How to plan a 3-week trip to Peru?
With 3 weeks in Peru, you have time to travel the great southern loop and go further: combine the Pacific coast and the Amazon, explore the north of the country, or add a few days in Bolivia for the Uyuni salt flat. Above all, you can travel at a slower pace, with homestays, a trek or free days.
What 3 weeks change compared with 15 days
In two weeks, you have to make choices: the southern loop plus the coast or the Amazon (see our article Peru in 15 days). With an extra week, many of those choices disappear. Peru is still huge and you cannot always fly between stops, but 21 days let you see the most without rushing.
The backbone: the great southern loop
Most 3-week trips keep the backbone of southern Peru. Lima for a short first taste of Miraflores and Barranco. Arequipa, the White City, ideal for acclimatizing at 2,400 m, then the Colca Canyon, where an early start may reward you with condors at dawn. Lake Titicaca, with the Uros islands, a homestay on Amantani and Taquile, famous for its weaving. And finally Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu (see Machu Picchu circuits and tickets).
The extra week is built around this backbone. Here are three ways to do it.
Three itineraries for 3 weeks in Peru
1. From the desert to the jungle: the coast and the Amazon
Peru in all its diversity. From Lima, the road follows the coast to Paracas and the Ballestas Islands, rich in marine wildlife, the Huacachina oasis and its dunes, then Nazca and its mysterious lines, visible from the air. After the southern loop, a short flight from Cusco takes you to Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata Reserve, for 3 to 5 days in the Amazon rainforest, which covers, as people often forget, half the country.
Our tours: From the Desert to the Jungle (19 days) and Eco-responsible Peru (18 days), a slower itinerary with a smaller carbon footprint.
2. South and north: the Andes and pre-Columbian civilizations
Northern Peru is still off the main tourist trail. The Cordillera Blanca around Huaraz offers some of the country's finest mountain scenery. Further north, the pre-Columbian route leads to Trujillo and Chiclayo, cradles of civilizations far older than the Incas, and you can finish with a few lazy days on the beaches of Máncora, sunny almost all year round.
Our tour: North and South (18 days).
3. Peru and Bolivia: all the way to the Uyuni salt flat
From Lake Titicaca by road, or from Cusco by plane, head to La Paz, the Bolivian capital. Allow a day for the journey and a day to discover the city, its markets, including the remarkable Witches' Market, and its spectacular views from the cable cars. Then on to the Uyuni salt flat, by plane from La Paz to save time. You will need three days by 4x4: one on the salt flat, the largest in the world, and two in the Sud Lípez desert, with its wind-sculpted rocks and its white, green and red lagoons, home to hundreds of flamingos.
Allow about 6 days for this extension, which fits comfortably into a 3-week trip. See our guide on how to organize a combined trip to Peru and Bolivia.
Taking your time: the other advantage of 3 weeks
Three weeks is not just more stops. It is also a chance to travel differently.
Stay with local families: on the Capachica Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, or in the communities of the Sacred Valley, time spent with your hosts becomes a highlight of the trip, not just a night's stay.
Add a trek: the 4-day Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu on foot, through the Sun Gate, or the hike to the Inca city of Choquequirao. For a more active trip, see our tour The Peruvian Challenge (19 days).
Get off the beaten track: many places take a little longer to reach… and you have the time. Take a look at our off-the-beaten-track trips.
Take the wheel: a few days of road trip in southern Peru, for travelers who love independence.
Keep some free days: in Cusco, Arequipa or the Sacred Valley, to wander, rest or improvise an outing.
How much does a 3-week trip to Peru cost?
Your budget depends on the stops you choose (Amazon, north, Bolivia), the hotel category, the services and extras such as a luxury train. For a 3-week tour organized locally, excluding international flights, expect US$2,500 to US$4,000 per person, based on two travelers. This usually includes accommodation, transportation, domestic flights, guides and entrance fees. A Bolivia extension, with its extra flights, tends to be at the top of that range. All the details in our article How much does a trip to Peru cost?
When to go for 3 weeks in Peru?
The dry season, from May to September, suits all these itineraries, with April and October as very good compromises. The sunnier north can be visited almost all year, and the Uyuni salt flat is covered with a thin layer of water, for its famous mirror effect, during the rainy season. See our article When to go to Peru.
Our travel advisors will turn your ideas into a tailor-made trip. Get in touch and co-create your trip with us!
