Few countries pack so much diversity into one map. In a single trip you can surf Pacific waves, hike glaciers in the Andes, and wander through the Amazon rainforest. Peru is more than a destination—it’s a mood swing of landscapes, flavors, and cultures.
From the sand dunes of Huacachina to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, every stop feels like a new world. Backpackers love how easy it is to meet people, move around, and still feel a sense of adventure far from mass tourism.
The country has been crowned South America’s Leading Cultural and Culinary Destination at the World Travel Awards 2025. Yet what truly wins travelers over is its authenticity—the warmth of people who still greet strangers with a smile.
Whether you’re strolling Cusco’s cobblestones or chilling at the rooftop bar of Pariwana Lima, the energy is contagious. Peru mixes ancient roots with a youthful rhythm—perfect for travelers between 20 and 35.
Backpacker Tip: Hostels like Pariwana Cusco make it easy to join daily activities, meet travelers from everywhere, and trade stories over a pisco sour.
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Planning your Peru trip is part of the fun. Most travelers from North America, Europe, and Oceania don’t need a visa for stays under 90 days—but always check GOV.UK Travel Advice or your embassy for updates.
Weather & Packing: the coast is warm from December to April, perfect for beach days in Máncora. The Andes are best from May to September, with clear skies for hiking. The jungle is hot and humid year-round—light clothes, bug spray, and a rain jacket are musts.
Budget: expect to spend $25 – $40 USD per day, depending on your route and comfort level. Hostels like Pariwana Lima or Pariwana Cusco offer shared or private rooms with flexible rates that fit most backpacker budgets.
Health & Safety: no vaccines are mandatory, though yellow fever is recommended for Amazon regions. Bring sunscreen, a small first-aid kit, and travel insurance (buying online before arrival is cheaper).
Money & Connectivity: cash (Peruvian soles) is still king in small towns; cards and mobile payments work fine in big cities. Exchange currency only at official casas de cambio—see our money-exchange tips to avoid scams. Local SIM cards from Claro or Entel offer solid coverage.
Backpacker Tip: keep digital copies of your passport and bookings in the cloud, and lock your backpack on buses and hostels.
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Moving through Peru can be half the adventure if you know your options. The distances are big, but the routes are scenic—and surprisingly affordable.
By Air: when time is short, flying saves days. Airlines like LATAM and SKY Airline connect Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Piura, often for under $60 USD if booked early.
By Bus: long-distance buses are the backpacker favorite. Companies like Cruz del Sur, Civa, and Movil Tours are safe, comfortable, and offer overnight trips with semi-bed seats. Sample routes: Lima – Arequipa (16 h), Arequipa – Cusco (10 h), Cusco – Puno (7 h).
By Train: heading to Machu Picchu? Don’t miss the classic rail journey through the Sacred Valley. Learn about ticket types and routes in our Complete Machu Picchu Ticket Guide 2025.
By App: in major cities, Uber, Beat, DiDi, and InDriver are cheap and reliable. For organized tours or transfers, check Tourpit, Pariwana’s travel-agency partner.
Suggested Itineraries
7 days: Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Cusco – Machu Picchu
10 days: Lima – Huacachina – Arequipa – Puno – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
15 days: Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Arequipa – Colca – Puno – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
Backpacker Tip: take overnight buses to save on accommodation and wake up in a new landscape.
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Traveling through Peru feels like crossing three continents in one country. In just a few hours, you can go from surfing Pacific waves to hiking glaciers and exploring jungle rivers. To plan your route, it helps to understand the country’s three main regions—Coast, Andes, and Amazon—each offering a different vibe.
The Coast: sunny, sandy, and full of ceviche. Lima, Paracas, Ica, and Trujillo mix surf, history, and food culture. Don’t skip Huacachina, a tiny desert oasis surrounded by dunes perfect for sandboarding and sunset views.
The Andes: the spiritual heart of Peru. From Cusco to Arequipa and Huaraz, you’ll find ancient ruins, Quechua villages, and landscapes that seem carved by time. The Andes are where you’ll truly feel the country’s mix of past and present.
The Amazon: wild, humid, and hypnotic. In Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, you’ll find eco-lodges, river adventures, and biodiversity like nowhere else.
A classic backpacking loop connects all three regions: Lima → Andes → Amazon → back to Lima. Buses are long but safe and cheap, especially if you travel overnight.
Backpacker Tip: mix long bus rides with cheap domestic flights. Airlines like LATAM and SKY often sell Lima–Cusco or Arequipa–Lima flights for under $50 USD when booked early.
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When your skin misses the sun, head north. Máncora, Órganos, and Lobitos are Peru’s ultimate chill-out spots—laid-back surf towns where time runs on beach mode.
Máncora is the liveliest of the three: backpacker hostels by the beach, cheap seafood, and parties that spill into the sand. The vibe is friendly and easy—sunrise surf, ceviche for lunch, cold beer at sunset.
A short ride south, Órganos is calmer, with warm water, dolphins offshore, and cozy guesthouses perfect for recharging. If you’re chasing perfect waves, Lobitos is your spot: long left-hand breaks, vintage fishing-town charm, and a small but tight community of travelers and locals.
You can fly to Piura or Talara and continue by bus, or take an 18-hour coastal ride from Lima with incredible desert-meets-ocean views.
Backpacker Tip: the best time to visit is December–April for hot weather and steady waves. From May to October, bring a light sweater for cool nights.
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If you’re craving off-the-beaten-path adventure, head to Chachapoyas, capital of the Amazonas region. It’s a mix of cloud forest, ancient ruins, and villages lost in time—far from the crowds of southern Peru.
The star site is Kuelap, an enormous stone fortress built by the Chachapoya culture over a thousand years ago. Often called the Machu Picchu of the North, it’s quieter and no less impressive. A modern cable car from Tingo Nuevo takes you up through breathtaking mountain views.
Nearby, the Gocta Waterfall plunges 770 meters, one of the tallest in the world. The hike to its base winds through coffee fields and misty forest, where hummingbirds dart through the air like tiny jewels.
Don’t miss the Karajía Sarcophagi, six human-shaped tombs carved into a cliffside—guarding the valley from above for centuries. Their remote location and eerie beauty make them one of Peru’s most unforgettable sights.
You can reach Chachapoyas by bus from Jaén or Tarapoto (both with airports). Plan at least three days to explore Kuelap, Gocta, Karajía, and nearby villages like Cocachimba and Luya.
Backpacker Tip: bring cash and sturdy shoes. ATMs are rare, and trails can get muddy fast.
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If the sound of the jungle calls louder than city noise, the Amazon will answer. Peru’s rainforest covers more than half the country and feels like another planet—humid, alive, and endlessly green.
In the north, Loreto and its capital Iquitos are the gateway to the mighty Amazon River. You can only get there by plane or boat, which makes it even more magical. From Iquitos, multi-day trips into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve let you spot pink river dolphins, monkeys, and giant lilies while staying with local families. The biodiversity here ranks among the highest on Earth, according to UNESCO.
Further south, Madre de Dios is home to the famous Manu and Tambopata reserves. From Puerto Maldonado, just a short flight from Cusco, you can explore the jungle in eco-lodges, paddle across oxbow lakes, and wake up to macaws and howler monkeys.
Traveling in the Amazon isn’t hard—it’s about respect. Go with licensed guides, drink bottled or filtered water, and don’t forget your mosquito repellent. The humidity can be intense, but it’s part of the adventure.
Backpacker Tip: Flights Lima–Iquitos or Cusco–Puerto Maldonado with LATAM or SKY Airline often cost under $60 USD if booked early.
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Beyond beaches and ceviche, northern Peru hides ancient civilizations that thrived long before the Incas. The Moche Route links archaeological wonders, colonial cities, and desert landscapes that whisper stories of gold and gods.
In Trujillo, visit the Temples of the Sun and Moon, huge adobe pyramids decorated with colorful murals of the fearsome Moche god Ai Apaec. Nearby lies Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once capital of the Chimú Empire.
Head north to Chiclayo, home to the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum, which houses treasures from one of the richest tombs ever found in the Americas. In nearby Pimentel, fishermen still ride the traditional reed boats (caballitos de totora), just as their ancestors did a thousand years ago.
Travel here is slow but rewarding: dusty roads, wide horizons, and locals eager to share stories. Buses connect Trujillo and Chiclayo, and you can continue north to Piura or Máncora for some beach time after all that history.
Backpacker Tip: Museums close on Mondays—plan your route accordingly. Early mornings mean fewer crowds and softer light for photos.
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If you dream of mountains, Huaraz delivers. Located about 400 km north of Lima, this laid-back city is the base for exploring the Huascarán National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here, everything feels oversized: towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and glaciers that shimmer under the sun. The legendary Laguna 69 hike is a must for backpackers—it’s challenging but stunning. Other highlights include the Llanganuco Valley, Pastoruri Glacier, and the ancient site of Chavín de Huántar, one of the oldest cultures in the Andes.
Huaraz attracts climbers, trekkers, and wanderers alike. Between hikes, grab fresh trout from a local restaurant, browse handmade crafts, or relax with a cold beer at a mountain-view café. Buses from Lima take about eight hours, winding through the dramatic Cordillera Negra.
Backpacker Tip: Spend a couple of days acclimatizing before hitting high-altitude trails. Carry water, sunscreen, and layers—mountain weather changes fast.
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Most Peru trips begin in Lima, a city many travelers underestimate—until they dive in. It’s big, chaotic, and surprisingly cool once you know where to look. Surf beaches meet colonial plazas, while street art and Michelin-level dining somehow share the same city blocks.
Start in Miraflores, Lima’s traveler-friendly heart: safe, walkable, and full of cafés, surf shops, and hostels like Pariwana Lima, perfect for meeting people or planning your next leg south. Stroll the Malecón, Lima’s clifftop walkway, and watch paragliders soar above the Pacific.
Next, cross into Barranco, the bohemian district of murals, live music, and vintage vibes. The Bridge of Sighs and nearby galleries give this area its creative soul. Then, head downtown to the Historic Centre of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with colonial balconies and baroque churches that tell stories of a different century.
But the real magic of Lima? The food. From a $3 ceviche at a street stall to Nikkei fusion or Amazonian dishes in hip restaurants, the city lives and breathes gastronomy. No wonder Peru was named South America’s Leading Culinary Destination in the World Travel Awards 2025.
If you want a local’s view, read Where Locals Eat in Lima on the Pariwana Blog—it lists real spots Peruvians love, sorted by food type and neighborhood.
Backpacker Tip: Don’t miss the quirky Cat Park of Miraflores. It’s weird, free, and oddly photogenic.
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Just a few hours south of Lima, the desert opens up into one of Peru’s most surreal landscapes. The Ica region blends adrenaline, archaeology, and sun-soaked relaxation like nowhere else.
Start in Paracas, gateway to the Ballestas Islands, known as the “mini Galápagos of Peru.” Take a boat trip to spot sea lions, penguins, and flocks of pelicans before visiting the Paracas National Reserve, where red dunes crash into turquoise ocean.
A short ride inland leads to the legendary Huacachina Oasis, a natural lagoon surrounded by massive sand dunes. Hop on a dune buggy, try sandboarding, and climb up at sunset for that golden desert photo. If you’re short on time, check Paracas & Huacachina in One Day.
Further south, the mysterious Nazca Lines—ancient geoglyphs carved into the sand—still puzzle archaeologists. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they can be seen from a tower or a scenic flight if your budget allows.
And don’t skip Ica’s wineries and pisco distilleries—this is where Peru’s national spirit was born. Tastings are cheap, and the locals love explaining the difference between puro and acholado.
Backpacker Tip: the desert sun is brutal. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and at least two liters of water per day—you’ll thank yourself later.
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At 2,300 meters above sea level, Arequipa is one of Peru’s most beautiful cities. Built from white volcanic stone (sillar), it’s known as La Ciudad Blanca—the White City—where Spanish elegance meets Andean soul.
The Historic Centre of Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is perfect for walking tours: colonial courtyards, carved facades, and the stunning Santa Catalina Monastery, a city within a city. From the Yanahuara Viewpoint, you’ll get postcard views of the Misti Volcano, Arequipa’s guardian giant.
But the city isn’t just architecture—it’s flavor. Arequipa’s food scene rivals Lima’s, with hearty dishes like rocoto relleno (stuffed chili pepper) and chupe de camarones (shrimp soup). Local markets are great spots to sample authentic fare without breaking your budget.
A few hours away lies the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. Watching condors glide above the cliffs at sunrise is unforgettable. Villages like Chivay and Cabanaconde offer affordable guesthouses, thermal baths, and a calm rural vibe after the city buzz.
Backpacker Tip: Arequipa’s altitude makes it a perfect stop to acclimatize before heading to Cusco or Puno. Spend at least two nights here to rest and enjoy the slower pace.
If Lima starts the trip, Cusco changes it. Walking its cobblestone streets feels like stepping through centuries—Inca foundations below, colonial balconies above, and modern cafés in between. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is now Peru’s backpacking heart.
Start at the lively Plaza de Armas, then wander into San Blas, the artsy neighborhood of narrow lanes and hillside views. Stay at Pariwana Cusco to join daily events, meet travelers from everywhere, or join a free walking tour to get oriented.
The Boleto Turístico de Cusco (COSITUC) gives access to ruins, museums, and temples across the city and the Sacred Valley, where Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero keep ancient traditions alive. From Ollantaytambo, trains depart to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the crown jewel of Peru.
Pariwana has prepared a complete Cusco travel guide and another in-depth guide to Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley, covering everything from trekking routes and ticket types to local culture and travel tips. (Links will be added here.)
If you’re on a budget, you can reach the citadel by a mix of train, bus, and short treks via Santa Teresa. The Complete Machu Picchu Ticket Guide 2025 explains all options in detail.
Backpacker Tip: Cusco sits at 3,400 meters—go slow the first two days. Drink coca tea, stay hydrated, and skip alcohol until you’ve acclimatized.
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In Peru’s southern highlands, surrounded by mountains and thin air, lies the Lake Titicaca—the world’s highest navigable lake and one of the country’s most spiritual places. From the city of Puno, you can explore a landscape that feels frozen in time.
The floating Uros Islands are made entirely of totora reeds, renewed every few weeks by the local communities. Walking on them feels like stepping on water. In Taquile and Amantaní, families welcome travelers into their homes for meals and overnight stays, sharing dances, stories, and a rare sense of peace.
Beyond the culture, Lake Titicaca offers outdoor fun too: kayaking, short hikes, and unforgettable sunrises mirrored on its calm surface. Many backpackers cross into Bolivia from here via Copacabana, continuing their South American route.
Backpacker Tip: Nights can drop below freezing even in dry season. Bring a good jacket, sunscreen, and drink plenty of water—altitude hits harder than you think.
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Peruvian food isn’t just tasty—it’s a history lesson on a plate. Every dish tells a story of migration, fusion, and creativity. The country’s culinary tradition is so rich that it’s been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The iconic ceviche—fresh fish marinated in lime, chili, and onion—is Peru’s national symbol. In the Andes, dishes like lomo saltado, pachamanca, and grilled trout blend ancient cooking methods with Spanish flavors. Meanwhile, the Amazon region brings its own mix of exotic ingredients like plantains, cecina, and paiche fish.
Food here is both tradition and innovation. Lima’s chefs have put Peru on the global food map, but the real treasures are found in markets, family kitchens, and street stalls. To dive deeper, check out 7 Peruvian Dishes Every Traveler Must Try and The Origins of Peru’s Most Famous Dishes.
Backpacker Tip: local menu del día lunches (starter + main + drink) cost about 10–15 soles. Always ask if it’s spicy—Peruvians take “mild” differently than most.
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Few countries celebrate life like Peru. Festivals here are not just parties—they’re living traditions that blend faith, art, and community. Each region has its own rhythm, and if you time it right, joining one can become the highlight of your trip.
In June, Cusco bursts with the Inti Raymi, the ancient Inca Sun Festival, a massive reenactment of gratitude to the Sun God. In February, the Carnival of Cajamarca paints the streets in color, while the Virgin of Candelaria Festival in Puno—recognized by UNESCO—mixes Catholic devotion with Andean dance and music. In the jungle, the San Juan Festival in June celebrates renewal with food, drums, and water.
Peruvian culture is not confined to museums—it’s alive in markets, family gatherings, and language. Quechua and Aymara are still widely spoken, and each handshake carries the warmth of generations. The fusion between ancient customs and modern art is everywhere: Andean rap, textile fashion shows, and artisan collectives reinventing tradition.
Backpacker Tip: when joining a local celebration, be a participant, not a spectator. Ask before taking photos and support community vendors instead of big tour operators.
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Backpacking Peru doesn’t have to drain your wallet. With a bit of planning (and an open mind), you can stretch your soles and your adventure.
Budget: daily costs average $30–40 USD, including dorms, local meals, and bus rides. Avoid overly cheap tours; they often skip safety standards. Read How to Book Reliable Tours in Peru for honest advice.
Safety: Peru is welcoming but still Latin America—stay alert in terminals and markets. Use locks, avoid flashing cash, and back up important documents online. In cities, apps like Uber, Beat, or official taxis are your best bet.
Community: hostels are the social heartbeat of the backpacker trail. At Pariwana Lima and Pariwana Cusco, you’ll find chill spaces, nightly events, and travelers who might become your next trekking buddies.
Sustainability: respect the land. Refill your water bottle, skip plastic bags, and leave no trace on trails. If you want to give back, many communities offer eco-volunteering or local clean-up projects.
Backpacker Tip: leave space in your itinerary for surprises. The best memories in Peru usually happen when you stop planning.
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Peru isn’t just a destination—it’s a slow transformation. Between its mountains, deserts, and jungles, you’ll find something deeper than photos: perspective. Whether you come for a week or a month, the country has a way of shifting how you see the world.
In Cusco’s alleys, children greet you in Quechua. In Lima, a cook explains that every dish tells a family story. In the jungle, a guide teaches you to listen to the forest without speaking. Somewhere along the road, you realize backpacking isn’t about escaping—it’s about connecting.
Peru stays with you. The people, the flavors, the chaos, and the calm—it all becomes part of you. That’s why travelers return again and again: not to tick off places, but to feel that blend of adventure, warmth, and wonder only Peru gives.
Backpacker Tip: don’t chase perfection. Let the dust, the laughter, and the unexpected shape your trip. That’s what makes it unforgettable.
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