How Many Days Do I Need in Peru?

"How many days should I visit Peru?" You may wonder. Well, 10 days is an ideal length for your Peru trip, and it's a popular choice for most travelers. If you want less (1 week) or more (2 weeks+) than 10 days in Peru, this guide will provide you with some excellent ideas. Perhaps by the time you've finished reading, you'll be ready to pack your bags for Peru!

Top Places and How Many Days to Stay in Peru

You may be curious which city in Peru is worth visiting and how many days to stay there. Here is a simple idea for your reference.

Places to Visit	Highlights	Days to Spend
Lima	Lima Cathedral, Plaza Mayor (Town Square), Miraflores District	3 - 4 Days
Cusco	Sacsayhuaman Ruins, San Pedro Market, Inca Museum	2 - 3 Days
Arequipa	Santa Catalina Monastery, Colca Canyon, Mundo Alpaca	2 - 3 Days
Iquitos	Casa de Fierro (The Iron House), Iquitos Square	2 Days
Machu Picchu	Inti Punku (Sun Gate), The Inca Bridge, Royal Tomb	2 Days
Sacred Valley	Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins, Chinchero (Ancient Town)	2 Days
Huacachina	Sandboarding, Dune Buggy Ride	2 Days
Puno	Puno Cathedral, Lake Titicaca, Casa del Corregidor	3 Days

10 Days in Peru - Ideal Duration

10 Days is the ideal duration for a trip to Peru, since you can enjoy key highlights such as Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley at a relaxed pace, and you may also add the Amazon Rainforest, Rainbow Mountain, or Lake Titicaca into your itinerary based on your interests.

Thrilling Amazon Rainforest Adventure

• Route: Lima (3 days) - Amazon Rainforest (4 days) - Cusco (3 days)

Peru has many wonderful places that attract people from all over the world. To get closer to nature, be sure to challenge the Amazon Rainforest. Spending the whole day in the rainforest, going canoeing, seeing pink and grey dolphins swim, looking for different monkeys, and talking to local people, knowing their way of living in the rainforest. If this is not enough, you can find other species of animals at Lake Leoncito and Lake Moena.

Next, head to Cusco, exploring the beautiful Peruvian Village, and buying some souvenirs from the local markets. It's worth visiting the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha), the most important temple in Cusco. Your final stop is Lima. Take a leisurely stroll along the cliffs of Miraflores for stunning ocean views, then wander through the Historic Center of Lima to feel the city's charm. Let the city's scenery bring a perfect end to your rainforest adventure.

Amazon Rainforest

Outdoor Fun in Peru

• Route: Lima (2 days) - Cusco & Inca Trail (7 days) - Lake Titicaca (1 day)

Speaking of travel to Peru, outdoor activities come to mind: kayaking on Lake Titicaca, private river rafting in Pachar, biking in Lima, and the most iconic of all, hiking the Inca Trail. Generally, it's recommended to plan 4 days and 3 nights for the Inca Trail to fully experience this hiking route. Besides the Inca Trail, Rainbow Mountain is another unmissable hiking destination, which you can take 1 day to explore. Before hiking, it's best to spend 2 days in Cusco to familiarize yourself with the high altitude and explore the city's sights.

Additionally, you can arrange a one-day trip to Lake Titicaca to experience kayaking and enjoy the spectacular lake and mountain scenery of the Andean Mountains. You can also spend another day in Lima for a bike tour, riding along the coastline to enjoy beautiful bay views and the refreshing sea breeze.

Sweet Family Trip

• Route: Lima (3 days) - Paracas (3 days) - Cusco (4 days)

Traveling to Peru with your family is definitely a good choice, especially if you have kids. Spend 4 days in Cusco, where you can explore the Maras Salt Mines and study ancient salt production techniques with your children. Then, visit the magical Moray ruins to discover how the Incas cleverly used natural terrain for agricultural experiments.

Spend 3 days in Paracas experiencing its desert wonders. While you're there, visit the Huacachina desert oasis for a thrilling ride on dune buggies and sandboarding. Plan a 3-day exploration in Lima. Parque Kennedy is a wonderful place, also known as "cat park" because hundreds of cats live there, all managed by a cat welfare association. Who would resist petting cute little cats? Even if you're not there for the cats, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, and sometimes you'll even catch live music performances, adding an unexpected delight.

1 Week in Peru - A Quick Look

Many people would ask: Is 7 days in Peru enough? With a reasonable itinerary, 7 days are possible to quickly see Peru's highlights. For example, you can visit popular spots like Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.

Classic Inca Culture Explore

• Route: Lima (2 days) -Cusco (3 days) - Sacred Valley (2 days)

The best way to get to know a country is by starting with its culture. Now let's start a culture trip. With this 7-day itinerary, you will spend 3 days in Cusco, 2 days in the Sacred Valley, and 2 days in Lima, visiting many historical heritage sites. The highlights include Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins, Pisac Archaeological Park, Cusco Cathedral, and Huaca Huallamarca. Notably, as the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco hosts the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) every year on June 24th. If you happen to be there at that time, you should definitely join the local celebrations to gain a deeper appreciation of the local culture.

Cusco Cathedral

Flavors and History of Peru

• Route: Lima (3 days) - Arequipa (2 days) - Cusco (2 days)

Come on, taste your way through Peru. As a food lover, how can you miss this delicious journey? You can taste authentic food like ceviche, Peruvian fruit lucuma milkshake, and lomo saltado. And if you love to cook as much as you love to eat, spend 3 days in Lima, and you'll have the chance to prepare a pisco sour under the guidance of a bartender and make a ceviche with the help of a professional chef. To balance all that delicious eating, go explore some beautiful sights. Spend 2 days exploring Arequipa, where you can walk through the historic center, admire the white volcanic stone buildings, visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, and enjoy the amazing view of the Misti Volcano. Conclude your journey with 2 days in Cusco, exploring the bustling market and ancient ruins of Pisac. Soak in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes, and then prepare for your incredible trip to Machu Picchu.

Luxury Train Trip to Machu Picchu

• Route: Sacred Valley (4 days) - Machu Picchu (1 day) - Cusco (1 day) - Lima (1 day)

Have you ever experienced a train trip? In Peru, you could start by spending 4 days in the Sacred Valley, visiting the Salt Mines of Maras, the Moray ruins, and MIL (a food lab and interpretation center) to experience Andean rural life and Inca culture. From Ollantaytambo, take the luxurious Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. The train's interior is vintage and elegant, offering fine cuisine while you enjoy the magnificent Andean mountain scenery through the windows. After arriving in Aguas Calientes, you'll be ready to visit the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu. Then, spend 1 day in Cusco visiting the grand Cusco Cathedral and the sacred Temple of the Sun, and end your trip with 1 day in Lima, admiring its well-preserved ancient buildings.

2 Weeks+ in Peru - Have More Fun

If you have more than 2 weeks of holiday, that would be perfect. You won't need to rush your itinerary or spend every night planning the next day. This allows you to slow down or even do nothing in a day, spend more time enjoying local life, stay longer in places you love, and have more fun. You can extend your trip on the basis of the 10-day itinerary. For example, deeply explore the mysterious culture of northern Peru or go for an Amazon rainforest exploration.

The Mysterious Northern Peru

• Route: Trujillo (3 days) - Cocachimba (2 days) - Chachapoyas (3 days) - Cajamarca (3 days) - Lima (3 days)

For thousands of years, cultures have risen and faded in Northern Peru, leaving behind a land full of mystery. Spend 3 days in Trujillo visiting ancient sites like Chan Chan, Huaca del Dragon, and the Moche Museum to get to know the ancient northern Peruvian culture. Then, spend 2 days in Cocachimba. One of the highlights is the spectacular view of the Gocta Waterfall. After that, spend 3 days in Chachapoyas, with the highlight being Kuelap, which is known as the "Machu Picchu of the North". This means even if Southern Peru is not part of your plan, you won't feel like you've missed out. You can stay for 3 days in Cajamarca with highlights including the Otuzco necropolis and the Cumbemayo. Finally, conclude your Northern Peru trip in Lima, the capital of Peru.

Peru Trip Extended to Brazil

• Route:
  Peru: Cusco (4 days) - Lima (3 days);
  Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (4 days) - Manaus (3 days) - Foz do Iguacu (3 days)

Who says you can only spend 2 weeks or more in one country? Since you're already planning a trip to Peru, consider extending your trip to neighboring Brazil and feel the rich diversity of South America. From Lima, Peru, head east to Cusco, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way. Make a stop at the Pisac archaeological site in the Sacred Valley to explore its ancient Inca terraces. From Cusco, take a flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to visit the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain, and embrace the passionate Brazilian culture. Spending 7 days in Peru and 10 days in Brazil, it's a longer journey, but one that brings out the best of both countries.

Discover Peru Your Way With Odynovo

If you haven't decided how many days in Peru, let Odynovo help you. Whether it's 7 days, 10 days, or even a month, just contact us. You'll get a satisfactory answer for your Peru trip.