In a normal world, I would be sharing this itinerary with you after I’d done it. This is because obviously, I’d have more confidence in my recommendations of how I had structured the itinerary. Here’s the thing though, I am very good at planning holidays so I’m almost certain this itinerary is brilliant. Like, this is an epic adventure. Highly researched, compared, and carefully orchestrated with time, budget, and experience all in mind.

Today I should’ve been waking up in Lima at Second Home Peru in the Sea view suite, walking around the corner to Tostaduria Bisetti for some local Peruvian coffee, and then taking a 4 pm food tour with Lima Gourmet Food Company. Instead, I’m still in lockdown.

With all this time on our hands (if you aren’t working) it’s a great opportunity to start thinking about those big holidays you could plan for the future when things are looking up. Some adventures involve quite a lot of organisation and we don’t always have the time. You might not feel confident booking anything right now but you could write yourself a little dream list and start planning your Peruvian itinerary.

I’ll admit, I originally fell in love with Peru through photos of llamas. I know I’m not alone here. As I started my research I spiraled into a love affair with what I was learning about Peruvian culture. The colours, the food, the people, the communities, the mountains, lakes, and the altitude! I fainted at the top of Mont Blanc when I was 17 years old because I ran up a set of stairs and had no idea I was at 12,000ft above sea level. My poor Australian body had no idea what was going on and woke up in the cable car with my coat and jumper off because I was sweating so much. So, to plan a holiday where we’d be spending days at high altitude is a bit scary...but I think that’s why I like it.

Within the first few days of lockdown, I realised pretty quickly that on the 19th of May I wouldn’t be embarking on the trip I had planned. It took some time to let it go, but I know we will do this itinerary eventually. I am a pretty determined person, so I will go to Peru and complete this itinerary and I will document the hell out of it when I do.

I am going to share all the companies and hotels I had originally booked because – they have been outstanding in their customer service during this time and honestly, they don’t have to be. It’s not their fault coronavirus happened and we know they’re probably losing a lot of money right now. Instead of canceling our trip, we have opted for vouchers. This means all the payments we made on flights, accommodation, tours, and transport remain in the Peruvian tourism industry and economy. If you can move a trip instead of cancelling – this will help everyone. You will also still have something to look forward to!

So here it is our 10-day Peruvian Adventure

Featuring photos by some incredible photographers who I have credited below each image.
All photos sourced from Unsplash and Pixabay

19th May

7:20am flight to Lima via Madrid with British Airways
Land 6:05pm – Lima
Taxi Booked $20usd to Second Home Peru.
Accommodation: Second Home Peru
Dinner reservation: 8:30pm Isolina in Barranco

20th May

Tostaduria Bisetti Coffee in Barranco
Explore Lima
4:45pm Lima Gourmet Company Food Tour until 9:45pm
Including preparing your own amazonian ceviche and pisco sours.

We have a very cool story about this part of the itinerary and how we got to still experience part of this day! Read how cool it is HERE.

Accommodation: Second Home Peru

Lima Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos — Lima
Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

21st May

6am PeruHop pick up from Second Home Peru
Arrive 10am in Paracas
10am – 12pm Ballestas Islands tour to see the sea lions, penguins and the prehistoric geoglyph - The Paracas Candelabra
1pm Back on PeruHop - depart for Huacachina Oasis, Ica
4pm Dune buggy/Sandboarding
Accommodation: Hotel Curasi
Altitude: 1669 feet

Huacachina, Ica, Peru Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos — Huacachina, Ica, Peru
Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

22nd May

Sunrise over Oasis and Dunes
1pm depart with PeruHop
Vineyard tour on the way to The Nazca Lines
5:30pm Nazca Lines viewing tower
6pm Dinner stop
7pm Depart - Overnight bus to Arequipa
Altitude: 520feet

Nazca Lines Photo: Monika Neumann — Nazca Lines
Photo: Monika Neumann

23rd May

5:30am arrive Arequipa
Walk to Palla Boutique Hotel – Drop off bags and have included breakfast
Explore Arequipa, The Monastery & Plaza.
Check in available from 1pm
Accomodation: Palla Boutique Hotel
Altitude: 7600 feet

Arequipa Photo: Amilcar Alvarez Garcia — Arequipa
Photo: Amilcar Alvarez Garcia

24th May

5:45am PeruHop pick up from Palla Boutique Hotel
Depart for Cusco
9:30am Lagunas Lillianas viewpoint
2pm Marangani Lunch Stop
6:30pm arrival in Cusco
Dinner reservation: 7:30pm Morena Peruvian Kitchen
Accomodation: Tierra Viva Cusco Hotel
Altitude: 11,000ft in Cusco

Cusco Photo: Adrian Dascal — Cusco
Photo: Adrian Dascal

25th May

6:30am pick up for Sacred Valley Tour - ExploorPeru
Visit Sacred Valley viewpoint, Pisac, Salt Mines of Maras, Moray, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo
7pm Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
8:45pm arrival Aguas Calientes
Accomodation: Tierra Viva Machu Picchu Hotel
Altitude: 7,000-8,000ft

Maras, Sacred Valley Photo: Zhiefei Zhou — Maras, Sacred Valley
Photo: Zhiefei Zhou

26th May

Machu Picchu Day!
5:30am bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
6:00am Sunrise at Machu Picchu
8:30am Bus back to Aguas Calientes
9am - 10:30am explore Aguas Calientes
10:55am Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo
ExploorPeru Pick up and drop off to Cusco
Afternoon in Cusco
Accomodation: Casa Andina Premium
Altitude: 11,000 feet

Machu Picchu Photo: Adam Hill — Machu Picchu
Photo: Adam Hill

27th May

Day in Cusco to explore
Accomodation: Casa Andina Premium
Altitude: 11,000 feet

Cusco Photo: StockSnap — Cusco
Photo: StockSnap

28th May

Rainbow Mountain Day! Altitude: 16,000 feet
3:45am Pick up for Rainbow Mountain Palccoyo Alternative Tour with ExploorPeru
5:30am Breakfast stop
8am Visit Palccoyo community
9:30am Rainbow Mountain first viewing and briefing for hike
10am Second Rainbow Mountain viewpoint
10:30am Third Rainbow Mountain viewpoint and break
11am Hike to the stone forest
11:30am Begin journey back
3:30pm Arrive in Cusco
Free airport transfer through ExploorPeru
6pm Cusco Airport
Flight 7:59pm – Landing 9:25pm into Lima
Accomodation: Villa Barranco by Ananay Hotels

Rainbow Mountain Photo: Adrian Schweiz — Rainbow Mountain
Photo: Adrian Schweiz

29th May

Another day in Lima
Lima Airport
British Airways Flight
Departing 8pm – landing 2:40pm 30th May, London

Even I’m impressed with how much I’ve managed to squeeze in with what feels like such little time to see this magnificent country. There are so many places we want to see that we just couldn’t get in. When we do get to Peru we have decided to make it even longer. This is so we can add The Paracas Reserve and Colca Canyon. After this year, it seems like we should make the absolute most of the trip we will take.

One day we hope to visit Lake Humanatay as well and spend a couple of days in Lake Titicaca before making our way across to La Paz in Bolivia and down to the Uyuni Salt Flats. We also hope to visit Ruth, our beautiful Compassion sponsor child who lives with her family an hour outside of La Paz.

Thank you

PeruHop - who have extended our voucher up until 2024.

Villa Barranco - Refunded us even though it was non-refundable.

ExploorPeru - Who have moved our Rainbow mountain tour free of charge and for Machu Picchu/Sacred Valley have given us 50% off rebooking. We lost roughly £600 here.

LATAM Airlines - Free rebooking (A refund for cancelled flights)

British Airways - Free rebooking (A refund for cancelled flights)

and finally Booking.com - For flexible policies and easy rebooking

Before I end this article - I can’t finish it without a llama.

You’re welcome.

Don’t forget to read our other lockdown posts.
Staying Home Broke and A London Lockdown: In Photos

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Itinerary: 10 Day Peruvian Adventure