16 days in Peru Itinerary

Founded in 1535 by Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro, Lima represents an interesting blend of modern attractions and preserved colonial architecture, much of it clustered in the World Heritage-listed city center.

Lima is known for museums, parks, and historic sites. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take an in-depth tour of Museo Larco, stroll around Circuito Magico Del Agua, get to know the fascinating history of Centro Historico de Lima, and don't miss a visit to Miraflores.

To find more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Lima road trip site.

Cartagena, Colombia to Lima is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Expect much colder weather when traveling from Cartagena in June: highs in Lima hover around 24°C, while lows dip to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Sun) early enough to drive to Ica.

Located on the Ica River in the desert areas of Peru's southern coast, the city of Ica stands as something of an oasis in the dry, barren landscape.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Mon): don't miss a visit to Plaza de Armas, then get outside with Outdoor Activities, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Laguna De Huacachina. On your second day here, see the interesting displays at Regional Museum of Ica and then do a tasting at Tacama.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, maps, and more tourist information, use the Ica trip itinerary builder site.

Getting from Lima to Ica by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Traveling from Lima in June, plan for slightly colder nights in Ica, with lows around 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) early enough to travel to Cusco.

Capital of the Inca Empire for three centuries, World Heritage-listed Cusco is now a major tourist destination, drawing nearly 2 million annual tourists with its well-preserved colonial architecture and proximity to Machu Picchu.

On the 8th (Thu), spend a fun day on foot with Walking tours. Next up on the itinerary: steep yourself in history at Sacsayhuaman, stop by Tiki Workshop, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Templo de la Sagrada Familia, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Museo de Vida Monastica - Monasterio de Santa Catalina del Cusco.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Cusco using our trip planner.

You can do a combination of bus and flight from Ica to Cusco in 8.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Ica in June, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be colder in Cusco, with lows of 1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Sat) early enough to take a shuttle to Ollantaytambo.

Retaining much of its centuries-old architecture, Ollantaytambo represents one of the world's finest examples of Incan city planning.

Start off your visit on the 10th (Sat): contemplate the long history of Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the 11th (Sun), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: steep yourself in history at Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Hacienda del Chalan.

To see ratings, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Ollantaytambo road trip planning website.

Traveling by shuttle from Cusco to Ollantaytambo takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In June, daytime highs in Ollantaytambo are 24°C, while nighttime lows are 1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Mon) to allow enough time to take a train to Machu Picchu.

A symbol of the Incan civilization, the abandoned city of Machu Picchu represents a must-see on a Peru vacation.

To see ratings, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Machu Picchu trip itinerary builder.

Traveling by train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. On the 12th (Mon), you'll travel to Puno.

Hugging the western tip of Lake Titicaca, Puno serves as a melting pot of indigenous and imported cultures, and makes a great base for explorations around the region.

On the 12th (Mon), take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia Matriz de Santa Catalina, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Iglesia San Antonio, and then make a trip to Catedral de Puno. On the 13th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get some thrills on the water with a speed boat tour.

To plan Puno vacation without wasting time, ask Klarna Trips to design an itinerary.

You can fly from Machu Picchu to Puno in 2.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In June, daily temperatures in Puno can reach 21°C, while at night they dip to -5°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Wed) so you can go by car to Arequipa.

In an area dominated three imposing volcanoes, Arequipa vacations allow visitors to admire well-preserved colonial architecture in a dramatic setting.

Start off your visit on the 14th (Wed): make a trip to Plaza de Armas, then take an in-depth tour of Museo Santuarios Andinos, then examine the collection at Santa Catalina Monastery, and finally look for gifts at La Iberica. On the 15th (Thu), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: examine the collection at Museo La Recoleta, then get the lay of the land with Walking tours, and then steep yourself in history at Historic Centre of Arequipa.

For more things to do, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Arequipa road trip app.

Getting from Puno to Arequipa by car takes about 5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Traveling from Puno in June, plan for much hotter nights in Arequipa, with lows around 9°C. On the 16th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.