I’ve always had Peru on my travel list, Machu Picchu, the alpacas, and the llamas! It was such a beautiful country, and I couldn’t wait to visit. Then, on a random Tuesday, I got a notification from one of the flight discount programs I subscribe to (Next Departure): round-trip tickets to Peru with Avianca for less than $500. It was a no-brainer, I booked it almost immediately.

LOL, I usually book the flight first and then figure out how to get time off work. I know it’s not the “right” way to do things, but I had a flexible job that made it possible, so I took full advantage. The travel period was in November, and it happened to be my friend’s birthday, so I thought, why not make it a girls' trip? I gifted her tickets to Peru (yep, coolest friend ever).

What I didn’t do, however, was check the weather. I assumed, “If it’s not snowing like Toronto, I’ll be fine.” Spoiler alert: I was in for a shocker.

Fun Facts About Peru

• Machu Picchu: An ancient Incan city high in the Andes, Machu Picchu is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

• Biodiversity: Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, home to countless plant and animal species.

• Nazca Lines: These mysterious geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert, depicting various figures and shapes, are centuries old.

  
  

Visa Requirements and Travel Tips

• Travelers from Canada can enjoy visa-free entry to Peru for up to 183 days—plenty of time to explore its incredible landscapes and rich culture.

• Flights from Toronto to Lima typically include a layover (usually in Bogotá) and take about 10-12 hours.

• When to Visit:

  • Peak Season (May to September): Best for trekking and visiting historical sites like Machu Picchu.

  • Shoulder Season (April and October): Good weather with fewer tourists.

  • Flights generally cost $800-$1,200 unless you snag a deal like mine!

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1&2: Travel day
Begin your Peruvian adventure with a flight from Toronto, since the ticket was with Avianca, we had a layover in Bogota before taking the last leg to Lima Peru. I plan my adventures to start from the farthest spot then work my way back to the final location where I’ll take off to go back home. For this trip, we're starting from Cusco and will work our way back to Lima. So we took another local flight from Lima to Cusco as a last leg. A taxi will pick you up from the airport. 

For accommodation, we stayed at this unique uphill hotel called Tariq Boutique Hotel in Cusco. Overall I’d rate the hotel an 8/10 - it was overall decent for the price we paid. 

Spend the rest of the day resting and acclimating to the altitude. Now this is something most people overlook but I promise you it’s something you need to do, get the altitude sickness medications before you land, double down on the cocaine leaf tea (it helps!)

Pro Tip: Rest and acclimate to the altitude on Day 1. Don’t skip altitude sickness meds, and drink coca leaf tea—it really helps!

Day 3: Machu Picchu Adventure

Rise early for a full-day tour to Machu Picchu with a 4 AM pickup. Most of the tours in Cusco start very early, as someone that isn’t a morning person - this was a struggle for me. The journey to Machu Picchu was long, first you take a 2hrs drive to Ollantaytambo train station, then you take that train for over an hour to the base of Machu Picchu, after this you take the last bus to Machu Picchu. This wonder of the world is a regulated site, they control the number of people that can visit per day just so they preserve the wonder. Now we were very lucky that the clouds cleared up but it was very foggy at first. You can book this on Viator or Trip advisor - I recommend you book these tickets in advance, it sells out. 

Cost: $463 per person. 

Day 4: Sacred Valley Exploration

This was another day tour from Cusco, I particularly loved it because we visited multiple sites in one day. I wish we spent more time at each location but it was a great way to see multiple spots. It covered Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Pisaq. The altitude sickness is real, I was walking around and my Apple Watch recorded a hike because of how uphill it was. Cusco is 11k feet above sea level, so there is less oxygen up there. We booked this for $44 per person, takes you through stunning landscapes and historic sites.

Cost: $44 per person.

 [Tour link](https://abnb.me/ppDmCL70XEb)

Day 5: Rainbow Mountain Excursion

Another day another 4am pickup, I don’t know about you but I’m starting to question my choices. We almost cancelled but Rainbow mountain is such a beauty we couldn’t have missed it, now my friend is struggling with altitude sickness, rainbow mountain is 17k above sea level - even higher than Cusco. We had options of hiking, taking a bike or using an ATV. We recently did the 2 day hike in Guatemala so we thought why not, let’s do it but something gave us sense and we opted for the bike option. We got to the peak of the mountain and it was completely cloudy, I could not see anything, my friend on the other hand was hanging on for dear life. 

She takes her L and goes back to the base of the mountain to wait for me, I wait out the fog a bit, it cleared up and I finally get to see the rainbow mountain, yes it’s exactly like the name, beautiful was an understatement. I’m done soaking in the view so I go back to the bus to go check on my friend and I see that she’s about to pass out - apparently they’re used to seeing this, there was an ambulance at the mountain. They took her in, checked her SPO2 and it was 37 (apparently this is super low) - she was in pain, crying and suffering. We rush her to the hospital in Cusco which is over an hour drive from the mountain, she’s checked into the hospital and admitted for the night. At this point, I’m super grateful we have work insurance because the final bill came to over $2k! Buy that travel insurance! 

Lesson Learned: Always have travel insurance—it covered a $2,000 hospital bill.

Cost: $44 per person.
Tour link

Ideally this part was meant to happen but we had to skip it because the next location was Lake Titicaca - Puno. The highest navigable lake in the world! Whelp if she couldn’t survive 17k feet above seal level anything higher will be looking for trouble so we skipped this part but you can totally do it. It’s worth it! 

 Later in the evening, check out from your hotel and take a taxi to the Cusco bus station for a 10 PM bus ride to Puno ($25 per person).

Day 6: Arrival in Puno and Floating Islands

Arrive in Puno at 4 AM and take a taxi to KALAPAJRA port. Check into your Airbnb and rest until noon. In the afternoon, your Airbnb host will take you on a tour of the Uros Floating Islands, providing a unique glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of the local inhabitants. 

Airbnb

Day 7: Travel to Lima

(We took a flight from Cusco to Lima since we skipped Puno) Take a flight to Lima, stay at a nice Airbnb - here is the one we stayed at. It had a view of the ocean and overall affordable. 

Airbnb

Day 8: Huacachina Desert Adventure

The one thing I love about Peru is the diversity of adventure and landscapes, one minute you’re elevated 17k above sea level , another minute you’re visiting an oasis in the desert, the only one in South America, next minute you’re visiting a location where it NEVER rains, yep you read that right, Completely mind blown! 

Embark on a full-day desert sand boarding tour in Huacachina, can’t afford to go to Dubai or Qatar yet? Then you’re in the right country, you get a mini dune bashing here in Peru as well!

This thrilling experience costs $200 per person. This tour takes you to Paracas and Huacachina. Tour link

Day 9: Departure

Your time in Peru has come to an end, I know - how time flies! Whether you’re going solo or with friends this country has something for everyone. 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Peru and don’t forget to tag me in all your adventures, I’d love to see this destination through your lens! 

Happy adventuring
xoxo 

AdventurouslyBB