How I Would Plan A 1-Month Peru and 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 is easy. Here’s the perfect one month backpacking itinerary for Peru and Bolivia to help you plan your next trip.

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

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:

• Paracas 2-3 Day Itinerary & Guide

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

This 2-day Huacachina itinerary has all the information you need:

• Huacachina 2-Day Itinerary 

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.

• Is Arequipa Worth Visiting? 12 Great Reasons To Visit Peru’s White City  

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.

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.

If you’re looking for adventure, go biking down Death Road, trekking in the Valley of the Moon, or climbing Huayna Potosi.

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.

To see these days planned in more detail, head to the post below:

• La Paz, Bolivia: 3-Day vs 5-Day Itinerary

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:

• How To Visit The Amazon In Bolivia

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:

• When To Visit Uyuni For The Mirror Effect
• The Ultimate Uyuni Salt Flats Guide