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Lima, Peru
Welcome to Peru, my favorite country in the entire world! Are you ready to see
the best places in Peru?? Luckily for you, you are in Lima, Peru’s capital.
Featuring the perfect balance between Peruvian culture and a metropolitan city,
Lima is a great introduction to Peru.
Lima is a place where you won’t find too many culture shocks because it is a big
city that has adapted to many of the western cities. Here you will find
international food, lots of English-speaking locals, and a little bit of
culture.
For anyone that wants an introduction to indigenous ruins before they visit the
famous Machu Picchu can visit Huaca Pucllana.
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Paracas, Peru
Paracas is a coastal city located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. As the home
of the Paracas National Reserve and Isla Ballestas, Paracas is a must on any
Peru itinerary. But is it a good place to stay? Depends.
Paracas is a rather quiet town with not much to do at night. The only pro is
staying in Paracas is that you get to hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean as you
fall asleep!
- Islas ballestas
- Playa Atenas - Reserva Nacional De Paracas
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Huacachina, Peru
Huacachina, otherwise known as the breath-taking oasis, is only located 15
minutes away from Ica on a tuk-tuk. The journey costs less than a few dollars
but the prices in Huacachina are substantially higher. There are hardly any
locals that live in Huacachina because the prices are just too high. Huacachina
is also the spot to party!
If you aren’t already staying in Huacachina, a visit is something you must do. A
stunning oasis in the middle of Ica, visitors come ride dune buggies or try
sandboarding on Huacachina’s pristine dunes!
I highly recommend coming to Huacachina during sunset. Hike up the dunes and
watch the sun set behind the magical dunes as the skies burn with vibrant
colors. They say people hallucinate in the desert and see things they aren’t
supposed to. Well, the view here is something I can’t even believe with my
eyes.
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Ica, Peru
After your visit to the country’s capital, you will move south into a completely
different environment: the desert region.
This area is drastically different from the dramatic cliffs of Lima.
Featuring silky sand dunes that stretch beyond your eye’s reach, the landscape
in this region is absolutely mesmerizing.
This region is also known for its wine, the Huacachina Oasis, and the wildlife
that resides in Paracas.
To get to Ica, Huacachina, or Paracas, you have to take a bus from Lima. I
recommend the company Soyuz. A clean and economical bus company, Soyuz provides
amazing service in this region.
(Update: Soyuz is no longer in operation because of the challenges endured in
2020, for more info on buses to Ica, Huacachina, or Paracas, check here.
Ica, the cheapest place to stay out of the three, is a local city. Here you will
find low prices on accommodations, food, and culture. No wonder why it is the
most popular to stay for budget backpackers.
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Nazca, Peru
Located about 2 hours southeast of Ica are some of the earth’s biggest
mysteries. Figures of animals, plants, and other objects are etched into the
sand, spanning an area of about 50 square kilometers.
To this present day, the mystery of the Nazca Lines has not been solved. Who
made them? What were they for? Were there terrestrial beings?
If you want to see the Nazca Lines, I highly recommend seeing it in the air on a
plane. Tours can be found in Huacachina and Paracas but you might want to
consider booking in advance to secure your spot, especially if you are visiting
in peak season.
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Cuzco, Peru
The next stop on our 2 week Peru itinerary is the capital of the Inca Empire,
Cusco. But how do you get there?
If you look on the map, Ica and Cusco are on opposite sides of the country. The
fastest way to get there would be to get back to Lima and take a direct flight
to Cusco.
The other option is to take a bus. There are buses that run from Ica to Cusco
daily. However, let me warn you. Even though taking a bus is the most economical
way, the journey is about 17 hours long.
You will start close to sea level and arrive at 3,400 above sea level. As you
ascend higher, your body adjusts to the level of oxygen. Taking a bus to Cusco
is a great way to acclimate to the high elevation.
To check the bus schedule, use busbud.com and enter your route.
Cusco was once the capital of the mighty Inca civilization before getting
conquered by the Spaniards. Inevitably, you will see lots of remains of the Inca
empire in Cusco. Matter of fact, many of the buildings you currently see are
built by the Incas!
Situated in the Andes, the surrounding area is filled with natural wonders as
well as Inca ruins. We will spend a total of 6 days in Cusco exploring the many
unworldly attractions and acclimating to the altitude.
Here are some of the best things to do in Cusco, Peru.
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Machu Pichu, Peru
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, Machu Picchu. An abandoned ancient
Inca ruins untouched by the Spaniards, Machu Picchu is one of the most
spectacular Seven Wonders of the World. It is also probably the most famous
thing about Peru!
Did you really think our Peru itinerary would not include Machu Picchu?
However, there are several things I need to clear up about Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is not located in Cusco. In fact, it is located extremely far from
Cusco. One of the main reasons why Machu Picchu was never discovered is because
it was so inaccessible.
It is totally feasible to visit Machu Picchu in 1 day from Cusco. However, I
would highly not recommend it because of the cost and your time of arrival at
Machu Picchu. If you do want to visit in 1 day, you must take a train from
Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then take a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu
Picchu, and then come back the same way.
You will arrive at Machu Picchu midday, which is not considered the best time to
visit Machu Picchu because of the number of tourists. Bunched up like sardines
in a can, you will get smacked in the face by selfie sticks and pushed by
aggressive visitors.
The cheapest option to visit Machu Picchu will take 2 days. You will spend one
night in Aguas Calientes, otherwise known as Machu Picchu town. The way to do it
is to take public transportation to Hidroelectrica. Hike two hours from
Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, stay the night there and then visit Machu
Picchu early in the morning.
After visiting Machu Picchu, go back to where you were dropped off at
Hidroelectrica to get a van back to Cusco. We highly recommend doing it this way
to save money, have a better time at Machu Picchu, and not tire yourself out
completely.
I highly recommend you to visit Machu Picchu as soon as you arrive in Cusco.
Why? Because Machu Picchu is about 1,000 meters lower in elevation than Cusco.
Visiting Machu Picchu first might actually help you acclimate to the high
elevation of Cusco and prepare you for other future activities.
These are tips you only get from someone that has been in Cusco and Machu Picchu
for a long time!
- Machu Picchu
- Templo Principal
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Cuzco, Peru
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Puno, Peru
Puno is the next stop on your Peru 2 weeks itinerary. We saved this city as the
last place on our Peru trip because the city is located more than 3,800 meters
above sea level. If you thought Cusco’s elevation was high, Puno is a whole new
ball game.
But after spending several days in Cusco, you will be ready for the elevation of
Puno. Located on Lake Titicaca, one of the biggest lakes in South America and
the highest navigable lake in the world, Puno is considered Peru’s folkloric
capital.
You can also find tours to Uyuni Salt Flats from Puno!
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Cuzco, Peru
It is highly recommended that you leave from a city different than the one you
came in. If you came into Peru from Lima, then exit in Cusco and vice versa.
If your flight out of Cusco is at night, you can take one of the morning buses
from Puno to Cusco. If your flight leaves in the morning or afternoon, you
should leave in the night on Day 13 to arrive in Cusco early morning. Either
way, check busbud.com for all bus schedules.
It will be sad to leave such a beautiful country but don’t worry, you can always
come back. Northern Peru has plenty of hidden gems such as Chachapoyas for you
to explore next time!