If you’re interested in travelling Peru and are still working out how to get around, then a Peru trip itinerary (10 days) is a great place to start.
With 10 days you’d be surprised what you can fit in, where you can easily visit the towering Andes Mountains, the deep Amazon Jungle, Machu Picchu, the Huacachina Desert oasis as well as the highlights of Lima. From here it’s then just a case of working out how much time you need in each destination, as well as the best way to get around.
In this guide we’ll explore our very own custom Peru trip itinerary of 10 days, and why it promises the best experience possible in this diverse nation. As well as answering your most burning questions in our FAQ section, we’ll also evaluate whether 10 days really is enough time to properly travel around Peru.
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How To Plan A Peru Trip Itinerary 10 Days
As with any trip, great planning will result in a great experience – and this is especially the case when heading to Peru for 10 days.
Once you’ve booked your flights to and from Peru, you’ll now need to consider the logistics of getting around this giant country. Split into three regions – the Coast, the Andes and the Amazon Jungle – distances can get large quickly, and those travelling by bus can sometimes deal with 12+ hour journeys. You can easily reduce travelling times by heading on domestic flights with airlines like Sky and LATAM, who connect both major and lesser-known destinations together.
You’ll also want to consider practicality, and how you plan to experience everything that you want to see and do during your trip. This means pre-booking experiences, or else you may have to wait for a different day for availability (which may or may not be possible for you with a 10 day Peru itinerary). Sites like Machu Picchu should be booked well in advance, and anything else that is a must for you.
Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we can help you customise your dream Peru trip, where you can plan all activities and experiences ready before you even leave home. This can include exploring Machu Picchu, trekking through the deep Amazon Jungle and also flying over the ancient Nazca Lines.
Is 10 Days In Peru Enough?
Although Peru is a large country and there are dozens of incredible destinations, with 10 days you’ll still be able to see the main highlights with ease.
This includes the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Amazon Jungle, Lima, the Nazca Lines and Cusco – as we’ve explained later in our itinerary. Of course we need to be practical and organise everything before you come to Peru, however with good planning it’s definitely possible.
An important consideration during your planning is both your budget and comfort expectations. If you are on a tight budget, then you’ll need to use buses which will take longer and reduce what you can see and do. By spending more on domestic flights, you’ll instead be able to maximise your time in each destination and fit more into your 10 day Peru itinerary.
Our Very Best 10 Day Peru Trip Itinerary
Below we’ll now jump into our very best 10 day itinerary around Peru, based on our experience leading tours throughout the country. Remember that this itinerary is 100% customisable and can be changed however you like!
Lima (Days 1-3)
The Peruvian capital is the perfect place to kick-off any itinerary around the country, given it’s where the main international airport of Jorge Chavez is located. The first day can be spent enjoying the highlights of the historic centre, which includes the spooky Lima Catacombs as well as the beautiful baroque cathedrals and architecture around the Plaza de Armas.
On your second day we highly recommend heading on a Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca Day Tour, where you will see the highlights of the surrounding region. As well as including private transport, you’ll also get to experience the wildlife of the Ballestas Islands, go Sandboarding in the Ica Desert as well as fly over the ancient Nazca Lines.
For your final day in Lima, we suggest relaxing and staying around the upscale neighbourhood of Miraflores. Here you can stroll through the leafy Kennedy Park, explore the ruins of Huaca Pucllana and also enjoy food and drinks in Larcomar – which has perfect views over the Pacific Ocean.
Cusco (Days 4-8)
Next we swap the coast for the Andes Mountains, and head straight into the legendary city of Cusco. Once the heart of the Inca Empire, here we can spend numerous days exploring various ruins around the city such as Sacsayhuamán and the Qorikancha Temple, as well as the iconic streets of the San Blas District.
Heading to Machu Picchu is of course a must, and with this itinerary it’s possible to head on the Short Inca Trail (2 Days) to relive the same steps that the Inca once took to get here through mountains and jungle. Other ancient sites within the Sacred Valley region that are worth visiting include Moray Ruins, Ollantaytambo Ruins as well as Pisac Ruins.
Cusco is also the gateway to many incredible experiences and unbelievable sceneries, and as such it’s worth planning these experiences into your trip. Those who love alpine lakes and snow-capped mountains will want to visit the 7 Lakes of Ausangate, whilst the incredible multi-colored Rainbow Mountain remains a top highlight regardless of when you are visiting!
Puerto Maldonado (Days 9-10)
For our final couple of days in Peru we now take a local flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. Located within the Amazon Jungle, this small city is the gateway into the Tambopata National Reserve – which is one of the most biodiverse areas within the entire Amazon Jungle!
With this itinerary we’ll only have enough time to fit in an overnight tour (you’ll need to leave on an early morning flight from Cusco), however this is still perfect for experiencing this incredible rainforest at night and heading on activities such as Jungle walks and zip-lining through the canopy.
It will also be possible to spot many exotic animals along the trip too. This includes Monkeys, Capybara, Snakes, Crocodiles and even the chance to go Piranha Fishing too. Depending on what type of tour you choose, you can also increase your chance of spotting the elusive Jaguar with a specialised tour – or heading to Sandoval Lake to spot Giant River Otters and colorful Macaw Parrots.
Once we are finished with the tour, we can then head to the airport to take a short two hour flight back to Lima, and then be ready for your international flight back home.
Alternative Destinations To Visit On Your Peru Itinerary 10 Days
Perhaps you’re wondering whether to include different destinations on your trip, or if there are any other places we suggest within your timeframe. Below we’ll cover some of the best alternative Peru destinations, which are still all easy to get to with prior planning.
Arequipa – The famous White City of Peru, this is the perfect place to see beautiful architecture such as the Plaza de Armas which was created with volcanic rocks, as well as the red-stained walls of the Santa Catalina Monastery. It’s also great for adventures, where you can see Condors in the Colca Canyon and hike El Misti Volcano.
Iquitos – Although seemingly similar to Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos is located in the north of Peru – and within the more remote Amazon Rainforest. Here we can spot the incredible Pink River Dolphins which swim freely along the rivers, and also visit local indigenous tribes and get to know their homes, ancestral ways and daily lives.
Puno – The gateway city to Lake Titicaca, where we can explore the world’s highest altitude navigable lake. On the Peruvian side (it also borders Bolivia) we can head to the floating Uros Islands that are entirely made out of Totora Reed, as well as to Sillustani Ruins which were human burial chambers used by the pre-Inca civilisation of the Qulla.
Peru Trip Itinerary 10 Days FAQ
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about planning a Peru trip itinerary of 10 days, as well as anything else you need to know.
How Much Cash Do I Need For 10 Days In Peru?
It really depends on what your trip style is and how much luxury you like. If you are less fussy and also like to eat in local restaurants, then a daily budget of 150 Soles is perfect (which along with transport costs would mean you’d want to bring around 1500-2000 Soles). If you want to stay in a nicer room and eat at more fancy restaurants, then a daily budget of 250 Soles would suffice – and overall you’d need between 3500-4000 Soles for 10 Days in Peru.
How Many Days Is Ideal For Peru?
Whilst 10 days in Peru is certainly doable, we’d instead recommend between 15-20 days if possible. Not only would this allow you to visit other incredible destinations not mentioned in this guide (such as Huaraz, or the alternative Peru destinations that we did mention), you’ll also get to explore each area deeper too. This includes being able to hike the Four Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu hike, as well as heading on a multi-day Amazon Jungle experience in Tambopata.
What Are The Best Times To Visit Peru?
Overall the best months are the shoulder season months of April, May, September and October. Not only will temperatures be comfortable as well as rainfall levels being low, tourist crowds will also be low too. This means you can enjoy sights such as Machu Picchu without queuing so much, and also not spend as much on flights and accommodation which can get more expensive between June and September (the dry season).
Overview Of Planning A 10 Day Peru Trip Itinerary
And that’s all for this guide on how to plan your own 10 day itinerary around Peru.
Given how diverse and incredible this South American country is, it’s no wonder that travellers are trying to pack-in as many different destinations as possible. And even with just 10 days you’d be surprised what you can fit into your journey, and especially so when you plan it properly and are up for a real adventure.
Are you ready to experience your ultimate Peru trip? Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we can help you customise your very own Peru Tour exactly how you want it – whether that’s for 10 days, 14 days or even a whole month!
