Peru Travel Guide| 5-day Itinerary | Solo Travel Stories

7 min readJul 12, 2021

Peru, one of the most popular destinations in South America, is a diverse spectrum of a landscape beyond Machu Picchu. Being on my list for nearly two years, I decided to pack my bags in July 2021 (thankfully, by then, Peru had eased its quarantine and Sunday curfews). Five days may not be ideal for discovering Peru; it's not too short either.

Cusco

Cusco, the charming cobblestone city, is located at an altitude of 3200mts. This former Inca capital is a perfect base for Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake, and Rainbow Mountains. To get used to the altitude, you can take it slow by visiting Moray, the man-made circular farming laboratory, and thousands of shallow salt pools, Maras Salt Mines, which are just two hours’ drive from Cusco, for the first couple of days.

Machu Picchu

The citadel in clouds, Machu Picchu, which roughly translates to “old peak,” is one of the most popular places in South America. The easiest and fastest way to go to Machu Picchu is by taking the train(the other option is the four-day hike in the Inca trail). To get an early start, you can either spend a night in Machu Picchu Pueblo town or take the first train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo (as early as 4 am from Cusco or Ollantaytambo). Peru rail and Inca rail are the two prominent companies running frequent trains to Machu Picchu Pueblo town. Both have similar packages, services, and rates. So, you can book the one that fits your schedule and budget. I booked Inca Rail’s BiModal package (Which includes Cusco to Ollantaytambo bus tickets, Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo town train tickets, shuttle tickets to the citadel, and a guide).

You need 3–6 hours to explore this great Inca site with temples, houses, and palaces(preserved in an excellent state).

Please note :

You need cash to use restrooms in Machu Picchu
Shuttle buses to the citadel are very frequent.
Food, tripod, and drones are prohibited inside the citadel
As part of covid restrictions, you need double masks on the site(and a face shield inside the bus and train)

Rainbow Mountain

Mountain Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, one of Peru’s most picturesque locations and hiking places, was undiscovered before 2016. It got its mountain landscape of rainbow colors because of the mix of melted snow and minerals(fundamentally a consequence of global warming). It’s a three-hour drive from Cusco and sits at 5200mts above sea level. Though you can drive or hire a private taxi, local people suggest booking a guided tour. So I booked a tour with one of the innumerable tour operators in Cusco (or you can ask your hotel people for a reliable and trusted tour operator). The trip started as early as 4 am(mine included pick up and drop at the hotel, breakfast, and lunch). The path was almost flat for about 70% and a tough steep for the last 200 to 300mts. The panoramic view at the summit was spectacular, which makes the entire hike worth it.

Notes:

Take your time to acclimatize to the altitude before attempting this hike.
You can hire horses near the trailhead for those who prefer not to hike; however, they will drop you at the end of the flat part, and you have to climb the final stretch on foot.
You will find few locals selling coco tea and leaves along the trail and at the summit.
Please bring cash in small bills for the toilet, horse ride, and local shops.

Cusco is worth spending a couple of days. So, if you have time, try exploring their markets, cobbled streets, and fantastic cafes.

Paracas National Reserve

Paracas National Reserve, where the Pacific ocean meets the desert, is in the Ica region of Peru. This small fishing town is known for its wildlife and beaches. The combination of strong waves and Paracas winds, the top gusts, has resulted in these stunning beach views and cliffs. If you are looking for a place with a striking blend of beach, marine wildlife, and landscapes, add Paracas to your itinerary (Most of the tours go to the Paracas village, and from there, they will take you on a boat tour to Ballestas Islands).

I did not have mobile network once I entered the reserve and I was the only person during the entire drive. So if you are not comfortable traveling alone, I would strongly recommend booking tours from Lima or in the Paracas village.

Huacachina

Huacachina, the only natural oasis in South America, is a unique place with a gorgeous lagoon, beautiful dunes, and tropical palm trees. Besides the mesmerizing sunset over the deserts, you can also do adventurous activities like sand-boarding and ripping around the sand on a dune buggy. You will find many tour operators inside the village(The price ranges from 20usd to 60usd). It’s not necessary to pre-book them.

Lima

Lima is the capital — and largest city — ofPeru. From Barranco’s Bohemian vibes to Miraflores outdoor sea-side shopping experience, Lima has a lot to offer. You can just stroll around the Barranco neighborhood, do some shopping at Larcomar or watch the sunset in Miraflores coastal line. You can spend a day or two in the capital city to experience the modern neighborhoods and ancient structures.

Where did I stay

All the below references/links are just personal opinions and not paid promotions.

Hotel Sonesta — it’s located in Plaza de Armas. All the tours will drop you off near the hotel and its just a 5-minute walk to Inca&Peru Rail offices. The staff was friendly; they booked my taxi to the airport, dropped me at Inca Office at 3 30 am and packed my breakfast at 3am since I was leaving around 3 30 am every day. The stay was convenient, and I would definitely recommend it.

Hotel Casa Andina Premium — it’s located in Miraflores, and my view from the 12th floor was great. The room was spacious and had all amenities. One more convenient and comfortable stay.

Other Details and References I used

I booked a rental car from the Enterprise(airport branch). The staff communicated adequately with me on WhatsApp to share the location details and reminded me about the drop-off(Driving in Lima might be tricky and challenging. And it’s not an absolute necessity).

I rented travelwifi portable wifi and purchased a Claro sim card for the local number. Claro’s network coverage was pretty good. I would recommend buying sim cards outside the airport, since 7 days of unlimited local calls and an internet package worth 10$ to 15$ costs 49$ in the airport.

Cabify is the Uber equivalent in Peru and less expensive when compared to Uber. It’s recommended to get airport taxis or through cab sharing apps.

Explore Peru is very active on Instagram and responded to all my queries regarding the travel restrictions and other general questions(IG : exploorperu).

Peru Destinations — I booked a tour with them. They were promptly texting me about the guide, pick-up, and all further details.

I was also checking Amazonas Explorer for regular travel restriction and quarantine updates.

And Thanks, manjunath_clicks! He shared his experience in Peru and gave tips to help me plan my trip.(Check out his page to plan your next travel! :D).