3-week to visit the must-sees of Southern Peru

👀 You don’t want to miss anything ? You dream of the most beautiful archeological sites of Peru like Machu Picchu ? You’ve always dreamed of cruising on Lake Titicaca ? You love getting lost in the narrow streets of authentic cities and villages ? You want to experience the busy atmosphere of Lima, the Peruvian Capital ? You love adventure and breath taking nature reserves ? You also love sunbathing on white sand beaches and swimming in vibrant blue water ? You have 21 days of vacation to plan ?
Well this itinerary is perfect for you ! Go for a plane, bus and train trip and discover the singularity of Peru. 😍

Do not take what Google Maps calculated in account : plane, bus and train trip length are not correct. To book and estimate your itinerary on : https://www.busbud.com for busses, https://www.skyscanner.fr for flights, https://www.perurail.com and https://incarail.com/ for trains.

Itinerary of this three weeks to discover the must-sees of Southern Peru

Arequipa > Puno > Puerto Maldonado > Cuzco > Machu Picchu > Lima > Huaraz > Trujillo

🚗 We recommend for this itinerary to rent a car from Hertz. , It’s possible to rent it in one city and return it in another without exorbitant prices and limiting hidden costs.

📗 You want to buy a paper travel guide ? We recommend this one ! In our opinion, it is the most complete, the most visual and the most up to date !

🗺 Need a road map to prepare your itinerary ? We recommend this one, the most detailed and the most pleasant to read !

The itinerary : step by step

What to do in Arequipa ?

One of Peru’s most gorgeous city

• Get blown away on the most stunning square of the whole city, surrounded by palm trees and beautiful colonial churches. You will get a true feel of the heart of Arequipa and understand its nickname the « white city ».
• Step in the impressive Arequipa Cathedral, the largest and most important church in the city, built on volcanic white stone. For an even more interesting tour, go to the other side of the square and admire Iglesia de la Compania.
• Explore Santa Catalina Monastery, its chapels, bedrooms and kitchens will let you get an idea of what the 16th century nuns’ life was like. And everything is merry and colorful : the perfect setting for a picture.
• Meet the local celebret at the Museo Santuarios Andinos : the « Inca Ice Maiden ». Discover the corpse of a young 12 year old girl who was killed as an offering to gods in 1450.
• Peruvians also have a “Grand Canyon” : the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world with its 3270m / 10758 ft drop ! Go explore the breathtaking landscapes and observe the impressive Condor vultures fly above your heads !

What to do in Puno ?

The starting point for anyone who wants to discover lake Titicaca.

• Head to the Uros Islands, floating islands hand-built from reeds. Discover the traditional houses built with such resourcefulness !
• Get a fascinating and authentic glimpse of the indigenous culture when going to Amantani Island.
• Last island of the lake, a must-see : Taquile Island. This island is famous across the whole country for its expert weavers creating incredibly beautiful textiles. Walk along the archeological sites and enjoy the stunning view over lake Titicaca.
• You would like an even more impressive view point . Go up the top of Cerrito de Huajsapata, and you will fill your camera’s memory card up in a minute. The panoramic view over the lake and the city is exquisite. Happy ?

 

What to do in Puerto Maldonado ?

The front door to Tambopata National Park and lake Sandoval.

• In the city, relax on Plaza de Armas or stroll along the main street : Leon Velarde through the small squares, bridges and panoramic views.
• Go up the Obelisco de la biodiversidad, known as « one of the ugliest building in the world ». But you do want to gt ut that tower and get to enjoy the beautiful view over the city and its surroundings !
• For a slow exploring, go to Casa de las Mariposas (« Butterfly house » for those who don’t speak fluent Spanish). Walk through this garden and enjoy the many different butterfly species in their natural habitat. A colorful sight !
• Want to feel like Mike Horn ? Head to Tambopata park, in the middle of the Amazon. Go for a boat ride, dive in the rivers, fish, learn traditional archery or traditional médecine with a shaman. Live like a true Amazon !
• Lastly, go on an adventure to get to Lake Sandoval, in the middle of the jungle. To get there, walk between 45 min and an hour and a half (but depending on the season and the trail’s condition, it could be less of a fun trip … you know if its raining).

What to do in Cuzco ?

Former center of the Inca Empire, at the top of the Andes. 

• Visit Plaza de Armas, the city’s cultural center with restaurants, bars, coffee shops … A good excuse to take the time to get used to the altitude on a patio ! You also like cultural experiences ? Good ! Head to the impressive cathedral Cuzco, symbol of the Spanish conquest.
• You love local markets ? Head to the spectacular Mercado de San Pedro, filled with fruits, veggoes and meat. Need a little vitamin C to make away ? There are over 30 fresh juice stands !
• Do not leave without having tasted the local dishes : alpaga steak will please your taste buds ! You will also get to taste cuy, or as we call it : guinea pig.
• Do not miss Sacsayhuaman, an Inca site with a stunning view over Cuzco and the mountains. And if you struggle to pronounce that name, just think it’s kind of pronounced like « Sexy Woman ». Easy, right ?

What to do in Machu Picchu ?

Fourth Wonder of the World, at the top of the Machu Picchu mountain.

• Explore this religious site built in the 1450’s. UNESCO only alors 2500 visitors per day, between 6am and 4pm. So be sure to get your tickets before-hand otherwise you won’t be able to explore it !
• I hear you already asking « But how do I get up there ? ». The most popular and cheapest way to get up there is hiking through breathtaking landscapes. You are still hesitating ? Le moyen le plus populaire et le moins cher d’atteindre le sommet est le treck, à travers des paysages incroyables à couper le souffle. 
Vous hésitez encore ? « Ok Ok, the 4th Wonder of the World … but climbing up a mountains … ». Then chose the easy option : the train. You have two choices : Inca Rail or Peru Rail.

What to do in Lima ?

Peruvian capital and « City of the Kings ».

• Head to Lima’s historic center, go to Plaza de Armas also called Plaza Mayor and observe the colonial fountain, the Palacio de Gobierno, and the guard changing (at noon) or the capital’s Cathedral.
• Tired of the busy atmosphere ? Step in San Francisco Monastery, a true oasis of calm with a baroque architecture beautifully preserved. For a Harry Potter-y atmosphere, be sure to go to the monastery’s library. Want a more unique tour ? Go to the catacombs, down under the monastery where lie over 75 000 skeletons !
• Plan the next steps of your trip by learning about the Peruvian history in one of Lima’s many museum : Museo de la Nación, Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú, Museo Taurino…
• If you want to start exploring historic Peruvian sites, don’t leave Lima ! First go to Huaca Pacllana, a large brick pyramid built in year 300.
• Love panoramic vie ? Head to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal hill in the North-East of the city and get a stunning view over Lima and the ocean.

What to do in Huaraz ?

An excellent starting point to explore the Cordillera Blanca. 

• Take the time to get used to the high altitude, then go to Huascaran National Park.
• Get better at hiking by practicing in high altitude : take a 2h hike to the Wilcahuain ruins, a lovely place to have a pic-nic surrounded by donkeys and sheeps. You could even get on a « colectivo » (a bus) to get back down to the city !
• Go for a day-long hike on the Laguna 69 trail (3 and a half hour to go up and 2 hours to get down). Discover the blue lagoon next to the withe mountain tops.

What to do in Trujillo ?

A lovely colonial city of « eternal spring ».

• Enjoy the perfect weather, walk through the city streets and enjoy the touristic sites of Trujillo : its cathedrall, its colonial houses and its Plaza Mayor.
• Do not miss Chan Chan in Trujillo’s surroundings. This archeological site used to be the largest city in America (North and South !) before Christopher Columbus ! With 12 00km2 / 12 9166 sqft, it has 9 fortresses, sacred temples, storage buildings and stores ! Imagine what life was like for the 100 000 people who used to live here !
• Not very far, head to El Brujo, a fortress with pyramids. One of which holds a mummified tattooed witch (she was supposed to be one of Peru’s leaders). Her name is « Dame de Cao ».

To learning more…

• You want to know all the information about the country ? it’s here.
• Then, to rent a car at the best price, we advise you this website.
• Finally, to book a flight at the best price, we advise you this website.

If you have any information, good tips, or simply a comment about this itinerary, please don’t hesitate to leave us a comment at the bottom of the page! The whole team will be happy to hear from you !