Itinerary Peru and Bolivia: Adventure trip off the beaten track
My Smart itinerary through the Andes: From Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca, Salar de Uyuni and some of the most remote places in South America.
Our journey through Peru and Bolivia: 4,000 km by plane, bus, train, boat, bike, hiking, cable car, off-road…you name it! From Machu Picchu to Salar de Uyuni to some of the most remote and mind-blowing landscapes in South America.
Sounds exciting? Let’s go.
My 18 days smart itinerary Peru + Bolivia
DAY 1: Arrival in Peru
Arrival in the late evening in Cuzco via Lima, after a 24hrs journey. Afraid of the effects of high altitude -Cuzco sits at a staggering 3,600 mt (11,800 ft) above sea level - we were actually pretty fine.
DAY 2+3: Cuzco
Spending both days in Cuzco to recover from jetlag, getting used to the altitude and preparing for the Inca Trail. A free walking tour (there are many operators, we chose Inkan Milky Way) was the best way to discover the culture and history.
We also had the opportunity to:
Withdraw cash: Most restaurants, shops and cafés accept credit cards, but we still needed cash to eat the market or buy souvenirs. If you’re on a budget, plan your finances carefully: Most ATMs apply a commission of 5-10USD and have a daily withdrawal limit. Also, in some cases we had to pay a commission of 2-4% when paying by credit card.
Buy a local Sim Card: We purchased a prepaid Sim Card with Claro, valid for 10 days with enough internet data and minutes to call. There are plenty of Claro re-sellers in Cuzco.
With plenty of cafés (for example L’Atelier with its charming balconies) and restaurants (Pachapapa has a nice courtyard and great food), Cuzco is an ideal place to taste the surprisingly good Peruvian cuisine. Some specialties: Causa a la limeña, guinea pig and to drink, the Pisco Sour cocktail. Here are some more food recommendations from a local.
Other things that you shouldn’t miss: The panoramic view from San Cristobal hill and a visit to San Pedro Market.
👉 TIP: It’s ok and even recommended to negotiate prices when buying souvenirs at the market. Some useful phrases for negotiating in South America in this blogpost.
However, it’s not recommended to negotiate on prices of food items (street food, etc.).
DAY 4-7: Inca Trail
The famous Inca Trail begins! Our tour operator organized everything starting from the pickup at the hotel at 06:00AM, driving to KM82 past Ollantaytambo where the 4-days Inca Trail starts.
Hiking the Inca Trail was one of the most spectacular experiences of my entire life, immersed in mind-blowing landscapes of glaciers, forests and valleys.
Walking the 500-years old stone steps and through Inca ruins and finally arriving in Machu Picchu after 45 kms was an experience that it’s difficult to describe.
I have covered my experience on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in a dedicated blog post including tips & tricks plus a packing list.
DAY 7+8: Cuzco to Puno by bus
Back in Cuzco in the late evening, exhausted but happy to have completed the Inca Trail! The next day, relaxing in Cuzco and preparing for the next part of the trip: Cuzco to Lake Titicaca.
Optional: If not too tired after the Inca Trail, there are several options for day trips from Cuzco. Some great ideas in this blog post. We chose not to do any activity to save energy for the long journey ahead of us.
Late evening: Night bus Cuzco to Puno with departure from Cuzco Bus Station at 10 PM. We travelled with the bus company “Turismo Mer”, very good experience for 68 Soles per person (18 USD).
We’ve almost half way through our itinerary and there’s still so much to see!
Lake Titicaca and Bolivia await us…
DAY 9: Lake Titicaca
Arrival early morning in Puno, changing at the hotel then continuing to the pier to catch the ferry boat to Uros islands and finally to Taquile island on Lake Titicaca.
Arrival in the remote Taquile island after 3.5 hours boat. We will spend the night at a guesthouse run by a local family.
DAY 10: Lake Titicaca
Exploring Taquile island, hiking up to the highest hill at 4,005 (13,140 ft) mt above sea level! Taquile island is a truly remote place, inhabited by local communities, no hotels and a just a few guesthouses. We had lunch on the island (there’s only one community restaurant serving fish and vegetables) and then took the ferry back to Puno.
We were caught by surprise by a massive hailstorm right in the middle of Lake Titicaca:
Back on mainland, we had dinner (good price/quality at Mojsa) and spent just the night in Puno (TIP: There is very little to see in this city, don’t spend too much time here).
Curious? I’ve packed the best moments of my Peru + Bolivia adventure in this reel on Instagram.
DAY 11: Peru to Bolivia by bus
A long day! Departing early morning from Puno for the most critical part of the trip - Crossing the border Peru-Bolivia by bus! We had been warned about possible blockades due to protests outside Puno and potentially unreliable bus services.
It’s a 9-hours bus drive with the bus company “Trans Salvador”, that offered average service but it’s the only direct bus from Puno to La Paz (most options have one stop; all options are day buses, no night buses on this route because the border closes at night).
After 3 passport checks at the border, stunning landscapes and one passenger left behind by the bus driver at the border (!) we finally reach La Paz. The city is located at 3,700 mt (12,140 ft) above sea level in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
DAY 12: La Paz
Exploring La Paz with a free walking tour including the “Teleferico” , a modern cable car system connecting most parts of the city with stunning “drone-style” views.
There are many ways to move around in La Paz and Bolivia, and some things to keep in mind. A good overview in this blog post.
Tip: Two days (even 1 full day) in La Paz are enough to discover the city. Avoid Sundays if possible: Most shops and restaurants will be closed.
In the evening: Departure with the night bus from La Paz to Uyuni. There are a few options available: We chose Todo Turismo . The price (72USD per person) is higher than other providers, but they offered us an impeccable service including on board dinner & breakfast!
DAY 13-15: Salar de Uyuni tour
Arrival in Uyuni town and departure for the Salar de Uyuni tour. I have covered the full excursion including tips in this blog post.
Spoiler alert: In just 3 days we drove almost 1,000 km seeing some of the most remote and incredible landscapes, all between 4,000 and 5,000 mt (13,120 - 16,400 ft) altitude!
DAY 16: Back to La Paz
Arrival in La Paz early morning with the night bus from Uyuni. Full day in La Paz (Riding most of the Teleferico lines and trying more street food).
DAY 17: La Paz to Lima
Early flight from “El Alto” , the highest international airport in the world, to Lima. We landed very early and spent the whole day discovering the city, starting from the well preserved historic city center.
There are several ways to move around in Lima, from the normal bus to the more adventurous "microbus” (mostly used by locals). Uber is also an option, especially in the evening. I wrote a separate blog post about how to spend 24 hours in Lima .
Day 18: Lima and departure
Early breakfast at the Hotel in Miraflores, and then headed to the seaside where we had a coffee with a view on the Pacific Ocean at the Buenavista Café. Later, walked to the Larcomar mall for the last lunch of our trip. Departure flight in the late afternoon from Lima international airport. Bye bye Peru 👋 🛫
Useful tips for this trip
Accessibility
Most of the places we visited are moderately to very difficult to access due to the rough territory, high altitude, remoteness and limited transportation options.
Always with me on this trip
Water bottle and energy bars
Neck pillow, sleeping mask and earplugs
A passport copy, just in case
A waist wallet like this
Small amounts of local currency
Two locks like these to secure our suitcases during bus transfers
One powerbank like this (for 2-3 phone charges)
If you are struggling to fit all the items into your suitcase when travelling to Peru and Bolivia, check out my suitcase packing tips.
When is the best time to visit Peru and Bolivia?
End of April/beginning of May is the “sweet spot” between the shoulder season in Machu Picchu and the beginning of the dry season in Salar de Uyuni. When we went, the weather in Peru and Bolivia was mostly sunny and temperatures were mild.
On the other hand, we knew we would most likely not see the “mirror effect” in Salar de Uyuni, which usually ends in February/March.
Full Peru and Bolivia Itinerary + Highlights on Google Maps
Premium subscribers have access to the Google Maps version of the full itinerary + highlights of my trip to Peru and Bolivia.
Click here to see my full itinerary on Google Maps
About me:
As a passionate traveler and airline & hospitality expert I've been lucky to experience travel from behind the scenes -From crossing the Andes by bus, to flying Business class to the Maldives.
Some fun facts about my trips:
I’ve visited 5 of the 7 New World Wonders
Lowest point I’ve reached: Death Valley, California at -86 mt (-282 ft) altitude
Highest point I’ve reached: The Andes, 5,050 mt (16,568 ft) altitude
I've stayed at 100+ accommodations, from a tent in the Savannah to a houseboat on a French river
I’ve travelled 350,000+ km across 45+ countries and 5 continents by bus, car, boat, bike, hiking and so much more…
In my blog Beating Jetlag I share my travel experiences, insider tips and behind-the-scenes content for smart adventurers, as well as travel marketing recommendations for Creators. You can read more about me here.
Hi,
What an incredible journey through Peru and Bolivia! Your vivid descriptions and tips really showcase the beauty of South America. We're a travel agency specializing in unique experiences, and we love recommending adventures like yours to our clients. Your insights and recommendations are invaluable. If you're ever planning another adventure, we'd love to help make it even more memorable.
Keep up the great work!
Best