2 Weeks in Peru: Your Travel Itinerary
If, like me, your holiday allowance maxes out at two weeks, this 2 weeks in Peru itinerary is designed for you. It covers Peru’s iconic destinations, including ancient ruins, vibrant cities, and breath-taking landscapes, with enough time to soak up each place without feeling rushed.
We went in August as it’s supposed to be dry then, but full disclosure, it did rain a lot on the Inca trail (think last minute waterproof trouser & poncho purchases)! Be it global warming, bad luck, or as our guide, Francesco, told us: “Pachamama is angry”…
Day 1 & 2: Arrive in Cusco (or Cuzco) & explore
Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the perfect gateway to explore Peru, & is where the Machu Picchu trips depart from.
As the former capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco’s cobblestone streets, historic sites & vibrant culture make it a quaint, yet bustling hub to start your trip.
I advise (& as do the professionals…) spending your first couple of days acclimatising to the altitude!
I felt very safe walking around Cusco – I even had my bankcard handed to me after dropping it & not realising. Thus, I would suggest exploring Cusco by foot & visiting Plaza de Armas (the central square of the city), which homes Cusco Cathedral, & San Blas, which is a charming area brimming with cafes, art studios, little shops & bars.
A couple of spots I highly recommend are:
Yaku: Peruvian restaurant with a cute terrace/garden:
Three Monkeys: Coffee shop in a lovely courtyard:
You can take a gentle trek around the Cusco Ruins, comprising of Tambomachay, Puka Pukara & Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
I would also recommend stocking up on any essentials here. Reference my previous point about waterproofs… We also picked up dried fruit, snacks & some anti-altitude tablets from the pharmacy.
Then, in the evening of day 2, you will likely have a pre-departure briefing for the Inca Trail hike. Our tour guide brought us duffel bags so we could pack what we needed for the 4 days & we left our main bags at our hotel. Get an early night as you will be picked up at the crack of dawn for the hike.
Days 3-6: Inca Trail
We booked the 4 day / 3 night hike with Bamba Travel, which cost $2970 for 3 people. The package includes your sleeping bag & mat, tent, all food, guide, porters who carry your belongings, cook & pitch up your tent for you. I highly recommend Bamba – so helpful, friendly & Francesco, our guide, was so knowledgeable & sweet. This length of trip was perfect to fit in during our 2 weeks in Peru, but there are other options if you want something shorter or longer!
Day 1 of Inca Trail:
- Picked up at 5am from our hotel in Cusco & driven to Ollataytambo via coach where you can grab a warm breakfast & more snacks. Selection is not wildly exciting for snacks so I would recommend grabbing these in Cusco.
- You then hike to Wayllabamba Camp along Vicanota River Valley. The walking is pretty gentle on day 1.
Your day 2:
- Breakfast at 6am.
- This is the most challenging day of hiking with a vertical hike of about 5 hours… Best advice here is to walk very slowly as the altitude & steep steps can take your breath away at times.
- You reach Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215m, then hike down to Pacaymayo Camp (2h).
Day 3:
- You will see the Pacaymayo archaeological site, which is beautiful, walk through Runquracay Pass & see a couple more archaeological sites en route.
- You will stay at Winayhuayna High Jungle Camp, which is the most breath-taking spot to camp at!
Day 4:
- Wake up at 3.30am & hike down in the dark. This is pretty scary so I recommend a head torch, which I did not have… You will need your hands at times. You hike to the sungate to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
- Now, I can’t promise you a clear day here as we unfortunately had complete cloud cover so didn’t get the view at all! That said, apparently it is incredible if you’re lucky enough to get the view…
- You then walk the final stretch to Machu Picchu & explore the city for the rest of the day. Be prepared for lots of clean & preened looking visitors who have got the gondola up… It was a bit of a shock to us as we didn’t realise there was a gondola.. But you do get lots of ‘well done’s & claps, so it is fun & funny.
- You then get the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch & relax in the little town.
- Finally, get the train to Ollantaytambo. On this train they do some local (if not slightly bizarre) dance & show on the train. You can also enjoy the beautiful views, before being picked up by a bus & taken back to your hotel.
As the trip is rather tiring, I would recommend an early night… I hate to admit that we opted for room service on this night & had burgers as we were craving comfort food & a cosy night in…
If you are spending 2 weeks in Peru, then I would definitely take this opportunity to unwind before your next day of activities, as Rainbow Mountain is HIGH!
Day 7: Rainbow Mountain
You have two options when it comes to visiting Rainbow Mountain; Vinicunca or Pacoyo. Both of which are about a 3 hour drive from Cusco.
We opted for Palcoyo, known as ‘The Alternative Rainbow Mountain’ as it is a gentler hike & less well-trodden based on the fact it is less well-known.
Both options offer very similar views & are great options if you plan on spending 2 weeks in Peru; the vibrant stripes of minerals are a unique natural sight at nearly 5,000 meters high. This is actually higher than the highest point during your Machu Picchu climb so beware, if you haven’t experienced altitude sickness yet, then this could be your tipping point.
There are a lot of local women dotted around with alpaca & llama, who you can have photos with for a small fee (we gave the equivalent of £1 & they were happy). The colours of their outfits against the backdrop of the mountain makes for a great shot.
En route, if the season permits (Jan-Mar), stop at the Red River, where the water is… You guessed it, red. During these months, the water runs red due to red sandstone erosion. As my 2 weeks in Peru were during August, I did not make this stop but have heard it is pretty impressive.
Day 8: Sacred Valley & Pisac
The Sacred Valley of Peru, or Uramamba used to form part of the Incan Empire, & features beautiful landscapes & ancient ruins. It’s worth a visit during your 2 weeks in Peru.
You can hire a driver for the day from Cusco, which costs about £50.
In Pisac, visit the ruins, which are perched high on the mountainside, surrounded by crop terraces, making it extremely beautiful. Pisac is a market town, which is colourful & a great place to shop for some handmade textiles, ceramics & jewellery. Pisac is about a one hour drive from Cusco.
Drive the Sacred Valley Drive from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, which is about a further 1.5h drive. Enjoy stunning views of the Andean mountains, rivers, small villages & terraced farmland. There are a lot of beautiful stops for photo opportunities along the way.
At Ollantaytambo (which is the same town you come into at the end of Machu Picchu, but like us, you will likely be too tired to explore…), visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, which is now an archaeological site, & used to be the stronghold of the Inca Empire.
After you have explored the fortress, wander around the market town down the cobbled streets & see the ancient aqueducts, which are still in action.
Day 9 of your 2 weeks in Peru: Journey to Puno
The journey from Cusco to Puno is just under a 7 hour drive. We went on a TERRIBLE tourist bus, which stopped at a bunch of attractions en route. I would not recommend opting for one of these buses – Opt for one that just gets you straight to Puno. Our bus took around 10 hours in total & the stops, whilst pretty, were nothing compared to some of our other days in Peru. So if you are doing 2 weeks in Peru, save these hours to relax in Puno, once you are there! Plus, if you are late back to the bus… They genuinely leave without you (think chasing after the bus that had all of our belongings on it…).
Puno is a vibrant, yet small, city perched on the shores of Lake Titicaca, & is a great spot to stay to visit the nearby Uros Floating Islands, which are crafted from reeds, where the indigenous Uru people live.
Day 10: Lake Titicaca – Uros and Taquile Islands
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The lake is home to the Uros Floating Islands. These are a unique network of man-made islands, which are crafted entirely from totora reeds by the Uru people.
I would recommend spending a full day exploring these reed islands! You can book tours from Puno, where they take you out on a boat & the locals show you their craft & their homes.
We were then taken to lunch at Taquile Island, where we saw some traditional dancing & Andean weaving from Alpaca.
Day 11: Colca Canyon
A scenic drive takes you from Puno to Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons. Along the way, you can enjoy stops at small Andean villages & views of grazing alpacas & vicuñas.
Visit Cruz del Condor to watch Andean condors soar over the canyon. It is spectacular as they are enormous birds & they fly so low!
We stayed at Colca Lodge & Hot Springs, which is at the bottom of the valley, & is an incredible spot. We enjoyed massages, the hot springs & the fire pit late in the evening. This was such a luxurious spot – Highly recommend!
Day 12 of your 2 weeks in peru: Arequipa
Arequipa, the White City, is about a 3.5 hour drive from Colca Canyon. Arequipa is STUNNING. Known for its white volcanic stone architecture, the city offers a relaxing change of pace.
Explore the Plaza de Armas & the beautiful Santa Catalina Monastery, a 16th-century convent with vibrant colours & serene courtyards. Plus, make a stop at Yanahuara Viewpoint for scenic views of the surrounding volcanoes.
There are so many restaurants, bars, things to see, churches to visit & more… Spend the day exploring.
Day 13-14: Lima
Return to Lima to explore the vibrant neighbourhoods of Miraflores & the colourful streets of Barranco.
Walk along the coast, chill on the beach to relax at the end of your trip, visit the Parque del Amor, & enjoy Peru’s world-renowned cuisine. One restaurant I recommend is Huaca Pucllana, which is pretty fancy but so worth it! Ask to sit outside on the terrace to enjoy views of a pre-Incan stepped pyramid whilst dining.
2 weeks in Peru: Summary
If you have more time to spare, you can fly north to Vichayito for a beach escape at the end of the trip to unwind. Internal flights are pretty easy & very reasonable.
Whilst you will move around a lot on this trip, it still feels relaxing & like you have had a proper break. By doing the Inca Trail at the beginning, you will get the strenuous bit out of the way.
Enjoy!
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