Claire Dean
Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!
How long to spend in Peru?
Written by:Claire Dean
Published: 2022-04-18
Knowing exactly how many days to spend in Peru during your next holidays can be a tricky question to answer. This will vary depending on the available time you have and it might really boil down to what destinations you are interested in visiting. Regardless of how long you will be in Peru, no matter if it is only a few days or a couple of weeks, Peru offers some of the most fascinating and unique experiences. Even with a limited number of days, visitors can visit the most important highlights like Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and even a multiday trek! Here is an idea of how long to spend in this incredible country on your vacation to Peru.
Andean girl
3-4 days in Peru
The minimum amount of time will probably be 3 to 4 days in Peru. This will be enough time to visit Cusco, The Sacred valley and Machu Picchu, which are some of the most popular destinations in the country.
Machu Picchu
5-7 days in Peru
When figuring out how many days to spend in Peru, considering a week might be more advantageous than a long weekend. An itinerary consisting of 5-7 days in Peru. With a full week to spend in Peru, you can take it easy the first couple of days while you acclimate. Head straight to Cusco and rest on the first day. You can also experience the fascinating capital of Lima which is where you will more than likely arrive to. Here you can experience the colonial history of the country as well as sample some of the best cuisine in the world!
Acclimatize before activity
10 days in Peru
A 10-day itinerary will allow you to visit a number of regions in Peru. Include Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu for the first part of the trip, we can then include a trip to Puno and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the entire world. Take an extra day to fully explore the Uros floating islands and the island of Taquile and Amanani.
Cusco streets
2 weeks in Peru
If you have 14 days to spend in Peru you will have enough time to visit the 2 geographical regions of Peru including the coast and the highlands. You can travel south of Lima to visit the Nazca lines and Paracas before heading to Arequipa and the magnificent Colca Canyon. Then fly from Arequipa to Cusco, to visit Cusco the Sacred Valley and of course, Machu Picchu. Then head south and visit Lake Titicaca in Puno.
Uros floating islandsLonger
If you have a longer period of time in Peru, try and do a 3 week tour. This tour will allow you to visit the 3 geographical regions of Peru, the coast, the highlands and the jungle region.
Three weeks will allow a visit to the Amazon basin and Tambopata reserve for excellent wildlife opportunities. The other popular option with a longer itinerary is to do a multi- day trek, such as the 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or the 5 day Salkantay Trek. Remember that multi-day treks will need a few days acclimatization at least as well as a decent level of fitness.
Tambopata Nature reserve
In Conclusion
If you wanted to see all of Peru in a single visit, then you might need at least a couple of months of full-on travelling. There is a lot to see and many places that to visit that are not even mentioned in this article. In the centre of the country, through the Cordillera Blanca also offers some amazing treks and activities for hikers. The northern beaches near Tumbes offer pristine, untouched beaches where you might not even see another person. So, when trying to work out how long to spend in Peru, try to first think of the destinations you definitely want to see. You might need more time than you thought in some cases while in others you might only need 4-5 days. The great thing is that there is always an excuse to come back to this remarkable country on another occasion!
