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Which Peru route suits you?

Machu Picchu, a few days on the coast, time in the rainforest. The wish list comes easily. The question is how much travelling you want between those places. Start with the days you have and what you most want to see, then choose a route to build on.

Your trip plan in one placeCompare six routes

Five questions before you arrange the days

  1. How many days do you really have?

    Write down your arrival and return flight. Include days spent mostly travelling; they are part of your holiday too.

  2. Who is travelling?

    What does each person enjoy, and how much space do you want between outings? You may not all want equally busy days.

  3. What do you most want to see?

    Choose two or three priorities. Machu Picchu, wildlife, mountain walks, food, archaeology and the sea do not all have to fit into one plan.

  4. How do you want to travel?

    Think about hotel changes and free afternoons. Would you consider a night bus, or would you rather sleep in a bed every night?

  5. What is already fixed?

    Put flights, visit dates and booked nights alongside each other. Build your first route around them.

Start with the trip you want to make

These six examples from our routes have different priorities. Compare what each leaves out and how much time you spend moving. You can then adjust the day-by-day plan.

  • Lima, Cusco and the Sacred ValleyGeographic overview of 5 stops.

    10 days

    Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley

    Lima → Cusco → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Cusco

    Day plan with overnight stays

    Consider it if: You want to see Machu Picchu and focus your trip on Lima and the Cusco region.

    The trade-off: The southern coast and Arequipa are outside this route. Another destination means less time in the places you came for.

    View the map and places
    Lima, Cusco and the Sacred ValleyMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Cusco
    3. Ollantaytambo
    4. Aguas Calientes
    5. Cusco
  • The southern classicGeographic overview of 8 stops.

    14 days

    The southern classic

    Lima → Paracas → Huacachina → Overnight bus to Arequipa → Arequipa → Cusco → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Cusco

    Day plan with overnight stays

    Consider it if: You want to combine the coast, Arequipa and Machu Picchu, and accept long journeys between them.

    The trade-off: Paracas and Huacachina follow in quick succession. Look at the travel day to Arequipa before adding another outing.

    View the map and places
    The southern classicMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Paracas
    3. Huacachina
    4. Arequipa
    5. Cusco
    6. Ollantaytambo
    7. Aguas Calientes
    8. Cusco
  • Northern Peru: archaeology, cloud forest and TarapotoGeographic overview of 5 stops.

    14 days

    Northern Peru: archaeology, cloud forest and Tarapoto

    Lima → Trujillo → Chiclayo → Chachapoyas → Tarapoto

    Stop order; enter your own nights

    Consider it if: You want to combine Trujillo, Chiclayo and Kuélap with the greenery around Tarapoto.

    The trade-off: Long road journeys are part of this choice. This is a trip through the north in its own right; Cusco is no small addition.

    View the map and places
    Northern Peru: archaeology, cloud forest and TarapotoMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Trujillo
    3. Chiclayo
    4. Chachapoyas
    5. Tarapoto
  • Three weeks with childrenGeographic overview of 9 stops.

    21 days

    Three weeks with children

    Lima → Paracas → Huacachina → Lima → Arequipa → Urubamba → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Cusco

    Day plan with overnight stays

    Consider it if: You want to travel with children from Lima and the coast to Arequipa and the Sacred Valley, with room between activities.

    The trade-off: Even a family itinerary can get too full. Look for a hotel change you could remove, and leave afternoons open.

    View the map and places
    Three weeks with childrenMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Paracas
    3. Huacachina
    4. Lima
    5. Arequipa
    6. Urubamba
    7. Ollantaytambo
    8. Aguas Calientes
    9. Cusco
  • Andes and AmazonGeographic overview of 9 stops.

    21 days

    Andes and Amazon

    Lima → Arequipa → Cusco → Urubamba → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Cusco → Puerto Maldonado → Lima

    Day plan with overnight stays

    Consider it if: You want to link Arequipa, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with an Amazon stay through Puerto Maldonado.

    The trade-off: The rainforest needs arrival time, days there and a return journey. Count them together before deciding what else fits.

    View the map and places
    Andes and AmazonMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Arequipa
    3. Cusco
    4. Urubamba
    5. Ollantaytambo
    6. Aguas Calientes
    7. Cusco
    8. Puerto Maldonado
    9. Lima
  • Our five weeks in Peru with childrenGeographic overview of 14 stops.

    5 weeks

    Our five weeks in Peru with children

    Lima → Paracas → Huacachina → Nazca → Arequipa → Chivay → Puno → Cusco → Urubamba → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Cusco → Puerto Maldonado → Lima

    Stop order; enter your own nights

    Consider it if: You want to read about our 2025 family trip as inspiration for your own choices.

    The trade-off: This was our trip, with friends living locally and a side trip to Bolivia. Take the reasoning with you, rather than every stop.

    View the map and places
    Our five weeks in Peru with childrenMap numbers refer to the stop list. Returning to the same place gives it more than one number.

    Stop order

    1. Lima
    2. Paracas
    3. Huacachina
    4. Nazca
    5. Arequipa
    6. Chivay
    7. Puno
    8. Cusco
    9. Urubamba
    10. Ollantaytambo
    11. Aguas Calientes
    12. Cusco
    13. Puerto Maldonado
    14. Lima
Schematic stop order; the lines are not roads.Natural Earth · public domain
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Your trip plan in one place

Adapt your route, enter your costs and keep the choices you want to make together.

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Work through your first plan
  • Make the travel days visible
    Write down each day's overnight stop and journey, then add outings. Checking out, travelling and checking in again also take time.
    How to work out a travel day
  • Line up the fixed parts
    See which visit date, train or stay shapes the rest of your route. Check current options for your travel dates before booking.
    What should you book ahead?
These routes are starting points for your own plan. Your trip plan does not check transport connections, availability or entry conditions.