Guide to The PERFECT Peru Trip (9 Days) - 2023
- Andrei B
- Oct 8, 2023
- 12 min read
Requiring just one week off work, this Peru route is pound-for-pound one of the most potent trips in the world. City, beach, mountain, dessert oasis, legendary nightlife and a World Wonder - no big deal! Here's everything you need to know to do it RIGHT.
A few years ago, I would preach Peru to any traveller who'd listen - to the point of being annoying I'm sure. Now, I'm constantly peppered with questions about how to do Peru right. It seems the secret has gradually come out - and with good reason. This insanely diverse and wickedly fun country packs a punch that rivals any other in South America.
Peru's major airport is well-connected, its capital is awesome, and it houses both natural and historic attractions like Huacachina and Machu Picchu. The latter of which is also a World Wonder - never bad to check one of those off the buckey.
Best of all, it's a country you can do with one week off from work (9-10 days total, with weekends). Obviously, you can stretch things out and backpack it for months (as I once did), but this 9-day itinerary is still among the best pound-for-pound routes you'll find in the Western Hemisphere, if not the World.
Below is your #HOSapproved Guide to Peru (The PERFECT 9-Day Route)
At a Glance:
Lima (3 Nights) Best Areas: Miraflores, Barranco Where to Stay: Pariwana, Kokopelli, Selina Where to Eat: Miado, Osaka, Restaurante Central Where to Party: Saha, The Bunker, Carnaval, Lima Bar, Open, Ayahuasca, La Noche What to Do: Plaza de Armas, Lancomar, Light Show, Catacombs
Huacachina (1 Night) Where to Stay: Wild Rover Huacachina Where to Party: Wild Rover, Huaca-fucking-china What to Do: Dune Buggies, Sand-boarding, Oasis Sunset
Cusco (2 Nights + 3 Nights Trek) Where to Stay: Wild Rover Cusco Where to Eat: Pachapapa, Morena, Cicciolina, Mercado San Pedro Where to Party: Wild Rover, Mama Africa, Ukukus Bar What to Do: Machu Picchu (Adventure Trek), Rainbow Mountain
Machu Picchu Trek What Trek to Pick Trek Highlights Where & How to Book
Lima
Peru's capital was a huge surprise when I first visited. This city is not just ceviche and cement. From it's California-esque seaside cliffs, to the food, unreal nightlife, weather and history - it's somewhere I'd happily live, not to mention visit. Here's the rub on Lima:
🗺️ Best Areas
Top Neighbourhoods in Lima
Miraflores - is Lima's flagship neighbourhood and where you'll find the biggest cluster of hostels, nightlife and world-famous restaurants (particularly around John F Kennedy Park). From here, you're also just a short walk to Miraflores' unrivalled views of the Pacific Ocean, equipped with the famous cliffs, insane sunsets and Love Park (Lima's answer to Barcelona's Parque Güell). You'll never be bored in Miraflores.
Barranco - is Miraflores' artsy, bohemian neighbour to the South. Also on the ocean, Barranco is no slouch in terms of nightlife either. It's more hipster and colourful, but it hosts a lively young crowd that come to explore it's limitless supply of bars, pubs and live music. The vibe through it's Barranco Park and across its iconic Bridge of Sighs can best be described as the weird (and awesome) blend between Disneyland and an ivy-league College Campus. People are sitting around park benches having beers before the bar, live musicians play along the walking streets, but there's a certain level of class as well. It doesn't feel grimy. In fact, it's ridiculously beautiful.
BONUS: You will also visit the Historic Center while you're in Lima (more on that below), but a day-trip to see the sights will suffice. You'll still want to stay in Miraflores or Barranco.
🏨 Where To Stay
Best Hostels in Lima
Pariwana Hostel (Miraflores) - located right on the edge of JFK park, Pariwana's location can't be beat. It's definitely a party hostel and boasts a kickass rooftop patio that is so good, it's literally a stop on other hostels' pub crawls. That said, the beds are also really comfortable and the whole place is very well-kept. This is definitely a heavyweight hostel, and its 9.1 Hostelworld rating reflects that. I'd go back!
Viajero Kokopelli (Barranco) - choosing between Pariwana and Kokopelli is like choosing between your kids. Kokopelli essentially took a 1914 super-mansion and turned it into an insane space for backpackers to live and play. The food is awesome, the pod-style beds are extra comfortable, even the co-working space is unreal. I mean, you're in a castle. Much like Pariwana, the vibe is definitely social, so it can get loud - but you'll never be bored. A cool 9.4 on Hostelworld suggests the people agree too!
Selina - always a good option, Selina's tend to offer comfort and style for those planning to stay a while. You do get some nightlife here (the bar does get lively at times for sure) but generally it's a more chill, digital nomad crowd. If that's what you're after, Selina is a great choice. Otherwise, I don't think it competes with the duo of Pariwana and Kokopelli.
🍔 Where To Eat
Best Restaurants in Lima
The truth is you have endless dining options in Lima. It's literally one of the most well-known food destinations on the planet. While there's no substitution for exploring on your own, a few notable mentions are:
World Class Eats:
Best Cheap Eats:
Mercado 28 - trendy street-food market dishing up international meals & drinks
La Lucha Sangucheria - old school diner vibes with killer sandwiches
Juanito de Barranco - heritage spot, family owned since 1937. Great value and vibe!
🍻 Where To Party
Best Nightlife in Lima
Always our favourite section! Like most of South America, Lima will give you that wide range between grungy (but wild) backpacker bars to the most up-scale, eye-catching nightclubs. Here are the best spots:
Saha Terraza Cocktail Bar - has become the most popular bar in Lima this year. The rooftop patio is the place to be, and the drinks, music and food all make it clear why.
The Bunker - This is where the wildest nights in Lima arguably live. The young crowd (20-30) is a mix of travellers and locals, all jamming to reggaeton, pop and the best party-bangers until the early morning.
Lima Bar - is the massive, swanky club located at the famous outdoor mall: Lancomar. Prices are a bit higher, dress code is a bit fancier, but the size, location and oceanfront terrace definitely make it a worthy experience.
"La Noche" de Barranco - a CLASSIC nighttime spot loved by locals and travellers alike. Nightly live performances fire up the guests which fill the multi-level revamped mansion on a daily basis. Great night out!
Ayahuasca Restobar - a unique, historic spot where you can take a sip of Peruvian history (and all kinds of pisco).
Open Tapas Bar - this one's more on the mature, chill-party vibe. The upscale cocktail lounge has an awesome open-air terrace (hence the name), great tapas, and turns into a chill nightclub at night.
Carnaval - in terms of cocktails this is the spot. Ranked among the best cocktail bars in the world (#88 in the Top 500, 2021).
🏄♂️ What To Do
Top Tourist Attractions & Activities in Lima
For that time between eating and partying.. here's what you should get up to:
Plaza De Armas - obviously, you have to make the pilgrimage into the Historical Center to see the sights. Namely, head to Plaza de Armas (palm-lined main square) to see a beautiful cathedral, the presidential building, and a pretty cool "changing of the guard" ceremony. When I went, they were playing Despacito on their trumpets as the guards changed.
The Catacombs - bear with me.. but the Basilica de San Francisco is a must-do. Not only is it an impressive cathedral in it's own right, it's also home to the legendary catacombs of Lima. Aka.. a massive underground burial site equipped with more bones and skulls than you've ever seen (and that includes movies!). Crazy experience.
Larcomar - the famous outdoor mall that sits atop the cliffside and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Sunsets here are awesome.
Magic Water Circuit - this water & light show is similar to the famous one in Marina Bay, Singapore. Good for a sober night or a date with that cute hostel 'friend'.
SURFING - though most people will tell you surfing was invented in Polynesia, the truth is ancient daredevils in Peru were standing and surfing on reed watercraft more than 5,000 years ago! On that note.. definitely try surfing at the beautiful Pacific beaches of Miraflores. I highly recommend Pepe's Surf School who not only taught me and my friends, but is a long-standing staple of the Lima surf scene.
Huacachina
About 4.5 hours Southeast of Lima (by bus), you'll find the often-instagrammed dessert oasis of Huacachina. For most people, the opportunity to see a real-life oasis doesn't come too often - so it's a must-do on their Peru trip. Luckily, it's a short trip and a small place, so you can do it in as little as one night. The recipe is: early bus from Lima (arrive early afternoon), dessert activities (more on that below), then party at night. Boom, done.
🏨 Where To Stay
Best Hostels in Huacachina
Wild Rover (not debatable) - simply put, Wild Rover is arguably the greatest hostel chain in the world. My personal favourite is in Cusco (more on that later) but all 4 locations are world class. From the best crowds, to the best parties, delicious food and awesome attention to detail, Wild Rover is where you want to be. This one in particular, boasts a massive courtyard with pool, a wicked bar, and views of the famous sand dunes of Huacachina.
🍻 Where To Party
Best Nightlife in Huacachina
Wild Rover - I repeat, Huacachina is SMALL. The best hostel is also the best place for drinks and a wild night (or day). Events make each day better than the last.
Huaca-fucking-china - possibly because of it's cool name, but also because of its hilarious staff and delicious cocktails, HFC has become a staple happy-hour spot for anyone visiting the oasis. Chill on their patio, chat with fellow travellers and have a laugh at the awesome staff (who act as servers, DJ's and entertainers all at once).
🏂 What To Do
Top Tourist Attractions & Activities in Huacachina
The holy trinity of Huacachina attractions (and arguably ALL the attractions it offers) are written below. Luckily, all the tours offer all three in one convenient afternoon package. Too easy.
Dune Buggy - you've for sure seen pictures of these hot-rods that take you on wild rides along the dessert dunes. Adrenaline to the max and laughs galore.
Sand-boarding - as part of the tour, you'll also get a chance to sand-board down some dunes. Fair warning, it's pretty tough to balance on your feet, but going down on your stomach works too.
Sunset over the Oasis - the tours all end with tens if not hundreds of Dune Buggies parked along the dune overlooking the oasis of Huacachina. The golden hour views (and pics) here are the stuff of legend.
Cusco
No one knows wtf it is about Cusco exactly..
..but it tends to be an all-time favourite for damn-near anyone who visits. For me, I can say it's my favourite place in Peru and one of the most magical towns I've ever seen. It's hard to pinpoint why, but the mountains around you, the altitude, the Incan people (and alpacas) roaming the streets, the indigenous music, the cobblestones, the travellers in hiking clothes drinking hot soup in the local market as they anticipate their trek to a World Wonder - it all contributes to an unparalleled energy.
🏨 Where To Stay
Best Hostels in Cusco
Wild Rover (not debatable) - as I said above, Wild Rover is the undisputed GOAT in Peru 🐐. More than that, this one in particular is among Cusco's biggest highlights overall. Super comfy beds and well-equipped rooms surround the famous Wild Rover courtyard and Irish Pub, both of which host the best crowds, events and hangouts in Peru. You can be as WILD or as CHILL as you want, and have a blast regardless. Not to mention, the fire food (their english breakfast is a scientifically proven hangover cure), and a terrace overlooking all of Cusco. This is the place, look no further, trust me.
🍔 Where To Eat
Best Restaurants in Cusco
Pachapapa - traditional Peruvian classics like ceviche, creole stew and guinea pig
Papachos - delicious elevated burger joint
Cicciolina - swanky tapas and wine bar with wood-fired pizza
Mercado San Pedro - for the cheapest eats and an authentic local experience, head to the market (and beating heart of Cusco) for a warm meal among the locals.
🍻 Where To Party
Best Nightlife in Cusco
Wild Rover - of course it's Wild Rover. Yes, this is where most of your nights will start - and for good reason.
Mama Africa - if you see a crowd heading out of Wild Rover after last call, they're probably off to Mama Africa. This dance bar is the catch-all for all Cusco party-seeks after a certain hour. It doesn't get busy 'till late, but the dance floor and stage make for a great place to jam the night away to classic party anthems and Spanish music.
Ukukus Bar - the live music alternative in Cusco, located right next to the main plaza.
⛰️ What To Do
Top Tourist Attractions & Activities in Cusco
You can easily get stuck spending a week at Wild Rover alone, or exploring the streets of Cusco. But don't do that. Shake off the hangover and see the sights:
Plaza Mayor de Cusco - the centre-piece of town. The main square. One of my all-time favourites. If you're lucky you'll catch cool indigenous events here as well.
Rainbow Mountain - grab a tour and go check out the nearby rainbow mountain, a high-altitude (5,200m) but well-worth it hike to a truly unique natural spectacle.
Machu Picchu Trek - obviously, the crown jewel of any Peru trip. We'll cover the details of this one below.
Machu Picchu ⛰️
The crown jewel of Peru: Machu Picchu (and the historic Inca Trail) need absolutely no introduction. If it's not on your bucket list, it should be, and if you've never heard of it, get your a** to Youtube and Wikipedia. Here, we'll cover some basic tips for doing it right:
Which Trek to Pick
There are a few different routes, each of which have different names, lengths and highlights (Classic, Salkantay, Short, Lares). All of these contain 2-4 days worth of hiking, nights spent camping in the mountains, and all equipment / meals included (except for your own pack which you carry yourself). If you're a serious hiker and love the outdoors, any of these will be a great fit, probably Salkantay being the most attractive because you get both the Salkantay and Inca trails.
That said, to be totally honest, these aren't my personal favourites. In truth, the folks hiking these routes tend to be older, more serious, much less fun, and taking it super seriously. It tends to be less welcoming, and the cost is also a fair bit higher.
I'd instead opt for the Jungle Trek (sometimes called the Adventure Trek). Read on for the highlights and why I think it's better:
Machu Picchu Jungle Trek (Highlights)
The Jungle Trek is my favourite for three reasons: it's more diverse in terms of experiences, it has a way better crowd of young travellers and backpackers, and surprisingly, it's cheaper. Essentially, think of the Jungle Trek as a 3-night Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu with a bunch of cool activities mixed in. Here are some highlights from the route:
Get dropped off at the top of a mountain road and ride mountain-bikes down to the valley below
Travel down a river by whitewater rafting rather than hiking alongside it
Traverse a canyon by zip-lining across it in zig zags
Proper hiking through the legendary Inca Trail
Stop for a local lesson at the trailhead
Accommodation in proper buildings with beds (homestays, bnb's) - all 3 Nights
One night of party with all of the hikers (including local happy-water and games)
Visit to the natural hot-springs after a long day of hiking
Team dinner & social night in Aguas Calientes (last night)
Quechua guides with knowledge of the trail and Incan history
Hearty meals included throughout
Overall, this trek (to me) is much more diverse and interesting. Not to mention, the gang of backpackers you'll meet will become friends for life. To this day, I still talk to the "Sexy Llamas" - our trekking group.
The Jungle Trek (or "Adventure Trek") is offered by several tour operators in Cusco.
Where & How to Book
The temptation is always to book in advance - for peace of mind. As is often the case, it's almost better not to book your Machu Picchu trek in advance. Now, this is one guy's opinion, but for what it's worth the people I've recommended it to had it work well for them, too.
Firstly, the providers are always changing, their prices fluctuate, and they add / subtract bits of their offering in real time. This isn't often reflected online, as many of them don't have much of an online presence. Also, the price tends to be cheaper when you have boots on the ground.
But none of those are the primary reason for waiting 'till you're there. The biggest factor is people. When you land in Cusco and head to Wild Rover, you'll quickly get a sense of who's around and make friends before you know it. There's nothing worse than parting ways with all of your new favourite people because you've booked a different trek. In fact, I had two friends BAIL (with no refund) on their pre-booked trek to join us on ours. Be patient, and don't worry. There are plenty of spots across plenty of operators. Go to Cusco, see who's who in the zoo, and make your choices accordingly.
Conclusion
As far as a quick, action-packed, bucket-list-busting trip, there are few better than the Peru tour. From city to dessert, to mountains and backward in time, this route definitely maximizes the 3L's of Travel. If you still have questions about how to do Peru right, don't hesitate to ping us at @hangoverseas on instagram, or by email at welcome@hangoverseas.net .
Here to help!
"Ama sua, Ama llulla, Ama khella" ("Don't steal, Don't lie, Don't be lazy") - Ancient Incan Motto
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