How Long Does It Take To Visit Peru & Bolivia?
I’d recommend a minimum of three weeks to see the highlights Peru and Bolivia properly, which includes visits to Machu Pichu and the Salt Flats.
However, you can do more or less depending on your time and budget.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s achievable with the time you have:
| How Many Days In Peru & Bolivia? | What Can You See In This Time? | Perfect For... |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Week |
Lima, Cusco and La Paz |
People looking for a fast paced trip |
|
10 Days |
Lima, Cusco and La Paz |
Same as above but slower |
|
2 Weeks |
Lima, Cusco, Copacabana, La Paz & Uyuni |
People who want to see the highlights |
|
3 Weeks |
Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Copacabana, La Paz & Uyuni |
If you want more time in Peru |
|
1 Month |
Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa, Cusco, Copacabana, La Paz, the Amazon & Uyuni |
People who want to see everything! |
Peru And Bolivia 1-Month Itinerary
Here’s a breakdown of this one-month itinerary through Peru and Bolivia:
| Day | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1-2 |
Lima |
Explore Miraflores and Barranco |
|
3-4 |
Paracas |
National Reserve Tour, Ballestas Islands |
|
5-6 |
Huacachina |
Dune Buggy Tour, Sandboarding |
|
7-11 |
Arequipa |
Colca Canyon |
|
12-16 |
Cusco |
Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu |
|
17-19 |
Copacabana |
Lake Titicaca |
|
20-21 |
La Paz |
Death Road, Cable Car Tour |
|
22-25 |
Rurrenabaque |
Amazon Tour |
|
26-28 |
Uyuni |
Salt Flat Tour |
- Budget: $1000-1500
- Ideal Time: May to October is the dry season, perfect for hiking in the Andes
- You'll see very best of both countries
- Long overnight buses between some destinations
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Week 1-2 - Peru
Day 1-2 - Lima
Peru’s coastal capital blends history, food, and ocean views, with lively neighborhoods like Miraflores and Barranco offering the best experiences.
- A day in Miraflores: Walk the Malecón for stunning ocean views, visit Huaca Pucllana ruins, and enjoy ceviche at a top seafood spot before catching the sunset at Parque Kennedy.
- A day in Barranco: Wander colorful streets filled with street art, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and explore indie cafes and bars, finishing the night with live music.
Day 3-4 - Paracas
- Transport: Lima to Paracas (4h)
Paracas is Peru’s desert where rolling dunes and jagged cliffs meet the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. The entire area is a national park, and this untouched natural landscape is perfect for travellers looking for adventure.
- You can explore the park by bicycle, ATV or guided tour but I would personally recommend either bike or guided tour. By bike you are free to explore all day but a tour is watching the sunset.
- Another great thing to do in Paracas is visit the Ballestas Islands – rocky islands full of birds and sealions. You may even see dolphins and whales on the journey.
All the information you need is for visiting the park can be found below:
Day 5-6 - Huacachina
- Transport: Paracas to Ica (1h)
Visiting the desert oasis of Huacachina is a necessary stop on any journey through Peru for several reasons:
- Flying across the desert in dune buggies
- Sandboarding down the massive dunes (not for the fainthearted)
- Enjoying the beautiful sunsets across the desert
Day 7-10 - Arequipa & Colca Canyon
- Transport: Overnight bus from Ica to Arequipa (13h) or fly (1h)
Arequipa is an underrated gem of a city bursting with beauty and charm.
- Explore the tranquil cobblestone streets, fantastic local cuisine, and great rooftop bars, all surrounded with a backdrop of picturesque volcanoes – the city has so much to offer.
- Go trekking into Colca Canyon – the second deepest canyon in the world. You can choose from single day to multi-day treks.
This 2-Day Colca Canyon tour will drop you off in Puno and from there you can take a bus to Cusco!
For more on Arequipa, check out the full guide that has everything you need to know.
Day 11-13 - Cusco
- Transport: Overnight bus from Arequipa to Cusco (10h) or fly (1h)
The gateway to Machu Picchu, Cusco is a high-altitude city filled with Inca history, colonial charm, and vibrant markets.
- A day in the Historic Center: Explore the Plaza de Armas, visit Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán, then browse San Pedro Market before enjoying a traditional Peruvian meal.
- Visit one of the many chocolate museums in town for a tasting session. Or you can go for a massage. They’re super cheap in Peru and start at around $10 for an hour-long session – perfect after all the trekking you’ve been doing.
- Your other days in Cusco should be spent getting out into the Andes. The Rainbow Mountain day trip is the perfect activity for getting out of the city. The short but challenging trek up to 5,200m to see Peru’s famous new attraction is a fantastic experience if you think you can stomach the altitude.
For more information on Cusco, the backpacker guides below have everything you need to plan your time there:
Day 14 - Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu
- Transport: Bus from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (8-9h)
- Transport: Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (3h)
Aguas Calientes is the town closest to Machu Picchu and the hub for travellers before they start their trek up to the mountain.
There’s two ways of getting there: train or bus.
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. If you take the bus, it will take around 8-9 hours but its cheap so great if you are travelling on a budget.
When you arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes, find your hostel and check in. I recommend Super Tramp Hostel as one of the best backpacker hostels here. However, you will also find lots of small hotels and BnBs that are affordable too.
Day 15 - Machu Picchu
Early on the morning of day 15, it’s finally time to climb the 1,600+ stairs up to Peru’s most popular tourist attraction.
This is the ultimate highlight of many people’s trips to South America. Visiting the marvelous citadel of the Incas, hidden amongst misty valleys, and set high above the clouds, truly feels like you are walking back through time.
You have several options for the day:
- Wake up at 4:00 AM and trek to the top for sunrise.
- Wake up a little later and take the bus to the top to beat the crowds.
- Have a lazy morning and trek up in the afternoon.
When you need to leave depends on what time ticket you purchased. However, I would recommend trying to get a 6:00 AM ticket which is the earliest entry possible.
This will allow you to miss most of the crowds and catch the sunrise!
Day 16 - Cusco
After Machu Picchu it’s time to head back to Cusco for some rest and recovery.
You will want an extra day planned in after visiting Machu Picchu for several reasons: general rest and recovery, a massage, and travel admin such as washing your clothes and repacking before heading on to your next destination – Bolivia.
For an evening meal, try Limbus Resto Bar for the best view in Cusco along with great food and cocktails.
How To Get From Cusco To Copacabana
Once you are done in Cusco, it’s time to take the 9-hour bus from Cusco to Copacabana to start the second part of this Peru and Bolivia backpacking itinerary.
The bus takes a while so try to take the earliest one on day 17 so you can have some time in the evening to explore Copacabana.
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Week 3-4 - Bolivia
Day 17-19 - Lake Titicaca & Copacabana
- Transport: Overnight bus from Cusco to Copacabana (12-14h)
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres above sea level.
- Explore 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.
- Take a boat tour to Isla del Sol, the largest island on the lake.
Day 20-21 - La Paz
- Transport: Overnight bus from Cusco to Copacabana (12-14h)
Bolivia’s high-altitude capital is a chaotic yet fascinating city, where cable cars, markets, and dramatic landscapes collide.
- A day in the Historic Center: Visit Plaza Murillo, explore the Witches’ Market, tour San Francisco Church, and ride the Mi Teleférico for stunning city views.
- If you’re looking for adventure, go biking down Death Road, trekking in the Valley of the Moon, or climbing Huayna Potosi.
To see these days planned in more detail, head to the post below:
Day 22-25 - Amazon Tour
- Transport: Overnight bus from La Paz to Rurrenabaque (12-14h)
The next step on this Peru and Bolivia itinerary is a visit to the Amazon.
Visiting the Amazon in Bolivia is much cheaper and easier compared to other countries in South America.
The standard Amazon tour is 3 days and 2 nights. On the tour, your days will be spent on a longboat winding through the tributaries of the Amazon searching for caimans, anacondas, and exotic birds.
I took a day either side in Rurrenabaque to enjoy the town and rest and recuperate. That’s the beauty of have a month travelling – you can slow down and not worry about rushing everywhere all the time.
The complete guide to booking an Amazon tour and flying to Rurrenabaque from La Paz can be found here:
Day 26-29 - Uyuni
- Transport 1: Overnight bus from Rurrenabaque to La Paz (12-14h)
- Transport 2: Fly from La Paz to Uyuni (1h)
First, you will want to take a day in the town of Uyuni to book your Salt Flat tour.
I recommend Salty Desert Adventures. You can book online but I recommend doing it in person as you’ll find cheaper prices.
The 3-day Salar De Uyuni tour will take you from one unique landscape to the next, starting with the white expanse of the salt flat on day 1, to the high-altitude desert of the Andes on the next.
Your mind will be blow by all the incredible scenery and you will leave on a high. The perfect way to end an incredible month in two of South America’s best countries!
The Uyuni guides linked below have all the information you need:
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
How Much Money Do You Need For 1-Month In Peru & Bolivia
Here’s a rough estimate of what you should budget daily and weekly for each country on this six week South America itinerary:
| Week/Country | Daily Budget | Weekly Budget |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 – Peru |
$45 |
$450 |
|
Week 2 – Peru |
$45 |
$450 |
|
Week 3 – Bolivia |
$35 |
$350 |
|
Week 4 – Bolivia |
$35 |
$350 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
$1500 |
With everything included, hostels, food, and activities, you should budget for $45 a day when in Peru and $35 a day when in Bolivia.
This comes out at a total of $1500 for one month.
I personally think it’s better to be on the safe side, so I would add $500 extra for any emergencies or if you just want to treat yourself more than once.
So for one month in Peru and Bolivia, I would budget $2000.
There will always be a tour that takes your fancy at the last minute, or an extra night out, or meals out in excellent restaurants. No one wants to eat at markets twice a day for a whole month, no matter how excellent the food is.
- Tickets to Machu Picchu cost around $50.
- The Amazon can cost anywhere between $150-300 depending on what deals you can find.
- A Salt Flat tour can also cost somewhere between $100-200 depending on the time of the year you are visiting and how good you are at haggling.
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our 3-month trip feel easy.”
Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
