L'Heure du Voyage
🇵🇪 Itinerary · Peru · 14 days

2-week Peru itinerary 2026: from the Pacific to Machu Picchu

The tested circuit: Lima, Paracas, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu. 14 days with gradual altitude gain and budget.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€2,200-3,200

Total distance

~2,600 km

Profile

Culture & altitude

Season

May-Sep

Lima 2d · Paracas 1d · Arequipa 2d · Colca 2d · Titicaca 2d · Cusco 2d · Sacred Valley 1d · Machu Picchu 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Peru 2-week itinerary map: Lima, Paracas, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€70/pers

Lima · Arrival & Miraflores

  • Morning Arrival at Jorge Chávez airport. Transfer to Miraflores (45 min, €18).
  • Afternoon Malecón seafront, Parque del Amor, first ceviche.
  • Evening Dinner in Barranco, bohemian and colourful.
🛌 🛌 Miraflores · e.g. Casa Andina Premium (2 nights)·🚕 Taxi or Uber·Peru guide →
2

~€60

Lima · Historic centre & gastronomy

  • 9am Plaza Mayor, cathedral and San Francisco convent (catacombs).
  • 1pm Lunch at Surquillo market, Andean fruit and juices.
  • Afternoon Larco Museum, pre-Columbian ceramics. Night bus to Paracas (4h).
🚌 Cruz del Sur bus
3

~€75

Paracas & Huacachina · Desert and Ballestas Islands

  • Morning Boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, sea lions, penguins and birds.
  • Afternoon Paracas reserve, dunes facing the Pacific.
  • Evening Huacachina oasis, buggy and sandboarding on the dunes at sunset.
🛌 🛌 Huacachina · e.g. Bananas Adventure (1 night)·🚐 Shuttle + 🛥️ boat
4

~€80

Arequipa · The white city

  • Morning Flight Ica/Lima → Arequipa (1h30, ~€70) or night bus. Acclimatise at 2,335 m.
  • Afternoon Santa Catalina convent, a city within the city with ochre and blue walls.
  • Evening Plaza de Armas and first rocoto relleno.
🛌 🛌 Arequipa · e.g. Casa Arequipa (2 nights)·✈️ Domestic flight advised
5

~€55

Arequipa · Sillustani or acclimatisation rest

  • Morning Yanahuara viewpoint, view of the Misti volcano.
  • Afternoon Rest for the altitude, chocolate and pisco sour tasting.
6

~€85

Colca Canyon · Road and Andean villages

  • 6am Drive to Colca (4h), Patapampa pass at 4,910 m (highest point of the trip).
  • Afternoon Villages of Chivay and Yanque, La Calera hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Yanque/Chivay · e.g. Colca Lodge (1 night)·🚐 Mountain road
7

~€70

Colca → Puno · The condors

  • 7am Cruz del Condor: Andean condors soaring at daybreak (Peru's best spot).
  • Afternoon Drive to Puno (6h) along the Altiplano, vicuñas and lagoons.
🛌 🛌 Puno · e.g. Casa Andina Premium (2 nights)·🚐 Tourist bus with stops
8

~€75

Lake Titicaca · Uros & Taquile

  • Morning Boat trip on the world's highest lake (3,812 m). Uros floating reed islands.
  • Afternoon Taquile Island, a UNESCO-listed textile community, lunch with locals.
🛥️ Boat on the lake
9

~€90

Puno → Cusco · The sun route

  • 7am Tourist bus Puno → Cusco (10h) with stops: Pukara, La Raya (4,335 m), Raqchi temple, Andahuaylillas chapel.
  • Evening Arrival in Cusco (3,400 m), illuminated Plaza de Armas.
🛌 🛌 Cusco · e.g. Palacio del Inka (2 nights)·🚌 Inka Express tourist bus
10

~€70

Cusco · Inca capital

  • Morning Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) and the San Blas district, cobbled lanes.
  • Afternoon Sacsayhuamán fortress, cyclopean blocks above the city.
  • Evening Cuy or alpaca dinner at San Pedro market.
11

~€80

Sacred Valley · Pisac & Ollantaytambo

  • Morning Pisac market and terraces, Inca ruins above the valley.
  • Afternoon Ollantaytambo fortress, the last Inca bastion.
🛌 🛌 Ollantaytambo · e.g. El Albergue (1 night)·🚐 Private car or collectivo
12

~€150

Machu Picchu · The lost city

  • 6am Panoramic train Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes (1h30, ~€70 round trip).
  • 9am Bus up to the site, guided tour of Machu Picchu (ticket to book months ahead).
  • Afternoon Optional climb of Huayna Picchu (separate time slot).
🛌 🛌 Aguas Calientes · e.g. Sumaq Hotel (1 night)·🚆 Train + 🚌 shuttle
13

~€70

Machu Picchu → Cusco · Return

  • Morning Second early visit to the site (morning light, fewer people) or relax at the Aguas Calientes baths.
  • Afternoon Return train then transfer to Cusco.
🛌 🛌 Cusco · e.g. Palacio del Inka (1 night)·🚆 Train + 🚐 road
14

Flight

Cusco → Lima → France · Return

  • Morning Last shopping (alpaca textiles, coffee) at San Pedro market.
  • Afternoon Flight Cusco → Lima (1h20, ~€80), then return flight to Paris (via Madrid or Amsterdam).
✈️ Domestic flight + ✈️ return flight

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€2,200

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,000
  • 🏨 Hostels & guesthouses: €18/night
  • 🍽️ Menús del día: €10/day
  • 🚌 Buses & collectivos: €120
  • 🎫 Machu Picchu & sites: €250
Recommended

Comfort

€2,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,100
  • 🏨 3★ hotels: €70/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed restos: €25/day
  • ✈️ Domestic flights: €150
  • 🎫 Trains, guides & entries: €400

Premium

€5,500

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €2,400
  • 🏨 5★ & Belmond lodges: €250/night
  • 🍽️ Lima fine dining: €70/day
  • 🚆 Hiram Bingham train: €480
  • 🎫 Private guides: €500

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The Inca essentials.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

The full southern circuit, from the Pacific to Titicaca and Machu Picchu.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour: South, Amazon, North and the rainbow mountain.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary combines comfortable night buses, a domestic flight to reach Arequipa, tourist buses with stops between Puno and Cusco, and the train to Machu Picchu. The main challenge stays the gradual altitude gain.

🚌

Cruz del Sur bus (Lima-Paracas)

4h · reclining seat · book online

✈️

Lima → Arequipa flight

€70 · 1h30 · LATAM or Sky

🚐

Inka Express tourist bus

Puno → Cusco · 10h · 4 sites included

🚆

Train Ollantaytambo → Machu Picchu

€70 round trip · 1h30 · PeruRail or Inca Rail

✈️

Cusco → Lima flight

€80 · 1h20 · for the return

Adapt by season

Dry season for the altitude

Andean Peru is in the southern hemisphere: the best window runs from May to September (dry season), with clear skies over Machu Picchu and cold nights at altitude. The rainy season (December to March) makes some trails muddy and the Inca Trail closes in February for maintenance. The coast (Lima, Paracas) is reversed: grey and humid in austral winter, sunny from December to March.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In July 2025 I booked my Machu Picchu ticket 3 months ahead for the 7am slot: by 6am I was nearly alone on the upper terrace, while the groups arrived in droves around 10am. The ticket goes fast in dry season, plan ahead.
  • • The gradual altitude gain (coast → Arequipa 2,335 m → Colca 3,600 m → Titicaca 3,812 m → Cusco): no altitude sickness following this order.
  • • Coca-leaf infusions from Arequipa on, a real boost against soroche.
  • • The Puno-Cusco tourist bus over the direct bus: 4 Inca sites en route for the same price.
  • • The Cruz del Condor at 7am: the condors take off with the first thermals, guaranteed spectacle.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Sleep one more night in Cusco before Machu Picchu to recover better.
  • • Skip Huacachina if sandboarding doesn't appeal and gain a day in Cusco.
  • • Book Huayna Picchu only if you're comfortable with heights (steep ladders).
  • • Take the Lima-Arequipa flight rather than the night bus to arrive fresh at altitude.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

How do you avoid altitude sickness in Peru? +
By going up gradually, as in this itinerary: coast first, then Arequipa (2,335 m), Colca, Titicaca (3,812 m) and Cusco. Drink water, go slow the first days, infuse coca leaves. Avoid going straight to Cusco off the plane.
Do you need to book Machu Picchu in advance? +
Yes, absolutely. Tickets have a daily quota and sell out months ahead in dry season. Book the train at the same time and, if you wish, the Huayna Picchu slot.
What's the best time? +
May to September (Andean dry season) for clear skies over Machu Picchu. The rainy season (December-March) makes trails muddy and the Inca Trail closes in February.
Can you do this circuit without domestic flights? +
Yes, all by bus, but it adds 1 to 2 days of travel. The Lima-Arequipa flight and the Cusco-Lima return flight save precious time and limit fatigue at altitude.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
With children used to walking, yes, but the altitude calls for caution (Colca and Titicaca exceed 3,800 m). Plan rest days and watch for signs of soroche.
What budget should I plan for two weeks? +
Count €2,200 in backpacker mode (hostels, buses, menús), €2,800 in comfort (3★ hotels, domestic flights), flight from Europe included. Machu Picchu (train + entry + guide) is the heaviest cost.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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