Peru has a little bit of everything. From the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu to the capital of Lima to the shores of Lake Titicaca to the colonial town of Arequipa and so much more in between, there’s no shortage of fun things to do. Whether you have a week or a month, you’ll undoubtedly find more to do than can possibly fit into your itinerary.
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What to Do | Know Before You Go | Transportation | Budgeting |
Solo Female Travel & Safety
The Best of Peru
While I haven’t been everywhere in Peru, I’ve spent a month in the country visiting many of the tourist hotspots. There are still more places on my list, but that’s what happens when you visit such a large country.
Lima | Machu Picchu | Cusco | Arequipa | Huacachina | Puno | Paracas | Nazca
Lima
Many trips to Peru include a stop in the capital city of Lima. While it’s not my favorite stop in all of Peru, I think it still can be worth stopping. Wander along the malecon in Miraflores or stroll through the historic center of the city.
Cusco
Every traveler to Peru ends up in Cusco at some point. It’s the historic capital of the Inca Empire and is a fantastic jumping off point for so many incredible experiences. The city itself can be fun, but I loved the amazing day hikes that could be reached from Cusco.
Machu Picchu & The Inca Trail
As you travel through Peru, you will constantly be asked “Have you been to Machu Picchu?” This legendary Inca site has achieved UNESCO World Heritage Status and is truly spectacular. Whether you visit on a day trip or as the finale of the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu can truly be special.
Arequipa & the Colca Canyon
Arequipa is one of my favorite cities in Peru. It’s a colonial city with a dazzling white main square. Arequipa also provides access to the nearby Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons anywhere in the world.
Ica & Huacachina
Most visitors who pass through Ica are stopping not for the city, but for the nearby neighborhood of Huacachina. This desert oasis provides towering sand dunes with plenty of excursions to get your adrenaline going.
Puno & Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca borders both Peru and Bolivia. While it’s true that I preferred my excursion on the Bolivian side of the lake more than the Peruvian side, Puno is still an excellent place to visit Lake Titicaca.
Paracas
Located along the coast, Paracas is a beach town. The most popular activity is taking a tour to Las Ballestas Islands (sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s Galapagos”), but I preferred visiting the nearby Paracas National Reserve.
Nazca
There’s not much in the city of Nazca itself, but many tourists still add it to their itineraries. Why? For a flightseeing tour of the Nazca Lines, a collection of ancient geoglyphs.
Know Before You Go
Currency – Peruvian Sol (PEN). Card is accepted in many places, but be prepared to add on an extra fee. It’s often cheapest to pay by cash.
Language – Spanish. Learn some basic Spanish before you visit Peru. While you’ll likely be able to find Spanish on many of your tours and in your hotel, it’s no guarantee. The more Spanish you know, the easier your trip to Peru will be.
Power – 110 V and 60 Hz (same as the United States).
Water – In most of Peru, the tap water is not safe to drink. Either stick to bottled water or bring your a filter/purifier. I used a Steri-Pen for my trip to Peru and treated all of my water and didn’t get sick once.
Transportation
Argentina is huge and the popular tourist spots are spread out. Be prepared to pay for domestic flights or very long buses.
By Plane – For the longer journeys, consider flying. Flights can be more expensive, depending how far in advance you book, but can cut a journey from 12 hours to 2 hours.
By Bus – Peru has a vast network of buses. Distances can be long and you may find yourself on an overnight bus. I traveled exclusively by bus throughout Peru and had no issues.
By Rental Car – I never felt the need to have a rental car while in Peru. I traveled exclusively by bus and was able to get everywhere I needed to and with some of the windy mountain roads, a car may just be more of a hassle.
By PeruHop – This travel company advertises itself as a hop on-hop off bus across the country. While many travelers use this service, it’s not a requirement. Don’t let their advertising convince you it’s the only way to travel. Plus, I found taking buses myself to be slightly cheaper.
Budgeting
Peru can be either a cheap destination or an expensive one, depending on what you choose to do. My trip to Machu Picchu was expensive, but the rest of my time in Peru felt much more affordable.
Accommodations – I stayed in private rooms for my entire stay in Peru. By booking early, I was able to find some great deals and averaged about $35 USD per night for a comfortable private room and bathroom (and half of those included free breakfast).
Food – Food prices, like everywhere in the world, will vary wildly. You can find street food for cheap or sit down to a nice meal. In general though, I didn’t have too difficult of a time finding a reasonably (or even cheaply) priced meal for anywhere from $5 to $10 USD.
Transportation – Transportation costs vary wildly based on which mode of transport you choose, when you book your ticket, and which cities you are traveling between. I typically spent between $10 to $40 USD per bus (with the more expensive buses being 12+ hour overnight buses).
Activities – The price for activities varies greatly depending on what you want to do. For day trips, I typically paid around $40 USD, but the price varied based on what I was actually doing. For something like the Inca Trail, be prepared to pay $700 or more for the experience.
Solo Female Travel & Safety
I’ve spent a month in Peru as a solo female traveler. In general, I had no issues and felt completely safe. However, it should be noted that I don’t go out after dark and I don’t drink alcohol. Still, use general common sense when traveling.
Nearby
Want to extend your trip in South America? Consider visiting one of the nearby countries. I crossed into Peru from Bolivia and continued my journey northward into Ecuador.