Peru
14 days in Peru: itinerary
Yes: 14 days covers the southern loop — Lima, Arequipa, Colca, Puno, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu — with a buffer day. Fly the long legs, sleep low before high, and book Machu Picchu tickets and trains first. Skip Arequipa or Puno if you want a slower pace.
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Key facts
- Best 14-day route
- Lima → fly Arequipa → Colca → Puno → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu → Lima
- Nights
- Lima 2, Arequipa 2, Colca 1, Puno 2, Cusco 3, Sacred Valley 2, Aguas Calientes 1
- Altitude order
- Arequipa 2,300 m first, then Colca, Puno 3,800 m, Cusco 3,400 m
- Long legs
- Fly Lima–Arequipa and Juliaca–Lima; bus or train elsewhere
- Book first
- Machu Picchu timed ticket and the train to Aguas Calientes
- Buffer daycheck
- Keep one spare day for road blockades or weather
- Total costcheck
- US$1,400–2,600 per person excluding international flights (2026 estimate)
Route map
The southern loop runs one way: Lima south to Arequipa, inland to Colca and Puno, north to Cusco, down into the Sacred Valley, then Machu Picchu and back to Lima. It climbs gradually — Arequipa sits at about 2,300 m, Puno at 3,800 m, Cusco at 3,400 m — which is why the parent country guide puts Arequipa before Cusco.
Distances are long and roads are slow. Fly Lima–Arequipa (about 1h30) and Juliaca–Lima (about 1h40); use buses and the train for the middle. Do not try to add the Amazon or Huaraz to this route without cutting something.
| Day | Where | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Lima | Arrive, city |
| 3–4 | Arequipa | Fly Lima–Arequipa |
| 5 | Colca Canyon | Bus from Arequipa |
| 6–7 | Puno | Bus from Chivay or Arequipa |
| 8–10 | Cusco | Bus or train from Puno |
| 11–12 | Sacred Valley | Bus or colectivo from Cusco |
| 13 | Aguas Calientes | Train from Ollantaytambo |
| 14 | Machu Picchu, then Lima | Train and bus, fly out |
One hotel change per two days on average; keep the buffer day inside Cusco or Lima.
Day by day
Days 1–2, Lima. Land, sleep, then the historic centre in daylight and Miraflores or Barranco in the evening. Two nights is enough before the altitude.
Days 3–4, Arequipa. Fly in early. Santa Catalina Monastery and the plaza on day 3, then a Colca tour or bus on day 4. The city is a good place to acclimatise.
Day 5, Colca Canyon. Leave Arequipa before dawn for Cruz del Cóndor, then sleep in Chivay or Cabanaconde. Mornings give the best condor sightings.
Days 6–7, Puno. Bus across the altiplano to Puno. Day 6 is the Uros islands, day 7 Taquile or a slow day at 3,800 m. Take it easy on arrival.
Days 8–10, Cusco. Bus or train from Puno, roughly 6–10 hours depending on service. Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán and the boleto turístico sites fill three days.
Days 11–12, Sacred Valley. Bus or colectivo to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Sleep low in the valley rather than climbing straight to Cusco if you can reorder.
Day 13, Aguas Calientes. Train from Ollantaytambo, then an early night. Day 14: Machu Picchu at your timed slot, back down, train and bus to Cusco or Juliaca, fly to Lima.
Getting around
Flying the two long legs saves two full days. Lima–Arequipa and Juliaca–Lima are short hops; book early for the best fares (2026 estimate: US$60–140 one way).
Buses cover Arequipa–Chivay–Puno and Puno–Cusco; overnight or daytime services both run, and tourist-class buses cost more than local ones. The Puno–Cusco tourist train is slower and pricier than the bus.
For Machu Picchu, the train runs from Ollantaytambo and Poroy to Aguas Calientes, then a bus climbs to the gate. Tickets are timed and sell out in high season, so book the entry and the train together, months ahead.
| Leg | Best option | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima–Arequipa | Flight | 1h30 | US$60–140 |
| Arequipa–Chivay | Bus | 3–4h | US$10–20 |
| Chivay–Puno | Bus | 5–6h | US$15–30 |
| Puno–Cusco | Bus | 6–10h | US$15–45 |
| Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes | Train | 1h30–2h | US$60–120 |
| Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu | Bus | 25 min | US$12–24 return |
Times and fares vary by operator and season; confirm when booking (check).
Where to stay
Lima: Miraflores for safety and food, Barranco for bars, the centre for one night only. Arequipa: near the plaza. Colca: Chivay for comfort, Cabanaconde for the canyon. Puno: near the plaza, not the port. Cusco: San Blas or the centre. Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, both lower than Cusco. Aguas Calientes: anywhere, one night only.
Book the Aguas Calientes night and the Cusco or Sacred Valley nights first; those are the ones that sell out around Machu Picchu demand.
- Lima — 2 nights, Miraflores or Barranco
- Arequipa — 2 nights, near the plaza
- Colca — 1 night, Chivay or Cabanaconde
- Puno — 2 nights, near the plaza
- Cusco — 3 nights, San Blas or centre
- Sacred Valley — 2 nights, Ollantaytambo or Urubamba
- Aguas Calientes — 1 night
Costs
A mid-range 14-day trip runs about US$1,400–2,600 per person excluding international flights (2026 estimate). Budget travel with hostels and local buses sits near the bottom; private Colca tours, tourist trains and nicer hotels push past the top.
The big fixed costs are the Machu Picchu entry, the train, internal flights and any guided Colca or Titicaca tour. Food and local transport are cheap by US or UK standards.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (13 nights) | US$180–390 | US$520–1,040 |
| Internal flights | US$120–200 | US$200–280 |
| Buses and trains | US$150–250 | US$250–400 |
| Machu Picchu entry and bus | US$60–90 | US$60–90 |
| Tours (Colca, Titicaca) | US$60–120 | US$150–300 |
| Food | US$150–250 | US$300–500 |
Per person, 2026 estimate; excludes international flights and travel insurance.
Variations
Swap Arequipa and Colca for the Amazon: fly Lima–Cusco, add three nights at a Tambopata lodge near Puerto Maldonado, then the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. That drops the south but keeps the Inca heartland.
Swap Puno for Huaraz if you want mountains and trekking instead of Lake Titicaca; it needs its own flights or long buses from Lima.
If 14 days feels tight, the 10-day Classic Peru route covers Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Puno. If you have more time, add Iquitos or the northern coast.
- Amazon instead of the south: Lima → Cusco → Tambopata → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu
- Trekking instead of Titicaca: Lima → Huaraz → Lima → Cusco
- Shorter: 10 days in Peru
- Longer: add Iquitos or the northern coast
Questions people ask
Is 14 days enough for Peru?
Yes. Fourteen days covers the southern loop — Lima, Arequipa, Colca, Puno, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu — with one buffer day. It is not enough to also add the Amazon or Huaraz without cutting a stop.
What is the best route for 14 days in Peru?
Lima 2 nights, fly to Arequipa 2, Colca 1, Puno 2, Cusco 3, Sacred Valley 2, Aguas Calientes 1, then Machu Picchu and fly out. It climbs gradually from 2,300 m, which helps with altitude.
Where should I stay on a 14-day trip to Peru?
Miraflores or Barranco in Lima, near the plaza in Arequipa and Puno, San Blas in Cusco, Ollantaytambo or Urubamba in the Sacred Valley, and one night in Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu. Book the Aguas Calientes and Cusco nights first.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialPROMPERÚ — official tourism board
- officialPeru Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR)
- officialPeruRail
- officialInca Rail
- officialLATAM Airlines Peru
- secondaryWikivoyage — Peru