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Bolivia and Peru Tours & Trips

Find the right adventure for you through Bolivia and Peru. We've got 176 tours going to Bolivia and Peru, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 45 days. The most popular month to go is October, which has the highest number of tour departures.

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176 bolivia and peru tour packages with 1,544 reviews.

Hiking & Trekking
In-depth Cultural
Christmas & New Year

Peru Panorama

It was an mazing experience from start to finish and I would recommend it to anyone!

PERU EXPRESS - 10 days (Lima- Cusco & Puno) with Domestic Flights

The Good: Overall the tour was very well organized. You know a day in advance when to meet and what to expect overall. For the most important part of the tour: We had Papa Freddie as our tour guide for Macchu Picchu and Sacred Valley. He is very knowledgeable, and has 20+ years of tour guide experience. His expertise is to go up Macchu Picchu and Inka Trails. Apparently he guides the 7 day Inka Trails all the time. He helped is carry our backpack and jackets when he noticed we needed help. He was patient and shared with us the Inka history. He gave us his personal cell phone just in case. My son left his hat on the bus, and he was able to track it quickly. I would ask for Freddie's service again. Guido was also a good guide for the Rainbow Mountain and the Lake. He did not offer us his cell phone, so we contacted thru the main office when we had questions. The Bad: Almost half of the days we got up at 2:30am, 3:30am or so. Very early day. However, most of it was due to distance as well as weather. Every time when we left the destinations, it started raining. According to the local guide, the weather can be unpredictiable mostly in the afternoon, hence the early morning. The Hotel: The hotel included in this tour is very basic. If you are used to the Marriott or the HIlton, I suggest you upgrade your stay. The local standard is so different from the Western standard. For complaint - I would only say the last day of the tour could be arranged better. We flew out of Julianca at 9am arriving Lima at 10:40am (time/flight set up Waman Adventures), but our flight out of Lima not leaving until 1am next day. I was told not to worry about it, and to deal with it as we were closer or the hotel at Lima that we stayed could store our luggage, etc. We were told the day before departure that nothing was avaialble, no storage, no transportation to leave the airport, and we were on our own, so we asked Waman to book a hotel next to airport, but the price was higher and it was really hectic the day before to get this done. So I suggest if you take this tour, try to handle the last day way ahead of time. Overall a good trip, but it is a physical demanding trip, once in a lifetime trip.

Local Living

Southern Divide

Was a good tour but needs a few changes to make it great. We’re a 57 and 60 year old married couple who love adventure. For us too much time was spent in cities (Cusco 4 nights way too much) and not enough time in desert. Our guide Antonio saved the trip from disaster with his positive, happy attitude. G Adventures really needs to check the tour operators they use for the Salt flats and a few other tours as they’re not up to scratch. Disappointing that G Adventures didn’t perform when we had a situation in the Salt Flats and Bolivian border.

Really good tour! I enjoyed it a lot, I also travelled around Peru without tour. Comparing both these experiences tours take away stress and organise everything for you but are definitely more expensive and less flexible. However it was really well done

Sightseeing

Premium Peru in Depth

Real Peru to Bolivia

Very great experience, good organization, great guides, great group

Cultural and Nature Experience in the Andes

The tour was well organized by Eurolatino (located in Germany) and its local travel operators. We had asked to add 2 days in Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon region and skip the last day in Santiago de Chile, which was smoothly accomodated by Eurolatino. Although we never received any vouchers for hotels, tours or transfers, all local guides and drivers were always on time at the designated locations (except for a taxi that our local guide had ordered for the transfer from the pier to Copacabana after our return from Sun Island) and were fully briefed about our itinerary and the booked services. The local guides were very knowledgeable and accomodating to our needs. When our inbound flight from New York was delayed and we therefore arrived in Lima in the afternoon instead of the morning, our local guide managed to still show us the highlights of Lima in one hour instead of the half-day tour originally scheduled. Our local guide in Puno was aware that the Peruvian Migration Office in Yunguyo at the Bolivian border was still closed on the day of our visit (in late April 2023) after the protests in January and February of 2023 and had arranged for us to receive our exit stamp at the Migration Office in Puno harbor before transferring to the border. The only inconvenience was that we received the information about the pick-up time for our morning tour in San Pedro de Atacama at 3am on that morning. We had only tentatively booked the tours in San Pedro, as Javier Cordero of Eurolatino had suggested, and confirmed them 3 days before our arrival in San Pedro. Apparently that caused the schedule to be finalized in the last minute only. For anybody interested in a variety of landscapes and unique features I recommend booking the tours in San Pedro from the beginning. We liked all components of our trip. The big cities Lima, La Paz, Santiago de Chile, in some respects similar but in many respects different and distinct. The djungle tours in Puerto Maldonado. The Inca and colonial history in Cuzco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The overland tour to the Altiplano from Cuzco to La Paz. The Salt Flats at Uyuni and the lagoons and mountain deserts all the way to San Pedro de Atacama. With hindsight, the only change I would make is rather than carrying our overnight necessities (you can leave the rest of the baggage in the car) up the hill on Sun Island (a higher ascend than on Machu Picchu) for a (certainly very nice) sunset, I would opt to visit the Floating Islands near Puno and then transfer directly to La Paz. The only reason for not giving a 5 star rating is that after we had paid the full price for the trip Javier Cordero tried to sell us an upgrade for the visit to Puerto Maldonado, indicating that the originally booked accomodation was not available. Only after I reminded him that the German law on packaged travel services requires the seller of the travel package to provide the services as described in the itinerary or substantially similar services, he confirmed that the itinerary would be provided for the price paid. Except for this irritation he provided an excellent service.

The Best of Peru and Bolivia

The tour was amazing. All thanks to Raphael. He organized it very well and is very reachable whenever you need him. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to visit all these countries without wanting to worry about any planning.

Top Attractions Uyuni Salt Flat ,Machu Picchu High Experience from Chile or Perú

The trip was fantastic ! Marco and Roger were extremely knowledgeable and perfect communicators ! Perfect way of seeing beautiful countries in such a short time- would definiteoy recommend !

Amazon, Incas & Titicaca - 13 days

This trip was amazing and included one of the best travel experiences of my life so far. Peru is a vibrant, exciting, fun and diverse place to visit. Im a solo traveller - plus gay man,and felt completely safe walking around solo in Lima, Cusco, and all the small villages and towns. I made great friends on this tour - including other solo travellers. This trip included all the highlights Peru has to offer, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lamas and Alpacas, history, Local Food, amazing landscapes, Lake Titicaca and the floating island, cities, towns, villages, and of course The Amazon Jungle - my travel highlight. The Amazon accommodation was beautiful, located in the jungle. I would wake up to the sounds of Howler monkeys communicating outside my cabin each morning. Listening to the wildlife, while sitting on my fly screen covered balcony listening to the animals at sunrise and sunset - plus the fall of the rain in thenight time - was truly awesome. We took an amazing walk over suspension bridges elevated above the jungle canopy - with the tress filled with sloths and their babies. We did a boat night safari spotting the animals, and one day took a guided canoe ride into an inland lake - filled with fish, so our guide threw bits of food in the water and out came the piranhas to eat it - SOOO COOL. Machu Picchu is overwhelming. All those years seeing pictures and documentaries on Tv - to then be there and see it with your own eyes - such a overwhelming experience... and i mean that in the best way. The place is so much bigger in person. The train up and back is very comfortable with big windows - toilets and bar service in each cart. Great scenery rides heading up in the morning. Coming back - our cart turned into the party area and it was fun. There is quite a variety of altitude elevation in parts of Peru so you may at times feel dizzy - I was totally fine, I drank the Cocoa Tea supplied (helps with altitude sickness) everywhere we went and felt good - but others were sometimes feeling off. There are lots of Stairs and Slopped paths throughout Peru - so if you want 'buns of steel' by the end of the trip - you will get them visiting here. The tour itself was well paced - we would typically see sights in the morning and then return to our hotel to do our own thing for the rest of the day - great balance. Our Tour Leader John was wonderful - along with all our local guides in the different areas we visited - top notch. Really loved Peru and would recommend for everyone to go with ON THE GO.

Best of Peru

A great tour to see the highlights of Peru. Very well organised and great food. Our tour guide René was very knowledgable and friendly. I did this tour with my father and am planning on doing it again with my husband and son.

South America Discovery (Puno And Lake Titicaca, 17 Days, Intra Tour Air Buenos Aires To Lima)

14 Days South American Wonders: Chile, Bolivia & Peru

Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Essential Peru and Bolivia

My family and I traveled to Peru and Bolivia w/ Indus Travels. Everything was fantastic! The hotels, tour guides (especially Elvis in Bolivia), drivers, and support staff were superb. We will definitely travel with Indus Travels again. Claudia S.

Independent Peru with Lake Titicaca

What people love about bolivia and peru tours.

An amazing but very full on adventure. From day one, right through to the end it was very eventful, busy, challenging but most of all extremely rewarding. We had no expectations we we began the tour but our expectations were exceeded. We were blessed with mostly great weather, amazing scenery, fabulous fellow travellers and fantastic and very supportive guides.

10 Day Peru Express - Lima, Ica, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Puno + Titi-Kaka Lake with Domestic Flights with Waman Adventures was an amazing trip. Waman Adventures ran this tour smoothly and professionally. All accommodations, transportation, and most of the food were good. Every second of this trip was carefully thought out. A very informative, entertaining, and pleasant tour. You don't need to worry about anything. We learn a lot about Peru, nature, the ancient Inca civilization, and the current tribes. The tour guides Gido and Will are very professional, caring, punctual, and accurate. The hiking trips might be challenging ( for me, I have asthma) but there is an option to take a horse or bike with the driver. We highly recommend Waman Adventure Tours to everyone.

Fantastic tour! Perfect mix of activities and down time. All must do’s included with great optionales. Very well organised by G Adventures with the best tour guide! Absolutely recommend.

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The Perfect Two Week Itinerary For Peru And Bolivia

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Last Updated On: April 3, 2023

The neighboring countries of Peru and Bolivia make for a perfect trip together. Chalk full of some of the world’s greatest natural and historical wonders, visiting both countries is easy to do for those with limited time. While Peru gets far more yearly tourists thanks to its culinary prowess and Machu Picchu , Bolivia is vastly underrated. The Uyuni Salt Flats was the coolest thing I did on this trip!

Update 20222: The cost of the Machu Picchu entrance fee is now $45 per person.

Peru and Boliai Itinerary Summary

I had just over two weeks for my trip to both countries. Originally, I didn’t know if it would be logistically possible to visit Peru and Bolivia in two weeks and do it justice. However, with some planning and research, we saw all the main highlights on our list, which turned out to be quite extensive.

In total, our trip was 16 days and our itinerary included:

Huacachina dunes
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu
Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca
Lake Titicaca (Puno and Copacabana)
Uyuni Salt Flats

If these sights are on your list and you have about two weeks for a visit, this post is for you!

Google Maps:

Day 1 to 3: Exploring Lima

We landed in Lima International Airport at 7am in the morning. After a slow Uber ride to our Airbnb in Barranco, we proceeded to immediately explore the city. Lima has such an amazing culinary scene and we spent a solid three days eating, and then eating more even if we were full.

Lima is a wonderful city steeped in history and culture, having been founded by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Its colonial architecture, such as the Plaza de Armas and the Monastery of San Francisco, is a testament to its rich past. Lima is also home to several museums, including the Larco Museum, which houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian art, and the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History.

Lima has become known as the gastronomic capital of South America, and for good reason. The city boasts a thriving culinary scene that has garnered international attention in recent years. Lima is home to some of the world’s best restaurants, such as Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gaston. The city’s cuisine is a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian flavors, resulting in a unique and delicious culinary experience.

Countless ceviche, Lomo Saltado, and endless pisco sours were consumed. We were also in Peru during La Mistura, South America’s largest food festival featuring some of the continent’s best culinary minds. We ate here three hours before a 13 course dinner at Maido. It’s an understatement to say we ate too much in Lima!

Day 4-6: Paracas

We left Lima the morning of day 4 to head south to the beautiful beaches and nature reserves of Paracas . Located only three hours south of Lima, Paracas is an easy getaway from Lima’s hustle and bustle. The ocean is calm, and the scenery is beautiful. We had an AMAZING stay at the Luxury Collection Paracas Hotel for a very reasonable price where we had the most amazing ceviche ever. Isla Ballestas, dubbed the poor man’s Galapagos is home to millions of birds and was great visit.

In addition, the Tacama winery and sand-boarding on the incredibly beautiful dunes of Huacachina made for great day trips.

Day 7-8: Machu Picchu

We took a bus early in the morning back to Lima to catch out flight from Lima to Cusco. Upon landing, I immediately felt the effects of altitude sickness as Cusco’s altitude is at 3,300m (11,000 feet). We took a taxi straight to our guesthouse in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley is almost 1000m lower than Cusco and allowed me to acclimate to the altitude easier, ultimately saving me from feeling the full effects of altitude sickness.

No trip to Peru is complete without a visit to one of the new wonders of the world, Machu Picchu . Although it appears the whole world has visited Machu Picchu, being there in person made me quickly forget its commercialization as I soaked in the views from the top of Machu Picchu Mountain. After a long day of hiking, we returned back to Aguas Caliente and drank copious amounts of Pisco sours after meeting another pair of travelers. We ended up missing our train and didn’t get back to Ollantaytambo until late in the night.

Entering Machu Picchu

This was it. Finally, we were here. After seeing countless photos, videos, and documentaries on this place, it was finally my turn.

Our path was still shrouded in the morning clouds but this is almost every day. Away we went. The ruins are right next to the entrance so it wasn’t long before I reached the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu. Ten minutes later and we were already at the famous viewpoint area of Machu Picchu where we could gaze upon one of the seven new wonders of the world. Llamas were grazing all around us (yes there are llamas all over Macchu Picchu, and it felt a bit surreal.

However, it was completely covered in clouds in the morning and I could not see a damn thing. I met people that raved about coming to Machu Picchu for the sunrise but they must have been real lucky because other people have told me Machu Picchu is almost always covered in clouds in the morning so I’m not sure how amazing a sunrise experience would be.

Seeing as we couldn’t see anything (around 8:30am), we figured we would start our hike up Machu Picchu mountain (Montaña Picchu). At 8:30am, it was already getting warmer so I changed into shorts and a tshirt knowing that this I would thank myself once I started hiking.

Hiking Montaña Picchu (Machu Picchu Mountain)

Montaña Picchu is no joke. This is a difficult hike to say the least. It’s a 800m climb to the top and is very steep. Being at 2500m already, the hike was even more difficult as we were constantly gasping for whatever thin air we were already breathing. We took numerous breaks to recover and soak in the views, or at least that’s what I told myself.

As we climbed higher, the clouds were beginning to dissipate and we could see more of the surrounding landscape, occasionally gazing at Machu Picchu as it became more visible. Overall, our hike was just under 1 hour and when we reached the summit, it was a sense of accomplishment and relief.

Reaching the summit of Machu Picchu

The views from the top are incredible. It was still relatively early so there weren’t many people at the peak and the clouds were still covering Machu Picchu. When they finally burned off, the views were absolutely stunning. The ruins are small from so high up but you get a more aerial view of Machu Picchu and the Huayna Picchu mountain in the distant.

The best views and photo opportunities go to those that are the most daring. We climbed over the rope fence and sat at the very edge. It’s a sheer drop from the edge and too much sudden movement or irresponsible selfie taking will lead to certain death. In fact, a few weeks prior to our visit, a German tourist was taking photos in the same area but slipped and fell to their death.

We spent at least an hour sitting at the top of Montaña Picchu. The views never got old and I had some good talks with the other travelers sitting on the edge of death with me.

How to plan for Machu Picchu

Visiting Machu Picchu

Day 9-11: Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Rainbow Mountain

After an amazing visit to Machu Picchu, we visited the main sights within the Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Moray, Chinchero and ended the day in Cusco. Cusco is Peru’s second largest city and could not be more different from Lima. After a nice night’s rest, we toured around Cusco, visiting the main sites for a day. We stayed at another wonderful guesthouse/Airbnb in the old town with fantastic views of the city and mountains.

The next day, we took a day trip to the beautiful Rainbow Mountains in Vinicunca . This is a newer tour and gaining popularity quickly. Pictures don’t do it justice!

Cost of the Rainbow Mountain Tour

The cost of this tour is around 100-120 soles per person, or about $30-$35. Anything more than this is a rip off. Don’t do it. For example, searching for Rainbow mountain tours on Google will take you to nice websites that might charge you $100! Peru is a cheap place and $100 is a crazy price to pay for a group day tour. Also, feel free to bargain with the travel agents. I met someone that ended up paying 80 soles for the tour.

There are multiple day tours, 2 day tours, and the ever popular day tour which I did. As for the day tour (and likely for the multiple day tours), the itinerary is all the same. Many of the tour agencies like to boast about how their agency does something different or provides something extra, but it’s all for show. All tour agencies pick up their guests around 3am in the morning, provide breakfast and lunch, and of course a guide for the hike to the top.

Dressing for the Rainbow Mountain

Cusco is around 3400m, but the base of Vinicunca is even higher at 4200m. The mornings were brisk and chilly. Wearing layers is key to this hike as the weather is so variable. As the day progresses, it can be pleasantly warm in the sun, and surprisingly cold in the shade. The hike is strenuous enough however, that you’ll likely become warmer regardless.

The wind, especially near the peak, can be crazy strong. While I wanted to enjoy the views of the Rainbow Mountain at the top, the hurricane force winds made the stop short lived.

The Rainbow Mountain Hike

The day began very early. Our alarms went off at 2:45am and although we attempted to go to sleep at 7pm, a dinner and drinks with two travelers we met at Machu Picchu assured that we wouldn’t get to sleep until at least 10pm. Running on 4 hours of sleep, we grabbed our stuff for the day and headed outside to wait for our transportation. The pick up window is 3am to 3:30am. We saw many vans come and go, all likely heading to pick up other Rainbow Mountain day trippers. Ours finally came just after 3:30am.

We picked up a few more travelers until the van was full with about 15 people. As it was early, and everyone was equally as passed out as me, no one said anything for the entire 3 hour drive to the base of Vinicunca.

After attempting to sleep in our way too small van, we finally arrived at the base of the mountain. I hadn’t seen much of the scenery along the way as it was too dark but as as soon as I stepped out, it’s tough to not notice the incredible landscape in front of me. Rolling terraced mountains dotted the landscape, and the grandiose icy mountain of Asangate was looking me in the eye.

We gathered our belongings and headed into a small wooden house where we had our breakfast over a big wooden table. Eggs, fruit, porridge, and coffee were on the menu for the morning. Coffee seemed to give the entire group life as we were all still awaking from our zombie states, and we finally had time to get to know each other

Once breakfast was finished, we finally began our hike around 9am. Our guide gives us a short briefing of what to expect, and then walked 10 minutes to our meeting point where we converged with the other ten vans of people. It’s at this meeting point where those that want to hire a horse for the day can do so. We hired a horse (comes with a guy) for the two of us which was a steal at 70 soles.

I didn’t find the hiking itself to be difficult as the climbs are nowhere near as steep as Machu Picchu Mountain. However, at such high elevation (4500m+), the air is so thin that I was constantly gasping for breath. Near the top, I couldn’t take more than 10 steps without stopping for air.

I would consider myself in shape too, but it didn’t matter as I just wasn’t used to the extreme elevation. If anything, even if you wanted to hike the entire thing, having the option of the horse to fall back on is clutch. Also, it was amazing to have the horse to carry our bags the entire way. That alone was worth the 70 soles to us.

We alternated usage of the horse, mostly using it for climbing. Initially, I felt guilty and untrue to my backpacker ways for renting the horse. I can safely say that backpacker ways be damned, thank God I got one. If you’re in doubt, just do it and thank yourself later!

The scenery is absolutely. breathtaking. We passed through vibrant green valleys with red mountains all around us. Llamas and Alpaca dotted the landscape, grazing on the grass fields of the local villages that owned them. Asangate Mountain, covered in snow and soaring 6000m into the sky, made the scenery that much more dramatic. These amazingly furry and cute sheep dogs followed us the entire way as well.

The hike to the top took around 3 hours. Our guide advised everyone to take it at their own pace and everyone was feeling the effects of the extreme altitude. Getting that horse was the best decision of my life and I couldn’t care less about the mountain beating me. The peak is 5000m! I can live with it. Backpackers can be freaks for punishment, but on this day I did not want any part of it.

When we finally reached the top, it was a huge sigh of relief. That crazy hike was over, and we could finally stop to enjoy the views. It was as amazing as the pictures looked. What the pictures don’t capture is the crazy views of all the surrounding mountains. We stopped here for almost an hour to just admire this stunning piece of nature. The vivid mountains are the result of mineral deposits and red sandstone from over 24 million years ago. Layers formed on top of one another, creating the colorful patterns of rock strata. For example, iron contributes to the red, and copper is the light green.

The wind was crazy strong at the top but that did not stop us from taking our photos. There really is no way to take a bad photo here. Just have your back (or front) pointed towards the mountain and shoot. I wish we could have stayed here all day but the winds got stronger by the minute and we needed to head back so we could make it back to Cusco on time.

We were back at the base camp in two hours (around 3pm at this point). We had lunch in the same wooden house as breakfast. Lunch was actually delicious. They made us a huge spread of lomo saltado, sopa de quinoa, pollo chicharron, and pasta. Great way to end an amazing day.

The beauty of this mountain won’t soon be forgotten. We headed back in our tiny vans, arriving at Plaza de Armas in Cusco around 7pm. Just in time for some pisco sours!

Day 11-12: Cusco to Lake Titicaca to La Paz

There are regular flights from Cusco to La Paz, but we wanted to also visit Lake Titicaca . We took an overnight bus with Bolivia Hop that left from Cusco. We traveled overnight, stopping in Puno in the morning, crossing over the Peru-Bolivia border to Copacabana (a huge hassle for Americans), and arriving in La Paz at 10pm. The bus made long enough stops in Puno and Copacabana to allow for quick tours of Lake Titicaca. This is the one part of my itinerary that I wish I had more timeas Lake Titicaca was stunning.

Day 13-15: Uyuni Salt Flat Tour

After a short night sleep in La Paz, we took a 7:30am plane from La Paz to Uyuni. Our 3 day, 2 night Salt Flat tour started that morning at 10am. This might seem hectic to take a plane and go straight to a three day tour, but it is quite common from what all the tour operators in Uyuni told me.

The salt flats was probably my favorite part of the trip . The landscapes were so unique and picturesque, with one wow moment after the other. I felt like I was on another planet on a regular basis.

These are the largest salt flats in the world by far, at the size of the Netherlands.

We stopped for lunch at a hotel completely made from salt. Lunch was alpaca steaks and quinoa. As far as tour food goes, this actually wasn’t that bad. The steak was totally overcooked but it was still doable.

After lunch, we made our way deeper into the salt flats to take those iconic depth and perception photos that have made the salt flats world famous. The Uyuni salt flats are incredible. Honeycomb shaped salt as far as the eyes can see, so white and so bright that your eyes are forced to squint. The salt crystals are extra salty too so just in case you forgot to bring salt with you on the trip!

We stopped for at least 40 minutes to take our photos. We had a lot of fun getting our optical illusion shots. To take the best photos, it all depends on the pedigree of the person taking photos. Thankfully, your driver/guide will have done this hundreds of times and know how to get the best pictures.

I could have stayed here for another hour but we had an itinerary to follow and the next spot was even more amazing.

Reflective Salt Flats (Rainy season only, Jan-Apr)

In addition to the iconic all white photos of the Salt Flats, the other equally as famous photos are the impossibly reflective ground where a person looks like they are walking on water as the clouds are reflected below them. These photos are only possible during the rainy season (Dec-Apr) where the salt flats are actually flooded and a light layer of water covers the salt. It’s worth a visit back to the salt flats just for this reason alone!

Day 15-16: La Paz

Our salt flat tour ended at 5pm on the third day. We flew back that same evening to La Paz. The last day was spent walking around the highest city in the world (12,000m). We walked through the witches market and bought alpaca sweaters as La Paz is the cheapest place in South America to buy them. The cable cars that connect La Paz and El Alto offer fantastic panoramic views of the city and the Andes. I really enjoyed my time in La Paz and I think it’s a vastly underrated city.

Day by Day Peru and Bolivia Itinerary

Day 1: Land in Lima, explore city and eat at various restaurants Day 2: Sightseeing around Lima Day 3: More sightseeing and eating Day 4: Bus from Lima to Paracas, explore Paracas National Reserve Day 5: Visit Ilha Ballestas in the morning, relax in the afternoon Day 6: Day trip to Tacama winery and Huacachina Oasis Day 7: Bus back to Lima, flight from Lima to Cusco, taxi from the airport to Ollantaytambo for the night Day 8: Machu Picchu day Day 9: Sacred Valley, ending in Cusco Day 10: Explore Cusco Day 11: Rainbow Mountain tour, overnight departure on Bolivia Hop bus Day 12: Lake Titicaca, end in La Paz at night Day 13: Early morning flight to Uyuni, being Salt Flat Tour Day 14: Salt Flat Tour Day 15: Salt Flat Tour, evening flight back to La Paz Day 16: Explore La Paz

This itinerary might not be for everyone, and it certainly is not the way I would choose to travel if I had it my way. Nevertheless, sometimes you need to make do with the time you have. I met numerous travelers that were spending months traveling through South America, giving each destination the just time it deserved and drawing my envy. With that said, I never felt overly rushed with my trip. Although I definitely want to revisit both countries, I felt like I saw all the highlights in Peru and Bolivia.

Continue Reading:

Ultimate Guide To Hiking The Rainbow Mountain Of Vinicunca
Cusco to Lake Titicaca to La Paz, Bolivia
Ultimate Planning Guide for Machu Picchu
Guide to Bolivia’s Otherworldly Salt Flats
Ultimate Guide To Crossing the Peru Bolivia Border
Ultimate Guide To Machu Picchu and Hiking Montaña Picchu
Best Of The Ancient Cities: Machu Picchu vs. Angkor Wat vs. Petra
Sandboarding and Wine Tasting at the Huacachina Oasis
Guide To Lima’s Restaurant Scene And Where To Eat
Visiting Paracas and Isla Ballestas, Peru
The Perfect 5 Day Itinerary For Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Red Rock Canyon
Visiting Tikal’s Mayan Ruins In Guatemala
The Perfect 5-Day Itinerary For Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Antelope Canyon
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3 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary [2024 Guide]

Wondering how to spend 3 weeks in Peru and Bolivia? No worries, this Peru and Bolivia 3 week itinerary has you covered.

If you’re looking to get a first taste of South America then Peru and Bolivia are a great place to start. With such famous attractions as Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and the Salt Flats, these two countries pack a big punch.

Plus Peru and Bolivia are a lot easier to get around than some of the larger countries like Argentina, Brazil and Chile. So if you only have a few weeks to spend then these are the ideal destinations.

This three-week itinerary for Peru and Bolivia will take you on an unforgettable journey through Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco, La Paz, Sucre, and finally the Uyuni Salt Flats.

If you have more/less than 3 weeks then check out the 2 and 4 week variations below.

To help you nail the logistics, this itinerary has information on distances, travel times and recommended places to stay at each stop.

Getting around Peru and Bolivia in 3 weeks

In terms of transport, we mostly used Peru Hop for this itinerary (see my detailed Peru Hop review) but local buses are also a good option.

We used Bus Bud to find bus times and compare prices across companies when not on Peru Hop/Bolivia Hop.

Bear in mind that while there are many options for bus services in Peru, it’s more limited in Bolivia and several routes only have night buses.

You can also fly to almost all the spots on this itinerary which saves time and the discomfort of night buses. We found that plane fares are at least 2-3 times the cost of buses, however.

Check for cheap flight deals using Google Flights or Skyscanner .

how many days in Arequipa Plaza de Armas

Detailed 3 Week Itinerary for Peru and Bolivia

Day 1-2: lima.

It makes sense to start your adventure in Peru’s capital city, Lima since this is the only real international airport in Peru or Bolivia (La Paz Airport is tiny).

While Lima is the gateway to Peru, it’s definitely not the most interesting place and many areas aren’t particularly safe to explore so you really don’t need to spend much time here. Two days is plenty.

Spend your first day exploring the historic central district of Lima, known as the “City of Kings” or “Lima the Grey” after the gloomy skies.

Visit the Plaza de Armas, Lima Cathedral, and the San Francisco Monastery. Indulge in Peru’s renowned culinary scene by sampling ceviche, a traditional seafood dish.

me standing by the Lima Sign in the Plaza de Armas at the start of 3 weeks in Peru

On the second day, explore the coastal areas of Miraflores and Baranco. Enjoy the vibrant coastal ambience and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Don’t miss “The Kiss” an infamous statue on the waterfront.

Where to stay in Lima: Miraflores is the safest area of the city that is recommended for tourists.

Recommended hostel: Black Llama is a cheap, friendly and central option
Recommended hotel: Antara Hotel is right in the middle of Miraflores with beautiful spacious rooms

Day 3: Paracas National Reserve

Distance from Lima: 260km

Travel time: 4-5 hours by bus

Travel south to Paracas, a coastal town renowned for its natural beauty.

The main activity here is to take a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands , often referred to as the “mini Galapagos” or “Poor Man’s Galapagos”.

There are no turtles there, but you will see tons of marine wildlife, including sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and various bird species.

Paracas Ballestas Islands wildlife seen on Peru 3 week itinerary

Afterwards, explore the Paracas National Reserve, home to dramatic desert landscapes, sand dunes, and unique geological formations and phenomena like the ‘Red Beach’.

You can see the National Reserve by bus tour or hire buggies in town to explore it on your own.

It’s very possible to do both the islands and the National Reserve in one day allowing you to stay only one night in Paracas which is ideal since it’s a very small place with not much else to do.

Where to stay in Paracas: Paracas is small so there’s no need to pick a neighbourhood, just make sure your accommodation is in town, it gets dodgy on the outskirts.

Recommended hostel: Atenas Hospedaje
Recommended hotel: Los Frayles Hotel

Day 4: Huacachina

Distance from Paracas: 75km

Travel time: 2-3 hours by bus

From the coast, head to the desert, specifically Huacachina, a desert oasis nestled amidst towering sand dunes.

Here you can experience exhilarating activities such as sandboarding and dune buggy rides . The buggies are basically an hour-long rollercoaster as you fly down steep dunes with crazy (but very competent) drivers.

Make sure to climb a dune in the evening to enjoy the mesmerizing sunset over the desert.

sun setting behind dunes in HUACACHINA Peru

For most people, a short stop in Huacachina is enough to fit in the dune buggies and sandboarding but if you’re interested in more activity options check out this list of things to do in Huacachina .

Where to stay in Huacachina: Anywhere within one block of the lagoon is fine, places close to the Wild Rover will be noisier. Stay in Huacachina itself, not Ica which isn’t as safe.

Recommended hostel: Desert Nights
Recommended hotel: Curasi Hotel

Day 5: Nazca

Distance from Huacachina: 150km

Travel time: 3 hours by bus

Nazca is really all about the infamous Nazca Lines. The city itself is nothing special and doesn’t have any of the sights or attractiveness of Arequipa and Cusco. However, the lines make it worth a short stopover.

These lines were drawn in the desert for unknown reasons by an early Peruvian people, the Nazca, who pre-date the Incas.

The best way to see the Nazca Lines is to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Desert . You can see almost all the lines this way and it’s fairly affordable with flights priced around $90 USD per person.

The planes are very small and loop around a lot to show the lines from different angles so it’s worth taking a motion sickness pill beforehand.

If small planes aren’t your thing then there is also a viewing tower slightly out of town that you can climb to see 3-4 of the lines. The view is much more limited but it’s a cheaper option.

Where to stay in Nazca: Closer to the bus terminal is better, Nazca isn’t somewhere you want to be walking far at night.

Recommended hostel: Brabant Hostel
Recommended hotel: DM Hoteles

Days 6-9: Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Distance from Nazca: 570km

Travel time: 10-12 hours by bus or 1.5 hours by flight.

Next, head to Arequipa, Peru’s second biggest city and known as the “White City,” for its colonial architecture.

Spend a day exploring the historic city centre, including the stunning Plaza de Armas, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Make sure to visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, a fascinating complex of narrow streets and colourful buildings.

On the following day, embark on a 2 day trek to Colca Canyon , the world’s second-deepest canyon.

Marvel at the awe-inspiring landscapes, spot Andean condors soaring through the skies, and immerse yourself in the local culture of traditional villages.

Where to stay in Arequipa: Try and stay close to the Plaza de Armas but not actually on it so you don’t have lots of noise and overpay.

Recommended hostel: Flying Dog Arequipa
Recommended hotel: Casa de Avila

Day 10-11: Puno and Lake Titicaca

Distance from Arequipa: 300km

Travel time: 6-7 hours by bus

Travel to Puno, a charming city located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.

Spend one day exploring the city, taking in sights like the MIrador del Condor lookout, the Plaza de Armas and the weekend markets which hundreds of people from the islands come to Puno for.

Then, spend your second day in Puno on a full-day tour of Lake Titicaca .

On these tours , you can take a boat to the Uros Floating Islands, man-made islands constructed from totora reeds where you can learn about the pre-Inca culture of the Aymara people and see their amazing handicrafts.

Most one day tours will then also take you to either Amantini, with its historic temple to the Earth Father Pacha Tata or Taquile Island, known for its vibrant textile traditions.

Both islands have lookouts with stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Be aware that food and drink options on the islands are highly limited, Taquile has a restaurant but beyond that, you need to bring your own food and water.

Where to stay in Puno: There is lots of decent cheap accommodation around the Plaza de Armas while if you’re prepared to pay a little more and stay slightly further out (taxis are cheap) you can make the most of phenomenal lake views.

Recommended hostel: Inka’s Rest
Recommended hotel: Casa Andina

Day 12-14: Cusco and Machu Picchu

Distance from Puno: 400km

Travel time: 7-8 hours by bus or 1 hour by flight.

Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is top of many people’s lists when visiting Peru and deserves a full three days of this 3 week Peru itinerary dedicated to it.

You can choose to spend one or two days exploring the city’s cobblestone streets, visiting the impressive Sacsayhuaman fortress and Museum of Pre-Columbian art, and immersing yourself in the vibrant San Pedro and San Blas markets.

If you’re brave enough you can try some of the Cusquena food specialties like guinea pig and alpaca, or just drink a Cusquena brand beer.

This will also give you time to acclimatise to the altitude, Cusco is at 35000m above sea level, before more strenuous activities like hiking the Inca Trail (although you’ll need to add a few more days to the itinerary for that) or walking up the stairs to Machu Picchu from the train.

Later, choose from a long list of potential day trips, including the Instagram-famous Rainbow Mountain , the traditional market and ruins of Pisac or the salt mines of Maras and Moray , amongst others.

View of Rainbow Mountain summit with 2 llamas in foreground

While Cusco is covered in tourist information centres that can book these day trips for you, many are known to sell unsafe or unethical tours so it’s best to book online through a reputable platform like Get Your Guide that filters out bad operators.

Where to stay in Cusco: Try and be a few blocks off the main square to get some quiet, save money and avoid constant street hustlers. Some of the nicer hotels are in stunning historic mansions/monasteries.

Recommended hostel: Kokopelli Cusco
Recommended hotel: Costa del Sol Wyndham

Day 15-16: La Paz

Distance from Cusco: 500km

Travel time: 1 hour by plane

After the mountains of the Sacred Valley, it’s time to head back to some urban hustle and bustle in La Paz. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world but it’s also not Bolvia’s only capital city, it shares that honour with Sucre, which you’ll get to next.

La Paz is hectic, chaotic and a lot of fun but it’s not the safest so you’ll need to be alert.

Spend your first day here just exploring the city, wandering the markets and riding the Teleferico cable cars which crisscross the city. There’s no one particular attraction to see, more a case of taking your time and seeing what interests you.

cable car over the top of market stalls in Bolivia

Then on your second day, take a ride down Death Road on a mountain bike. This is one of the best things to do in Bolivia, especially if you like a little adventure.

The approximately 60km road was once the main connection between Bolivia’s north and La Paz but is now largely unused by cars and left to bikers.

It’s a thrilling all-downhill ride that is doable by beginners and still fun for experienced mountain bikers. We went with Gravity Bolivia which has a reputation as the safest operator on the road.

Day 17-18: Sucre

Travel time: 1 hour by plane or 10 hours by overnight bus

Sucre, Bolivia’s judicial capital, is known as the ‘White City’ because of its stunning white-washed colonial architecture. It’s markedly different to La Paz, smaller, with a lot less noise and chaos, and far more approachable for visitors.

There are plenty of things to do in Sucre , from museums to markets to stunning lookout spots. One attraction that is definitely not to be missed is Parque Cretacico, which features a wall of real dinosaur footprints, thousands of years old.

Kate Abroad in front of the dinosaur footprints at Parque Cretácico sucre

Day 19-21: Uyuni Salt Flats

Travel time: 1 hour by plane or 8 hours by overnight bus

Finally, wrap your Peru and Bolivia 3 week trip up on a high note with the Uyuni Salt Flats. This natural marvel is Bolivia’s biggest attraction and a true wonder to behold with salt stretching for miles in every direction.

To explore the Salt Flats you’ll want to head out on a 4WD trip that leaves from Uyuni. There are either one-day or 3-day options offered by a ton of companies.

We went with Perla de Bolivia on the full day option and loved it but the three day option is ideal if you have the time, which you will on this itinerary.

flags waving in the breeze on the salt flats Bolivia and Peru itinerary

In Short: Peru and Bolivia Itinerary 3 Weeks

Peru and Bolivia offer an incredible blend of history, nature, and culture that makes for an unforgettable holiday.

At the end of your 3 weeks in Peru and Bolivia you’ll really feel like you’ve covered most of what these two incredible countries have to offer.

So, pack your bags, get ready for adventure, and prepare to be captivated by the wonders of South America.

Happy travelling!

South America Travel Resources

Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
Find awesome day tours on Get Your Guide
Compare prices for bus tickets and book with Bus Bud
Sort your pesos, soles, reals and other currencies with a Wise multi-currency card

Kate is the founder of Kate Abroad. She has travelled to nearly 40 countries from Austria to Vanuatu, and lived in 3. She's on a mission to empower other Gen Zs and Millenials travel affordably by sharing helpful travel guides, stories and tips to over 200,000 readers.

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A 2-Week Itinerary for Peru and Bolivia Full of Highlights

Peru and Bolivia are two of the most stunning countries on Earth, as both are traversed by the majestic Andes and boast an impressive cultural heritage that spans all the monuments built by the Incas.

Through a two-week Peru and Bolivia itinerary, you’ll get to enjoy a flawless combo of mesmerizing sights, mouthwatering food, and thrilling adventure — not to mention the fantastic people you’ll meet along the way.

This trip plan is quite similar to the one a friend and I followed a few years back, so trust me when I say it’s one of the most exciting possible journeys through Latin America!

Table of Contents

How to get around

Peru has set up one of the best tourism infrastructures in South America, so you can usually travel the country quickly and efficiently.

You can ride a comfortable night coach for shorter distances, like between Cusco and Puno on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca.

You might do that for the stretch between Lima and Cusco as well. Yet the trip drags on for 20+ hours, and meals are typically served onboard — which means the whole thing can be pretty exhausting. So, in this case, you may want to book a flight.

Also read: 18 Famous Cities in Peru (And What Makes Them Famous)

Railway to Machu Picchu and Urubamba River

One caveat here is that there’s no road link between Machu Picchu and the Cusco region, so you’ll either have to ride the train through the Sacred Valley pictured above (which costs around $150) or take the multi-step Hidroeléctrica route .

Distances in Bolivia are shorter because you’ll be stopping more often, but the bus ride between La Paz and Sucre lasts almost ten hours. As odd as it may sound, both cities are capitals of the country, which means you can find flights for less than $100.

That said, Bolivia isn’t used to mass tourism like Peru, which is why infrastructure is notoriously uneven. Although coaches are comfortable and reliable, in many cases you’ll have to buy tickets directly at the bus station for lack of a dedicated website.

2-week Peru and Bolivia itinerary

Days 1-2: lima.

Lima Plaza illuminated during the holiday season

Where to stay: The Radisson RED to explore the trendy district of Miraflores or the charming Hotel B in Barranco, the quaintest neighborhood in town

Let’s kick off our Peru and Bolivia trip in Peru’s sprawling capital, where you’ll be given a proper introduction to the country’s delectable cuisine and ancient cultural heritage.

A good starting point when exploring Lima is its imposing historic core, which dates back to the 16th century and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. You can take a walking tour of the surroundings to check out must-sees like Lima Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor.

Then head off to the city’s coast, which in trendy areas like Miraflores and San Isidro is rimmed with inviting hilltop parks overhanging the Pacific. Riding a bike along the shore is a great way of ensuring you won’t overlook any of the highlights.

aerial view of Lima waterfront on clear day

On your second day in the capital, you can visit the quaint district of Barranco, where colorful townhouses are the calling card, and view the thousands of archaeological findings on display at the Larco Museum.

Before setting out for our next stop, don’t miss the chance to dive into the best of the world-famous Peruvian cuisine through a food tour or by treating yourself to a fine dinner in top-notch restaurants like Astrid y Gastón in San Isidro.

Day 3: Cusco

Where to stay: Hotel Rumi Punku , which is great value for money, or the irresistible Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

Our second destination is the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, which was monumental before the Spanish conquest and remained so when the invaders laid out a new city on top of the old one.

Hardly anywhere else in Peru will you come across this much history and culture crammed into one single city, which means you should definitely count on a local guide to show you all the hidden gems.

You’ll get to visit Qorikancha, the no. 1 temple in the whole empire, as well as the Sacsayhuamán complex (below), a huge fortress that represented the pinnacle of the Incas’ architectural accomplishments.

Stop by the San Blas arts district to load up on beautiful handicrafts or snatch your favorite keepsakes at the San Pedro Central Market.

Also read: 16 Exciting Day Trips from Cusco Worth Doing

Days 4-5: Sacred Valley

Where to stay: Those traveling on a budget can pick Hotel Highgarden , while travelers looking for a one-of-a-kind stay can book the Vertical Sky Luxury Suites ; both are in Ollantaytambo.

The fertile stretch of land along the shores of the Urubamba River in the heart of the Peruvian Andes is where the Incas managed to grow corn and quinoa and is in part what allowed the civilization to thrive.

Sights in the region are roughly between an hour and 90 minutes by car from Cusco, so you can either stay in town for a couple of extra nights or pick a secluded accommodation in the Sacred Valley.

Agencies in the area offer dozens of combinations of fun tours. You can, for instance, view the fortified walls of Ollantaytambo and the ancient town of Písac , or book a two-day trip that includes the ruins of Chinchero’s royal palace and Machu Picchu .

Travelers seeking an adrenaline-filled experience through dazzling landscapes can go on a quad-bike tour of the Moray salt mines (below) and their surroundings.

Day 6: Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu in Peru on a cloudy day. Machu Picchu is a mainstay in any Peru and Bolivia itinerary.

Where to stay: By Machu Picchu’s main entrance, the only option is Belmond’s exclusive Sanctuary Lodge . Downhill at Aguas Calientes, you’ll stumble upon several budget-friendly hotels like Tierra Viva .

No two weeks in Peru and Bolivia could possibly leave out this wonder of the world, i.e. the sacred city of the Incas.

Since it remained virtually untouched for over three centuries, Machu Picchu is extremely well preserved. It was swallowed up by the jungle after being abandoned in 1572 and would only be rediscovered in 1911.

To make sense of the ruins and picture how the Incas lived, you should go on a historic walk of the citadel .

Trekkers will enjoy learning they can pick between several hiking trails connecting the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu in two to four days.

Days 7-8: Lake Titicaca

Floating Uros Islands at the Lake Titicaca in Peru

Where to stay : GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca in Puno or Ecolodge La Estancia on Isla del Sol for superb views and the most peaceful ambiance

Straddling the Peru-Bolivia border, the tallest lake on Earth (and the 19th-largest) has been home to indigenous nations from Antiquity.

While the majority of them live along its shores, some have occupied its islands, and others went on to build their own out of a local reed. Those are the Uros, who’ll welcome you onto their floating villages to tell you about their culture and show you their handmade creations.

The lakeside town of Puno makes a good base for exploring the lake, given it has a direct rail link with Cusco. But you can stay also overnight on one of the islands, where the native communities will be your hosts.

Taquile and Amantaní are two of the most popular destinations for that unique experience, as is Isla del Sol on the Bolivian side.

Days 9-10: La Paz

Cityscape of La Paz, Bolivia with Illimani Mountain rising in the background

Where to stay: El Museo Hotel Boutique in Sopocachi, La Paz’s coolest district, or the boldly designed Casa Grande Hotel in San Miguel

At almost 12,000 feet above sea level, La Paz is the highest big city on the planet. Spending two days in the capital instead of just one is therefore recommended for your body to adapt to the altitude, even though La Paz isn’t as packed with must-sees as Lima, for example.

On a walking tour of the city , you’ll visit landmarks like the central Plaza Murillo, the spooky Witches’ Market, and the colorful Jaén Street (below).

Afterward, catch a wrestling match between cholitas , indigenous women who proudly wear traditional clothes and are one Bolivia’s cultural icons.

On the second day, you can hop onto La Paz’s cable car and head all the way up to El Alto, where you’ll get a commanding vista of the capital and the snow-capped Mount Illimani (above).

View on colonial buildings by jaen street in La Paz- Bolivia

In El Alto, you can take a Cholet tour to discover the striking architecture that the up-and-coming city’s new elites have been setting up for themselves.

Day 11: Sucre

Where to stay: Parador Santa María La Real , a distinguished hotel a block away from the main plaza

The Bolivian Congress and Executive Power may be headquartered in La Paz, yet as per the country’s constitution, Sucre is the official capital. Nicknamed the White City thanks to the homogeneous color pattern of its historic buildings, Sucre is the seat of Bolivia’s Supreme Court.

View on Cityscape of Sucre and hisorical colonial buildings in Bolivia

You’ll love the town’s laid-back mood, especially after diving into La Paz’s hectic pace. Besides strolling the quiet streets of Sucre, you can take a cooking class to savor the underrated Bolivian cuisine, as well as visit Cal Orck’o, the biggest fossil bed on Earth.

White Spanish colonial architecture in the small town Sucre, Bolivia

Day 12: Potosí

Catedral de la Ciudad de Potosi in Potosi, Bolivia

Where to stay : Hostal Colonial , located in a historic villa with a lovely patio

Under Spanish rule, Potosí would become one of the richest cities globally. No wonder; about 80% of the world’s supply of silver was extracted from Cerro Rico, the golden hill that towers over the town.

The mine is active to this day and can be visited through a thrilling tour of the safer tunnels . Then you can soak up Potosí’s suggestive atmosphere of bygone wealth by walking past its sumptuous townhouses and visiting its Baroque churches.

Views of Cerro Rico and the city of Potosi, Bolivia

Bear in mind, however, that Potosí is one the tallest cities on the planet, so don’t skimp on that coca tea to avoid falling prey to altitude sickness.

Days 13-15: Uyuni

4x4 vehicles at Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia

Where to stay : In the salt flat, book Hotel Palacio de Sal , which was built with salt bricks; alternatively, if you’ll be staying in the village overnight, pick Hotel Jardines de Uyuni instead

A major source of lithium and — of course — salt for the country, the Uyuni Salt Flat is also Bolivia’s no. 1 tourist attraction.

The wet season (i.e. summer) is the most popular time of year to visit, as that’s when the floor perfectly mirrors Uyuni’s blue skies (above).

Still, I visited in winter because that’s a safer period to reach Machu Picchu, and I assure you the vast white expanses you’ll find are just as breathtaking (below).

On a three-day tour of Uyuni, you’ll see other natural wonders in the area like the Red Lagoon and its flamingos or the Atacama Desert in Chile .

Alternatively, you can spend two days at the salt flat and squeeze in a day trip to the gorgeous Huaca China oasis between Lima and Cusco.

If you’re lucky to have a couple of extra days to throw into your Peru and Bolivia itinerary, don’t think twice before spending three or even four weeks between the two countries.

When I backpacked through Peru, Bolivia, and Chile a few years ago, I spent 10 days in each, which was enough time to see all the major sights and not feel like I was rushing through any of them.

In case you’re pressed for time, though, consider booking an 8-day Peru trip instead and come back again to discover Bolivia at a pleasant pace.

14 Day Peru And Bolivia Tour Incan Secrets & 'The Tibet of the Americas' TOURCODE: PE2

Duration: 14 Days

Activity Level: 2

When To Go: Feb, May, Sep

Countries Visited: 2

Arrive In / Depart From: Lima / La Paz

Max Group Size: 18

Tour Style: Cultural

Price From:

Discover the country's true culture with the help of experienced local guides.

Small group sizes to help escape the beaten path.
All-inclusive with top-rated restaurants and hotels.

Landing in Lima, once dubbed 'City of Kings' by Spanish conquistadors, we begin our Peru & Bolivia Tour, a 14-day adventure through western and central South America, by touring majestic churches, exquisite palaces, fascinating underground catacombs and museums displaying remarkable pre-Incan gold artifacts, including one said to hold the largest collection of gold in the world.

Making our way through the scenic 'Sacred Valley of the Incas,' we see many Inca cave tombs carved into the valley walls, and then it's on to one of the most famous attractions in the Americas and most memorable sights in the world: 'The Lost City of the Incas'; Machu Picchu.

A place of great mystery and intrigue, no one can say for certain what role this ancient city of stone palaces, towers, temples and staircases played in ancient Inca civilization, since there exist no records or artifacts to corroborate or disprove any theories.

After a day or two wandering amid incredible ruins, we set off for the Cuzco region, an area whose Spanish colonial buildings lie atop Inca temples and ancient Inca stone walls line the central streets to this day.

We pass through villages of mud brick houses wherein people adorned in traditional dress barter with one another in colourful local markets and take a day-long train ride past the towering snow-capped peaks of the Andes and vast, wild plains where vicuna and alpaca are often seen.

Travelling into Bolivia, we stop in at various small towns famous for their colonial churches and architecture and wander through the blossoming gardens of vibrant Moorish cathedrals and other religious sites that were borne from a fusion of pagan and Catholic beliefs.

We cast off for a short boat trip in beautiful surroundings and then make our way into the most densely populated region of the country to find out about contemporary life in Bolivia and learn about yet another 'lost civilization'; the Tiahuanaco, whose disappearance from the area in the distant past remains unexplained to this day.

Prices below are per person , twin-sharing costs in Canadian Dollars (CAD) . Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here .

Select a date below to reserve your spot:

Optional Single Supplement: $1060 CAD (number of singles limited).

Day 1 Arrive in Lima Today we arrive in Lima, Peru. In recent years, this city has undergone some wonderful restorations of the plazas, ornate facades, and wooden balconies for which it is famous. Named the 'City of Kings' by the Spanish Conquistadors, Lima is the capital of Peru. Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, where the River Rimac meets the Pacific Ocean, this was the most important Spanish city during the colonial era with a population of about 100,000 inhabitants. Today the city is home to more than 7 million people. Overnight in Lima (Miraflores). Included Meal(s): Dinner

Day 2 Lima: City Tour This morning we start our tour with a visit to San Francisco's Church to visit the extensive catacombs that lie underneath. We then continue to the Plaza de Armas, the most important plaza in Lima. The oldest surviving part of the plaza is the impressive bronze fountain, erected in 1650. Surrounding the plaza is the exquisite Archbishop's Palace, the cathedral, and the Government Palace where handsomely uniformed presidential guards are on duty all day. We visit the cathedral where the great conquistador Francisco Pizarro's tomb lies. We then proceed to the Larco Museum, which showcases remarkable chronological galleries and an excellent overview on 3,000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features the finest gold and silver collection from ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. For an unforgettable experience, Larco is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also choose to enter the storage area with its 45,000 classified archaeological objects. Later we head to the trendy area of Miraflores where people stroll along the cliff tops and watch the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean. The best location is the new "Love Park," with its magnificent monument to lovers at its centre. We continue to the Hacienda Mamacona for an exhibition of beautiful Peruvian Paso horses, accompanied by a delicious dinner of Criollo food and a folkloric show. Overnight in Lima (Miraflores). Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 3 Lima - Fly to Cuzco - Urubamba Valley - Ollantaytambo - Yucay Early this morning we fly to Cuzco, located in a fertile valley at 3354 m (11,004 feet). This is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the ancient capital of the Inca Empire that, at its height, stretched from Colombia in the north, through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, and down to central Chile in the south. Although the empire already existed in the 12th century, it remained small until the mid-15th century. Over the next 100 years, it expanded massively but declined due to the civil war and the conquest by the Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro in 1533. On arrival we will travel by road into the Urubamba Valley, or "Sacred Valley of the Incas," along one of the most scenic drives on our trip, to the Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo located on a spectacular ridge with deep valleys on either side. We can admire the carefully constructed and maintained farming terraces on the surrounding hillsides. We continue to the town of Yucay on the bank of the Urubamba River (2300m / 7,590 ft). This is an attractive little town of particularly fertile lands whose name translated into Spanish means "deceit" or "bewitchment". According to legend, in the middle of the 15th century, the Inca Huayna Capac was captivated by the incomparable magnificence of Yucay's setting and decided to settle here. Overnight in Yucay. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4 Yucay - Machu Picchu Area Today we take the early morning train* from Urubamba to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. The train journey to Machu Picchu is a highlight of any trip to the Andes; the scenery is simply spectacular, and the train allows you to enjoy it in comfort. The +/- 3 hour trip takes us through a changing landscape with wonderful vistas of the mountains and, deep in its dramatic canyon, the beautiful Urubamba River. Our early arrival from Urubamba ensures that we are at the site before the tourist throngs arrive on the train from Cuzco later in the morning. Upon arrival at the Aguas Calientes train station, a bus will take us on the 6 km (4 mile) twisting journey up the mountainside to the site of Machu Picchu. Having already dropped our baggage at our hotel, we proceed immediately for a guided 3-hour walking tour of the ruins (please be prepared with all that you need for our tour). We will enter the site through the House of the Terrace Caretakers, which flank the agricultural sector. Once on the site, we will see, among other features: the Temple of the Sun, the Fountain Caretaker's House, the Royal Sector, and the puzzling Temple of the Three Windows. We will also see the Common District, the Sacred Rock, and the prison-like Temple of the Condor. Machu Picchu, popularly known as the 'Lost City of the Incas,' is an ancient city of stone palaces, towers, temples and staircases. It is a very mysterious place, and to this day our knowledge of it remains sketchy. There are no records or artifacts on the site to indicate what any of the buildings were used for. Archaeologists have ascertained that the site was most likely a ceremonial centre and possibly used for administrative purposes for the populous region. After our tour, you may choose to proceed to the hotel or remain on the site for some independent exploration (your ticket is included and good for the day), and return to the hotel on your own using the return portion of your bus ticket. * PLEASE bring an overnight bag for this one night at Aguas Calientes as the train enforces strict luggage limits. Our larger bags will be transported back to Cuzco for us. Please also note that, due to group size limits, groups exceeding 15 participants will be split between two guides for today's site tour. Overnight at Agua Calientes (near Machu Picchu). Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5 Machu Picchu Area - Cuzco A large part of the beauty of Machu Picchu is created by its setting on a mountain top surrounded by deep valleys. By staying for a second day to visit Machu Picchu, rather than visiting as a day trip from Cuzco, we are able to savour the atmosphere of this very special place. In the early morning of our second day at Machu Picchu,* most group members choose to take the bus back up to the site with the weather-dependent hope of seeing the mist-clad mountains greet the morning sun. Weather notwithstanding, the best thing about going up the second day is being there early when there are fewer people, allowing time to "soak it in," as well as the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu and/or to the Sun Gate. During our time at Machu Picchu, we will also include a visit to the Manuel Chavez Ballon Site Museum, which focuses on the "discovery", excavation, and history of Macchu Picchu. On display are historical photos, including photos of Hiram Bingham at Machu Picchu shortly after he came across the ruins, informative write-ups on the construction of Machu Picchu and the life of the Incas, and artifacts found at the site. Outside the museum is a very lush botanical garden running along the river; some plants are labelled and there are a few short trails. This is a nice shady area to rest on a hot day and is an easy 25 minute walk from Aguas Calientes down the road leading to Machu Picchu. Later in the afternoon we board the VISTADOME train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo Station (1.5 hours) from where we bus back to Cuzco. * DUE TO strict limits on the number of visitors daily, if you elect to visit again today (optional - at your expense), you will need to book well advance online via www.ticketmachupicchu.com. You will need to choose the EARLIEST options for Machu Picchu only OR Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu if you want to hike Huayna Picchu. Overnight in Cuzco. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6 Cuzco Area This morning we visit some of the most important Inca sites in the Cuzco area. Sacsayhuaman is an impressive complex which, like so many others of that time, had both a religious and military purpose. The fortress known as the 'storehouse of the sun' incorporates some of the largest stones ever used in a building. The zig-zag walls represent the teeth of the sacred puma and provide an excellent defensive structure. The stones fit so perfectly together without mortar that not even moss can grow in the cracks! In the afternoon we return to Cuzco and enjoy a tour of the town. We visit Coricancha, the temple of the sun which was the most important location in the Inca empire. Entombed in the closed cloister of the Sto Domingo Church, these sacred walls were hidden from modern civilization until the colonial walls were brought down in 1950 by a powerful earthquake. We also visit the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit. Wandering the narrow streets of the San Blas artisan region we make our way to the cathedral which towers impressively over the Plaza Mayor. Inside we find precious paintings from the Cuzco School of Art, one of the most prolific of its era. This Inca city was laid out around a great central square in the shape of a puma, the god of lightning. Today, stone walls built by the Incas line most of Cuzco's central streets and form the foundations of colonial and modern buildings. The Inca buildings were so well built that the Spaniards simply knocked down the upper parts of the Inca temples and palaces and built their churches and mansions on top of the Inca walls. Shortly after the Spanish conquest, the capital was moved to Lima on the coast. Thus Cuzco has retained a wonderful, untouched colonial atmosphere. The culture is also very much alive here, and is evident in the music, clothing and handicrafts of the people. We have dinner at a local restaurant where we can try some typical Peruvian dishes. One may wish to try the "Pisco sour", a powerful drink made with a Peruvian liquor distilled from white grapes. Overnight in Cuzco. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 7 Cuzco & Pisac This morning we visit the ruins at Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara and Qenko. The latter is an Inca sacrificial site carved with inscriptions. We continue to Pisac with its lively market where you will encounter traditionally dressed locals with whom you can barter for colourful craft items. You will see many unique Andean musical instruments as well as dazzling textiles. Peruvian woolen items are justifiably famous for their imaginative designs, based on Inca art and the local flora and fauna. You can buy sweaters and caps made from the extremely warm wool of alpacas and llamas. We return to Cuzco with balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Cuzco. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8 Cuzco - Pucara - Raqchi - Puno & Lake Titicaca Today we travel by road to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca (+/- 7 hours, with stops). From Cuzco, we head south-east, through green fields dotted with willow trees and eucalyptus groves, passing outlying communities gathered around colonial churches that conceal their artistic treasures behind crumbling adobe facades. The first half of the journey is dominated by magnificent Andes followed by the gentler, rolling Andean Plains, where vicuna and alpaca are often seen. This is a wild, high, windswept and sunburned prairie of isolated communities of shepherds and cattle farmers, wedged between the two distant branches of the Andes visible occasionally on either horizon, when not melting completely with the giant cumulus clouds that dominate the skyline. Along the way we visit Pucara (aka Pukara), where we visit the ruins of the Pucara culture and its museum, located at the breathtaking elevation of about 3900m (almost 13,000 feet). This town is known across Peru for the archaeological site of Pukara and a vibrant modern pottery-making tradition. The fort is made of large walls, terraces, and staircases and was part of defense of Cuzco in particular and the Inca Empire in general. We then stop at Raqchi and the ruined Temple of Wiracocha, named for a deity believed to be the giver of all life; the temple was thought to be built to to appease him and honour him. The temple is said to be specifically built so that people had to walk in a zigzag motion, which is related to the relationship between Wiracocha and Inca cosmology. Finally we will pay a visit to the district of Andahuaylillas with its Baroque church, known as the "Sistine Chapel of South America". Puno, at 3830m (12,562 feet), is the main settlement on the Peruvian shore of Lake Titicaca and the highest place on our tour in which we will spend some time. Puno is the greatest centre of Peruvian folk dancing and traditional instruments; the markets and streets of Puno are bustling with the brightly-coloured costumes of the different groups of the region. Overnight in Puno. Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9 Lake Titicaca: Floating Islands This morning we travel north and east to Sillustani, situated on a wind-swept peninsula on tiny Lake Umaya. The burial towers of the nobles of the Colla civilisation are up to 12 metres / 40 feet high. However, it is not known exactly when they were built. Known as chullpas, it is thought that whole families were buried in the towers. Returning through the stark landscape to Puno, we take an afternoon boat excursion to the floating islands of Los Uros. The Uros people began their floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from their rivals, the Collas and the Incas. Today, about 300 people live on the islands. The islands are constructed from many layers of floating tortora reeds which grow in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca. The reeds rot away from the bottom and are replaced at the top, so the ground is soft and springy as you walk over it. Even the buildings on the islands are made of tortora. The whole life of the Uros people revolves around the reeds. They even eat the lower stalk and root, which is supposed to taste like celery. Today the Uros live mainly from fishing, including catching the giant pejerray which can grow up to 13.5 kg / 30 lb. Overnight in Puno. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 10 Puno, Peru - Copacabana, Bolivia Today we travel round the Peruvian side of the lake and cross into Bolivian territory. The village of Chucuito is built over an Inca settlement and has an Inca sundial on display which was assembled in the mid-1800s using colonial, Inca, and modern era stones. The turbulent history of the lake region can be seen in the many Inca and pre-Inca sites as well as Spanish colonial churches dotted across the area. We drive along the western shores of the lake taking in various small towns which are famous for their colonial churches and architecture. One of the most unusual towns along the lake is Juli, which has four huge churches and yet is a small town. The town was originally the Spanish capital of the lake region and the Spaniards hoped to convert most of the indigenous population to Catholicism. While building the Church of Santa Cruz the local stonemasons incorporated Inca motifs into the Christian decorations. This afternoon we will enjoy a relaxed walking tour of Copacabana. For centuries, Copacabana has been a site of religious pilgrimage, beginning with the Incas. We visit the Cathedral of the Indian Virgin, built between 1605 and 1820. It is a brilliant Moorish structure with mudejar domes, colourful azulejos (decorative tiles), and a beautiful church courtyard decorated with wonderful flower gardens. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel from distinct parts of Bolivia and other Latin American countries to take part in religious festivals in Copacabana. Legend says that if the statue is removed Lake Titicaca will rise up and flood the whole Altiplano region. For the energetic, there is a walk up to Cerro Calvario (Calvary Hill) for beautiful views of the town and lake. Pilgrims pass the 14 stations of the cross to reach the top but once there they encounter, as so often in Bolivia and Peru, a fusion of Catholic and pagan beliefs. Overnight in Copacabana. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 11 Lake Titicaca Today is spent exploring Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca by boat. This is the most important of the thirty-six islands in the lake. Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake, straddles the Bolivia-Peru border and is said to be the highest navigable body of water in the world at an altitude of 3810 m (12,497 ft). Lake Titicaca was once much larger than the 8560 sq kilometres (3,305 square mi) it occupies today. The great city of Tiahuanaco was built at the edge of the lake, but today it is more than 25 km (15 mi) from the lake. This reduction in the lake size has had a tremendous effect on the climate of the Altiplano region over the past 1,000 years and has made this cradle of cultures able to support far fewer people today. The cleverly terraced slopes of Isla del Sol contain numerous ruins and small traditional villages. We see the Inca steps where water from a natural spring runs through three stone channels. The sacred water is supposed to cure ailments and bring long life. The three stone channels represent the three commandments of Inca life: Don't Lie, Don't Steal, and Don't be Lazy. The Inca society was highly organised and industrious; laziness was punishable by death. We return to Copacabana for dinner. This evening you may like to take a stroll along the lake shore at sunset. Overnight in Copacabana. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 12 Copacabana - Tiahuanaco - La Paz This morning we drive towards La Paz. We take first a ferry across from the peninsula on which Copacabana sits to the Bolivian mainland and drive to La Paz, one of the world's highest major cities. En route we stop at Tiahuanaco. This flat, desolate landscape would not seem capable of supporting life, and yet this is where the majority of Bolivia's population live. Here we may see llamas and alpacas, the only surviving relatives of the camel found in the Americas. Tiahuanaco is an ancient ceremonial site constructed around AD 700. After about AD 1200 the Tiahuanaco people disappeared, becoming another 'lost' civilisation. We know little about the people of Tiahuanaco but it is believed that their civilisation developed over a period of 2,000 years and then mysteriously vanished. Our destination is La Paz, located at 3686 m (12,090 ft) above sea level. La Paz is situated in a bowl-shaped canyon in the Cordillera Real (Royal Range) of the Andes. As we travel across the Altiplano, the ground suddenly drops away 400 m (1,312 ft) to reveal the city hidden in a bowl in the mountains. Overnight in La Paz. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 13 La Paz: City Tour The mountains surrounding La Paz soar to an average of 5500 m (18,040 ft) above sea level. The most spectacular views of the city come on a clear evening when one can see the twinkling lights of the city stretching up the hillsides, under the the snow-capped triple peak of Mount Illimani at 6402 m (20,999 ft). Today will explore the Spanish colonial quarter of the city and visit the Archeological Museum of Bolivia, which has a special exhibit dedicated to the site of Tiahuanaco visited yesterday. We also experience the colourful markets of La Paz. The markets are a great place to observe the colourfully-dressed native Quechua and Aymara-speaking people. The women wear many layers of petticoats covered by a colourful dress, and over their shoulders they sling a multi-coloured striped blanket called a 'phulla' in which they carry their groceries or babies -- or both! On their heads they wear a bowler hat (which always appears to be too small) at a jaunty angle. The British brought the bowler hat to Bolivia when they were building the railway and somehow it became part of the everyday dress of Andean women. We finish our day with a visit to a great place to buy some of the handicrafts, such as colourful sweaters woven from sheep's wool or from the light-weight, very warm wool of the native Andean animals. We finish at the unusual Mercado de los Brujos, better known as the Witches' Market, where you will see all sorts of potions, herbs and folk remedies used to guard against evil spirits. Overnight in La Paz. Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

Day 14 Departure Departure from La Paz. BUEN VIAJE! Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Inclusions Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants). All transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters. Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving / late departing land & air customers who book their extra hotel nights through us.

Exclusions International airfare to/from the tour. Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable). Airport transfers for Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance. Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.

Seasonality and Weather This tour is offered throughout the year. The cool and dry season runs from May to October; outside this time you will encounter warmer but perhaps rainy / misty conditions in the mountains. Serious heat / humidity are only a consideration in Lima.

Transport and Travel Conditions Road transport by private air-conditioned motor coach, 24-36 seats depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). Numerous walking tours on uneven surfaces. Most of this tour occurs at high altitude and, though our itinerary spends a night at Yucay before climbing higher to Cuzco, some people are affected-check with your doctor. Scenic VISTADOME train Aguas Calientes - Cuzco. Internal flight via scheduled local carrier.

Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form .

Accommodation Well-located, heated/air-conditioned, mid-range (3/4 star) hotels with en suite toilet and bath throughout (probably shower only). Single rooms are limited and likely smaller than doubles. Porter service is usually available though you should be independent with your luggage, especially at airports and train stations.

Staff and Support Tour Leader, driver/s, and local step on guides.

Group Size Maximum 18 plus Tour Leader

Tour Extensions This tour is part of a series that can be upgraded to make for a longer trip. For more options, please refer to tour code/s:

Regions visited: South America Countries visited: Peru and Bolivia

*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.

The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.

Reservation Summary

Have Questions? Call us: 1-800-843-2678

Explore Peru & Bolivia

25 days | mind-bending landscapes and feats of nature await.

Peru and Bolivia are both lands of the epic and that which must be seen to be believed. This 25-day odyssey takes you to the world’s highest-navigable lake (Titicaca), the world’s largest tropical rainforest (the Amazon), the world’s highest administrative capital (La Paz) and the world’s largest salt flats (Uyuni). It also includes the chance to trek the Inca Trail before emerging above Machu Picchu, which isn’t actually a world-record holder but probably should be for ‘best ancient city in the clouds’. In between the gasps you can ramble through markets, sipping Pisco sours and munching ceviche with locals.

Trip overview

Trek jungle trails and track wildlife with local experts in the Amazon rainforest and spend two nights sleeping among nature in lodges.
Marvel at the mother of all Inca cities, magical Machu Picchu. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and free time to explore on your own.
Take a boat tour on Lake Titicaca – the world's highest navigable lake – then alight at a floating island made of reeds for a unique homestay.
Empty, haunting and spectacular – the laws of physics seem to bend on the Uyuni Salt Flats. Experience it on a three-day 4WD adventure across the rocky Atacama Desert.
At Intrepid we’ve always been about balancing profit and purpose and as the largest B Corp certified operator on the Inca Trail we’re committed to operating our treks for the benefit of all – join us and help make the world a better place.
The Andes Mountains are breathtaking, but the heights reached on this trip can cause some people to suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or health. Please see the ‘Medical and health information’ section of Essential Trip Information for more important information on this.
Some of the best sightseeing on this trip takes place on walks, which range from gentle to strenuous (if you choose to hike the Inca Trail). While this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to take part in all activities.
Those who walk the Inca Trail will be camping with basic facilities. It's not exactly the Hilton, but the rewards of the trek are many!
The Amazon is a tropical jungle and as such can be very humid. It's important to drink plenty of water and wear light cotton clothing, plus be sure to bring tropical-strength insect repellent.
The best way to see the sights in and around Uyuni is by 4WD. You’ll be crossing some bumpy surfaces, but we think a rollicking ride is all part of the adventure.
In Bolivia (especially in Uyuni), sometimes things don't go to plan. For example, an attraction may be closed for the day with no notice or reason. Your local leader will organise alternative plans if this happens.
Our travellers consistently rate the Andean Desert and Uyuni Salt Flats as a trip highlight. Just know that facilities along the way aren’t exactly luxurious (it is the desert, after all). Be prepared for cold nights and showers with no hot water, simple meals, basic amenities and multi-share accommodation.
According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only, and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Please refer to the itinerary for details.
Travellers who choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), will not follow the same routes within Machu Picchu. This means that you may not be able to have photos together, overlooking Machu Picchu. This applies to travellers on the same booking or separate bookings.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. With Indigenous cultures dating back millennia, this country is a fascinating land of Amazonian rainforests, diverse wildlife and soaring mountains. Your adventure begins in Lima with a welcome meeting at 2 pm at your hotel. After, head downtown for a guided walking tour of the city's historical centre to take in the colonial mansions, palaces and churches that line the streets. Then, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon free. You might visit the Museum of the Inquisition to learn about Spanish colonialism in Peru. Otherwise, wander around the city until night falls, then embark on an optional Lima Bites and Sights Tour with Urban Adventures, taking you to the bohemian Barranco district to sample the best local street food and pisco cocktails.

There are no meals included on this day.

Lima - Leader-led walking tour
Lima - Museum of the Inquisition - Free
Lima - Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - PEN15
Lima - Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventure (Price based on 2 participants) - USD52
Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs Admission Fee - PEN20
Lima - Private: Home Cooked Tour Ceviche experience Urban Adventure (Based on 2 Participants) - USD85
Lima - Lima Discovery + San Francisco and Pisco Sour - Urban Adventures (Price based on 2 participants) - USD39
Lima - Lima Eat Street (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
Lima - Private Larco Museum (Based on 4 participants) - USD50
Lima - Lima Pisco Making (Based on 4 participants) - USD35
Lima - Bohemian Barranco (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
Lima - Lima Water Show (Based on 4 participants) - USD40

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Rise and shine early today for your journey into the wilds of the Peruvian Amazon. Take an early transfer to Lima airport, then fly to Puerto Maldonado. Here, you’ll pack a small duffle bag with essentials for the next two days. Board a motorised canoe and cruise deep into the jungle. The journey to your eco-lodge in the Madre de Dios region will take a couple of hours, so you’ll stop for lunch along the way. Settle into your thatched-roof lodge before a short orientation walk of your surroundings. Spend the evening taking in the sights and smells of the jungle and enjoy an I’m-so-far-from-home moment.

Amazon Jungle - Jungle activities

Your travel time today is approximately 6 hours.

Intrepid uses two different lodges in the same area. The activities may vary slightly according to which lodge you’re at. The included night excursion may be tonight or tomorrow. As both lodges are in the same area of the jungle, you’ll see the same wildlife and your overall jungle experience will be the same.

Get ready for an unforgettable day exploring the depths of the jungle! Set out on a half-day trek guided by local experts on the area's flora and fauna. Learn from your guides about the medicinal and practical uses for some of the plants that grow here, which Indigenous people have been studying and using for thousands of years. On your walk, keep an eye out for rainbow macaws and butterflies, and listen for the barking call of the peccaries and chattering of monkeys that call the jungle home. This part of the Amazon is also known to house capybaras, giant otters and jabirus, so keep your eyes peeled for these exotic creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch and some free time to relax. Once the sun goes down, venture out on a night walk in search of some of the jungle's nocturnal inhabitants (caimans, jaguars and anacondas).

Today’s jungle walk is about 11 km. The paths can get quite muddy, and the walk is quite tiring for some, but well worth it!

Leave behind the natural wonders of the Amazon for the man-made wonders of Cusco. Return to Puerto Maldonado to collect your luggage, then take a short flight. If Lima is Peru's head, then Cusco is definitely the heart. Once you've spent some time acclimatising to the altitude of 3450 m, head out on an orientation walk with your leader. See the ancient, colonial and contemporary architecture styles, including the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the San Pedro Market, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. This tour will also include the most significant temple in the ancient Inca empire – Qoricancha. Despite being covered with a Baroque facade in the 17th century by the Spanish, the original Inca masonry has been uncovered in some areas. The rest of the day is yours to spend how you like.

Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk

The direct flight between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado is temporarily suspended and you’ll transit in Lima between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado. Your time in Cusco may be impacted but no activities will be affected.

Hop on a private bus this morning and travel through the lush terraces of the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo – one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish. On the way, stop at a village to enjoy lunch and conversation in a community that still practices many Inca traditions. If you’d like, you can head to the archaeological park or if you're feeling energetic, climb to the top of the squared terraces and gaze down over the valley. Then, visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba for afternoon tea – this café is dedicated to working with single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley, where there are few opportunities for childcare and employment. As all the ingredients used here are grown and purchased locally, the establishment also prides itself on its organic and locally focused practices. Enjoy a coffee, tea or juice with a slice of vegan beet cake or a homemade cookie and continue your journey to Ollantaytambo. Tonight, maybe you’d like to sit down for a dinner of quinoa and alpaca stew at one of the local restaurants.

Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
Sacred Valley - AMA Snack and Drink
Ollantaytambo - Archaeological site - PEN70

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be either hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu. 

While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave, you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. You won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco and travel with only a small bag for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. 

Route 1 Inca Trail 

Today, travel by minivan to the 82 km marker and meet your crew of local porters, your cook and your guide. Your first day will include uphill trekking to the campsite, which sits at 3100 m above sea level. On the way, you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. In the evening, unwind at the campsite with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook. 

Route 2 Quarry Trail 

Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. From here, you’ll head to the small community near Qory Song’o (Golden Heart) hill, where you’ll climb to the top for the incredible views of the Soqma Perolniyoc, Pachar and Huarocondo valleys. There are also several sacred tombs in the area, protected by the locals, which you can explore with your leader and even see some of the original structure crafted from wood and leather. These remains have never been seen by travellers before, so you can be a part of this exclusive experience. Carry on to the Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, where you can stop for some snacks and photos. Arrive at the campsite, 3700 m above sea level, around lunchtime. After, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas. 

Route 3 Cusco: 

After spending the night in Ollantaytambo, take a short drive to the town of Pisac. Pisac is well known for its market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and perhaps try some local empanadas. Arrive back at Cusco in the afternoon, where your leader will take you to San Pedro Market, where you have the option to buy some local favourites for a picnic tomorrow. 

3 Night/4 Day Inca Trail (or 2 Night/3 Day Inca Quarry Trail) guided hike(s) with porters' support. Or guided Cusco stay (Machu Picchu by train)

Included lunch and dinner today are for travellers on the trekking options only.   

The Inca Trail is within the ability of anyone with a moderate level of fitness. The trail is 45 km long and often steep. Each day's journey generally consists of seven hours of walking (uphill and downhill), with stops for snacks and lunch. Trekking usually begins at 7 am (except on the fourth morning) and you reach the campsite around 5 pm. Accommodation on the trek is camping (three nights). Double tents (twin-share) and foam camping mats will be provided. The porters will set up the tents while the cook prepares meals. 

The Quarry Trail is within the ability of anyone with a moderate level of fitness. The hike is 26 km long and its highest pass is at 4450 m above sea level. Horses will carry your gear and camping equipment. The first two nights are spent camping, and the third night you’ll stay at a simple hotel. Double tents (twin-share) and foam camping mats will be provided. The porters will set up the tents while the cook prepares meals. 

This is the most challenging day of the trek, as you ascend a 5-hour long steep path to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4200 m above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 m.   

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa, about 4370 m high. After enjoying the picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. After, make the 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4450 m. From here, descend to the sacred site that the Incas called Intipunku. This is a sun gate, where the sun will stream through at particular times of the year and there are views of the Nevado Veronica mountain year-round. The Incas built several sun gates, the most notable overlooking Machu Picchu. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 3600 m. 

Route 3 Cusco 

Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a 1 to 3 hour walk back to Cusco. On the way, stop to admire some of the archaeological sites, including Puka Pukara, Qinqu Quenqo and Saksaywaman. Arrive back in Cusco in the afternoon and enjoy some free time. Maybe visit the Merida, Mendivil and Olave art galleries and workshops before finding a great spot to sit down and enjoy some dinner. 

Included lunch and dinner today are for travellers on the trekking options only. 

Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass at 3980 m. Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 3850 m, also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the 2-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. 

Route 2 Quarry Trail  

Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo when you finish your trek, before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll meet with the travellers in your group who didn't hike. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. 

Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes 

After a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo, you’ll catch a 1.5-hour train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. 

Included lunch and dinner today are for travellers on the Inca Trail trekking option only. There is an included lunch for travellers on the Quarry Trail trekking option. 

This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu – one of the famed Wonders of the World. The day starts before dawn, with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, you’ll begin the final 2.5-hour trek to Intipunku (the Sun Gate). Weather permitting, you’ll enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ as you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.   

Route 2 and 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco 

Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 5.30 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for the Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters. This is a day to remember!    

For all travellers, after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to catch the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll stop for lunch together. From here, take a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening. 

Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour

Due to safety reasons the final checkpoint for all trekkers opens at 5 am. The estimated arrival time at Machu Picchu's Sun Gate for Inca Trail trekkers is approximately 7.30 am. For Quarry Trail trekkers and train travellers, the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu departs at 5.30 am. The estimated arrival time is between 6 and 6.30 am. The sun rises at Machu Picchu at approximately 5.30 am, so it's not possible to be there in time for sunrise. 

Due to Intrepid's internal safety policy, our leaders are specifically prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu. 

Enjoy free time to relax, shop and explore more of Cusco's many sights. Maybe rest your weary legs at a cafe on Plaza de Armas or head to the San Pedro Market where you can find vegetables, meats, local cheeses, chocolates, herbal medicines and many local handicrafts. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs or ingredients for a picnic. The market is also where many locals (and daring travellers) go to eat ‘mystery soups.’ Some may be just chicken – however, the most popular among the locals usually contain frogs or offal. For those looking for something active, why not try mountain biking in the hills that surround Cusco?

Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN135
Cusco - Half Boleto Turistico Pass (access to selected archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN75
Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee) - PEN15
Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee - PEN40
Cusco - Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD105
Cusco - Full Day Via Ferrata & Zipline - USD95
Cusco - Pisco Making Urban Adventure (Based on 2 participants) - USD57
Cusco - Full Day Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Based on 4 participants) - USD85
Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking (Price Based on 2 Participants) - USD170
Cusco - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 paticipants) - USD100
Cusco - Humantay Lake Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD130
Cusco - Cusco Cooking Class - USD70

This morning after breakfast, travel through the dramatic scenery of the high altiplano to Puno – located on the shores of serene Lake Titicaca. At an altitude of 3800 m, Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake. Today includes a bit of a long drive, but it’s worth the first glimpse of immense Lake Titicaca, whose seemingly endless waters stretch into the horizon. Puno is a melting pot of Indigenous Aymara and Quechuan culture and traditional Andean customs, and it wears its traditions on its sleeve. If you're lucky, your trip will coincide with one of the many cultural festivals here. Ask your leader where you can get the best grilled trout tonight – a true local specialty perfect for dinner.   

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Puno continues to experience some occasional ongoing political unrest. With safety always our priority, on some departures, you may need to use alternative transportation to avoid affected areas. Your tour leader will advise of any specific changes to transport or the itinerary in this destination that needs to be put in place.

This morning, you’ll take a tour of the immense lake by motorboat, stopping at the floating Uros Islands that look like they could come from a Pixar or Studio Ghibli movie. Built by the Uros people to protect themselves from encroaching Inca forces hundreds of years ago, the islands are constructed from many layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake. Get a closer look at contemporary life on the shores of the lake with a homestay in a local community. Help your host family with their daily activities, try out a few words in the Quechua language and maybe even join a local soccer game to make some friends on the makeshift pitch. Tonight, sit down and swap stories with your hosts, who will cook you a feast full of traditional Peruvian favourites.

Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay

Your homestay tonight is a traditional mud brick house. Rooms have beds and many blankets, and there are shared drop toilets, but no showers.

This morning after breakfast, board another motorboat and cruise to Taquile Island – known for the intricate, hand-knitted textiles the locals produce. Here, knitting is strictly a male domain and women do the spinning. It's a great place to pick up some high-quality, locally knitted goods, with the added bonus of supporting the local community. Then, take an hour uphill trek to the main area of the island, where you can shop for handicrafts. After, descend about 500 steps to the boat. Return to Puno, where you might like to gather your group and find a local watering hole to enjoy a drink or two – try a chilcano or indulge in another pisco sour.

Your travel time today will be about 4 hours.

This morning, head to the bustling highland city of La Paz in Bolivia. At the border, say goodbye to your Peruvian leader and welcome your new Bolivian leader. After border formalities at the Peruvian migration office and document checks as you cross the border, you’ll discover the colonial architecture of La Paz. Browse the markets on a walking tour, taking in the vibrant expressions of culture. Over the last decade, grassroots activism and a shifting political landscape have created space for various Indigenous cultures to live openly. After the walking tour, why not head to the Witches' Market in search of folkloric remedies, potions and totems? It's a great place to pick up a last-minute souvenir!

La Paz - Orientation Walk

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. 

Kamisaki! At around 3600 metres, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world in La Paz. Although Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia, La Paz is the centre of industry – the country’s brain. Despite the abundance of colonial architecture, La Paz's indigenous roots run deep, and the atmosphere in the market-filled streets is both modern and traditional. After a 6 pm welcome meeting maybe head out into the city, situated in the middle of a vast volcanic crater. Breathe the ‘thin’ air, marvel at the vistas of buildings clinging to the canyon sides, and explore the lively streets like Calle Jaen.

Hotel (1 night)
La Paz - Visit to the 'Witches Market' - Free
La Paz City Tour & Moon Valley - USD40
La Paz - Tiwanaku Archeological site (Shared service) - USD50
La Paz - Coca Museum - BOB20

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive in time for today's welcome meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Death Road Biking to Coroico – Please note that our leaders are not able to organize this activity for you due to safety concerns. Injuries are very common and there have been a number of fatal accidents.

This morning, leave La Paz behind and travel by private vehicle to Uyuni – the gateway to Bolivia’s acclaimed salt flats. You’ll head off around 8.30 am this morning and will arrive late in the afternoon, so be sure to have a book or some podcasts ready, a packed lunch, and some snacks on hand. Arriving in Uyuni feels a bit like you've reached the end of the road, which in many ways is true. This remote small town sits on the edge of the high altiplano – a wilderness that extends for hundreds of kilometres towards the border with Argentina and Chile. Once arrived, check in and relax into your hotel in Uyuni town. Although basic, your accommodation for tonight is clean and comfortable, and maybe the last time you’ll have a hot shower for a few days!

Uyuni is the starting point of your 4WD excursion into Salar de Uyuni and the Andean Desert. This morning you will stop by the Train Cemetery, three kilometres outside of Uyuni Town, connected to it by the old train tracks, and see where families of abandoned locomotives rust slowly in the sun. Continue on to the town of Colchani, which produces salt the old-fashioned way, before heading into the salt flats. Endless skies meet endless white plains, and it's a pretty hypnotic sight – don't forget to snap loads of photos! Stop by an intriguing salt hotel and drive to an island of cacti that rises like a jagged reef in the desert. Known as Isla Inca Wasi, or Fish Island, this fossil-strewn outcrop was once the top of an ancient volcano, and you’ll have the chance to go on an optional hike here. After a big day of driving, head south to a small village and your homestay-style accommodation. Settle in and enjoy an included dinner.

Mixed Dormitory (1 night)
Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'

Accommodation in the desert is very basic. Shower facilities if any can be unreliable and cold, as the pipes often freeze in the winter months. Toilet facilities are simple, and the multi-share accommodation is dormitory-style. Electricity is generated by solar panels and generators, so there won’t be enough power to charge electronic devices. The desert is at high altitude and can experience extremely cold weather, particularly at night, so it’s important to pack warm clothing and base layers.

Please be aware that from December to March, there’s a risk of the salt lake being flooded. If this is the case, the itinerary will be adapted to accommodate this, and this may include omitting the Inca Wasi visit from today.

After breakfast, continue driving through the incredible landscapes of the Andean Desert, with another day deep in the wilderness. Pass by Chiguana Salt Lake, the still-active Ollague Volcano, and other small lakes of different colours – perhaps with a flamboyance of flamingos standing nearby! Continue on to the Siloli Desert, which is known for its mountain of seven colours, Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree) rock formation, and some pretty epic vistas. You’ll also get the chance to venture into an Andean wildlife reserve (Reserva de Eduardo Avaroa) and hike around the Laguna Colorada (Red Lake), keeping an eye out for llamas, flamingos, vicunas, and foxes along the way. Once all the sightseeing is over for another day, retire to your dormitory accommodation in a local community (either Huayllajara or Polques) for a well-earned rest and included dinner.

Dormitory (1 night)
Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada

Despite all the delights, this trip can be tough going. There will be long travel days in 4WDs on dusty washboard tracks, freezing temperatures, basic toilet facilities, and multi-share accommodation. However, without a doubt, this amazing journey will be one of the main highlights of your trip to South America.

Leave your lodge nice and early to try and catch the sunrise over the surrounding geysers. These bubbling fumaroles are especially active in the morning, thanks to the cold air. There may be an opportunity to stop at a local hot spring for a quick dip (optional), then to Laguna Verde to take some pictures of the water’s striking green hues. Afterward, pass through more barren desert landscapes, some of which are frequently compared to Salvador Dali’s paintings. Onwards to Laguna Verde, Valle de Rocas (Rock Valley), and the San Cristobal mining town. You’ll arrive back in Uyuni around 5 pm to spend the night at your leisure – after the last few days in the Bolivian wild, this could be the right time to find a comfy local restaurant for an optional dinner and drinks with your travel crew.

Today, say goodbye to Uyuni, and catch a local bus for about 4 hours along the scenic route to Potosi, where you’ll arrive in the early afternoon. Potosi has had a turbulent past, centred mostly around its mining successes and failures. Once the predominant supplier of silver to colonial-era Spain, Potosi briefly celebrated life as one of the richest cities in the world. Explore the architectural remnants of this period of industry on a leader-led orientation walk, then the afternoon and evening are yours. Perhaps visit the Santa Teresa Convent Museum to observe the art and treasures on display inside the convent’s original walls or the National Mint Museum.

Visiting the Potosi Mines can be a thrilling yet dangerous experience. We at Intrepid have partnered with a local operator to offer travellers what we have assessed to be a safer and rewarding option for this visit. This tour involves visiting the miner’s market, a minerals distillery as well as entering the first 150-200 meters into the Grito de Piedra mine. We believe this experience offers a great understanding of the socio, cultural, and economic importance of the mine to Potosi and the region while avoiding the risks associated with entering deeper sections of the mine. This activity is not for the faint-hearted or those that suffer claustrophobia. Your group leader is strictly prohibited from recommending or assisting travellers to book other mine tours.

After a lazy morning to explore Potosi, take a local bus early in the afternoon and arrive in Sucre after approximately 4 hours, disembarking in the temperate valley city. Bolivia's official capital, Sucre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and has retained the flavour of its colonial heritage in its churches, museums, and ancient mansions. Most of the town's colonial buildings have been whitewashed, earning it the nickname the 'White City'. On arrival, you'll have some free time to get your bearings of the city before you go for an optional dinner.

Potosi - National Mint of Bolivia - BOB60
Potosi - Santa Teresa Convent Museum - BOB33
Potosi - Cerro Rico mine tour - BOB150

Take a few days to explore Bolivia’s capital. After an orientation walk, compare shoe sizes with a dinosaur at Cal Orcko, where 68 million-year-old footprints have been discovered. This is the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world, over 12,000 of them! Then, you might like to visit the Museo de la Recoleta, a 400-year-old convent on top of the hill that provides great views over the city and is home to a fascinating collection of sculptures and paintings. Or maybe head to the Plaza 25 de Mayo to rub shoulders with Sucre's affluent residents and investigate the extravagant interior of the Senora de la Merced.

Sucre - Dinosaur Footprints
Sucre - Orientation Walk
Sucre - Church of San Felipe Neri - BOB17
Sucre - Casa de la Libertad - BOB28

Today, set out for an included hike along the ancient Pre-Incan path known as the Chataquila trek. The trek is relatively easy being that it is mostly downhill. On the way down enjoy the stunning views of the Andes and the valleys. In the afternoon,you will have time to further explore. Most of today and tomorrow are free to take up some additional optional activities in and around town, so it’s up to you what you’d like to do and see! Bolivian dance show, or textile museum, anyone?

Sucre - Chataquila Pre-Inca trek
Sucre - Museum of Textiles - BOB35
Sucre - Bolivian Dance Show - BOB150

This morning is free to explore Sucre before catching a flight back to La Paz (approx 40 min).

Depending on availability the flight today may be via Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Cochabamba, with a total flight time of 3-4 hours.

Today is the final day of your tour and there are no activities planned, so you are free to leave at any time. With so much to see and do, you might want to spend an extra day or two checking out the city. We’ll be happy to organize additional accommodation for you (subject to availability) and transfer to the airport.

23 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 8 dinners

Plane, Canoe, Boat, 4X4, Private Vehicle, Taxi, Public Bus

Camping (with basic facilities) (3 nights), Dormitory (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (12 nights), Jungle Lodge (2 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1.Inca Trail permits are sold on request basis only. Once deposit is paid and passport details provided, Intrepid will endeavor to secure a permit for you. If Inca Trail permits are unavailable by the time you book, you can opt to hike the Inca Quarry Trail instead https://www.intrepidtravel.com/machu-picchu-peru/quarry-trail The Inca Trail closes in February to allow cleaning and restoration works. If the trek portion of your trip starts in February you will be automatically booked to hike the Quarry Trail.

2.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 2,3 (Amazon Jungle),Day 12 (Homestay), Days 17,18 (Salar de Uyuni & Desierto Siloli) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3.The excursion to Uyuni salt lake is on shared basis and your group size may be larger than 12 travelers.

4.Nationals from the United States need a visa to enter Bolivia and you we highly recommend you obtain this visa in advance from your nearest Bolivian consulate or Embassy. Not obtaining the visa in advance is likely to cause long delays at the border. Please see the 'Passport and Visa' section of the Essential Trip Information for details.

5.This trip is a combination of two of our most popular departures. As such the make-up of your group and your tour leader may change on day 14.

6. While hiking the four-day Inca Trail or the three-day Quarry Trail portion of this trip you may be joined by other Intrepid and/or non-Intrepid travelers.

7. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase entrance fees to certain sites. Delays to provide this information may result in booking fees or changes to your itinerary.

8. Parts of your trip go above 2800 m/9200 ft where it is common for travelers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude - regardless of your age, gender and fitness. Please read the following document carefully and, during your trip, utilize the table on the back daily to record your own perspective of your general health and any symptoms you may experience: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/altitude-sickness

9. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you are aware of the cause and effects of travelling at altitude, monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly.

10. Most hotels in highlands should have oxygen cylinders available, however, you may be asked to pay surcharge for use of oxygen longer than 5 - 10 min at the time.

11. As you can choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), there is a small chance you may be the only traveller on your selected option.

12. At the time of booking, please advise whether you would like to hike the classic Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or take the train. When available, the Inca Trail will be booked as the default option. Fees may apply to changes made after the time of booking, and availability on other options cannot be guaranteed.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Peru & Bolivia highlights: Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, & Uyuni Salt Flats

15 days from £6,700pp

Day-to-day Itinerary
Peru trip ideas

Tour highlights

Explore the atmospheric streets and squares of the former Inca capital of Cuzco.

Visit spectacular Machu Picchu with your own private guide, to hear some of the fascinating stories behind the site.

Traverse the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca.

Travel across the world's largest salt lake at Salar de Uyuni.

Price includes:

Scheduled international and domestic flights
In-destination transfers
Activities and excursions as detailed
All accommodation
24-hour support while you travel

Itinerary idea in detail

Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Lima. Upon arrival from your international flight, be greeted and taken to the nearby airport hotel.

Fly to the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco. After you have been taken to your hotel, have the rest of the day to acclimatise to the high altitude.

Enjoy a shared city tour today and have the afternoon to yourselves.

Embark on a full-day group-guided trip into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Leaving your hotel early, your first stop may be the terraces and market of Písac. Visit the sturdy ruins of Ollantaytambo, a former important administrative hub for the Incas, and look across the valley to see a carved face on the mountain opposite, believed to be a messenger from the gods.

Take the train through the cloudforest to Machu Picchu town, where you will have a privately guided tour of Machu Picchu. Once you have taken the bus back down to the town, you have the evening to yourselves.

This morning, you can independently return to Machu Picchu; this way, you can do things at your own pace and potentially try out another circuit or climb one of the nearby mountains of Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu. After this, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo station and be picked up and driven to Cuzco.

Today you will be taken to the bus station for your scenic bus ride from Cuzco to Puno across the stunning Altiplano. You will be met at Puno bus station and taken to your hotel for the night.

Today, you will travel to the beautiful Sun Island on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca, where you will stay for a night. Spend the afternoon exploring the local area, seeing the fantastic views and finding yourself a good spot to watch the sunrise the next morning.

Travel by boat to the Bolivian shores of the lake and then by coach to La Paz. You will have a free evening to explore the city.

This morning fly to the Uyuni salt flats and be picked up from the airport, with a few cultural stops along the way.

Have a day on the salt! You will be picked up by your private driver and guide to experience the vast salt flats and their mysterious surroundings.

Fly to La Paz this morning, travelling through El Alto and down into the city centre.

This morning, you will be driven to La Paz Airport again to fly to Lima. This evening, you will have a culinary tour.

Enjoy one last morning at leisure. Your guide will take you back to the airport in time for the international flight.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Accommodation options

While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.

Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel

Belmond Miraflores Park

Courtyard Lima Miraflores

View more accommodation in lima.

Tierra Viva San Blas

Junior Suite, Libertador Palacio del Inka, Cuzco

Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas

View more accommodation in Cuzco

Hotel Pakaritampu

El Albergue

Spa, Rio Sagrado, Sacred Valley of Incas

Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado

Sol y Luna Lodge and Spa, Sacred Valley of Incas

Hotel Sol y Luna

View more accommodation in sacred valley.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

Inkaterra Machu Picchu

Sumaq Hotel

View more accommodation in machu picchu.

GHL Lake Titicaca

Simple double room, Posadas del Inca Puno

Posadas del Inca Lake Titicaca

Casa Andina Private Collection

Posada del Inca

Hotel Rosario

Hotel Presidente

Hotel Europa

View more accommodation in La Paz

Luna Salada

Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu

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PERU BOLIVIA ITINERARY – All You Need To Know!

By: Author Catrina

Posted on Last updated: December 3, 2023

Categories BOLIVIA , LATIN AMERICA , PERU

Planning your travels to Peru and Bolivia but just don’t know where to go or how to start planning your itinerary? I got you covered!

Here is the ultimate Peru and Bolivia itinerary with all the important information you need to know!

PERU BOLIVIA ITINERARY

Our Peru and Bolivia itinerary was for 3 weeks, however if you don’t have that much time you can do it in 2 weeks if you cut out a couple of the lesser-known places and just visit the most well-known or ‘bucket list’ places.

I found 3 weeks for our Bolivia Peru itinerary was perfect though as you got a real balance between cities and nature, touristy places and quieter places, and got to really get an insight into the culture without feeling rushed.

In our itinerary, we entered Bolivia first and then Peru. Prior to being in Bolivia we were in Chile so our itinerary below starts on the Bolivian border with Chile and ends in Cusco (Machu Picchu more specifically!) in Peru.

You can however do this Peru Bolivia itinerary from back to front and go from Peru to Bolivia. As there is a lot to cover in this Peru – Bolivia itinerary I put things into bullet points so it is easier for you to follow.

Click on the links embedded in the text for more in-depth information on each subject.

Challenges of this Peru Bolivia Travel Itinerary:

Please bear in mind travel in Latin America can sometimes be challenging if you don’t speak Spanish. Download Google translate if you need.

For a lot of this itinerary you are at least 3,000 metres above sea level. This can be hard on your body physically (for example getting out of breath, headaches, dizziness).

It is very important to acclimatise yourself slowly (increase the altitude slowly) over a few days, otherwise you could get very ill if you ascend too quickly.

Be prepared and bring altitude sickness tablets. For the altitude tablets to be effective you need to take them before you start to feel ill.

LONG DISTANCES:

There is a lot of ground to cover on this itinerary. Sometimes you may be taking overnight buses to get from one destination to another and will be sleeping on a bus through the night.

They are very comfortable though, with food and blankets onboard, and the chairs turn into beds in the VIP section so you can get a good sleep. This is great as it saves a night’s accomodation and saves you wasting a day travelling.

If altitude sickness wasn’t enough, some travellers may catch travellers diarrhoea aswell. Travellers diahorrea is most unpleasant, unlike any other illness I have experienced before, and I will never forget it.

It sounds grim, but I need to tell you how it starts as it doesn’t start with diarrhoea as you might think. It starts with you burping.

You just keep burping. And not normal burps. They are burps that leave a horrible eggy taste in your mouth. This carries on for a couple of days and then it goes on to vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness.

Get some antibiotics straight away as soon as you start burping, otherwise it will last for weeks.

Exercise common sense. Petty crime such as stealing is common here.

1. Salt Flat Tour

Altitude: varies from 3,500 to 5,000 metres above sea level

Visiting the salt flats in southwest Bolivia is an absolute must on your Peru Bolivia itinerary. It’s one of the most incredible and surreal landscapes you will ever see!

The area is very large and there are also some stunning landscapes nearby in the surrounding area so most people do a 3 day jeep trip to experience it all.

There is a lot of variety to the landscape (salt flats, geysers, hot pools, desert formations etc) and so much natural beauty to see here.

Our 3 day tour started in San Pedro de Atacama , in the north of Chile – this is the one we picked and it was really good.

We crossed over to Bolivia, visiting the Reserva Natural de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa (lagoons, desert, volcanoes, Andes mountains, flamingoes, llamas, giant cacti), the salt flats and ending in Uyuni town.

If you won’t be visiting Chile, you can do a 3 day trip that starts and ends in Uyuni town – this is the one I recommend .

Here are some tips and things to bear in mind before you book your trip:

– There are lots of companies that do tours of the salt flats so shop around and check the itinerary, price and what’s included before you pick a tour!

Do you want to start and finish in the same place (town of Uyuni in Bolivia), or do a 1 way trip from Uyuni and ending in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile or vice versa from Chile to Bolivia like we did.

Personally we felt this made more sense to do a 1 way trip instead of going back on ourselves, but it totally depends on what the rest of your trip itinerary is and where you will go before and afterwards.

– The area is very remote and so the accommodation is very basic. Shared rooms, no showers, often no electricity and no heating.

– The transport for the trip will be in 4WD jeeps, usually with 6 passengers so you might have other tourists in the jeep with you too. Also the ride can get a bit bumpy so be prepared!

– Get a tour where your meals and sleeping bags are included. Otherwise you’ll have to bring a sleeping around for the whole trip. You definitely need a sleeping bag as it gets VERY cold here at night!

– You’ll need to pay for the National Reserve fees – around 250 bolivianos ($36 roughly).

Below was the itinerary we took on our tour. Most of the 3 day trip tours do a similar itinerary. As I mentioned earlier, our tour started in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile and took us across the border into Bolivia.

We chose the 3 day trip below, but there is also the option to do a 4 day trip which I recommend!

If you are planning to visit Chile too, I would highly recommend you to do the same route as this is one of few Chile Bolivia border crossings.

geysers salar de uyuni Bolivia itinerary

Crossed from Chile to Bolivia.

Laguna verde – green lake.

Salvador Dali desert – surrealist landscapes that resemble the work of painter Salvador Dali.

Day 2:

Termas de Polques – natural hot springs you can have a dip in.

Géiseres sol de la mañana – volcanic activity and boiling mud lakes.

Several lagoons, including Laguna Colorada – beautiful lake with hundreds of flamingoes in.

Arbol de Piedra – big rock formation in the shape of a tree formed by the wind and sand.

Isla Incahuasi – island in the middle of the salt desert full of giant cactus.

Salar de Uyuni – largest salt flat in the world.

Train Graveyard – abandoned locomotives dating from the early 20th Century.

The salt flat tours end in the town of Uyuni. This town is primarily used as a starting/end point to salt flat tours so you’ll find lots of accommodation options, restaurants and souvenir shops here.

BUS FROM UYUNI TO POTOSI: 4 HOURS

Don’t stay overnight in Uyuni as there is not much to do here. Instead take a bus from Uyuni to Potosi after your salt flat tour has finished. We used the bus company Expreso 11 de Julio and the bus from Uyuni to Potosi took 4 hours.

From Uyuni you can also take the bus straight to La Paz or Sucre if you want to skip Potosi.

Altitude: 4,067 metres above sea level

Potosi is a beautiful Colonial town that became famous because of it’s mining. Since 1545 the Spaniards (who had recently colonised Bolivia) began extracting silver from the Cerro Rico (‘rich hill’) Mountain.

Shortly after this Potosi became one of the wealthiest and largest cities in the world. But by the time Bolivia achieved it’s independence over the Spanish in 1825 almost all the silver mines had been exhausted.

The price of silver then fell, Potosi’s population decreased rapidly, and the city never recovered.

Nowadays most people here work in agriculture, with alpacas or llamas. Some still work in the mines however, extracting ores from the Cerro Rico.

They don’t get paid well – most of them still live in poverty, and they work in very tough and life-threatening conditions. Sometimes they even work for 2 or 3 days non stop.

They also suffer from health conditions and most of them don’t make it to over 40 years old.

Tourist attractions in Potosi:

Plaza 10 de Noviembre – beautiful colonial square and Cathedral. You’ll see lots of locals here.
Iglesia de San Lorenzo
You can tour the mine shafts and meet the workers. Tourists are really appreciated at the mines. You can buy present for the miners at the Miner’s Market before you go down the mine. Items such as dynamite to blow out the rock and coca leaves to help fight hunger are greatly received by the miners.

BUS FROM POTOSI TO SUCRE: 4 HOURS

From Potosi you can take a 4 hour bus ride to Sucre.

Altitude: 2,800 metres above sea level

Sucre is actually the official capital of Bolivia, not La Paz. That being said, it has a lovely relaxed charming atmosphere, in complete contrast to chaotic La Paz.

It has a much lower altitude than neighbouring Potosi and La Paz, so if you’ve been suffering with altitude sickness (or the cool temperatures!) you’ll feel a lot better and warmer here in Sucre!

Sucre is a beautiful city and is definitely worth a stop on your Peru Bolivia itinerary. Sucre was infact declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Due to it’s Colonial past there are lots of elegant Colonial buildings and architecture here, many of them whitewashed, leading to Sucre being known as Bolivia’s white-washed city. And like Potosi, you’ll see lots of indigenous locals here.

What to do in Sucre:

– Plaza 25 de Mayo – Sucre’s main square and Bolivia’s most beautiful square. The square is sprinkled with monuments, fountains and stunning Colonial buildings.

There are lots of nice restaurants surrounding the square too. Head into Casa de la Libertad to learn about Bolivia’s fight for independence, and see the spot where Bolivia declared it’s independence in 1825.

– La Recoleta: For incredible views over the city and surrounding mountains take the easy walk up to La Recoleta. There is a cafe here (Mirador Cafe) to enjoy a drink with the view if you are here around sunset.

– Mingle with the locals at Mercado Central

– Cal Orck’o/ Parque Cretácico Dinosaur Park. Here is the world’s largest site of dinosaur tracks.

You’ll see giant dinosaur skeletons as well as a 150 metre high and 500 metre long wall with lots of well-preserved prehistoric dinosaur footprints running along it from different types of dinosaurs.

It’s pretty amazing to see, even if you’re not a massive dinosaur fan! The dinosaur park is a 25 minute drive from Sucre and you can get the ‘Dino Bus’ to take you here from Plaza 25 de Mayo at midday and 1pm.

– visit Convento de San Felipe Nari – the most beautiful Colonial building in Sucre. Wander around the courtyard then head up to the rooftop terrace to get a stunning view of Bolivia’s White City.

Here you can also see the textiles being made. They are expensive but they are all woven by hand and take several months to make!

OVERNIGHT BUS FROM SUCRE TO LA PAZ: 12 HOURS

Take an overnight bus from Sucre to La Paz. The bus takes 12 hours, leaving at 8pm and arriving at 8am.

Altitude: 3,800 metres above sea level

La Paz (meaning ‘peace’ in English) is the highest capital city (de facto) in the world. It is an incredible city full of life and you’re bound to be fascinated here.

Wander the steep and narrow streets, just take it easy as you’ll get out of breath quickly in this altitude!

Things to do in La Paz:

Mercado lanza.

Visit Mercado Lanza or mercado 16 de Julio. There are market stalls everywhere in La Paz and you can buy literally anything and everything at the market stalls as supermarkets are almost non-existent here!

The streets are full of the local women selling products and it is so interesting to see!

Witches Market

Visit the Witches market. Mercado de las Brujas is fascinating, bizarre and unlike anything you’ve experienced. Here you can buy weird and wonderful alternative medicines of all sorts.

You’ll also see dried out llama foetus’ everywhere – hanging in the doorways, laid out on the tables or placed in buckets at the stalls.

Whilst this may seem very strange and confronting to many tourists, it is actually an important cultural tradition for the people of Bolivia and brings good fortune when buried in the foundations of a new building.

Mi Teleferico Cable Car

Go on the mi teleferico cable car . Built primarily as a method of transportation for the locals, there are 7 lines but head up to ‘El Alto’ for incredible views over the city.

Death Road is a popular day trip from La Paz. For the thrill of your life do a cycling tour along Death Road (known officially as North Yungas Road or ‘camino a los Yungas’).

This is the road connecting La Paz to Coroico and was once known as the World’s Most Dangerous Road.

Death Road is named so because many people have died on this road (previous estimates are at around 200-300 every year). This is due to the road being on the edge of steep hillside cliffs with lots of bends and blind turns.

The road is mostly single lane traffic, and in the rainy season it becomes especially dangerous to travel on. This is the most scary ride you will ever take, but there are amazing views, so it’s up to you if it’s worth it!

A new and safer road has been built so nowadays the locals hardly use this road. Instead tourists mostly ride along it. The cycling tours are around 30 kilometres long, going from the mountains slowly downhill towards the jungle.

The ride takes about 5-6 hours and you’ll be cycling downhill on a very uneven gravel road with lots of big stones for the dangerous part. Caution is needed at all times, both for the safety of yourself and others.

It is a long tiring ride but at any point if you can’t continue you can get in one of the minivans that follows the group.

BUS FROM LA PAZ TO COPACABANA: 4 HOURS

From La Paz take the 4 hour bus to Copacabana. Buses depart from 7.30am to 1.30pm. If it’s easier you may want to book it as a day trip so everything is organised for you:

5. Copacabana

Altitude: 3,841 metres above sea level

Copacabana is a quaint Bolivian town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is South America’s largest lake and the highest navigable lake in the world and holds particular sacred importance to the local people.

The lake spans Bolivia and Peru, and we will visit it from both sides. Copacabana is a popular place to visit as it is the starting point to visit the Bolivian islands of Lake Titicaca.

Things to do in Copacabana:

Visit the Catedral de la Virgen de la Candelaria. The Cathedral is beautiful and very grand with unique Moorish architecture. It is a major pilgrimage site for Bolivian Catholics as is believed a miracle happened here with the black virgin ‘la morena’ over 500 years ago. The Cathedral houses the black virgin, and you will see lots of Bolivians worshipping here.
Watch the blessing of the cars ‘ Bendiciones de Movilidades’ outside the Cathedral. Twice a day (11am and 2pm) the priest comes and blesses new cars that are brought here. This is no ordinary blessing, for often the cars are blessed with the spraying of beer!
Take a hike to Cerro Calvario and see Lake Titicaca from above. Cerro El Calvario is located right next to the town and once you’ve got to the top you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca.
Head across to the Bolivian islands of Lake Titicaca Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) and Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon). Both are beautiful and have lots of sacred Incan archaeological sites. Stay overnight on Isla del Sol.

Spend one night in Copacabana before getting the boat across to Isla del Sol. You can buy tickets for the boat at any of the travel companies in Copacabana.

They all charge the same price and the boat departs at 8.30am and 1pm from Copacabana.

A single ticket costs 20 Bolivianos (£2.20) and the boat goes to Isla del Sol first, then continues on to Isla de la Luna. Just to warn you, the boat is quite slow.

Isla del Sol

Located in Lake Titicaca, the idyllic Isla del Sol is deemed by the local indigenous people as a very a sacred place. There are lots of walks you can do that offer incredible views of the lake. Hiking to the Sun Temple is really recommended.

You can stay overnight here at Isla del Sol and I highly recommend you to do so as it is so beautiful.

Isla del Sol is much bigger than Isla de la Luna, which can be explored in an hour or two, so I would only recommend you go to Isla de la Luna if you have time.

One piece of advice: leave your luggage at Copacabana if possible! It is a long old uphill hike from the jetty at Isla del Sol to get to all the accommodation in the village at the top!

Also, food is more expensive on the island so bring food across if you are on a budget.

Entry to Isla del Sol is 10 Bolivianos (£1.10).

BUS FROM COPACABANA TO PUNO, PERU: 4 HOURS

Once you have taken the boat back to Copacabana take the bus across the border to Puno, Peru. The bus should take about 4 hours depending on immigration clearance at the border. Buses leave from Copacabana from 6am to 1.30pm.

6. Lake Titicaca Floating Islands

Altitude: 3,812 metres above sea level

Puno is the starting point to visit the Peruvian islands on Lake Titicaca .

These islands are completely different to what you experienced on the Bolivian side and are honestly one of the most incredible landmarks in Peru .

uros khantati islas flotantes lake Titicaca peru

‘Islas flotantes’, as the islands are known as, are handmade floating islands made of reed! The Uros people live here on more than 40 floating islands and every 3 weeks the islands need to be rebuilt.

To visit the islands you have to take the boat from Puno. You can do a day trip to visit the islands, or do an overnight homestay on one of the islands.

We did an overnight stay and if you have the time I really recommend it to be able to learn more about the unique culture and people here.

You can help the locals on their daily activities such as fishing, ride on their magnificent reeds boats and get to wear their local costume. We stayed on Uros Khantati island and if you wish to stay you will need to book in advance .

Staying here was an incredible experience and one of the absolute highlights of my trip.

BUS FROM PUNO TO AREQUIPA: 5 HOURS

Take the boat back to Puno from the floating islands and then take a bus to Arequipa. Journey time is roughly 5 hours and the views are stunning.

7. Arequipa

Altitude: 2,335 metres above sea level

Perhaps not the most well known of Peru’s cities, but definitely the prettiest (yes, even more so than Cusco!). Arequipa should be a definite yes on your Peru itinerary!

The city is surrounded by 3 stunning snow-capped volcanoes and you could easily think you’ve landed in Spain with the beautiful Colonial architecture here.

Behind every corner is is a beautiful street to photograph, and you’re in for a treat if you love llamas!

Things to do in Arequipa:

Plaza de Armas in Arequipa is especially beautiful with lots of porticoes and palm trees. Head up to one of the hidden bars or restaurants on the second floor above the porticoes for a nice view of the square and ample people watching opportunities. Like lots of other Latin American cities, the locals will be out and about here and there is a nice atmosphere.
Museo Santuarios Andinos – visit this museum and pay your respects to the tiny mummified body of Juanita, a young teenage Inca girl who was sacrificed to the gods in the 15th Century. Her body was only discovered in 1995 when it slid down a mountain almost perfectly preserved: she had been laid to rest in a tomb on top of a mountain by the Incas. But the melting glacier had stripped the top layers of her tomb, causing her frozen body to slide down the mountain.
Wander round San Lazaro – the oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood in Arequipa.
Monasterio de Santa Catalina – this monastery still operates as a nunnery and is one of the most popular things in Arequipa to do. It is a stunning place and the Colonial architecture is incredible. Entrance is 40 soles (£9).
Visit Mundo Alpaca (Alpaca World). It’s free and just 5 blocks from Plaza de Armas!
Mirador de Yanahuara – located across the river this provides one of the best panoramic views of Arequipa and Volcano Misti in the background. It is spectacular at any time of the day but sunset is particular special.
Many people will come to Arequipa to do a Colca Canyon hike. Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world!

Colca Canyon

Tours and treks of the impressive Colca Canyon – one of the world’s deepest canyons, start and finish in Arequipa.

You can either do a multi-day trek (usually 3 days) down into the canyon, or you can do a day trip and visit the canyon from the top.

At the top of the canyon you’ll see lots of giant Andean condors – these birds have a 10 ft wingspan and are the largest flying bird in the world.

BUS FROM AREQUIPA TO CUSCO: 10 HOURS

Altitude: 3,399 metres above sea level

Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire is a delight with it’s Colonial architecture and cobblestone streets.

Many people choose to base themselves in Cusco for a few days as there is so much to do here and in the vicinity, meaning there are plenty day trips you can do! Cusco is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Macchu Picchu.

Things to do in Cusco:

Plaza de Armas – as with all Latin American cities, Plaza de Armas is the main central square of the historic city and the centre of everything that happens in the city. Plaza de Armas in Cusco is really lovely, full of life and lots of nice streets coming off it. You’ll also find the impressive Cusco Cathedral here, built in 1654. Enjoy the view from one of the second floor cafes looking out onto the square.
Qorikancha – (also spelt Koricancha or Coricancha) – The Golden Temple of the Sun. This is an absolute must visit in Cusco as it was the centre of the Inca Empire and their most holiest site. You can visit the ruins of the 15th Century Inca temple that once had floors and walls covered in complete gold, which after the Spanish colonised Peru, was all stripped. Koricancha is just a 10 minute walk from Plaza de Armas.

Mercado de San Pedro – an authentic local market you definitely need to visit. See the day to day life here and enjoy some lunch or a smoothie.
Head to one of the rooftop bars on Calle Pasñapakana in bohemian San Las neighbourhood that offer stunning views over the city.
Visit the Inca complex Sacsayhuamán . Pronounced similar to ‘sexy woman’ – you won’t be forgetting that one in a hurry! Located about a 5-10 minute drive away from Cusco on a hill, it overlooks the city and provides beautiful views down to Cusco.

Day Trips from Cusco:

The rainbow mountain.

Also known as Vinicunca or Siete Colores in Spanish.

If like me you visited Peru before 2015, you wouldn’t have even heard of Rainbow Mountain. It was hidden under layers of ice, only revealed in the last few years due to the increasing temperatures from climate change.

Already in the few short years it has been open to the public there are signs of over tourism here (thanks Instagram). In the high season you can expect around 5,000 people here.

To get here you need to take a tour. Be warned: the tours leave at around 3 in the morning! It’s a 3 hour drive and a 2 hour hike to the summit.

A lot closer to Cusco is Pisac – a really traditional Peruvian town. Pisac is really photogenic and full of bright colours. Visit on a Sunday for one of the best local markets in Peru – but be beware they grill guinea pigs (a delicacy) here at this market!

You can take a 45 minute colectivo to reach Pisac. Colectivos are Latin American minibuses by the way, so remember that word!

Moray & Maras

Moray and Maras are both very different, unique and interesting places and you can see the both of them together on a half day trip from Cusco as they located only half an hour away from each other.

The journey each way will take around 1.5 hours from Cusco.

Moray – visit the impressive Inca ruin of Moray. Here concentric agricultural terraces were built for growing and experimenting with crops.

Maras – visit the beautiful Las Salinas salt mines in Maras. They are still used as salt mines and make for some incredible photographs.

Machu Picchu

Altitude: 2,340 metres above sea level

The highlight of Peru for so many people is Machu Picchu – it sits very high on lots of people’s bucket list. Machu Picchu is absolutely a must-see when in Peru – it is completely breathtaking.

Llamas walk amongst you, the mountains peek behind the clouds, and the views and architecture are out of this world. There is a really special energy about this place.

The Incas built Machu Picchu in the middle of the mountains in the 1450s to protect their Inca Emperor from invaders. Little over one hundred years later it became abandoned as the Inca Empire collapsed due to the Spanish Conquest.

In 1911 Machu Picchu was ‘found’ again by Hiram Bingham, an American archaeologist. This is why Machu Picchu is also known as The Lost City (even though it was never ‘lost’ to the locals and they always knew it was there).

Nowadays the UNESCO sight is a new wonder of the world and attracts over half a million tourists a year.

Things to bear in mind before you plan your trip:

The high season for visiting Machu Picchu is June to September. During this time there is a limit of 5000 people a day that can visit Macchu Picchu. You will need to book your tickets a few months in advance. Whilst a lot of people visit, it doesn’t feel too crowded and it is easy to get pictures without other people in them. The key with all busy places is to get there as early as possible. If you visit in the low season there will be a lot fewer people and you can even buy your tickets in Cusco or Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu), although it is still advisable to book online .
Visiting Machu Picchu is expensive but don’t let this deter you from going. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime place and photographs do not do it justice.

How to reach Machu Picchu

It IS possible to visit Machu Picchu without doing a tour.
The long hard 3 day Inca trail hike is not the only way to reach Machu Picchu (but it is one of the best treks in Peru , if not THE best!!).
If you don’t want to do the 3-day Inca trek, or perhaps you don’t have time or don’t have the fitness (as it is quite a tough hike due to the altitude level) you head to Ollantaytambo in a colectivo (1.5 hours drive from Cusco). From Ollantaytambo, you can then get the train to Aquas Calientes, which is a half-hour bus ride from Machu Picchu. You can do this as a day trip from Cusco or as an overnight trip staying in Aguas Calientes. Ollantaytambo is a lovely town in the Sacred Valley to stop off for a couple of hours to break up the journey to Machu Picchu, and there are a few nice things to do in Ollantaytambo including seeing the ruins right on the edge of town!
If you are looking for a real challenge and to be rewarded with absolutely stunning mountain scenery along the way, you can take The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu .

Respect the local people

During your time in Peru and Bolivia you will see many indigenous people.

They are such kind and welcoming people and perhaps they may look different and unique compared to other cultures you have seen before – in terms of their appearance and how they dress in their beautiful traditional clothes (black bowler hats and colourful hand made outfits).

Please be respectful if you want to take pictures of them.

Ask permission first before taking pictures of indigenous people as many of them believe taking photos takes a part of their soul. Please respect their beliefs – if you want a picture just ask.

Local food & drink in Peru:

alpaca steak
quinoa (staple item in their diet as grown abundantly here)
coco tea (helps with altitude sickness)
Inca Cola (Peru’s ‘equivalent’ of Coca Cola. Much cheaper and doesn’t taste as good)
pisco sour (alcoholic cocktail).

Like this post on Peru Bolivia Itinerary? Pin it for later!

Catrina is a Travel Writer and ex-Flight Attendant based in Sydney, Australia. She has visited 85 countries and lived in several – including Italy, Australia, United Arab Emirates and England. Her work has been featured in a variety of popular travel publications including Fodors, Escape, Australian Traveller and Bear Grylls, as well as several international aviation and travel companies. She only writes about places she has personally visited, and aims to give real, honest advice to help her readers.

Peru and Bolivia itinerary

Are you thinking of embarking on an unforgettable Peru and Bolivia itinerary?

Both of these neighboring countries each have tonnes going for them, and given their close proximity it makes sense to travel both together.

Here we can explore novel Andean cultures , stunning mountainous landscapes as well as various picturesque cities such as Cusco and La Paz.

In this guide we’ll share our customized 2 Week Itinerary for travelers looking to explore both Peru and Bolivia. We’ll also share other practical tips such as how to get around the countries, what to pack and how to budget.

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What's in this guide?

Peru and Bolivia itinerary (2 weeks)

Let’s now take a look at the very best of what both Peru and Bolivia have to offer.

Getting to Bolivia from Peru

The easiest way of crossing from Peru to Bolivia is through Lake Titicaca. Known as the Kasani Border Crossing , it’s a relatively easy one to do and is also quite quick (we highly recommend it for our itinerary).

You’ll first need to head to Puno in the south of Peru, which is a popular stop for most travelers heading around the classic backpacking loop in this country.

There’s daily buses heading from both Cusco and Arequipa (roughly 6-8 hours each). You can also fly from either of these cities, or even from Lima with ease too.

Once you’ve crossed into Bolivia you’ll then arrive in Copacabana, which is located on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca. In total getting from Puno to Copacabana (with the border crossing) will take around 5 hours .

We suggest you brush up on your basic Spanish conversation before you arrive in Peru as it will help you to get what you want (more effectively) while crossing both borders.

Things to know before traveling to Peru and Bolivia

How to budget.

Unless you’re a millionaire, you’ll probably need to budget when traveling like we do. Thankfully you’ll be glad to know that these countries are some of the most inexpensive you can visit in Latin America.

We recommend budgeting for $20-25 per day for a dorm bed, meals and an activity or beers or so. Extras such as long buses or flights are not included and need to be budgeted separately.

What to Pack

This particular itinerary will see us travel through some really high altitude cities and remote Andean landscapes. As a result you’re going to need to layer up.

In places like Cusco and La Paz a coat will be fine, however in Uyuni and Lake Titicaca it can get freezing at night so be sure to buy some thick gloves and jumpers too.

Got travel insurance for Peru?

Peru and Bolivia itinerary (2 Weeks)

Let’s now explore our itinerary and where we’ll be visiting on this two week stint through Peru and Bolivia.

Lima (2 Days)

We’ll first arrive in the Peruvian Capital of Lima . Given it’s the best connected city of all in both of these countries, it makes sense to start your itinerary here . You can find many direct flights for great prices heading here from all over the world.

During your two days here it’s worth basing yourself in Miraflores in the south, and heading out early on your first day to visit the Costa Verde. Here we can walk along the green hills above the Pacific Ocean, and if you want to surf then this is also the place to do it (highly consistent waves rolling in all times of the year!).

From here we can head on a bike ride over to Barranco , where we can then visit the Puente de los Suspiro and also check out some awesome street art and graffiti.

Depending on your time, you can also head to the Historic Center to visit the highlights. These include the Catacombs of San Francisco, as well as to the Plaza de Armas which was the birthplace of Lima.

On your second day we highly recommend heading on this day tour tour Huacachina . This oasis town is located within the Ica desert, and is surrounded by giant dunes which are great for that perfect panoramic shot.

You’ll get to go Sandboarding here, and also enjoy a buggy ride over the towering banks. As well as having all transport and experiences included you’ll also get to visit the Ballestas Islands along the way!

🏁 Lima Itinerary stops:

#1: Costa Verde Bike Ride (optional:Surfing)
#2: Barranco
#3: San Francisco Catacombs
#4: Huacachina

Cusco, Peru (4 Days)

This Andean city is an absolute must-see when in Peru. You can easily fly from Lima to Cusco for cheap , which just takes an hour (in comparison with the super long bus ride).

It’s wise to spend your first day walking around the city, given the high altitude can be a shock . During this time you can walk around San Blas, enjoying many of the local markets as well as the impressive Twelve Angled Stone.

After that you can head to the main Plaza de Armas, which is home to some really striking colonial architecture (especially the main cathedral, however here and along the nearby streets you’ll find many other beautiful buildings).

It’s also worth heading to the Mercado San Pedro to try regional dishes such as Papa a la Huancaina or Lomo Saltado too to really get into the local swing of things.

On the rest of your days we recommend heading out into the infamous Sacred Valley region by using various day trips, and then enjoying your nights in Cusco after.

One of these is this day trip to Ausangate National Park . Home to 7 brightly coloured lakes, you’ll hike around this awesome national park whilst also taking in the views of the snowy mountains in the backdrop. You’ll also have a traditional Andean breakfast included as well as all transport.

On your other two days you can choose from a whole range of memorable day trips. These include various Incan ruins such as Sacsayhuamán and Moray , and you can also head on a guided trek up Rainbow Mountain too.

🏁 Cusco itinerary stops:

#1: San Blas
#2: Plaza de Armas
#3: San Pedro Market
#4: Ausangate National Park
#5: Sacsayhuamán Ruins / Moray Ruins
#6: Rainbow Mountain

Machu Picchu, Peru (2 Days)

Arguably the most incredible ancient ruin in all of South America, Machu Picchu is by far one of the most popular sites you can visit from Cusco.

Getting here is half the adventure, where you’ll first take colectivos from Cusco to the start of the hidroeléctrica track where you’ll then begin to walk between the spiraling mountains . Whilst it’s a pretty easy walk, it’s still a good idea to have some quality hiking shoes with you to make it easier for your feet. We recommend these for the guys as well as these for the ladies .

Given the distance it’s worth spending the night in the nearby town of Aguascalientes, so you can wake up early and head up to the site around sunrise. During the evening you can also enjoy the hot springs close to town which are perfect for resting those tired muscles.

On your second day we’ll explore the mountain-top site, which is home to various temples, shrines and even an alpaca or two roaming around freely! If you’re strapped for time then we suggest this day tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco .

🏁 Machu Picchu itinerary stops:

#1: Aguascalientes
#2: Hot Springs (Baños Termales)
#3: Machu Picchu

Lake Titicaca (2 Days)

From Cusco we can then take a night bus to Puno, which is a major city located on the Peruvian shores of Lake Titicaca .

This high altitude lake (4000m+) is best known for the man-made Uros islands , which were formed by ancient civilisations who still live on these reeds to this day.

We actually only suggest spending a few hours of your first day seeing these islands in Puno, but not spending the night. It’s better to head over to Copacabana in Bolivia (it’s a 4 hour ride) to enjoy the more authentic town.

On the first night you can enjoy a hot caldo by the lake, and even climb up nearby Cerro Calvario for some panoramic lake views if you fancy it.

Waking up early on your second day, we’ll now take a boat ride over to Isla del Sol ( this is a good option which departs from La Paz but can pick you up there in Copacabana).

Known for its terraced ledges and ancient ruins, this island is perfect for hikers who like to get away from the crowds.

You could spend hours enjoying nature here, and even sunbathe on the local beach (the daytime temperatures are surprisingly hot here so wear light clothes and use sunscreen ).

🏁 Lake Titicaca itinerary stops:

#2: Uros Islands
#3: Copacabana
#4: Isla del Sol

Uyuni Salt Flat (3 Days)

Now we head to another major Latin American Bucket List item. Taking the bus from Copacabana at night, we‘ll arrive in the early morning in Uyuni which is located in the Bolivian Altiplano.

This is important as this Multi-Day Trek you’ll want to take will be leaving early (be sure to get in touch with the operator to find out the exact time of departure).

The Salar de Uyuni is the first stop you’ll make, which is arguably the biggest highlight of all. The largest salt flat on earth , here you’ll see bright white as far as the eye can see, and also explore hidden gems located within such as Incahuasi Island. If you head during the wet season (December until March) you’ll get to see the legendary reflection effect.

That’s not all though in this vast region, hence why we recommend this tour which transports you to all in a private 4×4 (the distances between each gem are big and otherwise unreachable). Here we’ll be able to visit Red and Green alpine lakes, and also see wild Vicuña and Pink Flamingos along the way .

One of the very best highlights (George’s favorite) has to be the early morning visit to the Geysers of Sol de Mañana, which are constantly smoking given the high levels of volcanic activity bubbling right underneath the surface.

The 3 Day Tour is also a bargain since you’ll have all accommodation and meals included as well as the private transport around the region.

🏁 Uyuni itinerary stops: (On the Multi-Day Tour)

#1: Train Graveyard
#2: Salar de Uyuni
#3: Incahuasi Island
#4: Galaxy Caves
#5: Hedionda Lagoon
#6: Árbol de Piedra
#7: Red Lagoon
#8: Sol de Mañana Geysers
#9: Dali Desert
#10: Licancabur Lake & Green Lagoon

La Paz, Bolivia (2 Days)

After our incredible and memorable journey through southern Bolivia, we’ll now take the night-bus back north to La Paz.

The capital is known for its epic sceneries , and by now you should be able to walk around the high altitude city with little issues (given you’d have spent the last week adjusting well).

We recommend first heading on the MiTeleferico Gondola system which is like the local metro – however in the sky! Not only will you have impressive city views, however you’ll also be able to reach the nearby city of El Alto too this way.

Also on your first day we suggest exploring Plaza Murillo which is known for its awesome architecture, and then heading down to The Witches Market which is home to all kinds of weird and wonderful souvenirs (we’ll leave the surprises up to you when you visit).

On your last day on this itinerary, we highly recommend heading on this Bike Adventure Tour down El Yungas Road. Not for the faint of heart, this epic road is known as the most dangerous on earth, however with safe equipment and a knowledgeable guide (which are all included in the above tour) you’ll be able to explore this epic route without a worry.

You’ll get to see everything from snow-capped peaks and canyons to hidden waterfalls and the Amazon Jungle as you descend over 3000m on a bike! As well as including high quality bikes and a buffet lunch, you’ll also get to visit the town of Coroico at the end.

🏁 La Paz itinerary stops:

#1: MiTeleferico System
#2: Plaza Murillo
#3: The Witches Market
#4: El Yungas Road

Do you have more than 2 Weeks? (Special Mentions)

The above itinerary is perfect for those who have less time to explore Peru and Bolivia. However if you have more time (and we highly recommend it), then it’s worth adding these destinations into your itinerary:

Arequipa (Peru) – This white-washed city is one of the most beautiful in Peru. It’s perfect for those who want to see volcanoes, and also to head to the nearby Colca Canyon (which is the second deepest on earth).
Puerto Maldonado (Peru) – Located in the Amazon Jungle, this town can easily be flown to from both Lima and Cusco. Head on this multi-day trek where you can see everything from Pink River Dolphins and Capybara to Monkeys and Jaguars.
Potosí (Bolivia) – Somewhat close to Uyuni, this old mining town is steeped in history and colorful architecture. Although the high altitude can be a challenge here, it’s worth visiting the mine of Cerro Rico to get an insider’s view into the eye-opening local culture.

Got travel insurance for Bolivia?

That is all for our 2 week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary.

These two countries are some of our personal favorites (especially for George), and here you’ll be able to dive deeper into the more traditional Andean culture and scenes. You’ll also find some unforgettable destinations here too such as the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca.

In this guide we’ve explored all with our customized 2 week itinerary , which we have designed for travelers looking to see the highlights of these two awesome countries.

As well as looking at how to get between each destination, we’ve also covered important things to know for your trip such as budgeting and what to pack.

Be sure to revisit this guide before, during and after your travels to Peru and Bolivia .

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

“ Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you . Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

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How to Spend 2 Perfect Weeks in Peru & Bolivia

If there was one region of the world that I would keep coming back to again and again, I think it might be the Andes highlands. It is hard to describe the landscapes here, ranging from snow capped volcanoes to otherworldly deserts. There is such a uniqueness to it and each day your mind will be blown again and again with the beauty you are looking at.

Peru and Bolivia provide a perfect first glimpse into the raw natural allure of the northern Andes region. Peru is, of course, incredibly famous thanks to its wealth of historic and cultural sights. Bolivia on the other hand is WILDLY underrated. Most travelers to Peru never bother to cross the border, and as such, Bolivia sees about a tenth of the tourists as Peru does annually. With a favorable exchange rate for most foreigners, Bolivia is well worth adding onto your 2 week itinerary.

What You'll Find In This Post

Overview of the Itinerary

Let’s start by saying this region of the world is VAST. The distances between cities is long and domestic airfares can be pricey. You can reasonably, albeit quickly, see the natural highlights of Peru and Bolivia in 2 weeks. Because of the vast expanse of this area, 3 weeks or more is ideal, but I understand that many people don’t have the ability to take that much time off of work. As such, I have structured this 2 week itinerary to help you hit all the highlights without totally exhausting yourself.

I think it is important to set out a few key priorities of what you want to see during your trip, because the reality is you will not be able to do it all during a 2 week trip. I did this itinerary during a 1 month backpacking trip and I was still rushed. In full transparency, my priorities for this itinerary were seeing incredible landscapes and breathtaking places, while cities and beaches were not a priority --> read: you're not going to find much detail about those activities on this itinerary.

To maximize time and stretch your dollar a little further, my itinerary starts and ends in different locations. In my experience, one way flights give you more flexibility and can sometimes be much cheaper than roundtrip airfare. I also do not visit Lima on this itinerary. Structuring my 2 week itinerary this way gives you a few extra days to visit Arequipa and Colca Canyon, which in my opinion are major highlights from my time in Peru that I would 100% recommend to anyone.

This is my ideal itinerary for 2 weeks in Peru and Bolivia!

Day 1: cuzco.

Located in steep and high altitude mountains, Cuzco is a natural place to begin your two week itinerary in eastern Peru and Bolivia. With daily flights arriving from Lima and a few other major cities in South America, Cuzco is a well connected destination to begin -- along with a destination full of amazing sites!

At 3200 meters (or 10,500 feet) altitude, the air is quite thin and it can be tough to breathe at first. If you need a day to adjust and acclimatize, Cuzco is a good place to do that since there is a lot of infrastructure. Plus, it is a very touristy city so if you miss some sightseeing here, it isn’t the worst thing in the world.

The crowds in Cuzco can be overwhelming, since it is an incredibly popular place to visit thanks to its close proximity to Machu Picchu, which receives 4 million visitors a year. We found the hawking craftspeople and endless tour operators seeking your business to be draining. But, the city itself does have some beautiful architecture, such as the central Plaza de Armas and main cathedral.

Day 2: Sacred Valley

Although Machu Picchu is the most famous of the Inca landmarks in this region, it is by no means the only one. The Sacred Valley outside of Cuzco was an extremely important region for the Inca empire, serving as the breadbasket for the Incan warriors as well as housing some of their most sacred cities. A guided tour of the Sacred Valley makes for a perfect day trip from Cuzco!

The Incan empire stretched from Ecuador to Santiago at its height and had 200 known cities throughout the empire. In the Sacred Valley, you can see a fraction of the city ruins that remain, including Pisaq, a city that housed astronomers and agro-specialists, and Ollantaytambo, the resting place between Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

All of the cities are built with indigenous rock carved from the mountains the sites are located on.The walls and houses are built without mortar, so the rocks are cut to fit just perfectly on each other. Surrounded by huge, steep mountains, it is truly amazing how creative and talented Incans were in order to build these impressive structures. The Incas were also master terrace builders, so all the cities were largely self-sustaining with a variety of agriculture, especially potatoes and corn.

Day 3: Machu Picchu

Located in a remote, jungle-filled, mountainous area, Machu Picchu is one of South America's most famous tourist attractions. Rediscovered in 1911, it was thought to be the Lost City of the Incas. At its height, it likely housed 800 people, many of whom were high priests and astronomers.

Many tourists opt to visit Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail or one of the other hiking trails leading to the historic site. These treks can take anywhere from 3-8 days of trekking, which was a time commitment that didn’t quite fit with our short itinerary and plans. As such, we decided to visit Machu Picchu simply as a day trip. We spent the night in the small “Machu Picchu town” outside of the park entrance, which allowed us to arrive at the site at sunrise.

We (and 2000 of our closest friends) arrived at Machu Picchu just as the sun was rising in order to get the best views. And boy, it didn't disappoint. The ruined city sit just below Wayna Picchu, a large mountain you see in all the pictures, which provides an amazing backdrop for this impressive city. The ruins were much bigger than expected, and largely well-preserved. You could feel the peacefulness and holiness of this site just by being there. Despite all the tourists, you can get a few moments of silence and tranquility, with only the sounds of the river below and a variety of bird calls.

In order to learn more about the history of Machu Picchu, we took a guided tour of the site which lasted for 2 hours. We learned so much about the ingenuity of the Incas was well as their religious beliefs. The Incas worshiped Mother Earth and the Sun. Thus, they were excellent astronomers and built their Temple of the Sun to perfectly reflect the equinoxes and solstices. All the stones used in Machu Picchu were carved from Machu Picchu mountain, so as to not disturb Mother Earth by relocating materials.

In order to visit Machu Picchu as a day trip, you need to buy an entrance ticket and train ticket (if you aren’t doing a trek) several weeks in advance for a specific day of arrival. A visit to Machu Picchu is a pretty expensive endeavor even if you are just going for a day trip. In total, we spent about $500 for our tickets, hotel, tour and transportation.

Day 4: Arequipa

Just a short 1 hour flight from Cuzco is Peru’s 2nd largest city -- Arequipa. This charming cobblestoned city is nestled inside some of the highest mountains in the area and serves as an amazing jumping off point for some of the best hiking and remarkable landscapes. On our way into the city, we were lucky enough to see the sun set over the mountains, creating a purple and pink sky to backdrop the jagged mountains.

We spent our day in Arequipa simply wandering around the city and enjoying the warm sun. Known as the White City, Arequipa was the most beautiful city I visited in Peru. The stark white arches in the old city and giant cathedral are highlights. The Plaza del Armas here is a beauty as well, complete with Spanish style arches and hints of Moorish architecture.

Arequipa has lots of narrow cobblestone streets with old monasteries and fortresses, creating a dense but historical feeling. There are lots of great artisan shops and unique handcrafted goods. Because the city feels so old, the streets are narrow making all of the traffic come together in these tight turns and little streets. You'll hear lots of honking!

The women in this part of Peru dress more traditionally and wear these little hats that look like they could fall off their head at any minute, but you’ll notice it as you wander the streets. Arequipa is a great place to sample some amazing Peruvian cuisine! Compared to some of neighboring countries, the food in Peru is much better with lots more flavor and variety.

Young Woman Eating Guinea Pig Arequipa Peru

Day 5 & 6: Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon is truly one of the most breathtaking landscapes you can imagine, and it is 100% a must-visit on a 2 week trip in Peru. It is the second deepest canyon in the world made up of so many layers which creates this ineffable and awe-striking landscape. There are snow covered mountains on top, followed by steep tree covered valleys. Farming terraces were built in the valley dating back to 4000BC in order to grow food, which continue to be fertile today. Below the terraces there is the steep drop into the canyon, followed by the Colca River.

To really appreciate the natural beauty here, we decided to do a 2 day, 1 night trek of the canyon and valley. If you opt to do this, get ready for some early mornings! We left Arequipa at 2am and started hiking into the canyon around 6am. We met up with our guide as well as the other couples we hiked with (2 people from Holland, and 2 people from Canada) when we arrived at the drop off point. The tour operators organize the treks this way so that you finish your descent into the canyon at the peak heat of the day.

The first day of the trek was almost entirely down hill. The sun is very intense here since it is close to the equator, so make sure to back lots of sunscreen and a hat. The trek had some really amazing vistas, especially once we got in sight of the river. You could really get a feel for how deep the canyon is and how much people have depended on it as a source of life for thousands of years.

We spent the night at an oasis near the river that was nicely sheltered with well equipped cabanas. There was a delicious hot meal and great company during the night. The following day we woke up at 5am to begin our hike out of the canyon, in order to beat the sun. The walk up was very difficult and steep at parts, but with a slow and steady pace, we all made it out of the canyon and felt great about all of our hard work! In order to reward ourselves, we went to a nearby hot spring to relax our muscles. The natural hot springs were around 100 degrees, and felt incredible after 2 days of hard hiking.

Day 7 & 8: Lake Titicaca

From Arequipa, you’ll take a 6 hour bus ride through some raw and stunning high altitude wilderness to the Peruvian border city of Puno. Keep your camera handy for any alpaca or vicuna crossings! In Puno, you can take a bus for an easy overland border crossing into Bolivia with the destination of Copacabana. Keep in mind that US passport holders will need to pay a reciprocity entrance + visa fee when they enter Bolivia. For overland crossings, this can only be paid in cash USD. Bring it with you!

The waterfront town of Copacabana is a cute little beach town full of hippies, boats and fresh fish. Bolivia is significantly cheaper than the rest of South America, so we booked a lake view room for $12 a night! We got to watch the sunset from our beds, which felt like such a luxury.

Many people don't realize this, but Peru and Bolivia are extremely high altitude countries. They house some of the highest cities in the world, making the air very thin and tough to breathe. It is common for tourists to have problems with altitude and get quite sick -- this happened to us in Puno which is at roughly 12,000 feet altitude. In order to fight the altitude sickness and give your body a break, Lake Titicaca is a nice place to take an acclimatization day during your 2 week itinerary in Peru and Bolivia. Simply spend a day on the shores of the lake relaxing, napping and letting your lungs and blood get adjusted to lower oxygen levels.

After acclimatizing for a day, we took a boat trip on Lake Titicaca which is the highest in the world at almost 13,000 feet above sea level. It also happens to be the largest lake in South America. It has islands scattered throughout the lake, and you can rent boats or get a ride to check out the islands. Isla del Sol is a bit far from the city, and it took us about 2 hours by boat to get there. And this isn't some speedy boat; we were going about 8mph, no joke.

Once we arrived at Isla del Sol, we met up with a tour guide and took a 2 hour hike on the island. The island doesn't have any cars and houses about 2,000 indigenous people year round. The views from the island were absolutely stunning. Lake Titicaca is surrounded by mountains, some of which have glaciers and snow cover year round. The water was also calm and crystal clear. From the top of the hills, you could see to the bottom of the lake, even about 50 feet off the shore. In recent years, they have even found a city submerged underneath the lake! On the island, there are some ruins from Tiwanaku people as well as Inca ruins that we toured.

Day 9: La Paz

Bolivia's capital city of La Paz is in a valley, so the entire city is built up on the slopes of the valley. When we rode the bus from Copacabana (approximately 4 hours), it was incredible to see the sprawling red brick city climbing up the mountain and valley walls. It goes as far as the eye can see. Plus, the highest mountain in Bolivia forms the backdrop of the city.

We wandered around the downtown, which has a mix of old European influence and South American confusion. The roads all change names and end randomly and curve around in nonsensical directions, but then the area around the town square is in perfect blocks. We checked out the musical instrument museum , where they let us test out a bunch of the different instruments. There was even a guitar made out of a tortoise shell! Then we went to the Plaza del Armas, which was FILLED with pigeons that people were feeding.

Day 10 - 13: Salar de Uyuni

One of my most anticipated stops on our whirlwind 2 week tour of Peru and Bolivia was the Salar de Uyuni. Located in southwestern Bolivia, this is the world's largest salt flat, spanning over 8,000 square kilometers. It's almost the size of Ireland! For those of you who aren't familiar, a salt flat is essentially a dried ancient salt lake, which creates a really bizarre and amazing landscape.

We signed up for a 3 day full-service tour of the salt flat + nearby national parks which started and ended in La Paz. Our group included 3 other English speakers and we moved around in a Jeep Land Cruiser to see all the sites. We began our first day of the tour at the salt flat, learning about its formation and history. Bolivian people still harvest raw salt off the flat and then ship it throughout the continent. It provides about 40% of all the salt for Chile and Argentina.

The flat itself has a sun-dried top layer of the salt that is a few feet thick, so you can walk and drive on it. The bright white salt flat (almost blindingly so) stretches as far as the eye can see. It is ringed with high mountains as well as a few islands throughout, but it is so vast that you lose all sense of perspective. The sheer whiteness of the flat boggles the eyes (as well as the camera), making it feel like another planet.

For the other two days of our tour, we visited a variety of natural areas and landscapes in southwestern Bolivia. One of those wilderness highlights was a stop at steam geysers at 5,100 meters (16,700 feet) above sea level. The best time to see the geysers is at sunrise, so we woke at the ungodly hour of 4:30am. When we arrived, the smell of sulfur was very strong but the geysers were in full force. They pop through the thin cracks in the ground and release swathes of gas and steam. They also create fumaroles which are essentially huge pits of boiling mud and toxic minerals. They boil at over 500 degrees! All the bubbling, spurting and steaming sounded like a symphony from deep below the earth.

We also made several stops in the Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa National Park. This region of the world is so interesting. There are lots of open spaces and large plains since it is a high altitude desert, ringed with snow capped volcanoes and colorful lagoons. Several of the lagoons have flocks of Flamingos living there. There are 3 types of Flamingos that live in Bolivia and Chile, some of which are pink, while others that are more white. They feed off of the algae and minerals from the nearby volcanoes which largely determines what color their plumage will be.

Day 14: La Paz

Your tour of the Salar de Uyuni and southwestern Bolivia will most likely include transportation back to La Paz, making this a natural ending point for your 2 week itinerary in Peru and Bolivia. However if you want to continue traveling in this region, you can typically ask for an alternative departure point from your tour.

For example, we asked to be dropped off in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile at the end of our trip, which is just on the other side of the border from Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa National Park. From San Pedro, we continued traveling south to Santiago, stopping at several places along the coast in between!

Another option that I would suggest is traveling from San Pedro de Atacama across the border into Northwestern Argentina. My husband and I just did a road trip there in January 2020 and it was absolutely mind-blowing. The incredible scenery continues, along with lots of opportunities to drink Argentina’s famous wine. Of course, you’ll need a longer trip than 2 weeks to add on these other locations, but the extended trip is well worth it. This is truly one of the most breathtaking corners of the world!

Do you have questions about planning a trip to Peru & Bolivia? Comment below and I can help answer them!

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3 Weeks in Bolivia & Peru

Description

This is our highly recommended 3 weeks Peru and Bolivia itinerary from La Paz to the Amazon via the Death Road, Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Huacachina oasis near Ica and Lima.

Overall costs

1. la paz, coroico and the death road.

2. Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert

3. Lake Titicaca

4. Cusco and surroundings

5. Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

6. Arequipa, Colca Canyon

7. Ica and the Paracas Peninsula

2 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary: How to Plan a Trip to Peru and Bolivia

This 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary is perfect to see all the highlights in these two countries including a Bogota layover.

Thinking about traveling to Peru and Bolivia but not sure where to start? That’s how I felt when I first started planning my 2 week trip to Peru and Bolivia.

A lot of my friends told me that they wish they’d backpacked Peru & Bolivia together as the countries are right next to each other and the cultures are similar. I took their advice to plan a 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary and it was the perfect amount of time to see all the landmarks in Peru and Bolivia.

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Pinterest Pin: 2 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary to see all the highlights of both countries

Peru & Bolivia Travel Overview

Peru and Bolivia are neighboring countries in South America and are usually the first ones people visit when they travel to South America. Since there are so many tourists, it’s very easy to travel in Peru and Bolivia whether you want a luxury trip or backpack tour of Peru and Bolivia.

I flew between cities in order to save time . If you are traveling on a tight budget, take the overnight bus between cities.

Depending on your travel plan and budget, adjust this Peru and Bolivia itinerary below to fit your own need. We did a lot in 2 weeks in Peru and Bolivia and some of the highlights included the Sacred Valley , Inca Trail , Rainbow Mountain , and Uyuni Salt Flat .

2 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary

Peru itinerary: day 1 – lima, peru.

Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It’s located in the central coastal part of Peru. Like many other capital cities, Lima has a lot to offer its tourists in terms of historical buildings, museums, restaurants, bars, and entertainments.

Some can argue that you can spend days in Lima and still not see everything, unfortunately for most travelers, 1-2 days is all the time you get in Lima.

Morning : Check out historic center of Lima and grab a bite at Mercado de Surquillo. Mercado de Surquillo is a market within walking distance from Miraflores.

There are a lot of vegetable and fruit stalls as well as places to inside both inside and outside of the market.

South America has many exotic fruits so try them at Mercado de Surquillo. The market is not very big but you will get a good flavor of the local fruits and food people eat in Lima.

While you are at Mercado de Surquillo, be sure to get ice cream at Gelateria Fiorentina (address: Narciso de la Colina 580, Surquillo 1234, Peru).

You will probably have a hard time choosing a flavor at La Gelateria Fiorentina but you should try the lucuma flavor and chirimoya. It’s good to know that La Gelateria Fiorentina is one of the top food places in Lima.

After you are done getting your cheap meal, exotic fruits and gelato from Mercado de Surquillo, take a 15 min walk back to Miraflores and explore the area and its beautiful cliffs.

The cliffs in Miraflores are famous and it is no surprise it’s so popular since they look really picturesque against the Pacific Ocean. There is also a park with beautiful mosaic in Miraflores and it’s often crowded with family and kids as well as foreign visitors.

You often see para gliders from this part and paragliding is something you should definitely try in Lima if you have time. This area is one of the best and safest areas in Lima and taking a stroll along the park will lead you to the trendy Larcomar Mall .

Lunch : Take a uber from Miraflores to grab lunch at La Mar if you like seafood and ceviche. Uber is extremely popular, cheap and very safe in Lima and that was our main method of getting around Lima.

Afternoon : Once you are done with lunch at La Mar , come back to an area called Barranco next to Miraflores. Barranco is often overlooked by tourists as it’s overshadowed by its famous neighbor Miraflores.

However Barranco is a very artsy and romantic neighborhood with many art museums and galleries, streets filled with huge colonial and Republican style houses and beachfront areas. Barranco also has many trendy cafes, bars, restaurants and clubs.

Dinner : Explore the food scene and have dinner at Central (No.6 in the world) or Astrid & Gaston (No. 33 in the world). Central is located in Miraflores and you can take a Uber to Astrid Y Gaston. Don’t forget to check out the bars in Barranco after dinner.

Astrid y Gaston Lima Peru - what to eat in Lima

Where to stay in Lima

I highly recommend staying in Miraflores as it is safe, close to many good restaurants, and have a fantastic view. There are many high end and medium ranged hotels in Miraflores as well as cute airbnbs. A few hotels/apartments that I would recommend in Lima:

JW Marriott Hotel Lima : Lastly if you prefer a well known hotel then JW Marriott would be a great choice due to its convenient location.

Lima White House : cute B&B next to the beach. Rooms are decently priced including breakfast and the host runs their own city tours.

Tierra Viva Miraflores Mendiburu : Relatively new hotel with a great view on the 8th floor terrace! Close to all the great restaurants in Miraflores and not far from the ocean view sidewalk.

Spacious Apartment in Miraflores : If you have a larger group then staying in an apartment like this one would be better! Close to all the bars and restaurants and ocean view walk.

There is also a very nice supermarket in Miraflores as well as many coffee shops. I would highly advise against staying near the Lima Airport in the area of Callao. It’s not a very safe neighborhood and all my local Peruvian friends avoid that area unless they really need to go to the airport.

How to Get Around Lima

It’s really easy to get around Lima with Uber. It’s super cheap and felt pretty safe. There are also public transportation in Lima, but if you are only spending 1 day in Lima out of 2 weeks in Peru and Bolivia, I think taking a ride share service is a better option.

Peru Itinerary Day 2 – Cusco, Peru

Very different from Lima, Cusco is located in the Andes mountain at a high altitude of 3400m (11k feet). If you want to do visit Machu Picchu you have to go through Cusco first either by flying or taking an overnight bus from Lima. Cusco is also the gateway of many historical Incan sites.

If Lima was modern, then Cusco would be ancient but colorful. Many people I know have said that they liked Cusco much more than Lima because it’s easy to navigate, it’s tourist friendly, it’s pretty and historical, and it’s “different”.

This is the reason why I advise spending at least 3 days in the Cusco area during your 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary.

Morning : Take an early morning flight from Lima to Cusco to maximize your time to acclimate to the altitude in Cusco. The Lima to Cusco flight takes about an hour and you will fly over some nice looking mountain ranges.

There are frequent flights from Lima to Cusco on many airlines. I personally flew LAN because they are one of the most reputable airlines in South America (I have a fear of flying so I prefer taking a well known airline).

After you land in Cusco, get a cab from the Cusco airport to your hotel in the historical center of Cusco or have your hotel pick you up.

The “official” Cusco cabs will try to rip you off by asking for 20-30 Sols. The price of “non-official” cabs at the Cusco airport should be 10-15 sols , so make sure you bargain with the Cusco cab drivers. We took those “non-official” cabs and it was perfectly safe.

Lunch in Cusco : Check out the restaurant called Morena Kitchen near Plaza de Armas . Morena Kitchen is a nice Peruvian restaurant with a modern twist and I really loved their drinks and lomo saltado. It’s slightly on the pricier side but the food portion is big and the quality is good.

Afternoon : After you finish lunch at Morena Kitchen, explore the historical center of Cusco and check out Plaza de Armas and 12 angled stone . Walk around the plaza to find a travel operator to book your day trips to Sacred Valley , Salinas & Moray , and Rainbow Mountain .

There are a lot of travel operators in Cusco so make sure you find a reputable one for your day trips from Cusco. If a tour is too cheap, it may be a bad idea.

We walked around and compared a few travel operators in Cusco and the best travel operator in Cusco we found was SAS . Some of the cheaper tour operators couldn’t even tell us exactly what’s included in the tour.

For the SAS day trips we did, each cost about USD30 so it’s already really cheap. Since you only have 3-4 days in Cusco out of your 2 weeks in Peru and Bolivia, it’s better to spend a little more money and not have a shitty tour ruin your Peru and Bolivia experience.

If you booked Inca Trail , check in with your travel operator. While you walk around the historical center of Cusco, you will notice that there are women in historical Peruvian clothing with cute alcapas and llamas for photo ops for a small payment.

Dinner : Chicha is a pretty upscale Peruvian restaurant in Cusco. But you can look for some others ones from trip adviser.

If you are not too sick from the altitude, walk around at night is really nice because the old town area can be lively and it’s very safe to walk around at night.

There are also a lot of markets and shops in Cusco historical center so get some snacks and water for the next few days. There is also a Starbucks Coffee in Cusco if you REALLY want some Starbucks and comfort food.

Where to Stay in Cusco

Cusco has a lot of hotels, ranging from hostels to luxury five star hotels with oxygen enriched rooms. We stayed in medium priced hotel called Hotel Garcilaso , which is actually 2 hotels on the same street by the same owner. When we checked into Hotel Garcilaso, we were greeted with Cocoa tea and really friendly staff.

All the hotels in Cusco offer free Cocoa tea to help visitors fight altitude sickness. I’m not really sure if cocoa tea really helps with altitude but I knew there was no harm, so I drank so much of that tea and chewed on the tea leaves.

Phot of a church in Cusco Peru - Peru itinerary

Each of the rooms in Hotel Garcilaso come with heater, free wifi, and free breakfast. One of my friend stayed in the JW Marriott with oxygen enriched rooms. He said the hotel was absolutely amazing.

Altitude Problem in Cusco

Before I started planning my 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary, I had no idea about altitude sickness. Once I started doing some serious research on the effect of altitude sickness I started getting really nervous about visiting Cusco.

As mentioned earlier, Cusco is in the Andes Mountain, with a 3400m (11k feet) altitude. In case you don’t know how high that is, planes reach 10k feet 7 minutes after takeoffs, so in other words, it’s really high.

Generally if you are taking an overnight bus from Lima to Cusco, you tend to fare better than flying from Lima to Cusco. During your bus ride, your body can start adjusting to the high altitude gradually but when you fly, you literally go from sea level to 11000 ft.

What are the Symptoms of High Altitude in Cusco?

Most likely when you first land in Cusco you will feel fine. But after a while you will start feeling your heart beating faster when you do simple activities such as walking and talking.

You will get out of breath more easily and quickly and your finger tips and feet will be tingly. You may also feel light headed and nauseous. In more severe cases of high altitude you may throw up.

There is no way to tell whether you will be suffering from altitude sickness or not ahead of time. Your physical condition, whether you are fit or not, how old and young you are, how skinny or fat you are do not determine how you will react to high altitude.

You may actually experience altitude sickness more if you are very active because your body is used to having more oxygen in the blood.

How Do You Prevent Altitude Sickness?

There is no guaranteed way of preventing altitude sickness, but you can always take altitude sickness pill (Diamox) 1-2 days before you travel to Cusco.

If you are traveling from the US, you need to get a doctor prescription for Diamox. You can buy Diamox in Peru but I did not do that. Even if you take altitude sickness pill before arriving to Cusco, you may still experience bad symptoms of altitude sickness. If you feel extremely unwell in Cusco, you should see a doctor. Usually hotels offer oxygen tanks but it’s not a long term solution.

If you want to spend more time in Cusco, check out this awesome post on all the things you can do in and around Cusco.

Peru Itinerary Day 3 – Sacred Valley Day Trip From Cusco

Morning : Get picked up at 8:30am to go on the all day Sacred Valley Day Trip. We used SAS as our tour operator and visited several ancient and sacred Inca archaeological sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

We also stopped by the village of Chincheros on the way back to Cusco. Check out my blog post on the Sacred Valley Day Trip from Cusco .

Sacred Valley Cusco Tour with view of landscape

If there is only one Cusco tour you can do, the Sacred Valley Day Trip should be the one. The Sacred Valley is the heart of Inca Empire with a large area filled with fertile lands and Spanish colonial towns.

Sacred Valley Day trip from Cusco in Peru - a girl checking out the market in Ollantaytambo

The Sacred Valley Day Trip tour shows you a lot of history and traditions of the Inca people and you will understand why buildings are looking a certain way and how life was in the Inca Empire before the Spanish invasion. The views during the Sacred Valley Day Trip are just impressive along the way.

Photo of ruins in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley in Peru

The Sacred Valley is also at a lower altitude than Cusco so it definitely helps you to acclimate. In fact a lot of visitors come to the Sacred Valley (namely Ollantaytambo ) directly after they land in Cusco to acclimate.

Peru Itinerary Day 4 – 7 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

After getting acclimated in Cusco for a couple of days, we were so excited (and nervous) to start our 4 day 3 night classic Inca Trail (Camino del Inca) with Alpaca Expedition !

We started our Inca Trail bright and early at 3:30am on the 4th day of the 2 week Peru and Bolivia trip. You will realize that this Peru and Bolivia itinerary involves a lot of waking up at 3am type of days.

Your Inca trail hiking company will pick you up from your hotel and drive for 2 hours before stopping for breakfast and registration. Make sure you bring your passport with you or you will not be able to register or hike the Inca Trail.

The Inca trail tour company would have booked your Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu tickets ahead of time. The offices just need to verify that your passport information to match your Inca Trail permit.

There are only a few hundreds of Inca trail permits issued everyday, and most of the people holding the Inca Trail permit are actually porters and not tourists.

The 1st day of the Inca Trail was generally flat with some up and downs until the last 1.5 hours which was straight up. During the first day you will pass a few villages on the Inca Trail and find bathrooms and snack shops. You will also see mules carrying goods walking on the trail.

Occasionally you see hikes hiking back to the beginning of the Inca Trail for one reason or another. Note that you can turn back on the Inca Trail if you fell unwell the first 2 days. After the first 2 days there is no turning back, you will need to keep going until the end.

The 2nd day of Inca Trail was the longest and the most difficult day hiking up Dead Woman’s Pass (peak at 4200m) followed by a 2 hour decent then another 1.5 hour steep ascend. Finally you finish the day after another 1.5 hour downhill.

Each Inca Trail company will have a different itinerary and camp site. Our company (Alpaca Expedition) has a really long Day 1 and Day 2 whereas other companies have a more chill schedule than us. But on Day 3 they will have to hike more to make up the difference.

The 3rd day of the Inca Trail was the prettiest and easiest day for us, with 1 hour uphill and 3 hour downhill.

We finished the day at 1 pm and had free time to explore a cool ruin nearby. Most of the other hiking companies will finish the night at near by camp site as us, so if you took it easier the first 2 days, you will hike a lot on Day 3 and vice versa.

On the last day of Inca Trail we got up at 3am in order to be one of the first to get to Sun Gate to see sunrise over Machu Picchu. You then hike down 1 hour to Machu Picchu !

After getting there, your tour guide will take a lot of photos for you, then you actually will leave Machu Picchu to have your entrance tickets validated. You will then re-enter Machu Picchu the same way regular Machu Picchu tourists (who take the train). The tour guide will give you a 2-3 hour tour of Machu Picchu to explain the history and different buildings, etc.

If you booked Huayna Picchu hike , this is when you will leave for that hike. Nobody from my group went to Huayna Picchu even if they signed up. After 3+ days on the Inca Trail, all you want to do after seeing Machu Picchu is to get a hot shower and sleep.

Hiking Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru

If you are already considering doing this hike, you should definitely do it! It’s strenuous and it’s tiring and dirty, but you are rewarded with amazing landscapes and visits to archaeological sites that nobody else get. You are also pampered by your guides and the porters who carry your things for you and cook for you.

At the end of the trail, Machu Picchu is really no longer the highlight of the trip because you’ve seen more amazing things on the trek. Read my post on the 4 day 3 night classic Inca Trail with Alpaca Expedition.

Peru Itinerary Day 8 – Moray & Salinas Day Trip + Cusco Chocolate Making Class

After the 4 day Inca Trail, you may want to take it easy and fit this short day trip in your Peru and Bolivia itinerary.

Morning : We were picked up from our Cusco hotel at 8:30am to visit the famous Salinas de Maras salt mine as well as Moray. We got back to Cusco around 3pm.

Afternoon : If you are a chocolate lover, definitely check out the Chocolate Museum in Cusco. Not do they sell all sorts of chocolates, they also offer chocolate making classes for 35 USD . I LOVE chocolate and definitely enjoyed the class while we learned how to make coca tea, hot chocolate, and our own milk/dark chocolate to take home.

Dinner : If you are a fan of green/healthy food, check out this restaurant in Cusco called Greens . Really liked their juices as well as wraps!

Peru Itinerary Day 9 – Rainbow Mountain Hike from Cusco

Aside from the Inca Trail, the Rainbow Mountain hike is probably the hardest day on the Peru and Bolivia itinerary.

Morning : Pick up at 3:30am from our hotel by SAS. Drove 3-4 hours to Rainbow Mountain area for breakfast, followed by another hour drive to the Rainbow Mountain trail head.

You can hike up or take a horse up Rainbow Mountain, although you have to walk the last part of the Rainbow Mountain hike to get to the summit at 5200m which was a killer.

You finish the Rainbow Mountain hike at around 1pm and get back to Cusco around 5pm. The view along the Rainbow Mountain hike is amazing and the experience is unique, read more about the entire Rainbow Mounta hike here .

You can also easily book a Rainbow Mountain Day Trip from Cusco here .

Dinner in Cusco : We checked out this local sandwich shop in Cusco called La Sangucheria 154 which was cheap and amazing! This will be your last night in Cusco so make sure to walk around and enjoy the night scene.

Bolivia Itinerary Day 10 – La Paz & Uyuni, Bolivia

After 9 days in Peru, it is now time to move to the Bolivia part of this 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary.

Morning : Take the earliest flight from Cusco to La Paz in Bolivia so you have the whole day to tour La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia.

The flight from Cusco to La Paz is about an hour and immigration at the Bolivia airport takes another hour or so. Once you go through immigration (US citizens need a Bolivia tourist visa), talk to information desk on where you should go in La Paz.

If you are a US citizen, you can either get a Bolivia tourist visa at the consulate before your 2 week Peru and Bolivia trip or get the Bolivia tourist visa on arrival at the La Paz Airport.

I did the former and my friends did the latter, both worked out well. You just have to make sure you bring all the required document for the Bolivia visa and exact change in USD before you arrive in Bolivia, otherwise you risk getting deported.

Half a Day in La Paz : Take a taxi from La Paz airport to the cable car station (red line, 16 de Julio Station) for about 30 Bolivianos. Again the taxi drivers will ask for 45 or more but don’t budge! We were firm on paying no more than 30 and they finally agreed.

La Paz is an interesting city in a sense that the higher altitude you are (aka El Alto ), the poorer the community is. So as you go lower and lower in altitude, the city gets nicer and more affluent. I would not recommend walking around El Alto.

The Cable car is local’s way of getting from El Alto to many other parts of the city. The cable car costs 3 Bolivianos so take the red line to the end and you are close to the city center. Walk 15 minutes to the Witch Market and Plaza San Francisco .

Lunch in La Paz : Try local food, such as lunch specials or Saltenas .

Afternoon : Explore downtown La Paz more or if you have time, head to Zona Sur , the nicest neighborhood in La Paz. Take a cab back to the airport to catch your flight.

Evening : We took Amaszonas airline to Uyuni because I heard they are very on time compare to other Bolivian airlines. Have your tour company pick you up from the airport. My tour company, Quechua Connection 4WD picked us up and took us to their office for payment and confirmed pick up time the next day for our 3 day Salt Flat tour.

Where to stay in Uyuni

There aren’t many nice hotels in Uyuni as it is a really small and remote town. We stayed at Hotel de Sal Casa Andina which was really nice with spacious rooms, 24 hour tea and coffee and free wifi and breakfast next day. There are hostels in Uyuni as well such as Hostal Castillo de Liliana .

Bolivia Itinerary Day 11-13 Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Day Tour, Bolivia

You will get picked up around 10am on Day 1 of your 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats tour. Each day’s itinerary is really different and you will see a lot of different landscape.

The 3 day Salt Flats tour actually only spend 1 day on the Salt Flats and the rest of the time visiting lagoons, deserts, geyser, hot springs, etc. For more details on the 3 day tour, be sure to check out this extensive guide of the 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour .

We used Quchua Connection 4wd for the Uyuni Salts Flat 3 Day Tour and they were really good. The other reputable operator is Red Planet.

At the end of Day 3 you will be driven back to the town of Uyuni to take the last flight back to La Paz.

Food On the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

The Salt Flats tour covers 3 meals a day so you don’t have to worry! After getting back to Uyuni and before your flight, you will have some time to eat in Uyuni. We ate at Restaurant Cactus and the food was really good (they offer Bolivia & Korean food) but it took a really really long time to get our food.

Accommodation on the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

If you plan to fly back to La Paz after your 3 day tour, you will have to take the last flight around 8:30pm. If you were like me and planning to fly back home the next day at 3:30am or 8am, then I would suggest that you either spend a few hours resting at the La Paz airport (the airport has an hourly hotel) or rest at a hostel near the hotel.

It was a lot cheaper for us to go to a hostel called Hostal Internacional . The guy from our La Paz hostel picked us up from the airport for free and was really nice and helpful. Even though we only got 2 hours of sleep that night, it was still nice to be able to shower after 3 days of no showering on the Salt Flats.

Arbol de Piedra Stone Tree Uyuni Salt Flat

Day 14 – Layover in Bogota, Colombia & Return Flight

Morning : Rise and shine! There is a 3:30am flight out of La Paz to Bogota, Colombia for many international connections.

The bad thing is you will probably get at most 2 hours of sleep the night before. The good thing is you can nap on the flight and arrive bright and early in the beautiful city of Bogota, which is very different from the desert landscape of your previous 3 days.

One thing I did not expect was how green and lush Bogota was. We had an 10 hour layover in Bogota and we did not leave it to waste.

Gold Museum Bogota Colombia Layover Tour

For convenience reasons, many people book a private city tour of Bogota. The private tours takes you to a Bogota local market, the Monserrat, which is beautiful, the Gold Museum and other downtown attractions. It also allows you to try many exotic fruits, local street food as well as the world renowned Colombian coffee.

Bogota Colombia Layover Tour Monserrate Hike

The private Bogota city tour will drop you back off in the airport in time for your international flight home.

Final Thoughts on 2 Weeks in Peru & Bolivia

A few things we didn’t get to include on this Peru and Bolivia itinerary were Arequipa, Lake Titicaca and Huacachina . We simply didn’t have time and the logistics didn’t work out.

However, if you plan to take the bus from Cusco to La Paz, you can pass Lake Titicaca on your way to Bolivia. Regardless of what you do, Peru and Bolivia are such fun places to visit and you simply cannot find those landscape anywhere else in the world.

For additional readings to help you plan your Peru and Bolivia itinerary, check out the blog below on Peru & Bolivia: Visiting Peru Guide: https://www.easttowestrms.com/southamerica/peru/

Know Before You Visit Peru and Bolivia

Should I worry about altitude sickness in Peru and Bolivia ? YES. Most of the places on this Peru and Bolivia itinerary have very high altitude (above 3000 meter or 10,000ft). You should get altitude sickness pills before you go. Lima in Peru is at sea level, so you don’t need to worry about getting altitude sickness.

What should I pack for Peru and Bolivia? You should pack warm! High altitude = warm & sunburn during the day under the sun and freezing at night.

For packing tips, see my post on how to pack for the Inca Trail . Bring hiking gear to Peru and Bolivia, especially good hiking shoes. You will need them! Make sure you bring enough cash for tips, bathroom, snacks and emergency; there is no ATM once you are on the Inca Trail and the Uyuni Salt Flat tour

Do American Citizens need a tourist visa to visit Peru? If you are an American citizen, then you do not need a tourist visa to visit Peru.

Do American Citizens need a tourist visa to visit Bolivia? If you are an American citizen, then you need a tourist visa to visit Bolivia. You can get the Bolivia visa on arrival at airports, but make sure to bring necessary documents and cash in USD.

Even though you can get the Bolivia tourist visa at the airport, I still recommend that you obtain the Bolivia tourist visa beforehand because I have heard stories where people were denied entry. You should check out Bolivia SIGEMIG at Natvisa.com .

How early should I book the Inca Trail? You will need advanced booking for the Inca Trail (I recommend at least 6-7 months in advance) due to limited number of hiking permits available. When I was hiking the Inca Trail, there were only 400 hikers allowed one day, and more than half of the hikers were porters.

However, if you do not have time to fit the Inca Trail on your Peru and Bolivia itinerary, you can always do a day trip, or a 2 day hike to Machu Picchu. Other treks include Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (much higher altitude but flatter than the Inca Trail) and Lares Trek.

Do I need to tip the guides in Peru and Bolivia? Yes, you need to tip you guides and porters. In fact the porters during the Inca Trail live off tips you give them. They work a lot and their job is extremely dangerous, so please be generous when you tip your guide and porters.

Do I need to speak Spanish to visit Peru and Bolivia? It would definitely be helpful to know some Spanish before you visit. However most of the touristy places in Peru are tourist friendly so you don’t really need to speak Spanish.

However I found it more difficult to find people who speak good English in Bolivia. Even the information desk people at the La Paz Airport in Bolivia did not really speak English that well. However, all the tour guides in both Peru and Bolivia speak English well.

Can I use drones in Peru and Bolivia ? In Peru, all the touristy places have signs prohibit drone usage, and you definitely cannot use a drone at Machu Picchu or on the Inca Trail. There aren’t really clear rules about flying a drone in Bolivia. You can try to bring it and fly it on the Salar de Uyuni.

What is the Peruvian currency? The Peruvian currency is Peruvian Sol.

What is the Bolivia currency? The Bolivian currency is Bolivianos.

Can I use USD in Peru? Can I use USD in Bolivia? If you are going to very touristy places (all the places in my Peru and Bolivia itinerary), you can pay many tours and services in USD. We could pay for the Inca Trail in USD as well as all the day trips from Cusco and the Uyuni Salar tour.

Where can I exchange currency in Bolivia? The best bet to exchange Bolivianos is at the La Paz airport. There are a row of ATMs in a backroom in the airport. I did not see any currency exchange in Uyuni.

Where can I exchange currency in Lima? The best bet to exchange Sols is at the Lima airport.

Where can I exchange currency in Cusco? There are ATMs on the street in Cusco in the old town near Plaza de Armas.

Can I use credit card in Peru and Bolivia? You can use credit card at most major restaurants and hotels in Peru but you will need cash to tip the guides and porters as well as pay for the bathrooms and national park fee in Bolivia. You can use credit card to pay for your Uyuni Salt Flat tour and Inca Trail but the tour companies will charge you 5% credit card fee if you do so.

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June 12, 2022
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The Ideal 1-Month Backpacking Itinerary & Route For Peru, Bolivia & Chile

1-month south america itinerary for peru, bolivia and chile.

Deciding to backpack through South America is a fantastic decision, and visiting Peru, Bolivia and Chile in one trip makes sense because they all border each other, and travel between them is cheap, easy, and can be done by bus.

The route works nicely as well, travelling down through Peru and ending in Cusco before taking an 8-hour bus that crosses the border to Copacabana in Bolivia.

In Bolivia, you have another efficient route, heading south and ending in Uyuni (the town of the salt flats) before taking a short 45-minute bus across the border into Chile and the town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Here is the complete 1-month South America backpacking itinerary that includes Peru, Bolivia and Chile:

Day 1 – Lima
Day 2-3 – Paracas
Day 4-5 – Huacachina
Day 6-8 – Arequipa
Day 9-12 – Cusco & Machu Picchu
Day 13-14 – Copacabana
Day 15-17 – La Paz
Day 18-21 – The Amazon
Day 22 – La Paz
Day 23-24 -Uyuni & the Salt Flats
Day 25-26 – Atacama Desert
Day 27-28 – Santiago
Day 29-31 – Pucon
Day 32+ – Torres Del Paine

Day 1-12 - Peru

Day 1 - lima.

One day in the capital of Peru is more than enough to explore the district of Barranco and try some amazing regional dishes like ceviche .

Barranco is the bohemian district of Lima and a great place for backpackers who want to escape the busy city centre.

The area is known for its laid-back vibe, artisan coffee shops and huge colonial-era mansions that have been renovated into bars and restaurants . Make sure you visit one of the old mansions turned resto-bars and order yourself a Pisco Sour to celebrate and start off this 1-month itinerary.

Aside from Barranco, there isn’t much in Lima for backpackers so best to move on after a day and use your limited days in the more exciting places yet to come.

For a more detailed backpacking guide on Lima for if you decide to stay a little longer, check out the post below:

The Best Things To Do In Lima As A Backpacker

Day 2-3 - Paracas

The striking coastal desert of Peru should be on every adventure seekers bucket list.

The protected area, spanning over 3,350 km², consists of rolling desert, jagged ocean cliffs and rocky islands populated with a diversity of wildlife.

You can explore the desert by bicycle, ATV, or guided tour on one day. And on the other, a trip to the Ballestas Islands is well worth it. The islands are known as Peru’s Galapagos Islands and you can see whales, sea lions, penguins, and thousands of sea birds on a tour.

Check out our extended backpacking guides for more information on Paracas:

Paracas Backpackers Guide & 2-Day Itinerary

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Day 4-5 - Huacachina

After Paracas, it’s time to swap one desert for another with a visit to the famous oasis at Huacachina.

You’ll get another chance to fly across the giant dunes in sand buggies as well as sandboard down to the tallest of them.

Most hostels offer a package deal where you get accommodation with sandboarding thrown in so make sure you capitalise on this. I recommend Banana Adventure Hostel for the best deals (and they also have a great pool which is needed for the desert heat!).

After a day of adventure on the dunes, you should take a second to climb them yourself. Most backpackers climb up the tallest dune overlooking the town to watch the epic sunset every night before heading back down to party the night away in the crazy Wild Rover backpacker hostel.

Wild Rover in Huacachina is also one of my favourite hostels in South America. For the full list of incredible backpacker hostels across the continent, follow the link below:

The Best Party Hostels In South America

Day 6-8 - Arequipa

Arequipa is an underrated gem of a city bursting with beauty and charm.

With tranquil cobblestone streets, fantastic local cuisine, and great rooftop bars , all surrounded by a backdrop of picturesque volcanoes – the city has so much to offer backpackers.

On top of this, this will be your starting point for trekking into Colca Canyon , the second deepest canyon in the world.

Take two days in the city to explore before booking yourself on to a Colca Canyon tour. Trekking down into the second deepest canyon in the world is an experience like no other. You’ll spend most of your time picking your jaw up off the floor as you walk around in awe of the canyon’s vastness. The tour will take a full two days and two nights before returning to Arequipa for a day of recovery.

Arequipa is also full of great backpacker hostels, restaurants, and bars to enjoy. For more information on Arequipa, head to the links below:

The Best Things To Do In Arequipa As A Backpacker
How Many Days Do You Need In Arequipa? 3-Day vs 4-Day Arequipa Itinerary

Day 9-12 - Cusco & Machu Picchu

Cusco is one of the most popular backpacker hubs in all of South America and there are endless amounts of opportunities here for fun.

You should spend your first day in the city centre exploring and preparing to travel to Machu Picchu . If you fancy doing an activity, you can find several museums full of Incan artefacts and history, book on to a cheap massage, or go chocolate tasting.

There are also several great single-day treks you can do around Cusco such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake. If you are feeling active, then why not extend your time in Cusco and do some of these as well.

For more information on backpacker hostels and things to do in Cusco, head to the guides below:

The 10 Best Backpacker Hostels In Cusco
The Best Things To Do In Cusco as a Backpacker
Vinicunca vs Palccoyo: Which Rainbow Mountain Is Best To Visit?

Machu Picchu is ultimate highlight of many people’s trips to South America. Visiting the marvellous citadel of the Incas, hidden amongst misty valleys and set high above the clouds truly feels like you are stepping back through time.

The best way to do this is to take the train to Aguas Calientes on the morning of Day 10. Aguas Calientes is the town closest to Machu Picchu and the hub for travellers before they start their trek up to the mountain.

The train is a bit more expensive than the bus , but the journey is packed full of beautiful sights along the way as the train goes through the Sacred Valley.

Once you’ve reached Aguas Calientes, find a hostel for the night as you’ll be up early to climb the 1000+ stairs up to Machu Picchu.

For more information on how to organise your visit, including how to book the train, or bus if you want save money, then head to the post below:

The 3 Best Ways To Get To Machu Picchu

That’s the first section of this 1-month Peru, Bolivia & Chile itinerary. One country ticked off!

Now it’s time to visit Bolivia!

After Cusco you can then get the bus into Bolivia and straight to Copacabana which takes around 8-9 hours.

For more Peru backpacking itineraries, check out our popular curated itineraries from 10-days to 1-month:

How To Spend 1-Month Backpacking In Peru
The Ultimate Three-Week Peru Backpacking Itinerary & Route

Best Backpack For South America (Osprey Farpoint)

Is This The Best Backpack For South America?

I love the Osprey Farpoint 50-70L.

It’s reasonably priced and perfect for first timers visiting South America.

Read more here about why it’s so great or head to the official site below:

Day 13-24 - Bolivia

Day 13-14 - copacabana.

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres above sea level. Half of it sits in Peru, the other half in Bolivia.

The town of Copacabana on the Bolivian side is a small but pretty place filled with local markets and artisan restaurants, but it’s the lake itself that is the must-see.

Fun activities include walking up to the summit of Cerro Calvario to get beautiful views of the lake and taking a boat tour to Isla del Sol , the largest island on the lake.

After a couple of days enjoying the lake, it’s time to head to Bolivia’s capital. The easiest way to travel to La Paz from Copacabana is by bus. Direct buses from Copacabana leave from the main bus terminal and the journey lasts around 4 hours.

Day 15-17 - La Paz

Once you reach La Paz, you have an endless list of things to choose from such as biking down Death Road , trekking in the Valley of the Moon , or climbing Huayna Potosi (known as the easiest 6000m mountain to climb in the world).

Aside from all the adventure activities, the city is also an incredible place to explore.

When wandering around you will see the impressive cable cars and their lines stretching out to every corner of La Paz. Some routes will go as high as 4,000m (13,000 ft) above sea level, and it’s a great see more of La Paz and get incredible views of the city.

3 days is a good amount of time to cover it all. We recommend riding down Death Road one day and then using the others to explore in and outside of the city.

Follow our La Paz backpacking guides to help you plan further:

La Paz 3-Day vs 5-Day Itinerary For Backpackers
The 13 Best Things To Do In La Paz As A Backpacker

Day 18-21 - The Amazon

Visiting the Amazon in Bolivia is much cheaper and easier compared to other countries in South America.

You can fly from La Paz to the town of Rurrenabaque, which is where most Amazon tours embark.

The Pampas tour is the most popular among backpackers as you see much more wildlife. You will spend 2 nights sleeping in a wooden hut next to the river. Your days will be spent winding through the tributaries of the Amazon on a longboat searching for caimans, anacondas, and exotic birds . You can even go swimming with pink river dolphins!

This is one of the best tours in Bolivia and it costs a fraction of the price compared to countries like Brazil or Colombia. It was one of the best experiences whilst we were backpacking in South America and we highly recommend it.

Our complete guide to booking an amazon tour in Bolivia can be found here:

How To Visit The Amazon In Bolivia

Day 22 - La Paz

If you prefer to break your journeys up, then when you fly back to La Paz, take an extra day here to relax and recuperate.

However, the flight back from the Amazon is only 20 minutes so if you prefer to save the day then you can either hop on another flight down to Uyuni or take the overnight bus which takes 8-9 hours.

As this is a 1-month itinerary, we recommend either enjoying the extra day in La Paz or flying; long bus journeys are cutting into the limited time you have.

For more South America backpacking itineraries from 2 weeks to 3 months, check out more of our popular posts:

4 Epic 1-Month South America Backpacking Itineraries
The Ultimate 3-Month South America Backpacking Itinerary

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Day 23-24 - Uyuni & The Salt Flats

Your next stop is to the town of Uyuni, most famous for the beautiful Salt Flats.

It’s best to wait and book your tour with a company face to face. Tour prices are always over inflated on the internet and its much easier to barter in person and get a good deal. We recommend Salty Desert Adventures for their excellent guides and competitive prices.

Their three-day/two-night tour will take you exploring on one of the most surreal landscapes in the world.

Day 1 is spent on the actual salt flat taking the all-important perspective and reflection photos for the gram, before spending a night in the famous salt hotel – a hotel made entirely of salt.

Day 2 takes you out across the high-altitude desert to see even wilder landscapes such as volcanoes, geysers, and beautiful high-altitude lakes full of flamingos. We’ve never seen landscapes like this and our minds were constantly blown with each new thing we saw. This is one of best tours in the whole of South America and shouldn’t be missed.

For more on the Uyuni Salt Flat Tour including the best tours companies and what to pack, head to the backpacker guide below which has all your information:

The Ultimate Guide To The Uyuni Salt Flats

One of the great things about a salt flat tour is that it also includes your transportation to Chile!

The tour ends on the morning of the third day and drops you at Chilean border which works perfectly for this 1-month Peru, Bolivia, and Chile trip. From the border you can take a short 45-minute bus to the town of San Pedro De Atacama where your next adventure awaits. Nice and easy!

If you prefer to stick to one country and see more of Bolivia, then check out our extended backpacking itineraries below to see how it can work:

Bolivia Three-Week Backpacking Itinerary
How To Spend A Month Backpacking In Bolivia

Preparing for your first trip to South America?

Here are 22 FAQ’s to help you prepare for the trip of a lifetime:

How To Travel South America: 22 FAQs To Prepare For Your Next Trip

Planning a trip to South America can be an exhilarating adventure filled with diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable experiences. However, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, it's essential to be well-prepared on several fronts. Here are 22 frequently asked questions...

Day 25-32 - Chile

Day 25-26 - atacama desert.

Your mind may have just been blown with volcanoes, high-altitude lagoons, and surreal landscapes on the salt flats tour, but it doesn’t stop there.

Just across the border, the Atacama Desert still has some incredible landscapes worth checking out.

Why not rent a car and explore it yourself this time? You can head to the Valle de la Luna to see strange rock formations eroded over millions of years or float in the tranquil salt lagoons of the desert surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

Our Atacama Desert itinerary has all the information you need on how to rent a car, avoid expensive tours and drive to the best places in the desert:

An Adventure-Filled Atacama Desert 4-Day Itinerary

Day 27-28 - Santiago

Santiago is a long drive from Atacama so best to take a short 1-hour flight down south instead.

Once in the capital you can start with the walking tour to get your bearings and then visit one of the several museums Santiago has to offer.

For any extra days you wish to stay, you can take day trips outside of the city to Valparaiso , go trekking in the mountains or head to one of the many vineyards to try the best of Chilean wine.

This is an adventure filled itinerary and you may want the city days to help break up some of the big activities. However, with only a month in South America, you may wish to cut these down to see and do more of the exciting things.

For more South America backpacking itineraries to help inspire and plan your trip, check out some of our most popular posts:

4 Incredible Three-Week Backpacking Itineraries For South America
The Perfect 2-Month South America Itinerary For Budget Backpackers

Day 29-31 - Pucon

Pucón is the adventure capital of Chile, and there’s so many great activities on offer in this city including horse riding, kayaking, volcano trekking and much more.

One of the best hostels in the country is here – Chili Kiwi Hostel which won Hostel World’s Best Hostel in Latin America in both 2017 and 2018.

This hostel is in an unbeatable location on the shore of Villarrica Lake, directly opposite the majestic Villarrica Volcano and only a short walk from downtown Pucón. The hostel has a nice garden with swings, hammocks, and treehouses where you can catch sunsets over the lake and volcano.

Day 32 - Puerto Natales

Yes, we know we’ve gone over a month now for this itinerary, but it would be a shame to miss Patagonia. Or you can simply cut out Santiago and Pucon if you want more time in here.

Puerto Natales is the closest town to the incredible natural beauty of Torres Del Paine National Park so best to fly straight here from Santiago. The flight takes around 3 hours.

Once you arrive, take one day here to get your bearings, buy any last-minute gear for hiking, and prepare for the next 5 days on the W-trek route.

In Puerto Natales, we stayed at the Singing Lamb Hostel which was super cosy. They have a huge lounge area with sofas and tables, and the shared dorms had comfortable beds.

Patagonia is one of the many reasons why backpacking South America is well worth it. For more great reasons, head to the post below:

Is South America Worth Travelling? 18 Great Reasons To Visit In 2023

Day 33+ - Torres Del Paine National Park

You can use Puerto Natales as a base to travel into Torres Del Paine for day trips, but we highly recommend the W-trek.

This 5-day self-guided trek takes you in the shape of a W – in, out, and around the beautiful Cordillera Paine mountain range.

The trek is relatively easy with the first two days taking you on a 3–4-hour hike past the pristine Lago Grey and up to the stunning Grey Glacier . You then come back on yourself on the second day.

On day 3 you can trek into the Valle Frances to see French Glacier perched high up in the mountains. Here you have a great viewing point where you can sit and wait for avalanches coming off the glacier and crashing down to the mountains below.

On the final day you will trek to the famous towers of Torres Del Paine . Many people like to get up at 3AM so they reach the towers for sunrise – just make sure you bring a torch!

There are multiple ways to visit Torres del Paine, from bringing your own camping and cooking gear , renting camping gear at each camp site or staying in the refugios (the hostel style accommodation with beds). We haven’t written up our experience into a blog yet but here’s a great website we used to help us plan our trip.

The hiking trails in Torres Del Paine are some of the best in South America. To see a full list of more of the best single-day hikes in South America, head to the post below:

The 12 Best Single Day Hikes In South America

South America Backpacking Itineraries - Torres Del Paine National Park

If you would like to see some alternative but equally incredible South America itineraries that include Patagonia (Chilean and Argentinian), check out the post below:

The Definitive 1-Month Chile, Argentina & Bolivia Backpacking Itinerary

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If you have more than two-weeks to spare then why not check out our other South America itineraries ranging from three weeks to three months:

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Is Bariloche Worth Visiting? 12 Must Do’s In North Patagonia
How Many Days In Arequipa? [3 Itineraries w. Colca Canyon]
How Many Days In Bariloche? [3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries]
22 Free Activities On The Galápagos Islands [+4 Affordable Tours]
Galapagos Islands On A Budget – 15 Shoestring Tips To Save!
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Joe Bayfield

Hi I'm Joe Bayfield, Bayf for short. I love South America and want people to visit this incredible continent. I’ve travelled through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina and also lived in Lima, Medellin and Buenos Aires. I write detailed South America itineraries to help you plan your next adventure!

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Budget South America Itinerary (Free PDF)

Do You Want To See South America On A Budget?

See Machu Picchu, the Amazon and the Bolivian Salt Flats, all with this efficient money-saving itinerary

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Perú & Bolivia Highlights: Machu Picchu, Titicaca Lake & Uyuni Salt
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2 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary that shows you all the highlights of

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NOS VAMOS DE BOLIVIA 🇧🇴 [ESTO OPINAMOS DEL PAÍS]
BOLIVIA 2-0 PERÚ 🏆 EN EL FONDO DE LA TABLA 💥 REYNOSO VIVE EN UN MUNDO DE MENTIRAS
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Our Chile & Bolivia trip
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COMMENTS

10 Best Bolivia and Peru Tours & Trips 2024/2025
Tatiana Stasevich 10 Apr, 2024. 5. 10 Day Peru Express - Lima, Ica, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Puno + Titi-Kaka Lake with Domestic Flights with Waman Adventures was an amazing trip. Waman Adventures ran this tour smoothly and professionally. All accommodations, transportation, and most of the food were good.
The Perfect Two Week Itinerary For Peru And Bolivia
The La Paz cable car is one of the most extensive cable car networks in the world, and is an attraction in and of itself. Day by Day Peru and Bolivia Itinerary. Day 1: Land in Lima, explore city and eat at various restaurants. Day 2: Sightseeing around Lima. Day 3: More sightseeing and eating.
Explore Peru and Bolivia
Combine the Andean highlights of two diverse countries on this 11-day tour. Explore the Inca sites of Peru, including Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Then travel south by train through high Andean plains to spectacular Lake Titicaca, and cross into Bolivia to the unworldly Valley of the Moon, before exploring two contrasting capital cities: La Paz and Lima.
Highlights of Peru and Bolivia
Highlights of Peru and Bolivia - 14 Days. This sweeping two-week tour of Peru and Bolivia takes you to several of South America's most breathtaking natural wonders and cultural attractions. Start with sightseeing in Lima and Cusco, then explore the ruins of Machu Picchu and hike around photogenic Rainbow Mountain before heading to Lake Titicaca.
3 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary [2024 Guide]
Getting around Peru and Bolivia in 3 weeks. Detailed 3 Week Itinerary for Peru and Bolivia. Day 1-2: Lima. Day 3: Paracas National Reserve. Day 4: Huacachina. Day 5: Nazca. Days 6-9: Arequipa and Colca Canyon. Day 10-11: Puno and Lake Titicaca. Day 12-14: Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Peru and Bolivia Tours
Explore the highlights of Peru and Bolivia on tailor-made tours with SouthAmerica.travel. Choose from 7-day to 37-day itineraries, including Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni salt flats and more.
Peru and Bolivia: Machu Picchu to the Salt Flats
Experience the awe-inspiring wonders of Bolivia and Peru. Learn about Peru's storied past in the former Inca capital of Cusco, and venture into the heart of the Amazon jungle. Hike the Inca ...
A 2-Week Itinerary for Peru and Bolivia Full of Highlights
January 3, 2023. Peru and Bolivia are two of the most stunning countries on Earth, as both are traversed by the majestic Andes and boast an impressive cultural heritage that spans all the monuments built by the Incas. Through a two-week Peru and Bolivia itinerary, you'll get to enjoy a flawless combo of mesmerizing sights, mouthwatering food ...
Highlights of Peru & Bolivia
This colorful adventure around Bolivia and Peru introduces you to the best of both countries. You'll start in Cusco, touring the high-altitude Inca city and exploring the Sacred Valley before moving on to the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu. Then fly to La Paz to discover Bolivia's most beautiful landscapes, including the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and the floating islands of Lake Titicaca ...
The Best 1-Month Peru And Bolivia Itinerary
The Best 1-Month Peru & Bolivia Itinerary. Backpacking through Peru and Bolivia is a great ideas for many reasons. First of all, you get to see two of South Americas best sights: Machu Picchu and the Salt Flats. Second, it's one of the most efficient travel routes through South America as the routes are straightforward and crossing the border ...
14 Day Peru And Bolivia Tour
Day 10 Puno, Peru - Copacabana, Bolivia Today we travel round the Peruvian side of the lake and cross into Bolivian territory. The village of Chucuito is built over an Inca settlement and has an Inca sundial on display which was assembled in the mid-1800s using colonial, Inca, and modern era stones.
Explore Peru & Bolivia
Reviews. Peru and Bolivia are both lands of the epic and that which must be seen to be believed. This 25-day odyssey takes you to the world's highest-navigable lake (Titicaca), the world's largest tropical rainforest (the Amazon), the world's highest administrative capital (La Paz) and the world's largest salt flats (Uyuni).
Tour of Peru & Bolivia: Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca ...
Tour highlights. Explore the atmospheric streets and squares of the former Inca capital of Cuzco. Visit spectacular Machu Picchu with your own private guide, to hear some of the fascinating stories behind the site. Traverse the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca. Travel across the world's largest salt lake at Salar de Uyuni.
PERU BOLIVIA ITINERARY
Visiting the salt flats in southwest Bolivia is an absolute must on your Peru Bolivia itinerary. It's one of the most incredible and surreal landscapes you will ever see! The area is very large and there are also some stunning landscapes nearby in the surrounding area so most people do a 3 day jeep trip to experience it all.
Peru and Bolivia Itinerary 2024: Designed by PRO Backpackers
The 3 Day Tour is also a bargain since you'll have all accommodation and meals included as well as the private transport around the region. Uyuni itinerary stops: (On the Multi-Day Tour) #1: Train Graveyard. #2: Salar de Uyuni. #3: Incahuasi Island. #4: Galaxy Caves. #5: Hedionda Lagoon.
How to Spend 2 Perfect Weeks in Peru & Bolivia
Peru and Bolivia provide a perfect first glimpse into the raw natural allure of the northern Andes region. Peru is, of course, incredibly famous thanks to its wealth of historic and cultural sights. ... Colca Canyon is truly one of the most breathtaking landscapes you can imagine, and it is 100% a must-visit on a 2 week trip in Peru. It is the ...
Peru & Bolivia Adventure
Divide your time between two of South America's most beautiful countries — Peru and Bolivia — on this thrilling 9-day itinerary! Begin in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, an ideal jumping-off point for exploring ancient ruins, the Sacred Valley, and the mysterious "lost city" of Machu Picchu. Then cross the border to La Paz, sightseeing in the lively Bolivian city before day ...
3 Weeks in Bolivia & Peru Itinerary
This is our highly recommended 3 weeks Peru and Bolivia itinerary from La Paz to the Amazon via the Death Road, Salar de Uyuni, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Huacachina oasis near Ica and Lima. Our 3 Weeks Peru and Bolivia Itinerary. 1. La Paz, Coroico and the Death Road. 2. Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert. 3.
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The best time to go to Bolivia and Peru is in the cooler but drier months of May to October - just be sure to pack plenty of alpaca sweaters! Read on to find out some of the top activities along the way, and get helpful travel advice from our South America experts. Home \ South America \ Peru \ Bolivia and Peru. Holidays.
Discover the Highlights of Peru & Bolivia
Witness the ancient beauty and natural wonders of Peru and Bolivia during this 9-day journey. Start in Cusco, where you'll explore the local markets, historic streets, and ancient ruins. Head to the Sacred Valley where you'll visit Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Fly to La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, and take day ...
2 Week Peru and Bolivia Itinerary: How to Plan a Trip to Peru and
Bolivia Itinerary Day 10 - La Paz & Uyuni, Bolivia. After 9 days in Peru, it is now time to move to the Bolivia part of this 2 week Peru and Bolivia itinerary. Morning: Take the earliest flight from Cusco to La Paz in Bolivia so you have the whole day to tour La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia.
1-Month Peru, Bolivia & Chile Backpacking Itinerary & Route!
In Bolivia, you have another efficient route, heading south and ending in Uyuni (the town of the salt flats) before taking a short 45-minute bus across the border into Chile and the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Here is the complete 1-month South America backpacking itinerary that includes Peru, Bolivia and Chile: Day 1 - Lima. Day 2-3 ...
Highlights of Perú, Bolivia & Chile
Explore the best of three countries on this comprehensive 14-day itinerary, with cultural visits, archaeological sites, and more. Start in Peru for explorations of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, then head to Lake Titicaca to see the floating Uros Islands and visit the indigenous communities. Continue to Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats to see massive flocks of flamingoes, then end the trip on ...

Bolivia and Peru Tours & Trips

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PERU EXPRESS - 10 days (Lima- Cusco & Puno) with Domestic Flights

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The Best of Peru and Bolivia

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South America Discovery (Puno And Lake Titicaca, 17 Days, Intra Tour Air Buenos Aires To Lima)

14 Days South American Wonders: Chile, Bolivia & Peru

Essential Peru and Bolivia

Independent Peru with Lake Titicaca

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The Perfect Two Week Itinerary For Peru And Bolivia

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Peru and Boliai Itinerary Summary

Day 1 to 3: Exploring Lima

Day 4-6: Paracas

Day 7-8: Machu Picchu

Entering Machu Picchu

Hiking Montaña Picchu (Machu Picchu Mountain)

Reaching the summit of Machu Picchu

Day 9-11: Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Rainbow Mountain

Cost of the Rainbow Mountain Tour

Dressing for the Rainbow Mountain

The Rainbow Mountain Hike

Day 11-12: Cusco to Lake Titicaca to La Paz

Day 13-15: Uyuni Salt Flat Tour

Reflective Salt Flats (Rainy season only, Jan-Apr)

Day 15-16: La Paz

Day by Day Peru and Bolivia Itinerary

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Day 3: Paracas National Reserve

Day 4: Huacachina

Day 5: Nazca

Days 6-9: Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Day 10-11: Puno and Lake Titicaca

Day 12-14: Cusco and Machu Picchu

Day 15-16: La Paz

Day 17-18: Sucre

Day 19-21: Uyuni Salt Flats

In Short: Peru and Bolivia Itinerary 3 Weeks

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How to get around

2-week Peru and Bolivia itinerary

Day 3: Cusco

Days 4-5: Sacred Valley

Day 6: Machu Picchu

Days 7-8: Lake Titicaca

Days 9-10: La Paz

Day 11: Sucre

Day 12: Potosí

Days 13-15: Uyuni

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14 Day Peru And Bolivia Tour Incan Secrets & 'The Tibet of the Americas' TOURCODE: PE2

Discover the country's true culture with the help of experienced local guides.

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Explore Peru & Bolivia