18 days in Peru. What should I do??

Question

I'm debating between bussing North, from Lima to Huaraz, to Trujillo, to Chiclayo, then maybe even over to Iquitos...or to take the classic Gringo trail by flying from Lima to Arequipa, Arequipa to Puno, to Cusco, Macchu Picchu, etc.

I wish I could do both, but I highly doubt 18 days will be enough. I fly out this Monday and would appreciate any advice.

My number one hope was to do a trip into the Amazon basin but that's looking less and less likely, but perhaps I don't have a good sense of time...??

Advice would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Peru offers so much, but it is better to see a few places in depth rather than many places superficially.

If you're going north to Huaraz, Trujillo and Chiclayo, you can also add Cajamarca and Chachapoyas, rather than go way east to Iquitos.  In Cajamarca be sure to visit the markets and the tombs, and in Chachapoyas Kuelap and Karajia archaeological sites are must see.

Answer 2

go fishing

Answer 3

I've done Lima, Trujillo and Chiclayo in 3 days, and that was a lot! (chiclayo is very very small 1 day tour and see everything, 3 hrs away is Trujillo that has more to offer but also in 1 day or 2 u see the important stuff...Lima well you got to visit Downtown Lima and i recommend Miraflores and barranco)

Now I've been to Arequipa and Cuzco, in Arequipa well you can see the city in one day or two, then you can go by bus to Puno and then go to Cuzco (Cuzco you need 3 days? including macchu picchu, and 5 more towns). You just have to be specific on what to visit.

Answer 4

My advice would be to do the less crowded places so you can have more time to explore more things. Go north to Huaraz, then up to Chiclayo (Señor de Sipan Tomb which is really impressive) then Trujillo and when you go to Cajamarca you will have a wonderful taste of the highlands. In Cajamarca you;ll see historical places (cuarto del rescate de Alahualpa) and from Cajamarca you can continue a couple of days to La Merced, San Ramon, Chanchamayo which is the beginning of the jungle so you can have a taste of the jungle as well. I recommend only one day in Lima, just to see histroical downtown but I would rather spend more time in the provinces which are spectacular.

You can always come back and do the gringo inca trail (Cuzco, Puno, Arequipa) another time. Cuzco is VERY crowded right now (high season).