Incas, Mountains and Jungle
Peru, a favorite among backpackers is absolutely packed with activities. Exploring mountains, Inca culture, amazing food, beaches and traditions, this country will leave you exhausted but its beauty makes it all worth it!
This backpacking Peru travel guide gives you tips on activities to do, route suggestions, budget and safety tips to help you plan your trip to this magical country!
How much time do I need?
For anyone backpacking Peru I recommend spending a month in Peru. It’s a long and big country that has so much to offer, both in the north and the south. By spending a month or more you get the opportunity to explore beaches in the North, the Amazon as well as the more popular places like Lima, Huacachina and Cuzco.
If you are on a shorter schedule you can for sure cram in the most important activities in about two weeks. This also means more domestic flights. Keep in mind flying within Peru might require you to add in more days to recover from quick altitude gains.
Routes
In terms of routes it will depend on where you start. For backpackers coming in from Ecuador the first logical stop is Máncora. From there head down the coast to the colonial town of Trujillo. If you’re into hiking then don’t miss out on Huaraz on your way down to Lima.
For anyone wanting to experience the Amazon I highly recommend getting on a plane from Lima to Iquitos and head up the river for an experience of a lifetime! After Lima make stops in Paracas, Ica (Huacachina) and Arequipa. From Arequipa you can easily get to Cuzco and Puno to finish off your Peru adventure!
If you’re coming from the south your first stop will probably be Puno before you can do the route above in reverse.
Anyone flying into Lima can follow the route south and up to Cuzco and then back if you also fly out from Lima. In this situation you might choose to skip northern Peru and focus on the south.
Top Activities
Peru is one of those countries where you just have activities at every stop. There is so much to do in this country and you might find it hard to choose if you can’t do them all. Anyways here are some of my top activities in Peru.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
One of the absolute highlights of Peru and South America is to walk in the footsteps of the Incas. Spend four days in beautiful surroundings camping along the way until you reach the sun gate on the fourth day. Arrive at Machu Picchu for a stunning morning view in a spot just for those brave enough to do the hike.
If your budget is a little lower and you want a more scenic route then do the Salkantay Trek which is absolutely stunning as well. Both treks are considered among the most beautiful treks in the world! Hard to go wrong here.
If you’re not into hiking you can easily get the train to Machu Picchu and back and see this wonder of the world in one day. Either by yourself or through a travel agency.
Hike Colca Canyon
Twice the size of the famous Grand Canyon in the US, Colca Canyon is a beautiful place to visit. Be it as a day tour to try and see the Andean Condors, or an overnight hike into the bottom and back up. Located about 3 hours outside of Arequipa, this place will offer plenty of weather, a solid workout and views for days!
See Rainbow Mountain
Get up in the middle of the night and make the journey up to 4600 meters above sea level and start walking slowly among animals and snow covered mountain tops. At your own pace, arrive at the top to enjoy the view of this colourful mountain. It might be a challenge to reach 5036 meters above sea level but it is definitely worth it!
I also recommend paying the extra cost to visit the “Red Valley” on your way down, so see the red mountain range behind Rainbow Mountain! Should be less then $5 and is paid directly there to your guide.
Explore Lake Titicaca
Spend a few days in Puno and explore Lake Titicaca. This place is super unique with the floating islands of the Uro people, the indigenous poeple that built these islands. I highly recommend doing a kayak tour to get down and close with the lake, especially on a calm sunny day!
If you decide on a full day tour there’s also some other islands that are beautiful and you get to learn some more about the culture of the people who live there. A fun day out for sure!
Explore the Amazon
Fly to Iquitos and head up the Amazon river for a fantastic experience in the Amazon Rainforest. See pink dolphins, monkeys, snakes and so many animals! Watch the sunrise and the sunset while you float down the amazon river, before catching some piranhas for dinner!
If you’re shorter on time and in Cusco, you can head to Manu National Park for an experience in the jungle. One of the richest biodiversity in the world is found here, and a great way to combine Machu Picchu and a jungle adventure!
Hike in Huaraz
Huaraz is home to some of the most photogenic mountains and lakes in the world. Explore the lagoons and mountain ranges hiking in this beautiful part of Peru!
Visit Paracas
Known as Galapagos for poor people, this place just south of Lima offers lots of wildlife with tons of birds, sea lions and penguins! Head out in a boat and see the Islas Ballestas for some impressive views along the coast!
Eat in Lima
For any foodie out there, you probably already know that Lima is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Head out in Lima to explore what the city has to offer, but if you want a table at the very best places in town, make sure you reserve a table months in advance!
Sandboard in Huacachina
Peru’s famous oasis is found a short tuk-tuk ride outside of the city of Ica. Here you can walk around this charming little town before heading out to the dunes on a sand buggy. Slide down the dunes on a board, or choose the option for snowboarding or slalom down for some more adrenaline!
In town there are plenty of hostels to spend the night as well as restaurants and bars to party into the morning hours!
See the Nazca Lines
Heading down the coast from Lima is the city of Nazca, famous for its lines that can be seen from above. Historians are still not completely sure why or how these were made thousands of years ago, but they sure look cool! Take a short flight above if you dare and have the money for it!
Wine tasting in Ica
If you have a day to spare in Ica I highly recommend heading out to one of the vineyards and do a tour. This place is known for some of the best wines in the country as well as Pisco! You haven’t really visited Peru if you haven’t tried this national drink!
Budget
A backpackers budget for Peru should be around $40 per day. This includes staying in dorms, eating local food and using local transportation. It will also cover some basic activities. If you are planning on hiking to Machu Picchu, visiting the Amazon or any bigger activities like that I recommend putting aside extra money to make sure you don’t miss out on those bucket list items!
Food
Most Peruvian food consists of basic ingredients like corn, potatoes, quinoa as well as meats like Alpaca and Guinea Pig. Something for those happy to try new things. Ceviche is also found everywhere and a dish you can’t miss when in Peru.
Local food is very cheap in Peru and eating at local restaurants and street food will cost you a few dollars. Even eating fancy will set you back less than $10. if you’re a foodie and want to visit some of the world’s best restaurant in Lima, get a reservation long before you get there!
Accommodation
A bed in a dorm is cheap in Peru, at around $10 a night. This usually includes breakfast as well, the best gift for backpackers. One of the great things about Peruvian hostels is that they often prepare a take away breakfast if you have an early start. In many places you get picked up in the middle of the night for hikes, and this is a fantastic little detail that many hostels in Peru do for its guests!
Transportation
Transportaion in Peru is probably one of the best in Latin America. It’s up there with the likes of Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Long distance buses are usually super comfortable and affordable, with big reclining seats, charging ports and sometimes even snacks. Getting on a bus in Peru also has high security and terminals can sometimes remind you a little of a small airport.
Flying is also an option in Peru because of long distances. You can find decent prices and flights are plentiful. For those wanting to visit Iquitos and the Amazon it’s also your only option but shouldn’t cost more than $150-200 roundtrip. If you’re short on time flying from Lima to Cusco might not be cheap but a lot quicker than almost 24-hour on a bus!
When to go to Peru
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season between May and October. In July and August tourism is at its highest, and travelling just before or after will give you decent weather and less people.
During the wet season between November and April hikes in the mountains get a bit trickier. Also in February the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu closes for maintenance so keep that in mind.
Safety in Peru
Peru is quite a safe country for backpackers. In most places you won’t find any problems, the only exception being Lima. Outside of the neighbourhoods of Miraflores and Barranco take extra precaution if you’re out at night.
Also Peru has in recent years struggled with protests against the government. In these situations pay attention to local recommendations and try to stay away from the areas where they are happening.
Like anywhere in the world you should always follow some basic precautions and never travel without travel insurance!
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine in Peru, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Peru? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
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