Things to Do in Peru – Further Suggestions

In Lima, Cusco and Arequipa, I used free walking tours (payment based only on tips). I used the company Free Walking Tour Peru in both Lima (for Downtown Lima and Barranco walking tours) and Cusco (for an orientation and history walk) and highly recommend them both for cultural and historical insights, as well as a good balance of fun.

Go on a free walking tour in Cusco for orientation and an introduction to Inca history and culture.

Most hotels and hostels offer ideas and services for excursions and experiences. Many are packed full of maps and leaflets detailing local companies. Others offer their own, like cooking classes and Spanish lessons. When booking day trips or short excursions, I used Find Local Trips, one of South America’s largest and most trusted tour booking platforms and GetYourGuide

Where to Stay in Peru

I lived it up in a luxury hotel and stayed in a dorm and private room at a hostel. There’s a mix of everything in the city to suit all budgets and preferences of atmosphere from quiet to party.

• Casa Andina Premium – Beautiful boutique-style hotel on a quiet street just a few blocks from Parque Kennedy.
• Pariwana Hostel – One of the hostels you hear about on the grapevine. Close to the beach and complete with terrace and bar, table tennis table and continental breakfast.
• Alpes Lima – I stayed in both their dorm room property (home to the rooftop bar) and their second property two blocks away that has private rooms and a quieter environment.
• Pool Paradise Lima – The only hostel in Miraflores with an outdoor pool.
• The Point – For those wanting to hang out in the arty, hip neighbourhood of Barranco.
• Paracas Backpackers House – More chilled, family-run hostel just a five-minute walk to the coastline.
• Kokopelli Backpackers – More of a party hostel, with its own pool and lively bar.
• Banana’s Adventure Hostel – New, funky, modern touches and great atmosphere. The place I wish I had stayed after finding it.
• Casa de Arenas – The biggest hostel in this tiny town, complete with bar and pool but is a little worn and the staff attitude isn’t very welcoming.
• Le Casa de Bamboo – The quiet traveller’s option, complete with a small bar.

Not many people stay overnight in Nazca. Instead, they pass through on the way to Arequipa. For those wanting to chill here and break up the journey, the following places were recommended.

• Nazca Travel One – Central, family-run establishment.
• Hotel Alegria – Considered one of the best hotels in this area, and the bonus is it has a pool.
• Casa de Avila – I adored this cosy, quiet 3-star hotel and treated myself to four nights here (at only $40 a night) to get some proper rest pre and post-Colca Canyon trek. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the very centre and the Plaza de Armas. You can also take a Peruvian cooking class here.
• Wild Rover – The party hostel with a pool. Part of the Irish hostel chain in Peru.
• Flying Dog – The quieter, chilled out hostel with lounge areas and easy access to the centre of the city.
• Suites Independencia – We left our bags here as we explored on day trips before catching the night bus, but a friend stayed overnight so I got to see the rooms. Basic, spacious room right in the very centre of town.
• Pacha Suites is also a centrally based accommodation and was a mid-range option that was recommended.
• Staying with a local family found on Airbnb was an option fellow travellers recommended me for those wanting a proper homestay experience on Lake Titicaca. 
• Casa del Carmen – A family-run, quiet, cosy residence located in the cool arty district of San Blas. Carmen is very motherly and always on hand to help, although the only downside is you may be asked to move around if you are there for many days as there doesn’t seem to be a set system in place for the rooms. But for $25 for a private room in central Cusco, I wasn’t going to complain too much.
• Wild Rover – The party hostel option in Cusco for revelling travellers.
• The popular  Kokopelli Backpackers chain in Peru also has a base in Cusco. It’s right on the main square, although it can be pricey.

The Best Way to Visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

Getting to Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the highlight of Peru, and figuring out the best treks and Machu Picchu tours and days trips is the eternal question in planning.

Trek through the mountains of the Sacred Valley to reach Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu Treks

The most popular of all, this four-day trek takes you through various communities and the ancient Incan ruins of the Sacred Valley, set within stunning Andean scenery. The final day marks the start of a pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise as you enter the magnificent Machu Picchu.

A lifeline of Peru tourism, it is important to visit Machu Picchu as responsibly and ethically as possible.

G Adventures Inca Trail Tours – Awarded the best operator for the Inca Trail route. 

Inca Trail 4-Day Trek – A highly rated trek on GetYourGuide with a local operator.

Huayna Picchu Hike — This entry ticket grants access to the 2,693 m peak, which offers elevated views over Machu Picchu’s Inca citadel. Only 400 people per day are allowed to visit Huayna Picchu, so book ahead. 

Dubbed an alternative trek to the Inca Trail, this route crosses the Salkantay Pass at 4600m, following a trail descending into cloud forest. The final point of the hike is to the Inca site of Llactapata, where you get the first look at Machu Picchu from a distance.

See Salkantay trek dates and book here . 

This three-day hike through the mountains of the Sacred Valley is more about the untouched natural scenery than Inca ruins, reaching highs of 4800m. The scenic train journey from Ollayntambo to Aguas Calientes completes your trip to Machu Picchu.

See Lares trek dates and book here .

There are plenty of ways to get to Machu Picchu – which will you choose?

For those who do not embark on the Machu Picchu trek that leads you directly to the site by foot, the train is part of the final journey to this ancient Inca citadel, 2430m above sea level.

A train is also a great option for those who do not wish to trek or who cannot fit time for a trek into their Peru itinerary. It means everyone gets a chance to view Peru’s most renowned pilgrimage site, which remains a mystery as to why it was built.

The Peru Rail train to Machu Picchu.

The Peru Rail trains depart from either Porary or Ollantaytambo station, located in the Sacred Valley. It’s an incredibly scenic three-hour and 50-minute or one-hour and 50-minute journey to the station of Aguas Calientes.

From here, you catch a bus up the winding valley to the entrance to the Machu Picchu site. It is advised to book your bus ticket in advance to avoid the long queues.

Permits are only needed for the Inca Trail and not for entrance tickets to Machu Picchu . However, your entrance tickets need to be booked in advance, alongside your train ticket. You must bring your passport – it is checked both at the Machu Picchu entrance and when you board the train.

Tours of Machu Picchu with a registered guide are highly recommended for those who want detailed insight into each aspect of its design and the history of the Inca people.

One of the most beautiful train journeys you can take.

Peru Rail Ticket to Aguas Calientes (one way): $50 – $70+

Book Here  direct at Peru Rail

Bus Ticket: $12 one way / $24 return

Book Here  via the Machu Picchu ticket service or order a pre-booked round-trip bus ticket here .

Machu Picchu entrance ticket: €38 / $46 (152 Peruvian Soles)

Trekking in Peru

Aside from the Machu Picchu treks, Peru has a variety of stunning trekking options tempting the explorer, whether that’s day trips from Cusco, canyons in the south or more technical lagoon hikes in the north.

This super scenic trek is located in Huascaran National Park – a two-hour bus journey from Huaraz (nine hours northeast of Lima), which travellers use as a base for this expedition. Forest tracks, snow-capped mountains and steep rocky pathways lead to the magnificent turquoise mountain lagoon at 4500m. This can be completed in one day, but more adventurous souls choose multi-day trekking routes to cover more ground in the region.

Rainbow Mountain has become a very popular trek in recent years after the site was discovered when snow on the mountains melted to reveal the incredible lines of colour, giving the Vinicunca mountain (also called Montaña de Siete Colores – Mountain of seven colours) its name.

A hard day trek, which peaks at 5,000 metres above sea level, the struggle of the altitude is worth it for the unique view at the end. Get yourself on a Rainbow Mountain trek with a very early start to avoid the crowds (we left Cusco at 3 am), and look for a trek that takes in the Red Valley on the way back. *Article coming soon*

The views you reach when trekking Rainbow Mountain in Peru.

Trekking in the Red Valley on the way back from Rainbow Mountain.

And don’t believe those who say it’s a secret they wish they had kept. Over 1,000 people from the local community are employed, including over 200 people renting the horses. That’s a lot of community regeneration and a community thanking us over and over for sharing this wonderful site.

Trekking in Colca Canyon is no easy feat, yet it is just as much an accolade as it is a chance to be embedded in some of the most incredible scenery in Peru. Why? It’s the second biggest and second deepest canyon in the world.

I chose the two-day trekking option to get more immersed in the canyon landscape and national park, located four hours drive from Arequipa.

The start of the two-day Colca Canyon trek.

This trekking route also included short stops at the best scenic viewpoints throughout the canyon, before and after the trek, which included long winds down and a VERY steep (and relatively painful) three-hour climb out on the last morning starting at 5 am.

Not everyone wants to travel solo; others may be limited on time and want the ease of having everything organised with a local guide. In Peru, I mixed small group trips with solo travelling.

Peru tours are also a great starting point to cut your teeth on the South America travel circuit, where a tour might be just the familiarity and confidence you need to get started. Here’s a taster of some small adventure group tour options and itineraries, including those that mix Peru with neighbouring countries.

Browse and book 50+ Peru tour options here.

As an official ambassador for G Adventures, I encourage taking their tours to Peru, having met some travellers using them as their introduction to South America. I have been travelling with G Adventures for over a decade, and they advocate responsible travel.

In Peru, where differing levels of poverty and corruption still exist, it’s important to travel as ethically minded as possible, where local communities and social enterprises can benefit from your visit.

Responsible Travel in Peru – Social Impact

One of the main reasons I was in Peru was to visit a collection of incredible projects of positive social impact in Lima and Cusco, set up by G Adventures and their charitable arm, Planeterra. These are projects where tourism footfall and the money we spend benefit local communities when travelling through. It can also serve as a means of empowerment, helping preserve culture and allowing for the continuation of micro-enterprise within communities as one person’s success can fund another business idea.

Travellers pass through these projects on G Adventures’ small adventure tours in Peru or on their way to Machu Picchu on the renowned Inca Trail trek , or you can also visit these sites independently with a bit more planning. 

Positive Social Impact Projects in Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op was G Adventures’ first social enterprise project. While men in the Sacred Valley are often employed in agriculture or as porters for treks, women now have the opportunity to work and continue a beautiful tradition.

Here, travellers have the chance to not only visit the community and see how the weaving co-op is set up but also have a chance to buy a range of handmade souvenirs from jumpers, scarves and items for the home.

Buy handmade souvenirs from the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op in the Sacred Valley.

The group learns about how the women of this area continue the beautiful tradition of weaving. 

50km from Cusco, in the village of Huchuy Qosqo in the Sacred Valley, a community struggled due to limited access to economic opportunities. Yet travellers were passing nearby, and so an idea was set in place for the construction of the Parwa Community Restaurant.

Over 1,500 G Adventures travellers pass through each month, eating meals using ingredients sourced from local farmers, served by those who are given hospitality training and employment benefits. All income earned by the restaurant is reinvested back into community social projects, including separate micro-enterprises, like Warmicha, which sells various locally made snacks to travellers hiking their way to Machu Picchu.

The Parwa Community Restaurant in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.

Meeting the indigenous Parwa Community in the Sacred Valley, Peru.

Parque de la Papa (Potato Farm) is a conservation project dedicated to potato seeds. Over 6,000 indigenous community members work together to preserve the 3,000 species of potato in this area. This provides not only economic opportunities and the preservation of indigenous culture but also preserves agricultural biodiversity unique to this region of Peru.

Learning about the 3,000 varieties of potato in Peru at the Parque de la Papa conservation project.

A former G Adventure Chief Experience Officer (CEO) set up Nunay Reimy restaurant in Cusco. Travellers on G Adventures trips visit this restaurant, where a portion of the establishment’s profits is returned to the community.

Cuisine insights at Nunay Reimy restaurant in Cusco.

One of the first big Planeterra projects for G Adventures, money to build the centre was raised by a huge five-year-long international fundraiser by G travellers. Children who live in extreme poverty in Cusco are usually forced to drop out of school and beg on the street to help their families.

You will be contributing to a project that provides children from poor families with a place to get guidance and support. You can support the centre in your visit by buying handicrafts produced by the children who have the opportunity to train in various workshops such as leatherworking and jewellery-making.

Bite Peru was the first project to come out of the ‘G Values Fund’ where former CEOs looking to move on from their role are given the opportunity to submit a business plan for an idea they can set up at home, with the best and most socially viable being granted the funds for it to start.

What was initially set up to provide culinary journeys in Lima and its thriving food scene soon turned into other offerings which help change the perception of the city. It was with these guys that I visited the San Juan barrio, as well as the street art project emerging in the socially displaced neighbourhood of Callao. I can also recommend ceviche making classes and market tours with a special focus on fruit tasting.

A perception changing tour of the San Juan de Miraflores barrio in Lima, Peru.

Art is transforming the run-down, dangerous and forgotten neighbourhood of Callao in Lima.

Money in Peru

The currency in Peru is the Sol. It doesn’t take long to get used to it. There are just over three Soles to the US Dollar (USD), around three and a half Soles to a Euro (EUR) and just over four Soles to the Pound (GBP). Rounding up helps you make quick conversions when deliberating prices and making payments.

While some businesses accept US dollars and some ATMs allow you to withdraw it even, it is much easier to pay for day-to-day things with Soles, including food and drink, shopping at local markets and entry to local attractions.

We found that Dollar payments were applied for bigger things and where it was easier to pay by debit or credit card like booking the Rainbow Mountain and Colca Canyon treks and hostel and hotel stays.

I also kept 200 Dollars hidden away in case of emergencies.

There are ATMs in every major city in Peru, typically found near each city’s Plaza de Armas (the main square) . It’s highly unlikely that you will find any ATMs in more rural areas, including villages and small towns.

Like most ATMs in South America, it is wise to use those inside a bank or to avoid using any located on the street at night. I always withdrew money in the middle of the day when plenty of people were around.

I was able to use my Mastercard and Visa debit cards. Despite having a pre-loaded travel card that limits being charged extra ATM fees, I was charged a small fee at every ATM transaction in Peru, no matter what card I used.

The fee for withdrawing money at the Peru ATM was always around $5-$7 per transaction , so I soon learnt to take out hearty amounts each time to cover me for a while. The maximum withdrawal was around $200 – $250 per transaction.

How much does it Cost to Travel in Peru?

Peru is significantly cheaper than the other countries in South America, which adds to its popularity. Like anywhere, your daily budget depends on your style of travel and whether you want to live like a local or live it up in comfort.

The biggest cost for a traveller in Peru is normally a trek, connected to visiting Machu Picchu. My other biggest costs were accommodation, since I always took a private room (average prices for a dorm room in Peru are also listed), alongside more convenient means of transport such as a flexible bus pass and an internal flight.

Costs of Travel in Peru (Average Prices in US Dollars)

• Local, long-distance bus rides: $5-$15
• Intercity El  Metropolitano bus in Lima: Under $1 (S/. 2.50)
• Peru Hop ticket: $159 for a ‘Get Quick’ pass / $199 for a ‘Full South’ Pass
• An internal flight between Lima and Cusco: $60-$70
• A taxi between Lima airport and a hostel: $20
• A taxi between Cusco airport and a hostel: $5
• Big Treks like Inca Trail or Salkantay – $600 – $1,000+
• Small two-day treks like Colca Canyon – $50
• Day treks from Cusco like Rainbow Mountain – $50 – $100
• Dorm in a hostel – $10-$15
• Private room in a hostel – $25
• Room in a mid-range hotel – $35-$50
• Two-hour speedboat tour from Paracas to Ballestas Islands: $15
• Two-hour sand buggy tour in Huacachina: $15
• Nazca Lines flight: $80 + 30 Soles ($9) airport tax
• Day trip to Colca Canyon: $25-$30 + 70 Soles ($20) tourist entry ticket fee
• Half-day tour to Lake Titicaca, Puno: $10-$15
• Full-day tour to Lake Titicaca, Puno: $20-$25
• Food in a local restaurant (two courses) –$2-$5
• Food in a gringo restaurant – $10-$20
• Food at a local market – $1- $2
• Coffee: $2-$4
• Local beer: $2

Is Peru Safe to Travel to?

While I have never encountered any major problems in Peru, like anywhere in South America, you need to exercise more caution following the region’s turbulent history, which has largely dissipated and hasn’t affected major tourist areas for over a decade. However, it is good to be aware of petty crimes and scams that can still occur and to keep up to date with any Peru travel alerts from your home country.

‘Express Kidnappings’ – This is where travellers are taken to an ATM and forced to withdraw money, normally as much as they can get and effectively held against their will until they can extract the money. This is said to be a common occurrence, particularly at Lima airport.

Muggings – This form of petty crime in Peru usually occurs in more dark and isolated areas. There have been some cases at major monuments such as Sacsayhuaman in Cusco, the hilltop monument in Arequipa at sunrise and sunset when the crowds disperse. I also never walked alone in Lima at night, even in Miraflores, away from the busy areas like Parque Kennedy.

Something-On-Your-Shoe Distraction – There have been a few stories of someone spilling something on your shoe or dropping money in front of you where you feel inclined to help and pick it up. Distraction is the greatest tool for those wanting to commit petty crimes. Don’t fall for it.

Short-changing – I encountered this on many occasions in both shops and hostels. Always, always check your change. I’ve had everything from being given four 10-cent coins when my change should have been four Sole coins to a hostel receptionist giving me change in coins and conveniently leaving out the 10 Soles note that should have come with it. Refuse to leave until you get your right change. I never gave in.

Always carry a photocopy of your passport and not the real thing! I used a Pacsafe Portable Safe the entire time I was in Peru and locked it to the bathroom sink pipes and/or furniture attached to the wall. I also had photocopies of my travel insurance, vaccinations and relevant trip documents.

Only carry enough cash that you need for the day. I only took my credit or debit cards when I knew I had to withdraw cash. I didn’t carry them around daily and kept them stored with my passport in the safe mentioned above.

Keep your bag with you and in sight at all times. I always had my daypack/handbag slung over my shoulder or on my lap, especially in crowded places.

Avoid travelling at night in Peru. Travelling by night is still not considered the best option, as armed holdups on buses and other transport routes still occur, more so in the far northern reaches of the country and on the Peru-Bolivia border at Lake Titicaca. I only travelled overnight on the Peru Hop tourist bus.

Be aware of what border crossings are accessible or not. For example, many official websites mention that the border to Colombia is best avoided due to narcotics (drug) trafficking.

Don’t withdraw money from ATMs at night, and don’t withdraw money from an ATM in an unpopulated or dodgy-feeling area. Withdraw enough money from an ATM in the centre of major cities so that you have enough with you to last through less busy and remote areas.

Don’t flash your valuables. This might sound obvious, but the number of travellers I saw with a camera hanging off their neck or dripping in expensive jewellery and clothing was abundant. Don’t be an obvious target when you already look ‘gringo’ enough. And especially hide your stuff in less affluent and less touristic areas.

Use Uber, especially at night. As a solo female traveller in Peru, there were times I met friends in town for drinks but didn’t want to walk back through quiet, narrow streets at night, especially in Cusco. Uber was a great choice, and I never had any issues. My Peruvian friends always recommended it.

Hold onto your bag when riding local buses, and don’t put it in the overhead compartment. There are countless stories of theft on buses, as well as a classic tale of someone telling you that you have to move seats when you don’t (this is a strategic move to be able to rob you more easily).

The smaller cities in Peru, as in South America generally, are no more of a major threat than other large cities worldwide. However, the Capitals have a lot of major no-go areas. Therefore in Lima, you absolutely need to know where you can and can’t go and what areas are absolutely and completely off-limits.

It’s wise to do some digging on Lima before you arrive. A handful of neighbourhoods in Lima, in particular, should be avoided – like the Callao district next to the airport and Rimac just across the bridge from Downtown Lima and the Presidential Palace.

Miraflores is the safest neighbourhood in Lima and where you should, ideally, stay. It is the more affluent one where locals can afford security guards at both their homes and to sit guard outside of their business premised all night. Miraflores is, therefore, fine to roam by day, yet I would still exercise caution at night when the residential streets are quiet and there is not a security guard on every corner like those roaming at Parque Kennedy.

Barranco, the more artsy and bohemian neighbourhood south of Miraflores, is also a good choice to either visit or stay when in Lima.

When a new district turns into another, it is not marked, and it is easy for your curiosity to get the better of you. A friend and I accidentally wandered into the neighbourhood of Rimac during our day exploring Lima Downtown. If it wasn’t for a local woman on a balcony furiously waving for us to get the hell out, who knows what might have happened? A Peruvian friend later told me we would have 100% been robbed if we were just one more block east.

Impoverished neighbourhoods back onto the affluent ones like Miraflores, and the city widely sprawls to include some VERY dangerous places. For example, next to the Mercado on the fringes of Miraflores is the neighbourhood of Surquillo. Wander too far in, and you may stand out too much. One traveller’s curiosity saw him robbed and beaten, as was his wife, who was wearing a camera around her neck.

Lima is not the place to show your riches. You can feel the atmosphere drop to another level. Don’t take the risk if you haven’t done your research.

On the other hand, Lima is developing with social enterprise schemes and local tours booming. These are helping the areas to regenerate and educating visitors about Peruvian politics, society, culture and what is happening today. I visited an art project in Callao and the San Juan favela/barrio in the east, guided by locals and with genuine insight into how things work and the changes taking place that could turn things around for those less prosperous here.

Lima is so complex, and it is all too easy to dismiss by spending two days in Miraflores before leaving altogether.

The Miraflores neighbourhood of Lima.

Ceviche is Peru’s classic dish, and Lima is the heart of the dish’s origination. A melody of fresh fish, lime juice and the rich flavours of pepper, onion and chilli combined, it has to be tried at least once as a rite of passage to Peru. You’ll find everyone from local markets to high-end restaurants serving it with their own little twist.

A Ceviche stall in a market in Lima, Peru. 

Lomas Saltado is ‘salted beef’; marinated strips of beef are combined with a stir fry type mix of pepper, onion and tomato and served with rice. It’s often also served with fries or a mix of both.

Aji de Gallina is well worth a try, especially since it’s always on the menu when you eat in a local establishment. It’s a yellow cream sauce made from yellow Aji peppers, usually served with meat such as chicken, hard-boiled eggs, potatoes and rice. The best ones normally have a light spicy flavour for an extra kick.

Locals dining at the San Blas market in Cusco.

Pisco Sour. Ok, this is not food, but it’s technically a staple part of the culinary menu. Lemon juice, egg white and Peru’s Pisco (a fermented wine) on ice, topped with bitters, make up this famous and timeless classic cocktail. Of course, in Peru, it’s cheaper and made to perfection.

The Internet in Peru can be patchy and not always fast or reliable, which makes travel in Peru and planning a little frustrating. Get yourself a local SIM card, which saves you from relying on the patchy hostel and guesthouse Wi-Fi. A SIM card in Peru costs about 15 Soles (about $5 USD), and I got a starter package with a local carrier, Claro, for 30 Soles (about $5 USD), which gave me 3MB of data.

Remember to take a copy of your passport to purchase the SIM. The main two carriers are Claro and Movistar, and you will find many convenience stores, supermarkets and other outlets where you can top up. Just look for the flag signs and shop window stickers for Claro and Movistar.

Peru is the largest exporter of cocaine to the western world, with this trading belt up into Colombia enticing ‘Narco Tourism’. While offers of cocaine and cannabis frequently occur on the street, especially in Cusco, don’t be that tourist whose curiosity gets the better of them.

Punishment for drugs in Peru is severe, especially if you try to take drugs out of the country (Google ‘Peru Two’ for an example).

Travel to Peru adventurously, safely, and responsibly. Is there anything else you would add to this list?

Planning a Peru Trip? – Pin It! 

About Becki

Becki Enright is a British Travel Press Award-winning writer whose work focuses on changing perceptions about misunderstood aspects of destinations. Her writing combines storytelling with insight into the social, historical, political and economic factors that shape the country or place in relation to tourism. Becki has appeared live on Sky News and CNN and has contributed to high profile media including National Geographic, Time.com, Guardian online, New York Times, Grazia and Buzzfeed.

4 April 2024 at 7:11 am

Great article 🙂 I’m hitting up Peru for the first time with G Adventures this summer and all the info you provided on their community work was helpful. Cheers! Kim

4 April 2024 at 2:48 pm

Glad it was helpful, and have a great time touring Peru!

10 July 2023 at 9:06 pm

Hi! This was very helpful, I am traveling solo in August and I was wondering if you had an opinion on which city to visit first between Cuzco and Arequipa? Also safety wise what are the best ways to get from airports to our hostels?

17 July 2023 at 4:41 pm

Lima, Arequipa and Cuzco are almost a triangle of cities, so depend which direction you are travelling in. Safety wise, most hostels can arrange an airport pick up for you. Just email them before with plenty of time. And try to get flights that arrive in the day.

29 September 2022 at 3:10 pm

I’m new to solo travelling, as in never done anything more than an overnight by myself. Peru is first on my list. As someone in my shoes, do you think it is best to find an all in one package for my first trip or attempt to plan everything separately, on my own?

1 October 2022 at 8:41 pm

If you are new to solo travelling, maybe find a fun group tour for Peru. South America is a little more tricky to cut your teeth on than say, Asia.

13 October 2022 at 8:55 pm

Great thank you!

Gloria Butner says

8 August 2022 at 4:03 pm

Hi there, interesting information but how do I visit Amazon rainforest, macho picchoo and galapoluos islands in one trip?

8 August 2022 at 6:05 pm

You can’t. The Galápagos Islands are part of Ecuador, and Machu Picchu is in Peru. You can visit the Amazon in both.

20 February 2020 at 4:26 pm

Great guide! I am going in April. Wondering which travel guide to buy now. I always go for Lonely Planet, but wondering if I should try something new that you could recommend?

1 March 2020 at 10:24 am

You could try Rough Guides as well. People are usually in one camp or the other.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Article Archives
• Work with me
• Privacy Policy

$1299—Peru 9-night adventure w/flights, save $1500

Visit Machu Picchu, Lima, Cusco, Lake Titicaca and the Sacred Valley.

Why We Love This Deal

Visit Peru's must-see destinations, including awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, on this 9-night guided tour . You'll also explore Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake and one of the highest in the world. There, you'll visit two islands and learn about local communities' crafts, culture and cuisine.

What's included:

• International flights from the U.S. to Lima
• 9 nights in well-reviewed hotels with breakfast
• Domestic flights and transfers
• Expedition or Voyager train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes
• Tours of Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
• Air and hotel taxes

Per-person pricing:

• $1299 … Austin; Boston; Denver; Fort Lauderdale; Miami; New York; Orlando; Raleigh; Tampa; Washington, D.C.

Additional departures are available from 30+ U.S. cities from +$100.

When to go:  Depart on select dates in November 2024–March 2025. Dates vary by city; see partner's  website   for more details. 

Customize your trip:   Upgrade your hotels or extend your trip by up to 3 nights. You can also upgrade to a panoramic train or add a full-day tour of the Sacred Valley.

Additional itineraries:  This offer is part of a larger sale to the region. Go on a  7-night tour  that visits Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lima. Hike the Inca Trail and Vinicunca (aka "Rainbow Mountain") on this  10-night trip . Visit Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Colca Canyon, the second-deepest canyon in the world, on an  11-night vacation . Or, embark on a  17-night adventure  that also visits Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon.

Save on your next trip:   Book by Aug. 31 to receive a travel credit of up to $3000 to use over the next three years; see partner's website  for more details and conditions.

Book by Sept. 11.

at 10:10 AM CT on Aug 28

When You Can Go

November 2024–March 2025

Up to $1500 vs. similar trips

More Deals & Tips

• Trending Deals
• Last-Minute Deals

How to Book

• Monday–Sunday: 24 hours

Mention  Travelzoo  and the following vacation codes when calling: 7 nights ( 7452 ), 9 nights ( 6948 ), 10 nights ( 18664 ), 11 nights ( 16528 ), and 17 nights ( 9461 ).

Your location

Where are you.

Create an account.

Just one more thing..., check your inbox., create your password..

• Access to exclusive travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences
• Hand-picked offers, personally reviewed by our global team of deal experts, delivered to your inbox
• Dedicated club-member customer support

Sign in to your account.

Enter your password.

Please accept this confidentiality pledge:

I agree to maintain the strict confidentiality required to access Travelzoo’s confidential offers. I will not reveal details of these confidential offers publicly, which includes not posting about it on social media. I will not attempt to purchase a confidential offer for anyone else. I understand that violating these conditions can result in my access being revoked.

To view confidential offers, we require that you sign a confidentiality agreement.

Don’t know password?

You're all set, join travelzoo, sign in to unlock, don't miss out, our deal experts have negotiated member exclusive rates for people like you., and you’re in..

Welcome, Travelzoo Member . You now have access to confidential offers. To access Confidential Offers in the future, you can use the link from your email, or the link under My Account on the Travelzoo website. This page is only accessible to Confidential Offer members.

You now have access to all our deals.

Here are the details of the deal you were interested in.

Sign in to save and manage your deal alerts

Sign in to save this deal to favorites., already a member, not a member yet, save this deal to your favorites.

Two Week Peru Itinerary: Planning an Amazing Trip from the Andes to the Amazon

By: Author Rob Taylor

Posted on Published: May 23, 2024  - Last updated: August 19, 2024

Save this two week Peru itinerary for your first trip to this amazing country! We had an unforgettable experience in Peru, from Lima to the Andes to the desert to the Amazon. This Peru itinerary is doable with kids, or just adults, but it all depends on what you want to see most and how much time you have for your Peru trip.

For us, we built out this two week Peru itinerary based on the things our kids had researched and told us were most important to them. I’ve got to say, they hit the nail on the head for what us adults were interested in too. Running with their list, I built our whole itinerary and where we stayed to make sure we had the best time, enjoying the most interesting experiences possible for two weeks in Peru.

If you have any questions about logistics, our Peru itinerary and how to adjust it, or want to leave your own tips for how to have an incredible experience, please leave a comment or send us a note . We’re always happy to share more!

Join us for a Peruvian Amazon group trip! (Nov 2024, Mar 2025)

Getting to Peru from the USA

I was surprised how easy it was to get from the USA to Peru for our trip. If you have a USA passport you don’t need a visa and Peru customs is very easy to go through. Be sure that you have at least 6 months of validity left on your passport and that you’re ready to say exactly where you’re going, where you’re staying and when you’re leaving. That should be good to get through customs swiftly. You can visit for up to 183 days.

Other nationalities that don’t require visas include:

• All South American nations except Venezuela
• Canada and Mexico
• Most central American and Caribbean nations
• South Africa
• All EU countries plus Britain, Norway, Belarus and Russia

Visa entry or not, you do need to be able to prove you’re going to leave Peru at some point. “Continuing travel” is very important to be able to communicate or prove when you go through customs. A lot of people who are doing slow travel for their Peru trip will pop into Bolivia to the south to refresh their visitation clock. This is NOT an option for USA passport holders as Bolivia requires a visa for US citizens (but not most others).

To fly to Lima from the USA, you have a few options:

• Miami, Florida – MIA and FLL
• Los Angeles, California – LAX
• New York City, New York – JFK and EWR
• Houston, Texas – IAH
• Atlanta, Georgia – ATL

You’ll be surprised how inexpensive flights to Lima are, including the mileage exchange deals you can get from the USA to Peru. Listen to our podcast episodes about Using Points for Travel or Mastering the American Airlines Loyalty Program

Regions to Visit in Peru

Peru is a pretty large country, which includes 80+ of the 126 microclimates on earth. Visiting Peru means seeing the full spectrum of landscapes and ecosystems, whether you’re into science or not. There are six main areas visitors for the first time in Peru might plan on visiting:

• Lima – the capital city and historic center
• The Andes Mountains – Cusco / Machu Picchu / Sacred Valley
• The Andes Mountains South – Lake Titicaca / Arequipa / Colca Canyon
• Ica – Paracas / Ballestas Islands / Ica
• Southern Peru – Nazca Lines / Atacama Desert
• The Amazon – both the Jungle and the River itself

For a first time Peru trip, I would actually recommend keeping it simple and sticking close to sea level. The elevation of Cusco and the Sacred Valley really does have an impact on visitors, especially ones who live at sea level. We’re well traveled, healthy, and pretty resilient, but the altitude sickness hit us so hard that we were fairly miserable for most of our time in the Andes. We were careful and thoughtful, but still suffered intense vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and absolute fatigue. We actually changed our plans to get back to sea level ASAP because it was so intense. Just keep this in mind as you plan your first trip to Peru. Check out our tips for Preventing Altitude Sickness

Planning a Peru Trip Podcast Episode

We have several Peru podcast episodes including All About the Andes; Peru at Sea Level – Lima, the Desert and Islands; and the Peruvian Amazon! In our Peru trip planning podcast episode :

• Our transportation throughout Peru
• Itinerary highlights from Machu Picchu to seeing penguins and monkeys
• Tips for making the most of your Peru trip

Travel Within Peru

When building our Peru itinerary, travel within the country was the thing that was the most confusing to me initially. You can look at things on a map until the cows come home, but understanding the logistics of getting from place to place is a whole other thing. Before building our travel plan we’d heard about trains and a great bus system… Yeah, no. Those options are very limited and specific, and not a national thing.

There is NOT a train network in Peru. There is a train between Machu Picchu town, aka Aguas Calientes, and Ollantaytambo, or the train goes all the way to Cusco in the dry season. You cannot travel from Lima to Cusco or Pisco via train. The train to Machu Picchu town is awesome though, and you’ll love the scenery and experience as a part of your Peru trip.

Get train tickets to Machu Picchu!

There’s also not an extensive bus system to go beyond Lima, but you can book tour bus passes from Lima up into the Andes, to Arequipa and Cusco. Buses will get you where you need to go with some extra time, but it’s not just a simple bus ride on an afternoon. This is the way to go to slowly, working your way up in elevation, but it’s not a convenient, time-saving sort of transportation.

Get bus tickets from Lima -> Cusco

The regular visitor to Peru probably will need to fly between destinations, or get a rental car. Driving in Peru isn’t weird or scary, but driving in Lima is an absolute nightmare. Between the intense traffic and the aggressive blinker-less road rage, it’s one big anxiety attack. Once you’re on the PanAmerican Highway though, it’s smooth sailing and one of the best roads we’ve driven anywhere in the world. Driving to Arequipa, Cusco or Ollantaytambo is not bad, so if you’re comfortable and confident, go for it.

When it comes to flying, getting to Peru is easy (see above) and once here you’ll be surprised at the ease of travel. From Lima, you can easily fly to Iquitos (the Amazon), Cusco (Machu Picchu/Sacred Valley), Arequipa (colonial area/Colca Canyon), Chiclayo (northern coast), Juliaca (Lake Titicaca) and more. LATAM flights are consistent and are inexpensive for regional travel. You will pay more than a bus ticket, but you will save whole days in travel, allowing you more specific experiences that transportation during your Peru trip.

See regional Peru flights on LATAM

Need to Know to Visit Peru

There are a few things to know before you visit Peru, just because it really is different than the USA or Canada. If you’ve traveled in South or Central America, this might not seem unusual to you, but if this is a first for you, pay attention:

• The money is the Sol or Soles (multiple; said “sole-ais”) – it’s about 4 soles per US dollar (Spring 2024 exchange rate)
• The primary language is Spanish, with Quechua being second, and then a lot of people working in tourism speak English. If you ALWAYS attempt to use Spanish as best as you can before just speaking English, as that’s most polite and sets you up for the most successful conversation.
• When you use a toilet in Peru, any paper does NOT go into the toilet. There are trash cans by toilets for the waste paper, no matter how you think it’s just fine to flush it.
• Wherever you go, you should always bring your own TP. Yes, it is sometimes provided but also more often than not there will not be toilet paper in public restrooms, even when you pay the common 2 soles to use the restroom.
• There are LOTS of potatoes in Peru no matter what region you’re in. You’ll get to try lots of different potato varieties and preparations, so even if you’re not into potatoes, keep an open mind.

I’m sure there are more helpful things to keep in mind before visiting Peru, but these are the things that really stand out to me as unique and important for a great Peru trip.

Two Week Peru Itinerary

Now it’s time to get into our two week Peru itinerary. We’ve got a great plan that includes the Andes Mountains, Lima, the desert coast, and the Amazon rainforest. You’ll love it! As you look at our Peru itinerary and start planning, keep in mind that if you can add four more days, you can take your time ascending up into the Andes, which will be very helpful to acclimate.

Begin in Lima, Peru

Since you’ll be flying into Lima, Peru from nearly anywhere you’re starting, you should plan to spend a few days exploring Lima. It’s a really cool city with lots of history and beautiful buildings, so you’ll enjoy having time here to get used to being in Peru. I don’t recommend getting a rental car for your time in Lima, as driving here is a stressful and horrifying experience (worse than Mexico, France or Croatia), but you can easily use Uber to get wherever you need.

Historic Lima Sightseeing

Lima has more people than New York City , so keep that in mind as you’re exploring. The historic core is less densely populated, but still crowded. We visited during Semana Santa (Easter week) and it was so very busy, with long lines to get into the historic churches. Any other time of year you should have no problem visiting historic religious sites throughout the day, but during Easter and Christmas you’ll see that the areas directly surrounding the famous churches are very crowded. Plan your Peru trip to fall just before or after major religious holidays.

How can you get around the issues with crowds? If you book a walking tour, many of the guides have the correct license to be able to detour away from crowds and enter churches that are a part of their tour, including the Cathedral of St Francis where you’ll find the catacombs. You can visit places like the Plaza Mayor or Hotel Bolivar on your own, and the churches too, but it’s much easier with a guide.

We did a historic walking tour of Lima with Lima Experience. Our guide, Joseph, was great and spoke excellent English. He was able to field questions from the kids and explain so much of what makes Lima and Peru the interesting, diverse place that it is today.

Book this exact tour!

If there’s one museum you must visit in Lima, it’s the Larco Museum . Not close to the historic core (a 20 minute Uber ride), the Larco Museum has the most incredible collection of Inca and pre-Inca artifacts in Lima. There is the Inka Museum in Cusco that is larger and more comprehensive with grand exhibits, but the Larco is where you’ll find golden Inca artifacts, aisles and shelves of figures and pottery, and the very unique… adult section of Incan art and artifacts. Yes, it’s what you are picturing and there are some fascinating pieces depicting all varieties of intercourse, human anatomy and birth. The Larco Museum is really a wonderful addition to your Peru trip.

Get advanced tickets for Larco Museum

Neighborhoods to Visit

The most popular neighborhoods that are good for tourists to visit in Lime include Miraflores (we stayed here), the historic downtown and Barranco neighborhoods. These are good neighborhoods for getting the vibe of life in Lima for a few reasons:

• They are more upper class residential, meaning well maintained with good pedestrian access
• There are lots of cafes and restaurants for eating Peruvian foods
• Because they’re known for being tourist friendly, they are diversely populated and welcoming
• There are parks and plazas that you can enjoy, and lots of murals around the neighborhoods.

There are more parts of Lima than these, but when it comes to being able to easily access parts of the city, these three neighborhoods are the easiest and most vibrant. I don’t recommend driving in Lima (it’s intense, as I’ve said) so taking an Uber wherever you need to go that’s not walking distance is a good idea.

Exploring the Andes Mountains

Before thinking about Lima or the Amazon, most people are excited to visit Peru to go to Machu Picchu. For many, their knowledge of Peru stops at “That’s where Machu Picchu is.” There’s so much more to the Andes than this one site. There are actually many Inca and pre-Inca sites from the mountains just south of the Amazon all the way to Lake Titicaca and into Bolivia and Chile. For our two week Peru itinerary, we are focusing on Machu Picchu and the most famous sites in the state of Cusco.

We have our Andes stops in order of how you can do them to gradually increase your elevation, so hopefully that’ll help make the experience better for you.

Listen to our Andes podcast episode to hear about our stops and activities. This part of the trip was fun, but also a struggle.

Reality of Altitude Sickness in the Andes

Most of us don’t live at high altitudes like you’ll face in the Andes mountains. We live at sea level in Florida, so aren’t used to the elevation, despite doing mountain trips throughout the year. When you visit the Peruvian Andes, the elevation ranges from 6,693 feet in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) to 12,556 feet at Puno (Lake Titicaca). If you’re visiting the famous Rainbow Mountain area, you’ll go even higher to 17,060 feet. That’s 3k feet higher than the summit of Mount Rainier !

The altitude really does have an impact on the human body, so you should be cautious as you plan your travel to the Peruvian Andes. After 5k feel you may feel like you’re huffing and puffing when you go up stairs. At 8k feet your insides feel a bit weird and have a difficult time processing food as usual. Higher than that and you become dehydrated easily in addition to the other side effects. All this can present as fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and more. We suffered headaches, fatigue and horrible vomiting and diarrhea during our time in the Andes, and we only made it as high at 12,163 feet up.

While not everyone suffers from altitude sickness , there are ways to prevent or mitigate it:

• Ascend from sea level as gradually as possible, staying a few nights at different higher elevations
• Drink LOTS of water and get solid rest
• Take it easy while you acclimate
• Eat small meals, especially as the day winds down
• Don’t drink alcohol, but DO drink coca tea and suck on coca candies
• Keep your overall Peru trip joy in mind when deciding if you want to tough out the elevation

For some travelers, there is a pill you can take called Diamox that helps acclimate to the altitude. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE, SO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. This was not an option for our family due to some medical stuff, but it may work for others. Everyone told us just to get it, but upon research and talking to our family doctor we discovered that it could be a very dangerous situation for us, so I’m glad we didn’t just jump into taking a pill without getting info from our trusted medical professional.

Visiting Machu Picchu

To start, you can either take the bus over several days from Lima up to Cusco, or you can fly into Cusco and then travel to Aguas Calientes, aka Machu Picchu Town. If you have the time to take the bus, do it! To stick with our two week Peru itinerary, you’re flying to Cusco (CUZ). With this, the best option is to immediately exit the city and make your way to Ollantaytambo to catch the train to Aguas Calientes.

Note: during the dry season of April – October you can start the train journey IN Cusco, but during the rainy season the train route is only from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes due to landslides that frequently happen during the rain. This just means you need to plan your Peru trip properly to get the train in the correct town.

For visiting Machu Picchu, you will need to get your entry tickets IN ADVANCE. Entries to the archaeological site sell out days or weeks before, so as soon as you know when you’ll be there, secure your tickets. We missed out on getting tickets for ourselves and had to book a private tour, as registered guides have access to additional entries. This turned out to be FANTASTIC as our guide, Percy with Wonders of Peru Expeditions was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and very patient with us, both for our questions and our struggles of climbing stairs at such high elevation.

Book our exact Machu Picchu tour here!

Be sure to bring water, snacks, sunblock and ponchos for visiting Machu Picchu. Once you enter the site there are no services and umbrellas are not allowed. You’ll need to be self-contained and ready to brave the elements as the weather can change quickly. If you arrive early, you have great chances of getting a beautiful day at Machu Picchu, because even if there are clouds to start, they’ll probably clear and you’ll have at least a few moments of sunshine.

Touring the Sacred Valley

I actually enjoyed our time in the Sacred Valley more than visiting Machu Picchu. This part of the Andes is one of the coolest parts of our two week Peru itinerary. Here you’ll get to see really neat, old towns built by both the Incas and pre-Inca civilizations. There are farms, rivers, plateaus, narrow cobblestone streets, and awesome people. If you choose to rent a car in Cusco and drive yourself, you can take several days exploring the Sacred Valley and really taking your time.

You can also see most of the Sacred Valley sights on a guided tour with a driver. I know, I’ve already recommended two other tours during our two week Peru itinerary, but it’s because here in the Andes and in such historic places, having a specialist who knows infinitely more than we did made each experience exceptional. For our Sacred Valley tour, we spent a very long day with Oscar from Exclusive Inka Tours. He was such a wealth of information and was great with our kids.

Book our exact Sacred Valley tour here!

The main sites to visit in the Sacred Valley include:

• Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site and town
• Moray Incan horticultural laboratory
• Salinas de Maras salt mine – amazing!
• Pisac Archaeological Site and town
• Chinchero Inca town and historic sites
• Mountain View restaurant and llamas

There are more sites to visit, including more archaeological sites, but either doing a tour to cover ⅔ of these spots or spending two days to explore the Sacred Valley on your own is wonderful and will give you a comprehensive visit. This may just be one of your favorite parts of your Peru trip.

Tip: you can purchase a multi-site ticket to cover the Peruvian archaeological park sites and get a bit of a discount. It’s time limited though, so you may need to manage yourself well to be able to get the full value of the ticket (valid 2 days for adults, 10 days for child tickets).

Cusco and More Andes Sightseeing

Cusco is the former capital of the Incan Empire and is one of the most unique cities we’ve been to. The colonial structures are built on top of Incan structures, such as churches built on top of palaces… Cusco is big and densely populated. Because the city is built into the hills and valleys, the streets zigzag their way to the valley floor. There are staircases and flood gutters everywhere, and in the historic core, the streets are tight!

While in Cusco , take it easy as it’s higher in elevation than Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes. Spend your time checking out the main historic area around the Plaza de Armas and visiting the Inca Museum, the Historical Museum of Cusco, the cathedral , the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and more. There is a really cool aqueduct, el Acueducto da Sapantiana , more Inca ruins at Saqsaywaman , Q’enco and others. Cusco is really cool and you can easily spend three or four days here. Before arriving we didn’t realize just how many ruins and archeological sites in Cusco you can visit.

Note: we had to cut our time in the Andes short and skipped most of Cusco because we were suffering from altitude sickness so badly. In any scenario, it’s okay to adjust your travel plans if you’re physically suffering and need to move on. Don’t feel bad about it.

More Andes destinations to add if you have time and are feeling good:

• Puno (highest Andes) and Lake Titicaca
• Rainbow Mountain / Montana Vinikunka
• Colca Canyon for the Andean condors
• Arequipa (low Andes) – for a longer trip to sea level or onto Bolivia

Ica – Where Desert Meets Sea

Never have I ever… been so excited to be back at sea level. After an intense week in the Andes, being back at sea level was such a welcome change. We immediately felt better upon landing in Lima and driving to the state of Ica. Getting out of Lima takes at least an hour (remember, it has more people than New York City) but then once you’re on the Panamerican Highway it’s driving bliss!

Note: ALWAYS DRIVE WITH YOUR LIGHTS ON. You will get pulled over or held back at a checkpoint and ticketed if you don’t have your lights on. We got pulled over and were being cited for 1300 soles… and then the police officer offered us a cash discount on the ticket if we could pay on the spot. Yes, exactly what you’re thinking – IF WE GIVE THE OFFICER CASH WE WON’T GET A TICKET. It was a bribe. Good times.

As your using out two week Peru itinerary, this is a great part of the trip to add time, particularly if you cut some time from the Andes. The Ica region is awesome and NOT what you’re expecting to find during your Peru trip!

Listen to our Peru Itinerary Planning podcast episode to hear about Ica and how we scheduled our time.

Paracas – Peru Beach Days

I love Paracas! Of all the towns and cities in Peru that we visited, Paracas was my favorite. Maybe it’s because we live in a beach town or maybe because for me it’s nostalgic of Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Morelos in Mexico , but I loved it. The town is full of small restaurants, ceviche and cafes. There are Peruvian coffee shops and little markets. The waterfront has a promenade and a beach.

Visiting Paracas is a complete vibe change over the Andes or Lima. It’s a breath of fresh air and relaxation. While it isn’t as built up and fancy as most Mexican beach towns, Paracas is well maintained with lots of beautiful murals and shops. And it’s home to the largest inflatable water park in South America. Yes, you read that correctly.

We usually opt for historic sites and nature over any sort of modern or kitschy activity, but after a week in the Andes and still being in recovery mode, when we walked onto the beach and saw Yakupark (an inflatable water park / giant obstacle course) we decided it would be good to just do it and chill. The kids had the best time and needed this sort of wild and fun activity.

Why are most people coming to Paracas, Peru though? For the PENGUINS!!! (keep reading)

Ballestas Islands

Just off the coast of Paracas is one of my favorite wildlife sites on earth. I geek out over birds and other animals, so getting to visit the Ballestas Islands was a Peru trip highlight for me. Part of the Peruvian national parks system, the islands are a preserve and people aren’t allowed on them anymore, except for research purposes. So how do you actually visit the Ballestas Islands?

Book our exact Ballestas / Paracas Reserve tour here!

From the pier in Paracas you’ll board a tour boat (there are several companies) and head out to sea. You’ll see the fascinating landmark, La Candelabra, in the dunes as you make your way to the islands, and then as you approach you’ll start to see sea lions. Once there, it’s time to start wildlife watching. For us, the highlight was the humboldt penguins. We saw penguins in the wild!!

Here’s what to watch for when you do the boat tour to the Ballestas Islands:

• Humboldt penguins
• Lobos marinos aka the Southern sea lion
• Gray boobies
• Peruvian pelicans and more

For the kids, their favorite part was actually visiting Maternity Beach. This part of the Ballestas Islands is where the sea lion colony has its babies and there are hundreds of animals on the shore and in the water. There were countless baby sea lions and it was adorable.

Paracas National Reserve

I had no idea how cool the Paracas National Reserve was going to be. I had seen photos but pictures never really do justice for certain places. The desert as it meets the ocean, both as beaches and sea cliffs is just amazing. Vast expanses of sand dunes with zero vegetation and seemingly no wildlife is really something to take in. It’s fun to explore though, as there are quite a few interesting sites to visit within the Paracas National Reserve.

Oh, and there are flamingos! I know! Pair a visit to the Paracas National Reserve on the same day with the Ballestas Islands and you’ll get to have a day that includes both flamingos and penguins on your Peru trip. Something that really wowed me about this area was how untouched it seems, and perhaps that’s just the nature of the desert, but it was very unique to experience.

Add the Paracas National Reserve to your two weeks in Peru itinerary to get in some quality beach time. There are beaches here, both for viewing AND for swimming. While you’re not permitted to swim at the red sand beach or the beaches at Cathedral Rock, Playa La Mina is awesome with wonderfully clear water and perfect small waves. There is a fee to use the beach even if you’ve already paid entry to the National Reserve, so have a few soles ready.

Tip: if you’re limited for time, you can book a tour that covers both the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas National Reserve in the same day. This tour includes both areas.

Visiting Ica and Huacachina Oasis

To add onto your time in Paracas, head to Ica. Ica is a larger city with a historic core and great restaurants. It’s half the size of Cusco with about 283k residents. There are a few cool museums, in particular El Museo de Javier Cabrera where you can see countless etched/carved glyphtoliths from pre-Inca times. Ica has historic sites, a cool old cathedral and more.

Just outside of the city is why most tourists head to Ica: the Huacachina Oasis! This is a natural oasis in the desert and it’s beautiful. It’s built up around the edge now, so there are hotels and restaurants, but the phenomenon of the oasis is still very cool and unique. If you tell somebody that you’re heading to Huacachina, no doubt they’ll say “Ooh, are you going sand boarding?!” Sand boarding is a very popular thing to do when you visit Huacachina. It’s just what it sounds like: snowboarding but on sand dunes. If this is on your Peru to-do list, we recommend booking a tour to visit Huacachina so you can enjoy the experience with a guide and the proper gear.

Find a Huacachina tour here!

When you’re done visiting Paracas and Ica, it’s time to head back north to Lima to continue on with your two week Peru trip.  I think this part of the trip really is a great way to feel refreshed after the Andes mountains, and you’ll be able to head to the Amazon with lots of energy and excitement!

The Amazon River and Rainforest

Our time in the Amazon rainforest was amazing! This was all of our favorite part of our two weeks in Peru. A lot of people think of visiting the Amazon as being something you do when you go to Brazil, but it’s actually very easy to do in Peru and there are lots of wonderful options for how to go about it.

Join us on a group trip to the Peruvian Amazon!

We really enjoyed exploring the Amazon river and rainforest. It was the best part of our Peru trip. Be sure to listen to our podcast episode all about it !

Getting to the Amazon

To get to the Amazon from Lima or anywhere else in Peru, the easiest way is to fly to Iquitos. You cannot drive to Iquitos, Peru, but must either fly or arrive via boat on the Amazon river. To fly to Iquitos, you have to leave from Lima. There are some small regional flights to even smaller towns, but from anywhere a tourist might be, the only option is to go from Lima. Don’t worry, it’s a cheap flight and there are a few every day.

Iquitos is actually a large city, even if it doesn’t seem like it when you land at the tiny airport. Iquitos is larger than Cusco with nearly 500k residents in the city and surrounding area. It’s the launch point for exploring the Peruvian Amazon, including doing one of the many multi-day Amazon River cruises. For us, we were picked up from the airport by our driver from our lodge and then continued on an hour and a half drive to the town of Nauta, where we boarded a small passenger boat for a 45 minute ride south on the Amazon River, and then to our accommodations.

Activities in the Amazon Jungle

Wherever you’re staying for your Peruvian Amazon adventure, you’ll find a variety of activities. Of course the exact execution of the many adventures you’ll find in the Amazon will vary depending on where you’re staying for this part of your Peru trip or who you’re doing your daily excursions through, but you should be able to enjoy AT MINIMUM the following things to do:

• Photo safaris
• Guided bird and wildlife watching
• River cruising (day trips)
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Jungle walks / hikes
• Fishing trips (including piranhas)

Everybody has a different reason for wanting to spend time in the Amazon Rainforest, so as you’re planning your time, do what’s most important to you! For us, we were mostly excited for seeing wildlife of every sort, so we did photo safaris every day and were treated to monkeys, sloths, toucans, macaws and so much more. I can’t imagine another Peru trip without this experience!

Yes, there are mosquitos, but with some planning you’ll be able to enjoy exploring the jungle and cruising along the river without suffering. A combination of bug spray, wearing appropriate clothing to cover as much skin as possible, and even wearing mosquito net jackets can all be good ways to stay itch free. The mosquitos aren’t a problem everywhere or every time of day, but if you’re out at sunset or after, and you’re in the slower flowing parts of the Amazon tributaries or on a lake, the bugs are intense. Just be prepared and you’ll be fine.

Staying at the Treehouse Lodge

Our whole two week Peru itinerary began with us planning our adventures around getting to stay at the Treehouse Lodge in the Amazon rainforest. We had seen pictures online and watched videos of this awesome looking place, so we did more research. Staying at the Treehouse Lodge means that you have an all-inclusive experience where your meals, lodging and ALL excursions are included in your cost.

Our accommodations in our treehouse were perfect for our family of four, including a bathroom in our treehouse, seating, mosquito netting, fans, and getting to shower and watch toucans outside the window. It was wonderful, to say the least. The food was also great, with three meals each day using locally sourced food, prepared in fresh, healthy, Peruvian styles. (Alcohol is the only thing not included, but there is a bar at the Treehouse Lodge.) Across our whole two week Peru trip this was the most magical and comfortable accommodations we had.

Our daily excursions were amazing. We had our own dedicated guide and river captain, Edgar and Roger. They took great care of us and made sure that we saw the absolute most wildlife and habits that we could in the Amazon Rainforest. We went out at sunrise, morning, midday and sunset. We went fishing multiple times and saw more monkeys and sloths than we could keep track of. Our experience was unmatched in any travel we’ve ever done.

Are you excited to plan a two week Peru trip?! You should be. This itinerary really is solid for having diverse experiences no matter what your interests or travel chops lead you to. Peru is fun, beautiful and unlike what you expect. Please, if you have any questions about either this two week Peru itinerary, planning your trip, or if you want to join us on an upcoming Peruvian Amazon adventure , leave a comment or send us a note . We’re happy to help!

The 10 best experiences you can have in Peru

Nov 8, 2023 • 6 min read

From hiking the Inca Trail to surfing on the north coast, here are the best experiences in Peru © Cavan Images / Getty Images

Peru may be known as one of the cradles of ancient civilization, but its topography also makes it a wonderland of adventure.

The icy mountain peaks of the Andes draw trekkers and climbers, the untamed desert coast is lapped by world-class waves for surfers and for explorers, there’s the Amazon – a vast mass of wetlands and rainforest brimming with monkeys, macaws and slinky, rare felines.

Gear up – Peru is a wild ride! Make the most of your trip with our guide to the country's very best experiences.

1. Hike the Inca Trail

A winding footpath climbs from the depths of the Urubamba Valley , through vaporous cloud forests, alongside the ruins of ancient way stations. For the Incas, this roadway was the main entry point to the exquisite estate of Machu Picchu .

For the thousands of travelers who hike the trail every year, it is a pilgrimage – a rugged four-day trek through sumptuous scenery and the final stop is the most spectacular archaeological site in Peru.

Planning tip:  If planning to go during high season (June to September) be sure to purchase your entry ticket to the Inca citadel online and in advance, as waiting to do so in person can run the risk of tickets being sold out.

2. Spend a night on an island in Lake Titicaca

According to Andean belief, Lake Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun. Lay your eyes on the sapphire-colored waters of South America’s largest lake and it’s hard not to feel a certain magic.

Spending the night on one of the floating islands is the best way to experience this place – life in its small rural settlements is lived according to the rhythm of the seasons. The best part? Sunset, surrounded by the lake’s gleaming waters.

3. Kayak through the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon Basin is known for its intense biodiversity and riotous rainforest wilderness. Parque Nacional Manu protects one of its wildest, most remote corners.

Located at the watershed of the Rio Manu, one of the many tributaries that eventually leads to the Amazon River, this wet web of rivers is a feast for wildlife spotting – from tapirs to ocelots to flocks of brilliant, cackling macaws.

Planning tip: Keep in mind that visiting during the high water season (December to May) provides more possibilities to navigate through small tributaries by kayak, whereas the low water season (June to November) is ideal for trekking through the rainforest.

4. Trek the Andes

The Cordillera Blanca , a majestic mountain range at the heart of Peru, can make the most devoted couch potato want to strap on a pack and go.

A network of craggy peaks covered in dollops of gleaming white snow draws dedicated high-altitude trekkers who wind through alpine lakes and diminutive Andean villages. If the altitude doesn’t take your breath away, the vistas certainly will.

Planning tip:  From Lima , take an eight-hour bus ride to the mountain town of  Huaraz – spending a night or two here will help you adjust to the elevation. You’ll find plenty of guides offering treks around the Cordillera Blanca of all lengths and levels of difficulty. Whether it’s the Laguna 69-day hike starting in Cebollapampa, the popular four-day Santa Cruz trek, or the grueling week-long Alpamayo Base Camp trek (both starting in Vaqueria), all of the options are scenic adventures.

5. Look for wildlife on Islas Ballestas

Off the Paracas Peninsula , on the country’s southern coast, the small rocky outcroppings known as the Islas Ballestas don’t look like much from a distance. But hop in a boat and you’ll see an array of wildlife: honking sea lions, preening Humboldt penguins and colonies of Peruvian boobies.

The islands are known as the "poor person’s Galápagos " with good reason – they're spectacular but won't break your budget. On your way back to shore – surely to lunch on ceviche or parihuela (a seafood soup) – ponder the mysterious El Candelabro geoglyph whose origins and meaning are still unknown.

6. Descend into the majestic Cañón Del Colca

The Cañón Del Colca , a four-hour drive from  Arequipa , is a wonderland of Andean panoramas: a deep canyon studded with idyllic villages and mountainsides carved by ancient terraces. Oh, and did we mention the condors that soar on the wind currents?

From Chivay, visitors can explore the canyon on short day hikes or even trek to its floor (some 1219m/4000ft down from the trailhead) and back up again before nightfall. However, it’s recommended to soak in the scenery (and perhaps the hot springs) over the course of a few days.

Planning tip: There’s one thing no traveler should miss while here – the local delicacy known as chupe de camarones , a spicy shrimp bisque.

7. Go surfing along the north coast

Peru’s lengthy coastline – more than 3000km (1864 miles) long – offers a veritable buffet of experiences for the surfing set, with big swells and uncrowded breaks.

For the best curls, wave riders head north up the coast from Lima to the languid settlements of Huanchaco and Chicama, both of which lie just outside of Trujillo (an hour-long flight or an eight-hour bus ride from Lima).

Planning tip:  For guaranteed sun, take it further north to Máncora , where surf, seafood, and the slow pace of life go perfectly together.

8. Visit the mysterious ruins of Kuélap

The Andes are dotted with the remnants of ancient cities. Kuélap ranks among the most magnificent – a walled citadel built by the Chachapoyas people on the crest of a mountain in the northern Peruvian cloud forest.

The views of the Utcubamba Valley are staggering, the ruins are unusual and the journey here through timeless rural settlements is unforgettable.

Planning tip:  There are three options to get to the top of Kuélap – by car (a two-hour drive from Chachapoyas), by foot (a six-hour trek round trip, beginning in Tingo Viejo), or a 20-minute cable car ride.

9. Board down the giant sand dunes of Huacachina

Huacachina , a tiny oasis in the southern Peruvian desert, offers one of the country’s more unusual adrenaline rushes – the opportunity to motor to the top of a dune the size of a small building, strap on a board, then fly down the face of a towering wall of sand.

Not up for boarding? Take on the dunes in a buggy instead. Sitting at any of the bars or restaurants that line the lagoon may be your chance to hear of mermaids, Inca princesses and forlorn lovers – all featured in the local legend of Huacachina's origins.

10. Soar over the ancient Nazca Lines

One of the earth’s greatest mysteries sits quietly on the arid Peruvian coast. The  Nazca Lines  consist of more than 70 ancient glyphs of animals and other shapes that are so big they can only be seen from the air. No one knows their purpose.

For an incredible out-of-body experience, soar in a light aircraft over these pre-Columbian pictograms in the early morning hours.

This article was first published Jun 26, 2019 and updated Nov 8, 2023.

Explore related stories

Aug 27, 2024 • 8 min read

You don’t have to stop traveling just because the year is ending. October is one of the best times for many epic adventures.

Jun 11, 2024 • 5 min read

Nov 10, 2023 • 9 min read

Nov 9, 2023 • 6 min read

Sep 1, 2023 • 7 min read

Aug 30, 2023 • 4 min read

Aug 17, 2023 • 11 min read

Jan 2, 2023 • 12 min read

Apr 21, 2022 • 7 min read

Apr 7, 2022 • 6 min read

South America

Middle East

Central America & Caribbean

Bosnia and Herzegovina

North America

Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Czech Republic

Dominican Republic

Netherlands

New Zealand

North Macedonia

Philippines

Saint Lucia

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

South Korea

Switzerland

Trinidad And Tobago

Turkmenistan

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States

• How It Works
• Destinations
• Sustainability
• Travel Stories
• Design My Trip

Discover Peru

Let our experts bring your dream trip to life

Travel with Confidence  Guarantee

Our Guarantees Ensure Peace of Mind | 

100% Satisfaction Guarantee | Flexible Booking | Financially Protected | 

We connect you with the best local experts in Peru to tailor your dream adventure

Trip planning is made simple & enjoyable.

Share all the details of your Peru dream trip

Get matched with a Peru local expert to plan and book your trip

Embark on your journey and enjoy 24/7 concierge support

Give back to the planet by offsetting your carbon footprint

Curated, licensed and insured destination experts with access to the impossible

Get inspired to go to peru.

Explore on your own terms. Customize trips designed by our local experts.

Why choose Baboo?

It’s easy! You plan less but explore more.

Ease the Stress, Let us Handle the Hard Work

People spend an average of 40 hours on trip planning. Eww. We simplify the process to get you from idea to take off.

Tailor-Made Travel Made Simple

Experience a hassle-free adventure including lodging, transportation, local experiences, guides, and a 24-hour on-trip concierge.

Unlock the World’s Secrets

Discover the world's best-kept secrets and go on off-the-beaten-path experiences you won't find in guidebooks.

Fair & Ethical Pricing

We go directly to the local source, so our prices don’t include any additional middlemen fees, and we make sure that 87% of your money stays in the destination.

We’re here to do good

Let's make a positive impact on the world, one amazing trip at a time!   We offset 110% of your carbon footprint and contribute 20% of profits to social and environmental projects.  We're wild about animal welfare and conservation, and team up with curated local partners who share our passion.

Peru Travel Stories

Unique travel insights and tips to inspire and make sure you have the best trip.

Unlock the secrets of Peru

© 2024 Baboo · Privacy · Terms

T he Grea t Ou t doors

Water Bodies

The Birds Paradise

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates (vertebrates have backbones) and are the only animals with feathers. Although all birds have wings, a few species can't fly.

Learn more about your favorite birds !

Mallard Ducks

You'll find mallard ducks near ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes, where they feed on plants, invertebrates, fish, and insects. Mallards are dabbling, or surface feeding, ducks because they eat by tipping underwater for food head down, feet and tail in the air rather than diving.Mallards also forage and graze for food on land.

Common Name: Mallard Duck

Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos

Location: North America and Eurasia

Life Span: 5 to 10 years

Fact: Mallards swim with their tail held above the water.

The male mallard duck, called a drake, sports a glossy green head, a white ring around its neck and a rich, chestnut-brown breast. The mottled brown female mallard looks downright dull next to the male's showy feathers.

The mallard duck's outer feathers are waterproof, thanks to oil that’s secreted from a gland near the tail. Beneath this tightly packed waterproof layer of feathers lies a soft, warm layer of feathers called down. Twice a year, mallards molt, or shed, their flight feathers, temporarily grounding the birds for several weeks until the feathers grow back.

Mallards fly in groups called flocks. Like most migratory birds, mallards fly in the famous V formation. During winter migration, mallards fly south in search of warm weather, often resting at the same spots year after year. Migrating mallards can travel great distances, relying on rivers, coasts, and valleys to find their way.

A female mallard lays up to a dozen eggs in nests on the ground near water, often in a small depression or tree hole. She lines the nest with warm down plucked from her undercoat. Soon after birth, baby ducks, called ducklings, open their eyes. A little more than a day after hatching, ducklings can run, swim, and forage for food on their own. They stay in the nest for less than a month. A group of ducklings is called a brood. Outside the nest, the brood sticks close by the mother for safety, often following behind her in a neat, single-file line.

Fiordland Penguin

These seabirds are known for their wild look and sound—no wonder they're sometimes called the rock stars of the penguin world.Many penguins thrive in freezing conditions. They shrug off subzero winds, belly-surf over glaciers, and swim underneath ice.

Common Name: Fiordland Penguin

Scientific Name: Eudyptes pachyrhynchus

Location: New Zealand

Life Span: 10 to 20 years

Fact: Fiordland penguins have white stripes on their cheeks that flare out when they feel threatened.

But not Fiordland penguins. Also known as Fiordland crested penguins or tawakis, these birds live in the rainforests of New Zealand. With their distinctive plumage, unusual squawks, and hard-to-find cave nests, tawakis stand out from their fellow black-and-white relatives.

Tawakis spend so much time in the ocean that barnacles—tiny, sticky crustaceans that often latch on to whales attach themselves to tawakis' tails, too! Fiordland penguins often lay two eggs at a time, but only one chick usually survives.

Waddling across an ice-covered colony? No thanks! Temperatures in the temperate, or mild, rainforests of southwest New Zealand can hit a toasty 70°F. That's why Fiordland penguins can be smaller they don't need to hold in as much body heat as larger penguins that live in Antarctica. They also have fewer, less dense feathers than penguins that live on the ice and need heavy plumage to keep them warm.

Other crested penguin species such as rockhoppers breed with their nests squeezed close together in colonies of thousands. But Fiordland penguins lay their eggs in isolated caves, bushes, and tree stumps. The birds aren't just being unfriendly: It rains a lot where they live in New Zealand, and tawakis prefer to be tucked away. Secretive spots also provide protection from humans, who used to hunt the birds for meat. No wonder Fiordland penguins like to stay out of sight!

Blue-Footed Booby

During the mating season, male blue-footed boobies strut around with exaggerated movements that show off their fabulous blue feet. Females tend to pick the males with the bluest feet as their mates.Blue-footed boobies sleep at night, generally on land, and feed at sea during the day. Sometimes boobies feed in a group. They often fly far out to sea to look for their prey—small fish such as anchovies.

Common Name: Blue-Footed Booby

Scientific Name: Sula nebouxii

Location: Along the Eastern Pacific coastline.

Life Span: 17 years

Fact: Blue-Footed Booby are seabirds that are recognized by their bright blue feet.

The birds either zip underwater for fish from a floating position on the water's surface or make awesome dives from as high as 80 feet (24 meters) in the air. Once it spots a school of fish, the bird folds those wings back, becoming a streamlined, torpedo-shaped predator. The booby dives into the water among the school of fish, using its long beak to grab dinner.

Parents take care of their chicks feeding and protecting them—until they're about two months old. At that point, young boobies can survive on their own.

During courtship, the male Blue-Footed Booby performs a unique dance, lifting its bright blue feet high in the air and strutting around the female. The female chooses her mate based on the brightness of his feet and the quality of his dance moves! Blue-Footed Boobies are expert divers, plunging into the ocean from heights of up to 100 feet (30 meters) to catch fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Blue-Footed Boobies have a specialized gland located above their tail called the "salt gland," which helps to excrete excess salt from their bodies, allowing them to drink seawater and stay hydrated in coastal environments. They also have a unique feather structure that allows them to maintain a layer of air next to their skin, keeping them warm in cold water. Furthermore, Blue-Footed Boobies are known to be quite vocal, using a variety of calls to communicate with each other, including a distinctive "ka-ka-kah" sound used for contact calls and a loud "aa-aa-aa" sound used for alarm calls. Overall, the Blue-Footed Booby is an fascinating bird with many unique adaptations and behaviors!

When you see a snowy owl, it's clear how the bird probably got its name: they're snow-white. Males are generally whiter than females. As males grow older, they get whiter. The females never become completely white remaining brownish with darker markings.

Common Name: Snowy Owl

Scientific Name: Bubo scandiaca

Location: Snowy Owl mainly live in the Arctic in open, treeless areas called tundra.

Life Span: 10 years

Fact: Their feet are covered with feathers, like fluffy slippers.

These large owls mainly live in the Arctic in open, treeless areas called tundra. Snowy owls perch on the ground or on short posts. From there they patiently watch for prey. Their favorite target is lemmings—small mouselike rodents—but they also hunt for other small rodents, rabbits, birds, and fish.

Snowy owls have excellent eyesight, but they obviously can't see their prey when it's underneath snow or a thick layer of plants. To capture those meals, the owl relies on its other keen sense: hearing.

In flight, snowy owls generally cruise low to the ground. Once they spot their prey, they approach it from the air, and snatch it up using the large, sharp talons, or claws, on their feet.Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is active during the day, especially in the summertime. They tend to be most active at dawn and dusk.Snowy owl pairs usually mate for life. Female snowy owls lay from 3 to 11 eggs at a time, in a nest built on the ground. When there is plenty of food available, snowy owls tend to lay more eggs than when food is scarce. Lemmings make up the main part of the snowy owls' diet, and lemming population numbers rise and fall naturally. Sometimes, if there is not enough prey around to feed baby owls, the adult pair won't lay any eggs at all until the supply of food improves.

The female snowy owl sits on her eggs until they hatch. The male feeds her while she keeps their eggs warm and safe. After about one month, the eggs hatch. Babies are covered in soft white down when they hatch. As new feathers replace the down, the birds become light brown. The young leave the nest less than a month after they hatch. By the time they're about a month and a half old, the young owls can fly well, but their parents take care of them for another ten weeks or more.

Pileated Woodpecker

The pileated woodpecker is one of the largest woodpecker species in North America and its look is unmistakable—a large black bird with white on each side of its neck and a red crest on its head. When it flies, white flashes are visible under its wings.

Common Name: Pileated Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus

Location: The southern half of Canada, throughout the eastern United States, and along parts of the Pacific Coast and northern Rockies

Life Span: 12 years

Fact: The Pileated Woodpecker has a loud, far-carrying call that sounds like a laugh: "kuk-kuk-kuk" or "kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk.

The sound of the pileated woodpecker's hammering carries a long distance through the woods where they live. They drum to attract mates and to establish the boundaries of their territory—warning other males away.

They use their beaks to peck and dig under bark to find carpenter ants, beetle larvae, and other insects and will often dig large, rectangular holes in trees to uncover their meals. Some holes are so big that they weaken small, young trees. The birds also strip pieces of bark from trees looking for food. Generally, however, pileated woodpeckers help keep a forest healthy by eating wood-boring insects.

A nesting pair of pileated woodpeckers usually makes a nesting hole in a large, older tree. During the day, both parents take turns incubating, or sitting on, the eggs to keep them warm. At night, only the male incubates the eggs.They generally lay four eggs at a time, which take about two weeks to hatch.

Both parents incubate eggs for about 16 days, and the young leave the nest after 24-28 days.In addition to insects, they also eat sap, nuts, and fruits, particularly in winter when insects are scarce.Adults have few natural predators, but young and eggs are vulnerable to snakes, raccoons, and other predators.

Peregrine Falcon

Swoosh! A peregrine falcon can dive up to 200 miles (323 kilometers) an hour to capture prey in flight, striking in midair with its outstretched talons, or claws. Peregrines usually hunt with either a swift chase or a fast dive. Starlings, pigeons, and doves are among their favorite meals.

Common Name: Peregrine Falcon

Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus

Location: Every continent except Antarctica and many oceanic islands.

Life Span: Up to 17 years

Fact: When they enter a hunting dive called a stoop, they can reach up to 200 to 240 miles per hour..

A common bird of prey (a group of hunting birds that includes such birds as hawks and eagles), the peregrine is an adaptable falcon that can be found in almost any habitat. Peregrines live from cold tundra to hot deserts, from sea level to high in the mountains. Their adaptability even allows them to thrive in cities. They live in a greater variety of habitats than almost any other bird of prey. Some peregrine falcons migrate in the winter from their nesting grounds in the Arctic all the way to South America—a round-trip distance of up to 15,500 miles (24,945 kilometers). They make the return trip north when it's time to mate and lay eggs.

Peregrines don't build nests. They usually just find a shallow dip in some rocks or scrape a depression in the soil on the ledge of a cliff, or even use the ledge of a building. Female peregrines lay two to four eggs at a time. Parents incubate the eggs for about a month until the eggs hatch. Peregrine chicks stay in the nest for up to six weeks, by which time they've learned to fly.

Peregrine falcons in the United States were listed as an endangered species after their numbers dropped dangerously low between the 1950s and the 1970s. Certain pesticides used by farmers—including DDT—harmed the peregrines by causing their eggshells to be dangerously thin—so fragile that they broke when the parents tried to incubate them. Laws were enacted to ban DDT and, fortunately the ban, along with other conservation efforts, led to the recovery of the species. In fact, scientists think there now may be more peregrines in some parts of their range than there ever used to be!

The Peregrine Falcon is a majestic and awe-inspiring bird of prey, renowned for its incredible speed, agility, and hunting prowess. Reaching lengths of up to 20 inches (50 cm) and weighing up to 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg), it is one of the largest falcons in the world. The Peregrine Falcon is a master of the skies, capable of reaching breathtaking speeds of up to 242 miles per hour (390 km/h) during its characteristic hunting dive, known as a stoop. This makes it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.

More Bird Facts

The Eastern Bluebird is a small bird with a bright blue back, orange chest, and white belly. They are known for their melodious song and can live up to 6-7 years in the wild.

The Humboldt Penguin is a medium-sized penguin species found in Peru and Chile, recognized by its black head and white stripes.Humboldt Penguin are excellent swimmers.

The Northern Mockingbird is a gray and white bird known for its remarkable mimicry skills. It is the state bird of five US states, including Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

The Red-Tailed Hawk is a large, dark brown hawk with a distinctive reddish-brown tail. They are skilled hunters, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, and insects.