takeatriptravel- takeatriptravel
12 DAYS IN PERU
Updated: Mar 20
Enjoy a more relaxing trip to Peru without hiking sky high mountains. You can still experience just as much nature, beauty and culture this country has to offer
Things to do in advance
Book flights from UK to Lima (adds additional 2 days onto itinerary)
Book your accommodation for peace of mind however there are always spaces in hostels along the way
Book internal flights, particularly Arequipa to Cusco as there are less flights (use Peruvian for cheaper flights and a checked bag included)
Lima - Miraflores and Barranco
Day 1 - Miraflores
9am-10am - Check into your accommodation
Cafe de La Paz for Huevos Benedictos
10am-1:30pm - Free walking tour
1:30pm-2:30pm - Lunch in Downtown Lima or La Lucha Sangucheria in Miraflores
2:30pm - 3:30pm - catch the bus back to Miraflores/ enjoy a stroll to Parque Kennedy or Miraflores Central Park
3:30pm - 5pm - Huaca Pucllana
5pm-6:30pm - Relax
6:30pm onwards - Explore the Larcomar shopping centre and enjoy dinner at Mangos
Day 2 - Barranco
9am-10am - Walk (20 minutes) or catch the bus to Barranco
10am-11:30am - Breakfast at La Bodega Verde
11:30am-12:30pm - Visit the Bridge of Sighs
12:30pm-4pm - Explore Barranco by day, look out for the colourful houses, visit the Frederick Villarreal Park, the Municpal de Barranco Park and take the Bajada de los Banos - walk to the Pacific Ocean
4pm-5pm - Drinks at the Barranco Beer Company
5pm-7pm - Relax/Explore Barranco at night
7pm-9pm - Dinner at LA73
9pm onwards - Drinks at Ayuhascha
Arequipa
Day 3
9am-11am - Take an morning stroll along the Bajada de los Banos
11am-12pm - Breakfast at La Panetteria
12pm- 3pm - Take an Uber to Lima airport and fly to Arequipa
3pm-4pm - Check into your hotel/apartment, unpack/relax
4pm-6pm - Wander around the streets of Arequipa and find Plaza de Armes
6pm-7pm - Happy hour at Puku Puku on the terrace
7pm-9pm - Dinner at Kao
Day 4
9am-1pm - Free walking tour
1pm-2:30pm - Lunch at Las Gringas
2:30pm-3:30pm - Alpaca wool shopping
3:30pm-4:30pm - Walk to Puenta Bolognesi Bridge for volcano views
4:30pm-6pm - Explore Plaza de Armes and visit Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
6pm-7:30pm - Happy hour at Casa Andina on the terrace
7:30pm-8:30pm - Relax
8:30pm onwards - Dinner at Zigzag
Day 5
9am onwards - 2 day Colca Canyon excursion
Day 6
Colca Canyon excursion
3pm - Return to Arequipa
3pm-5pm - Relax
5pm-7pm - Visit the Santa Catalina Monestery
7pm onwards - Dinner at AQP Burger Company
Day 7
9:30am-10:30am - Coffee/breakfast at Chaqchao
11am-1:30pm - Peruvian Cooking Experience
1:30pm-3:30pm - Visit Mundo Alpaca
3:30pm-6pm - Taxi ride to visit Sachaca Tower (7-10 euros from centre)
6pm-7:30pm - Drinks at Katari rooftop terrace
7:30pm onwards - Dinner at Chicha
Cusco
Day 8
9am-10am - Uber to Arequipa airport
10am-1pm - Fly and arrive into Cusco/ Check in to your accommodation
1pm-3:30pm - Free walking tour
3:30pm-5:30pm - Visit Cristo Blanco/Sacsayhuaman
5:30pm-7pm - Explore San Blas area, book up excursions
7pm onwards - Dinner at Hanz Craft Beer
Day 9
9am-9pm - Join a Sacred Valley Tour and explore Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo
9pm - Book an overnight stay in Ollantaytambo
Day 10
9am-10am - Breakfast at Heart Cafe
10am-12pm - Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
12pm-1pm - Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
1pm-5pm - Explore Machu Picchu
5pm-6pm - Bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
6pm-8pm - Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
8pm onwards - Train from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Day 11
10am-11am - Breakfast at La Rabona
11am-12pm - Explore San Pedro Market
12pm-2pm - Lunch at Monkey Cafe
2pm-5pm - Visit the Machu Picchu museum/planetarium, enjoy a beer in Parque de San Francisco
5pm-6pm - Relax
6pm- 7:30pm - Drinks at Nuevo Mundo
7:30pm onwards - Dinner at Pachapapa
Day 12
10am-11:30am - Breakfast at JC’s Cafe
11:30am-1pm - Visit Koricancha and enjoy an ice cream in the gardens
1pm-3pm - Shop for souvenirs
3pm-5pm - Uber to the airport to fly to Lima and then Lima to UK
Other recommendations
Bus from Miraflores to Barranco The buses arrive approximately every hour. Look for the bus with Chorrillos on it. The buses can be cramped and busy and can often take as long as walking when you factor in finding the correct bus stop, purchasing tickets etc. Miraflores to Barranco is walkable by starting from the Larcomar shopping centre and following the coastal route. La Panetteria This trendy, hipster cafe is the perfect breakfast/brunch spot. It sells sandwiches made with freshly baked bread, refreshing chia seed bowls and it is vegan/vegetarian friendly. You can get breakfast to go if you’re in a hurry or bag a seat in this small and cosy cafe to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Location: Av.Almte. Miguel Grau 369, Barranco 15063 Hearts Cafe Another cafe which welcomes vegan and vegetarian guests with open arms. This cafe offers American style breakfast options including various cooked options to fill you up ready for your day ahead. Location: Avenida Ventiderio, Ollantaytambo AQP Burger Company This homemade burger company is the place to find the best fast food in Arequipa. The burgers are fresh and tasty and served in brioche buns with hand cut chips. The perfect place to stop off during a busy day of sightseeing or wanting to catch a quick bite before heading back to the hotel. Sacred Valley Tour - worth getting the Boleto Turistico Del Cusco There are various sacred valley tours available going to different locations including Pisac, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba and Chinchero. I would suggest you find one which focuses on Pisac, Urubamba and ends in Ollantaytambo. The excursions will be in the region of £40-£60 per person for a full day trip. Pisac is particularly popular for its Incan ruins and the market. In Urubamba you will find the Urubamba river and beautiful countryside. Ollantaytambo is not only the transport hub and your gateway to Machu Picchu. Here you will also find the Ollantaytambo ruins, a great view of the town from the Pinkullyuna hill (if you can face the 1-2 hour hike) and some very highly rated restaurants. There is also the option to visit each destination individually or pick and choose your favourites however if you don’t book with a tour operator it may be worth purchasing the Boleto Turistico del Cusco as this will cover attractions both in Cusco and your entrance to ruins in the Sacred Valley. Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes This exquisite train journey takes you through the sacred valley of he Incas and is said to be one of the most beautiful routes in the world. Don’t use this as an opportunity to catch up on sleep and make sure you find a window seat with a perfect view. The train journey takes around 2 hours and tickets cost between $140-$200 for standard tickets. If your budget allows splash out on the Hiram Bingham luxury train experience for an eye watering $950pp. Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Bus tickets can be purchased in person at Av. Hermanos Ayar S / N, before Puente Ruinas or online at https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com/. A return journey is around $24pp and bus comes every 15 minutes. Machu Picchu Museum Visit this museum either before or after your trip to Machu Picchu to learn more about the Incan citadel. The museum holds the largest collection of Incan artifacts in the world. The museum is open from 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday and it costs around $6pp to enter. Location: 320 Santa Catalina Ancha, Cusco, Peru 080101320 Planetarium Learn about Incan astronomy at one of the most popular attractions in Cusco. The trip begins at Plaza Regocijo del Cusco and after around 15-20 minutes you will arrive at the planetarium. Choose a clear night and book before 1pm when the office closes. Tickets cost around $15 pp. Location: Fundo Llaullipata carretera a Sacsayhuaman Km2, Cusco 08002, Peru Office Location: Lucrepata E- 16
Next post: 16 days in Peru