Culture guide
Lima · Peru
Latin America Travel Guide
The Latin America guide: Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.
9 min read · 10 days · Updated September 20, 2026
- latin america
- travel guide
- Destination
- Lima, Peru
- Duration
- 10 days
- Best time
- Dec-Apr
- Style
- Culture · Food · History
- Daily budget
- 70 USD
Latin America rewards the sub-region approach: the Andes arc (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina), the Caribbean-Mexico tier, Brazil's continental scale and Colombia's revival. Planning figures: $60–150/day depending on country and altitude.
The classic routes: Peru's Inca arc (10), Argentina's Patagonia (10), Mexico's Yucatán loop (7), Colombia's triangle (8). Each stands alone; two link by flight.
What this guide covers
The Peru Arc
Lima to Machu Picchu, ten days.
Day 1
Lima — arrive
Miraflores and the ceviche.
Day 2
Lima — food & history
The catacombs and the splurge.
Day 3
Fly to Cusco
Acclimatize at the market.
Day 4
The Sacred Valley
Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
Day 5
Machu Picchu
The citadel at last.
Day 6
Cusco — deep
The Inca stones and San Blas.
Day 7
Rainbow Mountain
The colored ridge trek.
Day 8
The Amazon edge
Puerto Maldonado's lodge.
Day 9
The Amazon — deep
The macaws and the monkeys.
Day 10
Departure
LIM home.
The Sub-Regions
The Andes: Peru's Machu Picchu, Bolivia's salt flats, Chile's Atacama, Argentina's Patagonia. The Caribbean-Mexico tier: the Yucatán's cenotes, Colombia's Cartagena, Cuba's time capsule. Brazil: Rio, Iguazu, the Amazon and the Pantanal.
- Andes: Peru 10 → Bolivia 4 → Chile's Atacama 3.
- Caribbean: Mexico's Yucatán 7 → Colombia's coast 7.
- Brazil: Rio 4 → Iguazu 2 → the Pantanal 4.
The Altitude Doctrine
The Andean arc lives at altitude: Cusco 3,400m, La Paz 3,600m, San Pedro 2,400m. Arrive, rest 48 hours, hydrate, and schedule the big days after the body adjusts — the rule that separates the trip from the headache.
What to know before you go
Money
- $60–150/day by country; Peru and Colombia the value, Patagonia the premium.
- The Andean flights $50–150 per hop.
When
- The Andes: May–September (dry).
- The Caribbean-Mexico tier: November–April.
- Patagonia: December–February.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Lima — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
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Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Which sub-region first?
Peru — the Inca arc is the most complete first trip with the best value.
Is altitude a real problem?
It's manageable with the 48-hour rest rule and water. Machu Picchu itself is lower than Cusco.
How long for Latin America?
Two weeks per sub-region; the continent is a three-trip project.