One Month in Peru — Basic Itinerary

This route gives you a good mix of cities, history, mountains, food, archaeology and the Andes without moving every single day.

Days 1–3 — Lima

Start in Lima and give yourself a couple of days to settle in.

See:

• Miraflores
• Barranco
• Historic Centre
• Plaza Mayor
• coastal cliffs and parks
• some of Peru’s excellent food scene

Days 4–6 — Arequipa

Fly to Arequipa, one of Peru’s prettiest cities.

See:

• Plaza de Armas
• Santa Catalina Monastery
• historic centre
• viewpoints towards the surrounding volcanoes

Days 7–8 — Colca Canyon

Take an overnight trip to Colca Canyon.

Highlights:

• dramatic canyon scenery
• Andean villages
• hot springs
• condors at Cruz del Cóndor

Days 9–11 — Puno and Lake Titicaca

Travel to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Spend time on the lake visiting:

• Uros floating islands
• Amantani Island for an overnight homestay
• Taquile Island

This is a good place to slow down and experience a very different side of Peru.

Days 12–15 — Cusco

Travel to Cusco and allow several days to acclimatise.

Explore:

• Plaza de Armas
• San Pedro Market
• Qorikancha
• Sacsayhuamán
• San Blas
• surrounding Inca ruins

Days 16–18 — Sacred Valley

Spend several days travelling through the Sacred Valley.

Good stops include:

• Pisac
• Ollantaytambo
• Moray
• Maras salt terraces
• Chinchero

Stay in Ollantaytambo before heading towards Machu Picchu.

Days 19–20 — Machu Picchu

Travel to Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu.

If you want more walking, add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if permits are available.

Days 21–23 — Cusco or Trekking

Choose between:

Option 1: Return to Cusco for a slower few days.

Option 2: Add a trek such as:

• Rainbow Mountain
• Humantay Lake
• short section of the Inca Trail

Days 24–26 — Amazon

Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and spend several nights in an Amazon lodge.

Activities can include:

• jungle walks
• river trips
• wildlife spotting
• canopy towers
• night walks

Days 27–28 — Lima

Fly back to Lima.

Use the extra time for:

• museums
• food tours
• shopping
• another day in Barranco

Days 29–30 — Buffer and Departure

Keep the final couple of days flexible.

Peru involves altitude, long travel days and occasional weather disruptions, so having some spare time before your international flight is useful.

Route

Lima → Arequipa → Colca Canyon → Puno → Lake Titicaca → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu → Cusco → Amazon → Lima

For a first month-long trip, this is the route I’d choose. It gives you the classic Peru highlights without turning the whole month into transport.