Poner un pie en Perú es sumergirse en un país con mil caras, que combina tradiciones milenarias, paisajes espectaculares y ciudades únicas. Este itinerario de tres semanas le invita a descubrir los lugares imprescindibles del país, para terminar por todo lo alto en el Amazonas.
Arrival in Peru: Lima, the capital
Arrival in Lima, the capital, before heading off to the high plateaus of Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, exploring Lake Titicaca from Puno, plunging into the magic of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and ending the trip in Iquitos, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. A trip that balances heritage, nature and cultural immersion.
Lima is home to most international travelers. The Peruvian capital is often underestimated, but it’s well worth spending at least two days here to soak up its unique atmosphere. After landing at Jorge Chávez airport, it’s best to head straight for the pleasant and safe districts of Miraflores and Barranco. Miraflores is the tourist heart of the city, with its chic cafés, parks and cliffside promenade overlooking the Pacific. Barranco is more bohemian, with its colorful alleyways, art galleries and small-town feel.
The visit can begin with a stroll along the Miraflores Malecon to the Parc de l’Amour, before descending to the Costa Verde beach. The second day is spent immersed in colonial history, visiting the historic center: Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral, the Government Palace and the San Francisco Monastery with its impressive catacombs. In the evening, don’t hesitate to sample Lima’s world-renowned gastronomic scene, including a ceviche restaurant. Two days are enough to discover the essentials and recover from the trip before heading south.
Arequipa: the white city
On the third day, we head for Arequipa, nicknamed the “white city” thanks to its light-coloured volcanic stone buildings. The domestic flight between Lima and Arequipa is fast, taking less than 1h30, and saves precious time. Alternatively, you can take a night bus, which is more economical, but the journey takes around 15 hours.
At over 2,300 meters above sea level, this city offers a gentle transition to the more extreme altitudes to come. Three nights in Arequipa gives you time to explore the city’s riches and acclimatize. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its majestic Plaza de Armas surrounded by arcades and dominated by the neoclassical cathedral. The Santa Catalina monastery, a veritable city within the city, offers a labyrinth of quiet, colorful alleyways.
And don’t miss a visit to the Santuarios Andinos museum, where you can see the Juanita mummy, a young girl sacrificed by the Incas on the heights of the Ampato volcano. Finally, Arequipa is also a good starting point for excursions into the surrounding mountains or for sampling local specialities.
From Arequipa, it’s time to head for one of the country’s most impressive landscapes: the Colca Canyon. Leaving the city early in the morning, you cross Andean plateaus populated by vicuñas before arriving in the Colca Valley. The village of Chivay, at an altitude of 3,600 metres, is often the first stop for an overnight stay. The ideal is to stay in the area for two days to enjoy the canyon to the full, with one night on site to avoid the rush. On the second day, early in the morning, we head for the mirador de la Cruz del Condor to admire the majestic flight of the condors, sacred birds soaring between the sheer cliffs. It also offers spectacular views of the depths of the canyon, which in some places is over 3,000 metres deep.
Puno: on the shores of legendary Lake Titicaca
After this immersion in raw, untamed nature, it’s time to head for Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.
The journey from Chivay to Puno can also be made by bus. You arrive in Puno, at an altitude of 3,800 metres, at the end of the day. Two nights in Puno allow you to enjoy Lake Titicaca without rushing. The first day can be devoted to a full-day boat trip to the floating Uros islands and Taquile Island. The Uros, an ancestral people, live on artificial islets made of reeds, an astonishing experience. Taquile, more authentic, is a peaceful island where the inhabitants perpetuate their textile traditions, classified as intangible heritage by UNESCO. The return trip by boat offers beautiful views of the lake. The next day, you can stroll through the streets of Puno, visit its cathedral or climb to the Kuntur Wasi viewpoint for a breathtaking view. In the evening, it’s time to prepare for another highlight of the trip: arrival in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire.
Cusco: the navel of the world
The journey from Puno to Cusco can be made by bus or train. Arriving in Cusco, you enter the spiritual and cultural heart of Peru. The ancient capital of the Inca empire is perched at an altitude of over 3,400 metres, and is well worth a minimum four-night stay. Cusco’s historic center is an architectural gem, blending Inca foundations with colonial buildings. Start with the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by impressive buildings such as the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus. The narrow streets of San Blas, the artisans’ quarter, offer a special charm, with their wooden balconies and views over the city. The Temple of the Sun, Qorikancha, perfectly illustrates the fusion of cultures: an ancient Inca temple surmounted by the Dominican convent. Outside the city, you can explore the archaeological sites of Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo or Tambomachay. Cusco is also the departure point for the Sacred Valley, which deserves at least two full days’ excursion.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, carved out by the Urubamba River, is home to some of the country’s finest archaeological remains. It served as both an agricultural and spiritual center for the Incas. A first day can be devoted to the villages of Pisac. In Pisac, explore the traditional market before climbing up to the perched ruins, which offer spectacular views of the terraced fields. The second day can be devoted to exploring four emblematic sites in the Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo.Chinchero, perched at an altitude of 3,760 metres, is an ancient Inca village renowned for its agricultural terraces and craft market, overlooked by a colonial church and offering a striking contrast between Andean heritage and Spanish influence. In Moray, you’ll discover impressive concentric circles dug into the earth, a former Inca agricultural laboratory used to test crops at different altitudes. A little further on, the salt pans of Maras offer a unique spectacle with their thousands of terraced salt pans, used for centuries. The day ends in Ollantaytambo, one of the region’s most fascinating villages, with its intact Inca town plan, cobbled streets, monumental staircases and colossal stone blocks carved with remarkable precision.
Spending the night here is ideal for catching the famous train to Aguas Calientes, the village nestled at the foot of Machu Picchu, at the gateway to the high-altitude jungle.
Machu Picchu: the wonder of the world
For many, Machu Picchu is the highlight of the entire trip. After spending the night in Aguas Calientes, it’s recommended to take one of the first buses to reach the citadel right at opening time. This ancient Inca city, suspended between the mountains, is wrapped in a magical atmosphere—especially at sunrise. Visitors explore its various sectors, the agricultural terraces, temples, and breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the valley.
For the more adventurous, there are two legendary treks that allow you to reach Machu Picchu on foot: the Inca Trail and the Salkantay trek.
The Inca Trail, the most iconic route, follows part of the ancient Inca road network. The classic itinerary lasts 4 days and 3 nights, with some demanding sections of hiking—mainly due to the altitude and steep Inca staircases. Along the way, hikers pass through cloud forests, high mountain passes over 4,200 meters, and several fascinating archaeological sites such as Wiñay Wayna and Runkurakay. There is also a shorter 2-day version that allows you to reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, without doing the full trek. In either case, it is essential to book several months in advance, as access is limited.
The Salkantay trek, wilder and less crowded, usually takes 5 days. It connects the glacier-covered slopes of Salkantay (6,271 m) with the subtropical jungle leading to Aguas Calientes. This route features incredibly diverse landscapes: high-altitude turquoise lakes, glaciers, towering mountain passes, and dense forests. It requires good physical condition, especially to cross the Salkantay Pass at over 4,600 meters. It’s a spectacular alternative for those looking for more freedom, as—unlike the Inca Trail—no special permit is required.
After this intense visit to Machu Picchu, the journey continues back to Cusco for one last night in this lively city. The next day, head to Palcoyo, a lesser-known alternative to the famous Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). Accessible as a day trip from Cusco, Palcoyo is a group of colorful mountains that are easier to reach and far less crowded. Ideal for those who want to admire the multicolored layers without facing large crowds, it offers a stunning panoramic view in a peaceful setting.
Iquitos: in the heart of the Amazon
Having explored the Andes in depth, the trip ends on a totally different note: the Amazon. From Cusco, a flight of less than two hours takes you to Iquitos, the world’s largest city, inaccessible by road. On the banks of the Amazon River, Iquitos is the gateway to an exceptional natural environment. You can spend three to four days here to enjoy the rainforest. The town center, with its colonial architecture and colorful tin houses, is lively and noisy, but the real attraction lies in a lodge in the middle of the jungle. From Iquitos, it’s several hours by boat to an immersive experience right in the middle of the rainforest: canoe rides, pink dolphin watching, forest walks, medicinal plant discovery and encounters with local communities. The contrast with the high Andes is striking, but reflects the diversity of Peru. Before boarding the plane back to Lima for your international flight, take the time to watch a final sunset over the Amazon to bring this extraordinary journey to a close.
Three weeks in Peru will take you through totally different worlds, embracing the country’s cultural, natural and human wealth. From the Pacific coast to the depths of the Amazon rainforest, from the Andean peaks to the fascinating traces of Inca civilization, each stage reveals a new facet of the country. This tour offers an ideal balance between urban exploration, cultural discoveries, awe-inspiring nature and authentic encounters. There’s no better way to understand the soul of Peru than by following this itinerary, which is demanding, intense, exotic, rich, profound and, above all, unforgettable.
