How To Spend A Month In Peru
One month in Peru is the perfect amount of time if you want to take things slowly, enjoy some relaxing days in between big activities and immerse yourself in the culture of the country.
Here’s a quick breakdown of this one-month backpacking itinerary for Peru:
| Days | Stop | Activities |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3 |
Lima |
Explore Miraflores and Barranco |
|
4-6 |
Paracas |
Paracas National Reserve, Ballestas Islands |
|
7-8 |
Huacachina |
Dune Buggy Tour, Sandboarding |
|
9-13 |
Arequipa |
Walking Tour, Colca Canyon Trek |
|
14-15 |
Puno |
Lake Titicaca |
|
16-18 |
Cusco |
Museums, Rainbow Mountain |
|
19-22 |
Puerto Maldonado |
Amazon Tour |
|
23-30 |
Cusco |
Salkantay Trek, Machu Picchu |
One Month Peru Itinerary
Day 1-3 - Lima
Peru’s capital is a vibrant city set on high cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is filled with world-class restaurants, lively nightlife, and fascinating cultural history.
Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, surf lover or a foodie – travellers are spoiled for choice in Lima.
- Miraflores has an abundance of trendy cafes and restaurants all situated amongst seafront parks and boardwalks. In the evening, here is where you will find thriving bars, clubs, and live music venues.
- In the bohemian district of Barranco with tasty local gastronomy, cute coffee shops and a vibrant alternative art scene.
Check out our complete backpacking guide for Lima which has everything you need to know:
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the hefty price tag!
Jerry & Maria – 5 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
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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.
Day 4-6 - Paracas
The striking coastal desert of Peru should be on every adventure seekers bucket list.
The protected area, spanning over 3,350 km², consists of rolling desert, jagged ocean cliffs and rocky islands populated with a diversity of wildlife.
The most popular activities here are:
- Exploring the National Reserve and there are several options for visiting; you can navigate the park by bicycle, ATV or book a tour with your hostels. I would personally recommend renting a bicycle and exploring by yourself without a tour.
- Visit the Ballestas Islands. These islands are often referred to as the ‘Poor Man’s Galapagos’. On the tour, you can see sealions, penguins, and loads of seabirds – it will feel like you’re in an episode of Blue Planet!
Check out our Paracas guides here for everything else you need to know about the town, including the best places to eat and some other great tours you can book:
Day 7-8 - Huacachina
Huacachina is a unique town, set in the middle of the desert and surrounded by sand dunes the size of small mountains.
Visiting this desert oasis is a necessary stop on any travellers itinerary through Peru for several reasons:
- Your first day is the best day to get your fill of adrenaline in the form of riding dune buggies across the desert and going sandboarding.
- If you want to party, head to the famous Wild Rover Hostel. This popular party hostel has a pool, large bar area and beer pong tables, and it’s a great place to start off the night before heading out into town to one of the random clubs.
For more information on the incredible desert oasis of Huacachina, and this 2-day itinerary in more detail, check out the post below:
“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.
Day 9-13 - Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Arequipa is an underrated gem of a city bursting with beauty and charm.
With tranquil cobblestone streets, fantastic local cuisine, and great rooftop bars, all surrounded with a backdrop of picturesque volcanoes, the city has much to offer backpackers.
On top of this, this will be your starting point for adventures and trekking into Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world.
Before starting this epic trek though, you may want to spend a day or two enjoying the city. I would start with the free walking tour on your first day to explore the city, and then in the evening finding a rooftop bar to watch the sunset.
The backdrop of the beautiful mountain ranges and volcanoes make for an impressive sight.
For more tips on the city, my Arequipa itinerary post has everything you need to know:
Day 14-15 - Puno and Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres above sea level.
The floating reed islands of the indigenous Uros people are also an impressive sight and climbing up to heights of 4200m on Taquile Island for panoramic views of the lake is an unforgettable experience.
Both can be done on the same tour and in a single day. However, you may want to take an extra day here just to slow down. The sudden change in altitude may also mean you need to take an extra day to adjust before completing the tour.
Everything you need to know about visiting Lake Titicaca in Peru is all here in our Puno guide:
Day 16-18 - Cusco
Cusco was once the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Now it’s known as one of the most popular traveller hubs in South America.
- Explore Cusco with a walking tour around the city. Not only will you learn the local history, but you’ll learn some local secrets and find out the best places to eat and drink.
- Cusco is surrounded by beautiful nature and scenery and one popular option for a day tour is Rainbow Mountain. The short but challenging trek up to 5,200m to see this colourful sight is a fantastic day trip if you think you can stomach the altitude.
- Visit the Sacred Valley. This beautiful valley, stretching roughly 60 kilometres, used to form the heart of the Inca Empire. It’s now an area of fertile farmland, small farming villages and preserved archaeological sites.
For a full itinerary breakdown for how you should spend your time in Cusco, head to the guide below:
Day 19-22 - Puerto Maldonado & The Amazon
Puerto Maldonado is a gateway to the Amazon rainforest in southern Peru, offering easy access to the Tambopata National Reserve and diverse wildlife. The town itself is small but serves as a launch point for jungle lodges and river expeditions.
- Explore Tambopata National Reserve – Take a guided tour to spot macaws, monkeys, and giant river otters in one of Peru’s most biodiverse regions.
- Visit Lake Sandoval – Canoe through this oxbow lake to see black caimans, hoatzins, and the endangered giant river otter.
Day 23-30 - Cusco & The Salkantay Trek
I recommend you spend a day or two in Cusco again before starting the Salkantay Trek – a 5-day guided hike through the Andes mountains that eventually leads you to Machu Picchu.
National Geographic lists it as one of the “25 World’s Best Treks”. With a route that takes you past glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and serene high-altitude lakes, it’s one of the most scenic ways to reach the ancient Incan city.
It also has a reputation for being one of the toughest treks in Peru covering 75km and climbing to 4,630m altitude during the Salkantay Pass. But the challenge made it an even more memorable experience in my opinion!
For more detailed information on the full trek, what to expect and what to pack, head to the guides below:
Travelling other countries in South America apart from Peru? See how you can cross the border into Bolivia to turn this month into an extended South America trip:
“Joe saved us so many hours of research and planning. His expertise turned our stress into a clear, custom itinerary we could actually enjoy.”
Maeve & Martin – 6 Weeks 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
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ 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 Many Days Do You Need In Peru?
I recommend at least three weeks in Peru if you wish to see the highlights that include Lima, Paracas National Reserve, Huacachina, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
However, here’s a summary of what you can do with less time:
| Peru Itinerary | Stops | Perfect For... |
|---|---|---|
|
7 Days |
Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu |
If you are short on time who want to see Machu Picchu |
|
10 Days |
Same as above |
If you are short on time and just want to see Cusco / Machu Picchu |
|
2 Weeks |
Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Machu Picchu |
If you want to see the highlights of Peru |
|
3 Weeks |
Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa, Cusco, Machu Picchu |
If you want to see the highlights at a slower pace |
|
4 Weeks |
Same as below and the Amazon |
If you want to do a deep dive of the highlights and spend time in the Amazon |
At a minimum, I would say Peru is not worth visiting for anything less than 10 days due to the long journey times between places and the day or two needed for acclimatisation to altitude.
To see a condensed three-week version of this one-month itinerary for Peru, head to the post below:
Is One Week In Peru Enough?
One week is enough time in Peru if you are happy with just seeing Lima and Cusco.
Cusco has the best activities, and you can easily spend a week here and not get bored. With Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained.
Also travelling south from Lima to Lake Titicaca requires several long bus journeys which will eat into your time. You don’t want to spend your week taking long buses. Land in Lima, fly straight to Cusco and spend most of your time there.
This 7-day Peru itinerary helps you to see the best of the country in a short amount of time:
- Day 1 – Lima (Land in lima and fly straight to Cusco)
- Day 2 – Cusco (City Day)
- Day 3 – Cusco (Rainbow Mountain)
- Day 4 – Cusco (Sacred Valley)
- Day 5 – Travel To Aguas Calientes
- Day 6 – Machu Pichu (Return to Cusco in the evening))
- Day 7 – Fly to Lima
For more South America routes and itineraries, follow the links below:
Alternative Peru Routes To Consider
Huaraz
Huaraz is the must-visit destination in Peru for nature and hiking lovers.
Avid hikers will want to head to Huaraz for a few days to embark on some of the most famous treks in not just Peru but the world.
Huaraz offers several one day treks that can be completed on your own such as Laguna 69 and Laguna Paron, perfect for those only staying a couple of days but who still want to experience the beauty of the mountains.
Or if you are looking for more adventure, there are multi-day hikes such as the famous Santa Cruz trek or the Cordillera Huayhuash route that will see you climbing above the clouds and camping in the mountains for anything from 5 to 10 days.
Hiking is Huaraz is one of our many reasons to visit Peru. For more great reasons, check out the post below:
Mancora
If there is one word to describe Mancora it would be wild.
This beach town is filled with locals, backpackers and other tourists wanting to do two simple things: surf and party. The best places to let loose are the Loki and Wild Rover hostels, but to be honest any of the other backpacker hostels in town which double up as bars and clubs will lead to a wild night.
Once the party is over, backpackers jump in the ocean and get rid of that hangover and learn to surf.
It’s is a great place for beginners who have never been on a board before, as well as intermediate and advanced surfers, and the continual waves, calm water and warm weather culminate in the perfect conditions for surfing.
For more reasons on why Mancora is such a great place to visit, head to the post below:
“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.
