Embark on the ultimate 9-day Peru adventure! This jam-packed itinerary is designed for adventurers seeking an immersive experience with limited time. Explore Huacachina’s desert oasis, trek to the breathtaking Rainbow Mountains, and discover the ancient wonders of Machu Picchu and more.

Peru is a beautiful country of ancient wonders and mind-blowing landscapes in South America. It’s one of the most popular destinations in South America because it has one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, which attracts travelers from all over the world. In this itinerary, we’re going to cover some of the major highlights Peru has to offer which include Lima, Huacachina, Machu Picchu, Skylodge Adventure Suites, and more in only 9 days! This itinerary was crafted for hard-core adventurers with limited time who want to cover a lot of ground in Peru.  As someone who works a traditional 9-5, I am often limited in time, so it’s important for me to maximize my time and make the most of it. Let’s dive in!

Day 1: Check into your hotel

This itinerary assumes you arrive in Lima, the capital city of Peru,  sometime in the afternoon or evening. After a long day of travel with layovers, I went right to bed. I stayed in Miraflores at the Alpes Lima Kennedy Hostel, but other noteworthy neighborhoods you can stay in are San Idres and Barranco. San Idres is upscale, while Barranco is the artsy and hip neighborhood.  If your flight arrives a bit earlier in the day, use this extra time to check into your hotel, relax and explore the neighborhood you’re staying in. If you’re staying in Miraflores, some places to check out on day 1 are local markets like Mercado 28 and Mercado Indio which is a good spot to grab lunch. If you have more time you can check out Huaca Pucllana, an archeological site of Inca ruins located right in the center of Miraflores, or take a dance lesson. If you want something to do in the late evening, stopping by El Magico Circuito Del Agua “Magic Water Circuit”  is a relaxed and affordable activity.

If you want to explore the Barranco neighborhood instead, check out the main square Plaza de Armas Barranco, and Iglesia la Ermita. Take a stroll along the Bajada de los Baños, where you can catch some cool street art and see stunning views of the ocean. Don’t miss Puentos de los Supiros “the Bridge of Sighs”.  

Day 2: Historic District and Miraflores

8:00–11:00 AM: Historical Lima 

On the first day, you’ll be exploring the city center, including the historic center and modern parts. You can explore the historical center independently, which is what I did, or book a walking tour that will cover all the important sites with a local guide for only $29. An alternative option is to book a free walking tour on GuruWalk. Note you are usually expected to tip about $10-$20 USD on a free walking tour.

If you’re exploring independently, begin your day at Plaza de Armas, the main square of the historical district. Visiting Plaza de Armas offers a glimpse into the city’s past, with stunning colonial-era buildings. The Presidential Palace is located right in the main square, where you can see the stunning architecture from the outside.

 The next stop is going to be Lima Cathedral, which is a 7-minute walk from the Presidential Palace. The cathedral built in 1797 has an intricate facade and ornate interior that provides great insight into the religious history of Lima. You will need to pay an entry fee of about $3 USD (10 soles) if you want to go inside.

Take a short 6-minute walk to the San Francisco Monastery from Lima Cathedral. The entry fee is about $6 USD. The highlight of this monastery is the underground network of tunnels and tombs, known as the catacombs. The guided tour of the monastery starts every 30 minutes, so aim to be there for the 10 AM tour. Arrive at least 10 minutes before.

 From walking to these landmarks, you will see tons of beautiful, colorful buildings and endless wooden balconies that reflect Peru’s history.

12:00–14:00: Lunch

Head to Miraflores for lunch. You can get there by taking an uber or taxi, which takes about 30 minutes. If you opt for public transport, it will take about 50 minutes. I took an Uber since that was the most convenient option for me, and it cost $6 USD. I ate at Punta Sal y Benavides, but feel free to go to any other restaurant near the Malecon, such as Lobo de Mar and others. Note that Peru’s national dish and drink are ceviche and pisco sour. I recommend you try it for lunch, but there’ll be plenty of other opportunities to try ceviche if you’re not feeling it.

 15:00–19:00: Miraflores

Take a short  stroll along the Malecon to El Faro Marina, a popular lighthouse where you can catch some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean. You may even get lucky and see paragliders above the coast.

From El Faro Marino, take a 10-minute walk to the iconic Parque del Amor, which is known for the El Beso “The Kiss” sculpture that celebrates love. This park has a romantic vibe and is the perfect place to get views of the Pacific Ocean.

From Parque Del Amor, take a 16-minute walk to Parque Kennedy which is located in the heart of Miraflores. Parque Kennedy has a lively atmosphere and is a great spot to see street performers, artisans, and to try some of the street food. The park is nicknamed “the cat park” because of the huge number of stray cats that live there.

 19:30–21:00: Dinner

For dinner, I went to El Bodegon de Miraflores, a 16 minute walk away from Parque Kennedy. This restaurant has delicious Peruvian dishes, and the portions are pretty big. Alternative recommendations are Taymi Restaurant, Siete Sopas Surquillo, Carnal, or Mercado 28.

Go to bed early because we have a long day of adventures and thrills ahead for the next day. 

Day 3: Mini Galapagos and Desert Adventures

On the second day, you’ll be exploring stunning desert landscapes and wildlife outside of Lima. I booked a day tour which included Paracas, Isla Ballestas, and Huacachina. This is one of the best day trips from Lima and the best way to visit the famous Huacachina. I do not recommend doing it independently, due to the limited time and all of the logistics involved for all the stops. The tour has an early start of 4:30 AM,  so you can expect to be picked up from your accommodation between 4 and 4:30 AM. The tour included a basic breakfast, which was a muffin and juice. After about 4 hours of driving, you will arrive at Isla Ballestas.

The first stop is Isla Ballestas “Ballestas Islands”, one of the best places to see biodiverse wildlife and landscape in South America. It’s often referred to as the “Galapagos of Peru.” A boat trip to Isla Ballestas was included in the tour I booked. After a short 30-minute boat ride, you’ll get to see sea lions, penguins, and numerous bird species in their natural habitat.

After Isla Ballestas, you’ll head to a restaurant to have lunch. The restaurant had several traditional Peruvian dishes. The price of the lunch was not included in the tour; however, after lunch, the restaurant hosted a pisco tasting which was covered in the tour. I’m not a big drinker, but despite this, the tasting was fun with a very entertaining host.

After eating lunch, you’ll hop back on the tour bus to get to Huacachina, which is located in the small town of Ica. Huacachina, a desert oasis, is a picturesque lagoon surrounded by towering sand dunes. The tour included a dune buggy ride through the desert and sandboarding. If you want, you can bring your bathing suit for a quick dip in the oasis, but note that you won’t have much time to do this, and you’ll have to be super quick. Dipping your feet in the water may be a more efficient option.

You can expect to get back to Lima around midnight; the bus does make one stop for snacks on the way back.

Day 4: Travel Day to Cusco

Today we’re going to Cusco! I recommend taking a mid- to late-morning flight to Cusco. You can take earlier flights if you choose, but after a long day of adventures the day before I would not recommend it. I took a 12:35 AM flight with LATAM airlines  so I could sleep in.

I stayed at the Oki Doki Cusco Hostel, which was only about 30 minutes from the airport. I do not recommend staying at Oki Doki; you can find much better accommodations of the same kind close to the city center. I checked into my hostel, then walked to eat at a  restaurant around the San Pedro Market area. There are lots of restaurants to check out such as PER.UK,  Yaku Restaurant, Antojitos Cusco, Calle del Medio Restaurante Bar and more. 

It’s important to take it easy today and give yourself a bit of time to get used to the higher elevation of the region. I  highly recommend bringing altitude sickness medicine, and you can also pair it with coca leaf tea, which the locals use to combat altitude sickness. If you ask any locals where to buy it, they’ll point you in the right direction. Just spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting used to the altitude. 

You’ll want to head to bed early again today, so make sure you have a good night’s sleep.

Day 5: Venture to Machu Picchu 

Today you’ll be heading to Machu Picchu, a world wonder that is one of the coolest archaeological sites, with ruins from the Inca Empire.

The most convenient way to get to Machu Picchu is by booking a day tour from Cusco which covers all of the logistics, planning, and tickets. The tours start at around  $305; however, you can totally do this day tour independently.

To do this independently, you can get to Machu Picchu by booking the bi-modal service with either Inca Rail or Peru Rail. The bi-modal service includes a 2-hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, you’ll have a 2-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. Tickets start at around $60 one way. The trains don’t drop you off right at the doorsteps of Machu Picchu; you will need to take a short 30-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu, which costs about $17 one way with Peru Ways. Aim to get to the entrance of Machu Picchu by 11:30 AM for the 12 PM entrance. You will also need to buy an entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, which costs $60 USD. Give yourself about 3 hours to explore and take in this world of wonder.

You will start your journey back by taking a 30-minute bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. Aim to take the 4 PM bus since buses stop running at around 5 PM. You can have dinner in Aguas Calientes, then take a train departing at around 8:00 PM for your journey back to Cusco. Doing this independently takes a lot of coordination and planning and will cost you about $250 USD. You can expect to arrive back in Cusco around midnight. Another option is to stay overnight in Aguas Calientes and head back to Cusco very early the next morning.

If doing this independently, I  highly recommend booking everything in advance especially if you’re visiting during the peak season from June to August. Below is an overview of everything you will need to book and coordinate:

•  Round-trip taxi service to the departure point for the bi-modal service    (you can ask your accommodation to help you arrange a taxi).
• Round-trip bi-modal ticket from Cusco to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
• Round-trip bus service from Agua Calientes to Machu Picchu Entrance
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu

Day 6: Skylodge Adventure Suites

 If you didn’t stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, yesterday was a long day. Sleep in and have brunch or you can have your normal breakfast then take a nap.

Today you’ll stay overnight at the Skylodge Adventure Suites, a hotel with transparent pods attached to a 1300-foot-high cliffside in Peru’s Sacred Valley. It is one of the most unique accommodations in the entire world, a must for adventurers and thrill seekers. Prices start at $420 USD per night. If you still want to experience the pods but not dish out that much money, choose the option to do a day trip and have lunch in the pods starting at $218 USD. I did the overnight option.

 If you have a crippling fear of heights, you may want to sit this one out. I had a fear of heights, but I powered through it. I was determined to do this activity, and the guides were so patient and encouraging. So if you’re on the fence go for it!

You will be picked up from your accommodation at 2 PM by a driver for your transfer to Pachar which is the starting point for the tour. Note if you do the lunch option, you will be picked up at 9 AM from Cusco.  The drive is an hour long, and you’ll get scenic views of the Sacred Valley along the way. Once there, you’ll meet your guides, get a safety briefing, learn how to use the equipment, and sign a waiver.

It takes about 2 hours of climbing via ferrata to get to your pod, and you can expect to arrive at around 6:30 PM. For dinner at 8 PM, you will need to leave your pod and climb via ferrata to the dinner pod. It should not take more than 5 minutes to get there, and the guides will help you if you want. Dinner is prepared by the guides from scratch with ingredients they bring in their backpacks and is a delicious three-course meal.

Day 7: Explore Cusco City and Relax

If you did the overnight option, you’ll wake up to stunning views of the Sacred Valley and head to the dining pod for breakfast at 8 a.m. If you bought a photo package that costs about $85 USD, after breakfast, the photographer will come to your pod to take some cool photos. At around 9:30 AM, you will begin your descent from the pods, which takes about 2–3 hours depending on which option you choose. Once you’re back at the base, there will be a driver waiting for you to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco City.

You will arrive back in Cusco City at around 1 PM. Grab lunch, and then the afternoon is yours to spend however you’d like. You can rest or hit up the city center to explore. 

If you did the day trip option  to the Skylodge Adventure Suites yesterday, spend  day 7 exploring Cusco City or taking a day trip to Lake Humantay.  

If exploring Cusco City,  immerse yourself into the bustling San Pedro Market, where you’ll find lots of local foods and snacks to try. Hit the Inka Museum if you’re in the mood for some more history, the entry fee is about $3 USD (10 soles).  Feeling like a chill day? Hang out in the main square ” Plaza de Armas” to soak in the vibes, and maybe grab a snack from a street vendor. And, of course, don’t forget to roam the narrow lanes, stumble upon hidden gems, and take in the Andean charm. The Cusco planetarium is great for some cosmic contemplation with an entry fee of about $10 USD (40 soles).

Head to bed early, we have another early morning ahead tomorrow.

Day 8: Rainbow Mountain

Today, you’ll be heading to Rainbow Mountain! Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is a natural beauty of a geological formation located in the Andes of Peru. It has vibrant colors and stripes of red, pink, yellow, and green created by mineral deposits. You can get there by booking a tour, which is affordable and starts at $25 USD.

You will be picked up from your hotel at 6:30 AM and can expect to arrive at Rainbow Mountain at 10 AM. No need to worry about breakfast; the tour makes a breakfast stop, which is covered in the price, not including drinks. You will hike and explore Rainbow Mountain for about 3 hours with your guide, but if you don’t want to hike, you can hire a horse at an extra cost. Don’t forget to bring 30 soles for the entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain, which is not covered in this tour.

 You will make a lunch stop on the way back, which is also covered by the tour, not including drinks, at around 2 PM. You can expect to arrive back in Cusco City between 5:30 PM and 6 PM.

If you want something fun to do and let loose, today could be a good day to check out Cusco nightlife if you’re into that.

Day 9: Travel Day Back Home

If you didn’t leave yesterday night, today is your last day. Depending on when your flight departs, spend it however you wish. if you have time to kill, you can check out the main square “Plaza de Armas Cusco”, the Inka Museum or the Planetairum. The San Pedro Market is your spot for loads of local foods to explore, crafts and some last minute souvenir shopping. 

Things to Know Before Going to Peru

Weather: In Peru, the high season usually kicks in from May to September. This is when the weather’s generally drier and perfect for exploring places like Machu Picchu or the Amazon rainforest without getting soaked. But watch out, because it’s also when prices can climb up a bit with all the tourists flocking in. On the flip side, the low season hits from November to March. That’s when you might find cheaper deals on accommodations and tours, but be prepared for more rain, especially along the coast and in the jungle. Then there’s the rainy season, which really pours down from December to April.  

 Currency: The currency of Peru is the Peruvian Sol (PEN). The exchange rate between the Peruvian Sol and the US Dollar (USD) varies, but 1 USD is equivalent to around 4 Peruvian Soles. It’s generally a good idea to have cash on hand  with you when traveling to Peru.

Altitude Sickness: Altitude sickness can really kick in, especially when ascending to high-altitude regions like Cusco or Machu Picchu. You could experience symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. To help, it’s essential to stay hydrated, take it easy on your first day,  drink coca leaf tea and take altitude sickness medicine upon arrival to help you acclimate.

Language: Having some basic knowledge can greatly enhance your experience, especially when interacting with locals outside tourist areas. Peruvians speak Spanish, and while some may also speak English, especially in tourist hotspots, having even a few phrases in Spanish can go a long way in communication and cultural exchange. Google translate will come in clutch if needed.

Safety: Peru is generally a safe travel destination, but like any other country, it’s essential to stay alert and take precautions. In larger cities such as Lima and Cusco, be aware of petty theft and pickpocketing, especially in crowded tourist areas.  Please refer to the U.S state department for Peru’s travel advisory. Always monitor the current events ahead of your departure.

Let’s Wrap it Up !

And there you have it ! Nine days of Peruvian adventure, from the heights of Machu Picchu to the lively streets of Lima, we’ve covered it all. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just someone looking for a good time, Peru’s got you covered. So, after hiking rainbow mountain and stuffing your face at local markets, it’s time to kick back and soak it all in. Peru might be jam-packed with wonders, but it’s the laid-back vibes and friendly locals that make it a trip to remember. 

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