In a nutshell
- You’re planning a trip to South America and can’t decide between Peru and Bolivia? No problem! Just do both countries.
- To see the top highlights of Peru and Bolivia, you should plan for at least 3 weeks. The more time you have, the better.
- We’ll now introduce you to the perfect travel route through Peru and Bolivia and share plenty of personal tips — on getting around, hotels, and attractions.
How Much Time Should You Plan for a Road Trip in Peru & Bolivia?
You should plan for at least 3 weeks for Peru and Bolivia. 4 weeks is better. In 3–4 weeks you can see the most important highlights in both countries.
Since both countries are very large, you’ll only be able to cover southern Peru and western Bolivia in that time — but those are also the most exciting areas to travel through.
We’ll now introduce you to the perfect itinerary through Peru and Bolivia. How long you plan for it is up to you. 3 weeks is the absolute minimum; with 4 weeks you can take more time at each stop.
At the end of the article, we’ll give you a few examples of how to split the trip into 3 or 4 weeks. We’ll also give you a tip on how to add Chile to the route.
Our Suggested Route for Peru and Bolivia
This map shows the travel route through Peru and Bolivia. We’ll now introduce each stop in more detail!
Starting in Lima
How much time to plan: 1–3 days
Our hotel recommendation: Tierra Viva Miraflores Mendiburu
You start your road trip through Peru and Bolivia in the Peruvian capital Lima. Your best bet for accommodation is the Miraflores neighborhood — you can find more details in our hotel tips for Lima.
You can explore Lima’s top sights in a single day. After the long flight, though, you should also plan a little time to relax.
If you’re really into culture and museums, it’s worth staying longer in Lima, as there are many fascinating archaeological museums here.
Also read our tips for the best sights in Lima
From Lima, you travel by bus to Paracas — plan about half a day for the journey. You can buy bus tickets on bookaway.
Book the bus from Lima to Paracas on bookaway
Read all our articles about Lima:
By the Sea in Paracas
How much time to plan: 1–2 days
Our hotel recommendation: Casa Paracas
Paracas is a small coastal town near the Paracas National Reserve of the same name. Here the desert meets the sea, creating beautiful, empty beaches and cool rock formations. On the Ballestas Islands off the coast of Paracas, you can also spot penguins.
You can explore Paracas’s highlights easily in one day, and a guided tour is the best way to do it — it includes a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands.
Book a guided tour to the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve
Paracas also has many accommodations with pools, so it’s worth staying a bit longer here and enjoying the sea air.
From Paracas, you continue by bus to Ica. The ride takes just over an hour.
Book the bus from Paracas to Ica on bookaway
Sandboarding in Huacachina
How much time to plan: 1–2 days
Our hotel recommendation: Rochabus
Huacachina is an inhabited desert oasis. You can get here from Ica by taxi.
The absolute highlight in Huacachina is the sand dunes surrounding the oasis. You can rent sandboards and zoom down the sand. The sunsets from the top are also absolutely stunning.
You spend the night in Huacachina and take the next morning at a relaxed pace. Around midday, head to Ica and check out the town center. In the evening, catch a night bus from Ica to Arequipa.
Book the night bus from Ica to Arequipa on bookaway
High-Altitude Air in Arequipa & the Colca Canyon
How much time to plan: 2–5 days
Our hotel recommendation: Los Andes Bed & Breakfast
You’ll spend a few days in Arequipa. Since you’re probably still pretty tired from the overnight ride, spend the first day leisurely exploring the city center.
This is also a great way to slowly acclimatize to the altitude. Arequipa sits at 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) and is an excellent way to prepare for the highlands ahead.
From Arequipa, you then take a day trip to the Colca Canyon or a two-day trekking trip into the Colca Canyon. If you choose to hike, ideally spend two days in Arequipa first so you’re better acclimatized.
From Arequipa, take a night bus to Cusco. The ride takes about 12 hours.
For more detailed info on Arequipa and the Colca Canyon:
Peru's Top Highlights: Cusco & Machu Picchu
How much time to plan: 3–10 days
Our hotel recommendation (Cusco): Casa Cristobal Siete Cuartones
In Cusco, you should definitely plan as many days as possible. There is simply an incredible amount to see and do here.
You’ll spend at least one day in Cusco’s city center. Every additional day you can take day trips into the surrounding area.
- Visit Machu Picchu (1–2 days): If you’re traveling independently, plan for two days. For a day trip, we recommend booking a guided tour from Cusco.
- Machu Picchu hike (4 days): Treks like the Inca Trail and the Salkantay Trek typically take 4 days (including travel to/from and the Machu Picchu visit).
- Sacred Valley (1–3 days): In the Sacred Valley, the towns of Ollantaytambo and Pisac are especially worth visiting. Ollantaytambo can also easily be combined with a trip to Machu Picchu.
- Rainbow Mountain (1 day): Best done with a guided Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco.
- Laguna Humantay (1 day): Best booked as a guided day tour with a hike to Laguna Humantay.
- Salineras & Moray (1 day): The salt mines and the archaeological site are best explored on a guided Moray & Maras day tour.
Once you’ve seen everything you wanted to see, book a bus to Puno. Since the ride takes about 5–7 hours, both a daytime and a nighttime departure are options — whichever you prefer.
Read more about Machu Picchu & Cusco
Crossing the Border at Lake Titicaca
How much time to plan: 2–4 days
Our hotel recommendation (Puno): Sol Plaza Hotel
Our hotel recommendation (Copacabana): Hostal Las Olas
At Lake Titicaca, start by spending a full day in Puno and taking a day trip to the floating Uros Islands.
The next day, take the bus to Copacabana. Copacabana is a lovely town on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. The bus ride from Puno takes about 3 hours.
For crossing the border by land, all you need is a passport valid for at least 6 months — no other documents are required. Occasionally you may be asked for proof of onward travel, but it’s not strictly required. Without a visa, you’re allowed to stay in Bolivia for 90 days.
In Copacabana, plan to stay at least one day. The hikes up Cerro Calvario and Cerro San Sebastián are especially beautiful.
High Up in the Mountains in La Paz
How much time to plan: 3–5 days
Our hotel recommendation: Iskay Boutique Hostel
You’ll definitely want to spend a few days in La Paz, as there’s a ton to see here. Here’s a quick overview of things you can do in La Paz:
- Sightseeing in downtown La Paz: Plaza Mayor de San Francisco, cable car rides, Mercado de las Brujas, and much more (1–2 days).
- Day trip to the Valley of the Moon: The rock formations really do look a bit like the moon (1 day).
- Death Road to the Yungas: Many tours are offered on what was once the world’s most dangerous road (1 day).
- Huayna Potosi: The summit climb up this just-over-6,000-meter peak is especially popular with hikers (2–3 days).
Here you'll find all our tips for La Paz:
The Natural Spectacle of the Salar de Uyuni
How much time to plan: 3–4 days
The Salar de Uyuni salt flat is the top highlight in Bolivia, bar none. For your visit, we recommend booking a guided tour from La Paz.
Salar de Uyuni Three-Day Tour with Round-Trip Travel from La Paz
You take the bus from La Paz to Uyuni, where the tour begins. Most tours travel in a small group by jeep and hit all the top highlights. Great photos are guaranteed!
The tour then ends back in Uyuni, and from there you head back to La Paz. All the time sitting in cars and buses makes the trip tiring, but it’s absolutely worth it for this natural spectacle.
Depending on the time of year, it can get very cold at the Salar de Uyuni — most accommodations don’t have heating either. So make sure to pack warm clothes.
In our guide to the Salar de Uyuni you'll find more information:
Bonus Tip: Continuing to the Atacama Desert
How much time to plan: 3–4 days
Our hotel recommendation: Hostal Campo Base
If you have more time, you can also book a Salar de Uyuni tour from La Paz that ends in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The desert has many great attractions and is absolutely worth the trip.
The main town is San Pedro de Atacama — this is also where the guided Salar de Uyuni tours end. You can stay overnight in San Pedro and explore the desert’s best highlights from there.
To our tips for the Atacama Desert:
The nearest airport to the Atacama Desert is in Calama. From San Pedro de Atacama, you can quickly get there by bus. From Calama, you fly to Santiago de Chile, where you can check out the highlights of Chile’s capital.
Read more about Santiago de Chile:
Detailed Planning for 3 & 4 Weeks in Peru and Bolivia
You can divide up the route we described above however you like. It really depends on which areas interest you more and which less.
Since there are so many different sights at places like Cusco and La Paz, you could easily spend a week in each and still not see everything.
Here’s how you can best split 3 or 4 weeks between the different regions and cities.
The Perfect 3-Week Itinerary for Peru & Bolivia
- Days 1–2 Lima
- Day 3 Paracas
- Days 4–5 Huacachina
- Days 6–8 Arequipa & Colca Canyon
- Days 9–13: Cusco & Machu Picchu
- Days 14–15: Puno & Lake Titicaca
- Days 16–17: La Paz
- Days 18–20: Salar de Uyuni
- Day 21: Departure from La Paz
The Perfect 4-Week Itinerary for Peru & Bolivia
- Days 1–3: Lima
- Day 4: Paracas
- Days 5–6: Ica
- Days 7–10: Arequipa & Colca Canyon
- Days 11–17: Cusco & Machu Picchu
- Days 18–20: Puno & Lake Titicaca
- Days 21–24: La Paz
- Days 25–27: Salar de Uyuni
- Day 28: Departure from La Paz
The Perfect 4-Week Itinerary for Peru, Bolivia & Chile
- Days 1–2: Lima
- Day 3: Paracas
- Days 4–5: Ica
- Days 6–8: Arequipa & Colca Canyon
- Days 9–13: Cusco & Machu Picchu
- Days 14–15: Puno & Lake Titicaca
- Days 16–18: La Paz
- Days 19–21: Salar de Uyuni
- Days 22–24: Atacama Desert
- Days 25–28: Santiago de Chile and Valparaíso
Costs for a Peru Bolivia Road Trip
Both Peru and Bolivia are very affordable countries. Bolivia is a bit cheaper than Peru. Ultimately, how much your trip costs depends a lot on you.
Approximate Costs for 3 Weeks of Backpacking in Peru & Bolivia
If you want to travel as cheaply as possible, do as much as you can independently, stay in hostels, and get around by bus — that’s the classic backpacker approach.
- 1 night in a hostel with breakfast: €12
- Local set lunch: €3–5
- Dinner: €5–8
- Snacks: €2–3
- Transportation (buses or Uber): €6
- Entrance fees/activities: €5–15
- Total per day: approximately €30–50
Of course, some days will be more expensive — for example, when you visit Machu Picchu. But on other days you won’t have any entrance fees or transportation costs. So budgeting €30–50 per day on average is a solid estimate.
The total cost of a 3-week backpacking trip comes to roughly €650–1,000 + round-trip flights (approximately €1,000).
Approximate Costs for 3 Weeks of Comfort Travel in Peru & Bolivia
If you’re less focused on budget, prefer guided tours, and stay in hotels, the daily costs will be higher:
- 1 night in a hotel with breakfast per person: €40–60
- Lunch at a restaurant: €5–10
- Dinner at a restaurant: €10–15
- Transportation (Uber, bus, occasional domestic flight): €15–25
- Guided tours/entrance fees: €20–30
- Total per day: approximately €90–150
The total cost of the trip then comes to roughly €1,800 to €3,150 + round-trip flights (approximately €1,000) — though it also depends on how luxurious you ultimately make the trip.
You can of course mix backpacking and comfort travel! Our breakdown is just a rough guide.
To our travel tips for Bolivia and Peru:
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
Finding the ideal time for this road trip isn’t straightforward, since the different regions have different weather advantages.
Our recommendations: April, May, October, November
During these three months, you have a good chance of nice weather at every destination on your itinerary.
Here are the best travel months for the different parts of Peru and Bolivia:
- Peruvian & Bolivian Highlands: May through November
- Salar de Uyuni: April, May, October, November
- Peruvian Coast: December through April
Most importantly, make sure you have good weather in the highlands, since that’s where you’ll spend the most time. From May through November is roughly the dry season there, making it ideal for hiking.
It’s also very important to think about when you visit the Salar de Uyuni: From June through September is the dry season, and you’ll see the dried-out version of the salt flat.
From December through April it’s the rainy season, which creates the famous mirror effect on the salt flats. Since both versions are really spectacular, we recommend choosing the shoulder months — that way you have a chance of seeing both!
Read our article on the best time to visit Peru:
