How to Spend 3 Weeks in Peru: From Arequipa to Huaraz

After spending 2 weeks in Peru, visiting the main highlights in Cusco, hiking to Machu Picchu and visiting the highest navigable lake in the world, namely Lake Titicaca, my 2 month backpacking trip in South America included 3 weeks in Peru from Arequipa to Huaraz.

Peru, How to Hike the Colca Canyon in 2 Days

If you prefer to just travel to one country in South America, I highly recommend Peru. In fact, you can easily spend 1 month in Peru exploring the different areas from north to south. But you can also cross the border with Bolivia and visit the famous Uyuni Salt Flats or drive further to Northern Chile and the Atacama Desert.

In this article, I cover my 3 weeks itinerary in Peru starting in Arequipa and finishing in Huaraz. It covers some of the most beautiful hikes in South America, archeological sites and scenic views on Peru’s coast.

Table of Contents

3 Weeks in Peru Itinerary with Map

This itinerary starts in Arequipa and finishes in Huaraz, over 3 weeks in Peru. Below I include a day by day breakdown of my itinerary in Peru.

Day 1: Arequipa
Day 2-3: Hike to Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world
Day 4: Fly over the Nazca lines
Day 5-6: Spend 2 days in Huacachina
Day 7: Visit Paracas and Ballestas Islands
Day 8-9: Head to Huaraz, the hiking capital of Peru
Day 10-19: Hike Huayhuash Trek in 8 days
Day 20-21: Drive back to Lima

Map of a 3 weeks itinerary in Peru — Click this map to open in Google Maps!

1. Visit Arequipa and Hike Colca Canyon (Day 1-3)

You can reach Arequipa from Cusco or Lima, but we travelled from Arica, close to the border with Northern Chile. Before coming back to Peru, we spent 10 days in the Atacama Desert, cycling in Valle de la Luna and hiking Cerro Toco.

BUS TO TACNA: in Arica you need to get on a bus to Tacna, in order to cross the border between Chile and Peru. The buses leave every 30 minutes and you don’t need to book them in advance. Once you arrive in Tacna, at the bus station, book another connecting bus to Arequipa. Note that there is not a clear bus schedule.

We started the next 3 weeks in Peru by visiting Arequipa. To do so, we joined a walking tour that showed us the main highlights and landmarks in Arequipa. It’s an amazing way to visit a new city in my opinion!

Compared to Cusco, Arequipa definitely feels more modern. Perhaps it’s the white rock buildings or the Spanish influence, but Arequipa looks more developed than anywhere else we’ve visited during these 3 weeks in Peru.

AREQUIPA is located in a valley, at the feet of three volcanoes, which have threatened its existence over the years. The city used to be known for its wine production. But, continuous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions destroyed large parts of land. Nevertheless, today it is still possible to enjoy local wines and the famous “chicha“. This is a fermented corn beer with a sweet-sour taste. It is a must try during your stay!

Hike the Colca Canyon on a 2-Day Tour

After spending one day in Arequipa, we booked a 2 day tour to Colca Canyon. Although there were other experiences to choose from, on our 3 weeks in Peru we decided to hike one of the deepest canyon in the world, the Colca Canyon.

There are different ways you can visit the Colca Canyon:

You can choose between a 2-day or a 3-day Colca Canyon trek, for some extra time in the canyon
Choose a hop-on-hop-off tour, which will make several stops at the main attractions
Hike the Colca canyon without a tour at your own pace

Check out my post on HIKING IN THE COLCA CANYON for more details!

Just keep in mind that hiking Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, is not for everyone. Be mindful of your physical capabilities and make your research before you start such adventure. My article includes everything you need to know about hiking the Colca Canyon.

After returning to Arequipa, we hopped on a night bus to Nazca, the next stop on our 3 weeks in Peru. Although buses take longer, they’re also cheaper. To save time, on longer distances, we often opted for night buses. Many providers offer cozy blankets and comfortable reclinable seats for a good night of sleep.

2. Fly over the Nazca Lines (Day 4)

We arrived at the Nazca bus station early in the morning. Actually, we almost missed the stop, but luckily we woke up just on time.

As soon as you step off the bus, you’ll be surrounded by merchants offering you their best deals for flying over the Nazca Lines. It can be a bit overwhelming, but it also gives you an opportunity to bargain for the best price. We researched the best airline tours the day before arriving in Nazca, so we already had a good idea of who we wanted to go with.

When a representative from Aero Fenix offered us his flight deal, we were quite convinced. From the bus station, we drove a couple of minutes to the airport, where we waited for our flight.

We arrived at the airport around 8 am, but didn’t take off until noon. In fact, we soon learned that groups get priority and that morning at least two large groups were ahead of us.

We booked the panoramic route. Once on the plane, we received instructions and a map on where to spot the Nazca lines. Generally, no one knows how and why the Nazca lines were created. So, aside of seeing the figures from above, we did not receive much more information.

The Nazca Lines have remained visible for centuries thanks to the dry desert climate and stable weather. Many more ancient Nazca geoglyphs are believed to exist, some visible only from aircraft. Today, the Nazca Lines in Peru are among the country’s top tourist attractions, alongside the UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu.

How To Visit The Nazca Lines during 3 Weeks in Peru

How can I see the Nazca lines?
The best way to see the Nazca lines is from a scenic flight. Most tours depart from Nazca and offer a short, medium or long flight over the geoglyphs. Before heading to Nazca, read some of the reviews online and check the prices beforehand. This will often give you leverage to negotiate the best price.
When is the best time to visit the Nazca lines in Peru?
The best time to visit the Nazca lines is early in the morning, when skies are clear and winds are stable. Later in the day, clouds and fog may limit visibility.
Is it worth visiting the Nazca lines?
I recommend visiting only if it’s on your travel route. For many it’s a bucket list item, but on our 3 weeks in Peru we’ve come across more breathtaking sights.
Can you visit the Nazca lines without flying?
Yes, a few geoglyphs can be seen from viewing towers near the main roads, but most are only visible from the air.

3. Visit Huacachina, an Oasis in the Desert (Day 5-6)

After finishing the flight over the Nazca lines, a driver of the flight agency took us to the bus station. Here, we booked a bus to Ica, which is the gateway to Huacachina, a desert oasis just outside the city borders. You can only reach the oasis by taxi or a tuk tuk, as there are no other means of transportation.

Huacachina sees plenty of visitors throughout the day, but by late afternoon most of them leave. If you stay overnight, you can climb one of the surrounding sand dunes at sunset and enjoy the desert oasis without the crowds.

If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can go on a day trip to Huacachina instead. Many tours leave from Paracas, Ica or even Arequipa.

Girl at Huacachina oasis on a 3 weeks in Peru itinerary

Although we initially only planned for one night in Huacachina, we decided to extend our stay. During this time we went on a Buggy tour, tried sand boarding and watched the sun set behind the sand dunes.

ACTIVITIES IN HUACACHINA: you should definitely try a desert buggy tour in Huacachina. Racing across the sand dunes is a thrilling experience, topped off with sandboarding down one of the slopes. If you prefer to go at your own pace, you can also rent a board and try sandboarding on your own.

4. Visit Paracas and Ballestas Islands (Day 7)

The next stop on our 3 weeks in Peru itinerary was Paracas, which is just 1 hour from Huacachina. As soon as we’ve arrived, we researched a tour for the Ballestas Islands. We price checked some of the agencies before booking with a company located near the entrance to the harbour.

The tour company we booked with owned their own boats, which allowed them to offer a lower price. Other agencies in Paracas charged more, adding a premium on top.

The tour to the Ballestas islands was under 2 hours and left Paracas early in the morning. Ballestas Islands are often referred to as the Galapagos of Peru. So you can imagine the variety of marine life you’ll encounter on your visit. We, for example, spotted many penguins, sea lions and different species of birds.

The mild water temperatures drive many animals to these islands during the reproductive months. In fact, during our visit we got the chance to see many adorable baby sea lions.

5. Drive to Huaraz and Explore the City (Day 8-9)

There are no direct buses from Paracas to Huaraz. So, you first need to drive to Lima and here change on a bus to Huaraz. Overall, it took us around 24 hours to get to Huaraz, undoubtedly the longest we’ve ever been on the road in South America.

Huaraz is often referred to as the hiking capital of Peru. It has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world and we decided to tackle two different hikes: Laguna 69 and Huayhuash trek.

Initially, we spent 2 days in Huaraz acclimatizing, visiting the town and checking out some of the tours.

6. Hike Huayhuash Trek (Day 10-19)

Although I’ve always been an avid hiker, I had never done a multi-day hike at high altitudes, such as Huayhuash Trek. From my previous experience on the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, I knew that I don’t suffer of altitude sickness. So, I was quite certain that I could tackle such a long trek.

But nothing prepared me for the snow-capped mountains and untouched wilderness of this trek. The Huayhuash Trek is, without a doubt, one of the best hikes in South America and deserves a place on every bucket list.

What an unbelievable way to end our final 3 weeks in Peru. Without coming to Huaraz, I don’t think this South America trip would have held the same meaning.

7. Drive back to Lima (Day 20-21)

At the end of the 8 days Huayhuash trek, we took a bus back to Lima. Here, we rested for a night before flying back home.

After spending 2 months backpacking in South America, we started a NEW CHAPTER IN CANADA! Follow our adventures and check out this Canada travel guide!