The Perfect 2 Weeks in Peru Itinerary for First-Timers

2 weeks in Peru itinerary at a glance

Click any of the days below to skip ahead to that part of the itinerary!

Day 1: Lima
Day 2: Lima + Travel to Cusco
Day 3: Cusco
Day 4: Day trip to the Sacred Valley
Day 5: Choose another day trip from Cusco
Days 6-9: Salkantay Trek
Day 10: Machu Picchu
Day 11: Travel to Paracas
Day 12: Paracas
Day 13: Huacachina
Day 14: Head back to Lima

Kick off your 2 weeks in Peru in the country’s capital city of Lima! Home to the largest airport in the country, this is likely where your Peru adventure will begin. So before heading to other destinations, we suggest spending a full day exploring the city!

For your one full day in the city we suggest doing the following:

• Enjoy coffee and pastries at RAIZ Coffee, one of our favorite spots in the city.
• Go see the adorable cats at Kennedy Park!
• Spend the rest of the morning walking along the Miraflores Malecón. Our favorite stops were Chinese Park, Lighthouse of Miraflores, and Love’s Park!
• Try ceviche for lunch! There are countless places to enjoy Peru’s national dish, but we loved Al Toke Pez, a tiny, cash only spot only open from 12-4 PM. Ceviche House, Cevichería Barra Maretazo, and Punto Azul are also good options!
• Head over to Barranco for the afternoon! While there, look for street art, walk across  the Bridge of Sighs and down Bajada de Baños, and see Parque Municipal de Barranco.
• For dinner, try traditional Peruvian dishes at Isolina. We suggest making a reservation in advance!
• End the day with delicious gelato at Blu Gelateria.
• If you finish early enough, you could also take an Uber up to Circuito Mágico del Agua. They have a light and water show at 7:15 PM, 8:15 PM, and 9:10 PM.

For more tips on visiting Lima, check out our guide with over 19 things to do in Lima, plus our pre-made itineraries for 1-3 days in the city!

Cusco sits at 3,399 meters (11,152 feet) in altitude. This is a HUGE contrast to Lima, which is at sea level. One of our top Peru travel tips is to ensure you acclimate to the higher altitude. So for your first day in Cusco we suggest taking it easy and just exploring around town!

Here’s how we’d suggest spending the day:

• Grab coffee and a light breakfast at Florencia y Fortunata, our favorite cafe in Cusco!
• Explore the city’s beautiful plazas and streets, including Plaza de Armas, Calle Siete Borreguitos, and Mirador de San Blas. You could also do a free walking tour to learn more about the city’s architecture and history!
• Stroll through San Pedro Market and enjoy a delicious smoothie from one of the fruit stands.
• For lunch, there are lots of great restaurants in Cusco to choose from. We suggest taking a look at our must-visit restaurants and choosing the one that sounds the best to you! It’s also good to keep in mind that your appetite may not be as strong due to the altitude.
• Spend the afternoon exploring Sacsayhuamán, which are Inca ruins right in the city! Here you’ll see giant boulders and there’s even a hidden tunnel, plus a fun rock slide!
• Watch the sunset from Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco, which is a short walk from Sacsayhuamán.
• If you’re brave, try cuy (guinea pig) for dinner! This is a staple dish in Andean cuisine and is actually not half bad. To try it, we suggest going to KUSYKAY Peruvian Craft Food. But don’t worry, if it’s not your thing they also have less adventurous options!
• End the night by grabbing picarones, a Peruvian donut, for dessert.

For more tips on visiting Cusco, check out our guide with over 18 fun things to do in Cusco, plus detailed guides for the best Cusco day trips, our favorite Cusco restaurants, and a 3 day itinerary!

Now that you’ve had two full days to get adjusted to the altitude, we suggest spending today going on a day trip to the Andes Mountains! There are quite a few day trip options to choose from and we cover them in much more detail in this guide. But here are the top ones we’d recommend!

• Humantay Lake: This blue lake, with a glacial mountain backdrop, is breathtaking! It requires a short, but steep hike to get to it, so we only recommend it to those in decent shape, as the altitude only makes it harder. If you’re hiking the Salkantay Trek (more on that next!), you will visit this lake as part of the trek, so we suggest choosing another option.
• Rainbow Mountain: This multi-color striped mountain is the most popular day trip from Cusco. Not only will you get to see this famous mountain, but you’ll have views of Ausangate and the chance to hike up to see the Red Valley as well. 
• Palccoyo Mountain: Want something less crowded than Rainbow Mountain? Palccoyo is another rainbow mountain in the area, with three mountains to see instead of just one. Plus it’s a shorter hike!
• 7 Lakes of Ausangate: This is one of the most underrated day trips from Cusco! This group of glacial lakes lie below Ausangate, the 5th tallest peak in Peru. On this hike you not only will get to see 7 lakes, which are all different colors, shapes, and sizes, but you’ll also get to see ridiculous views of mountains and glaciers. Plus soak in a hot spring!

All of these options are at a higher altitude than Cusco, so make sure you’re feeling okay before heading out to them. And pack lots of water and electrolytes (we love LMNT!) to stay hydrated!

For the 10th day of this Peru itinerary you’ll finally make it to Machu Picchu! Named one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, this historic Inca site is not only filled with impressive architecture, but also breathtaking scenery. It’s easy to see why this is a bucket list spot for so many!

However, there is a LOT to know before visiting Machu Picchu. It’s not a place you can simply show up at and explore. You have to purchase tickets in advance, plus choose a route. We cover everything you need to know to visit Machu Picchu in this step by step guide. But here’s a quick rundown to ensure you have a good experience!

• Buy tickets well in advance! You will have to pick from 10 different routes and a timeslot. Our top picks would be either Route 2-A or 2-B (almost identical) and Route 3-A, which takes you to Huayna Picchu!
• There is no signage inside Machu Picchu, so we recommend hiring a guide so you can learn all about it! You can get a guide in advance (we used Machu Picchu Edu Tours) or find one while waiting in line for the bus!
• To get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes you can either take a bus ($24 roundtrip) or walk. Or do a mix of both!
• You cannot exit (and re-enter) Machu Picchu once your ticket is scanned and there are NO bathrooms inside. So plan your liquids accordingly!

Today you’ll be exploring Paracas! This area is known for its plethora of marine wildlife (at an affordable cost!), plus golden hills and cliffs that clash against the area’s vibrant blue sea. It’s unlike anywhere we have ever been!

There are a handful of fun things to do in Paracas, but if you only have one day, here’s how we’d suggest spending it!

• Grab a quick coffee and breakfast at Puerto Specialty Coffee. It’s a small coffee stand that serves a delicious flat white, plus great yogurt bowls and avocado toast for breakfast.
• Head out on a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands! On a 2 hour boat tour you will have the chance to see sea lions, many bird species, and our favorite, Humboldt Penguins. Plus rocky islands and arches, as well as the Candelabra, a mysterious geoglyph. 
• For lunch, head to Triple C! They serve amazing arepas, empanadas, and fruit juices.
• Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the Paracas National Reserve! This is where the desert meets the sea and here you have endless views of golden cliffs and hills, which contrasts beautifully against the bright blue ocean waters. You can either rent scooters to explore or go on a mini dune buggy tour. Since you’ll be visiting here in the afternoon, make sure to bring lots of water! It’s very exposed and dry out here!
• End the day by trying a Peruvian seafood dish called tiradito. Valhalla and Milla Cero are both good spots to try this!

To learn more about Paracas, including more things to do in the area (like a fun sunset tour and wine tour!), check out our guide with 11 fun things to do in Paracas!

For the final destination on this Peru itinerary, head to the Huacachina Oasis! This area is home to South America’s largest sand dunes, reaching heights of up to 500 meters (1,600 ft). Plus the only natural oasis on the content!

To get here, you will need to take a 1.5 hour bus ride from Paracas. We suggest taking a bus around 9 AM or 10 AM, to ensure you have enough time in Huacachina. And once there, here’s how we’d suggest spending 24 hours in the Huacachina Oasis:

• Grab lunch at The Tiki Backyard, a fun spot with palapas, colorful plants and decor, and a menu with a wide variety of items. Huacachina is very touristy, so don’t expect the best food of your trip, but this spot was pretty solid!
• Spend some time pedal boating around the lagoon. This was a lot more fun than we expected!
• Go on an exhilarating sunset dune buggy adventure! You can either book a standalone sand buggy tour, where you’ll ride around on the dunes, plus go sand boarding. OR you can book a glamping tour, which is what we did! This unique experience includes a sand buggy ride, sand tubing, sand boarding, dinner in the dunes, and glamping overnight!
  
  You can also opt to just do the dune activities and dinner, instead of staying the night. But if you can swing it, the glamping was one of our highlights of our time in Peru!

To learn more about Huacachina, including a detailed rundown of the sand buggy tour and glamping experience, check out our detailed guide to visiting.

Prefer to stay the night in town instead?

Even if you opt to not do the glamping experience (which we HIGHLY recommend), we do suggest staying in Huacachina tonight. Since the dune buggy will end after sunset, it’s just easier to stay nearby versus trying to get a bus back to Paracas.

The majority of the lodging in the Huacachina Oasis are hostels. However, many have private rooms! Banana’s Adventure would be our top pick, which is where The Tiki Backyard restaurant is located. If you want a fancier stay, Hotel Las Dunas and Hotel Viñas Queirolo in Ica are both great choices.