Want to Visit South America

Peru

Duration 12 days Cost ~EUR 2,400 for two Season May-September Currency PEN (Peruvian Sol) USD 1 USD = 3.65 PEN Lang Spanish, Quechua

“The journey not the arrival matters.”

— T.S. Eliot

Peru is where ancient Inca civilization meets the dramatic Andes mountains and one of the world’s most acclaimed food scenes. From the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu to the Amazon rainforest, Peru is a destination that defies expectations.

Why I Want to Visit

Machu Picchu alone would be reason enough, but Peru offers so much more — Lima’s world-famous gastronomy, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the mysterious Nazca Lines, and the Sacred Valley’s timeless Andean culture.

Planned Itinerary

Lima (3 days) — Miraflores, Barranco, world-class ceviche, food tours
Cusco (2 days) — Inca ruins, colonial architecture, San Pedro Market
Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu (3 days) — Ollantaytambo, the Inca Trail, sunrise at Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (2 days) — Floating Uros islands, Taquile island, Puno
Arequipa & Colca Canyon (2 days) — White city, condor watching, hot springs

What I’m Most Excited About

Watching sunrise over Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
Tasting authentic Peruvian ceviche in Lima’s top restaurants
Visiting the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca
Hiking through the Sacred Valley following ancient Inca paths

Where to Eat

Central (Lima) — Virgilio Martinez’s world-famous altitude-based tasting menu. ~PEN 650-900. 📍 Maps
La Mar Cebicheria (Lima) — Gaston Acurio’s gold-standard Miraflores cevicheria. ~PEN 60-120. 📍 Maps
Mercado San Pedro (Cusco) — Bustling central market with cheap local meals. ~PEN 8-20. 📍 Maps
Cicciolina (Cusco) — Sophisticated tapas bar near Plaza de Armas blending Peruvian and Mediterranean. ~PEN 80-160. 📍 Maps
Isolina (Lima) — Boisterous Barranco spot for traditional criollo home cooking. ~PEN 40-80. 📍 Maps

Where to Stay

Belmond Hotel Monasterio ★★★★★ (Cusco) — Converted 16th-century monastery with oxygen-enriched rooms. ~PEN 1,200/night. Book
Hotel B ★★★★ (Lima) — Belle Epoque mansion in Barranco with art gallery. ~PEN 650/night. Book
Pariwana Hostel Cusco ★★★ (Cusco) — Social hostel in a colonial mansion near Plaza de Armas with free coca tea. ~PEN 50/night. Book
Casa Republica Barranco ★★★★ (Lima) — Stylish Barranco boutique in a renovated mansion with garden restaurant. ~PEN 450/night. Book

Tours & Excursions

Machu Picchu Full Day Tour from Cusco — Train ride, guided ruins tour, and free time at the citadel. 14h, ~PEN 800. Book
Lima Food & Ceviche Tour — Ceviche, causa, anticuchos, and pisco sours across Miraflores and Barranco. 4h, ~PEN 250. Book
Sacred Valley Full Day Tour — Ollantaytambo, Pisac ruins and market, Moray terraces, Maras salt mines. 10h, ~PEN 180. Book
Cusco City Walking Tour — Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, San Pedro Market, and San Blas. 3h, ~PEN 80. Book
Rainbow Mountain Hike — Trek to Vinicunca at 5,200m for colorful mineral formations. 12h, ~PEN 120. Book