Nine days from Cusco to Arequipa via the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the Uros floating islands of Lake Titicaca, condors above Colca Canyon, and the White City's remarkable monastery and food scene.
For nine days through Peru's Andean spine, this road trip itinerary from Cusco to Arequipa connects four extraordinary destinations: the ancient Inca ruins of the Sacred Valley, the vast reed-fringed shore of Lake Titicaca, the condor country of Colca Canyon, and the luminous White City of Arequipa. The Peru sacred valley Lake Titicaca Colca Canyon route covers roughly 650 km as a clean one-way drive, starting and ending at airports served by Lima connections.
Self-driving is feasible for confident drivers with experience on mountain roads. The main highways between cities are paved and generally in good condition, but speeds are slower than expected: switchbacks, high-altitude passes, livestock crossings, and variable signage all reduce pace. Budget 20 to 30 percent extra time on any driving day. Many visitors prefer to hire a private driver, which removes the stress of parking in Cusco and navigating the high plateau passes. Both approaches work well for this itinerary.
Fly into Cusco at 3,400 metres and plan the first 24 hours gently. Altitude sickness affects most visitors arriving from lower elevations: headaches, breathlessness, and poor sleep are common. Drink coca tea, avoid alcohol, eat lightly, and sleep early. Altitude medication (acetazolamide) is available from pharmacies without a prescription.
Once settled, the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Spanish colonial churches stand on Inca stone foundations. The Qorikancha sun temple, the Plaza de Armas, and the winding lanes of San Blas fill a first proper day without rushing.
Days two and three are for the Sacred Valley, 45 minutes north-east by road. The valley follows the Urubamba River and holds some of the most compelling Inca remains in Peru. A Boleto Turístico (tourist ticket, around 130 soles) covers 16 sites and is valid for 10 days.
Key Sacred Valley sites:
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Add a day trip from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu. The train takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Entrance tickets and trains must be booked at least two months ahead in peak season (June to August).
The drive from Cusco to Puno is the longest of the route at roughly 390 km. Allow a full day, departing after breakfast. The road passes through Andahuaylillas (home to a baroque church so richly decorated it is nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Americas), the Raqchi archaeological site, and the La Raya pass at 4,335 m, where llamas and alpacas graze against snow-capped peaks.
Puno sits at 3,830 m on the Peruvian shore of Lake Titicaca, shared with Bolivia. The lake is the world's highest navigable lake, over 8,000 square kilometres in area and up to 281 m deep.
Two mornings on the water:
On the first morning, head to the Muelle Lacustre (official dock) for a 20-minute boat ride to the Uros floating islands. The Uros community builds its islands, houses, and boats from bundled totora reeds, replacing the surface as the lower layers decay. It is one of the most remarkable inhabited landscapes on earth.
On the second morning, take a longer excursion to Taquile Island (3 hours by boat). The island community is recognised by UNESCO for a hand-weaving tradition that assigns specific textile patterns to social roles and family status.
Puno to Chivay takes 3 to 4 hours, climbing to the Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca plateau at 4,910 m before descending into the Colca Valley. The plateau road, known as Mirador de los Volcanes, gives views of several snow-capped volcanoes including El Misti, which also watches over Arequipa to the south.
Chivay is the main town of the Colca Valley, with good mid-range hotels, a small food market, and natural hot springs. The Colca Lodge pools are the most comfortable in the area.
The reason to overnight here rather than driving straight to Arequipa is the morning condor flight at Cruz del Condor. Set an alarm for 7:30 am and drive 45 minutes to the viewpoint. Andean condors with wingspans of over three metres launch from the canyon walls on the first thermals of the day, passing the viewpoint close enough for outstanding photographs. The gorge at this point is more than 1,200 m deep. Sightings are consistent year-round, with the most spectacular flights outside the breeding season (November to April).
Chivay to Arequipa is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive, descending from the high plateau into one of South America's most handsome cities. Arequipa is called the White City because the historic centre is built almost entirely from sillar, a white volcanic stone that glows in afternoon light and gives the city a character unlike anywhere else in Peru.
Two days in Arequipa:
Santa Catalina Monastery is the priority. Founded in 1579, the walled complex covers an entire city block and contains its own streets, plazas, chapels, and convents that were closed to the outside world for nearly 400 years. Allow two to three hours; arriving early avoids the midday tour groups.
Food is the other good reason to linger. Arequipa has the most distinctive regional cuisine in Peru outside Lima. Picanterías (traditional lunch restaurants that close by 3 pm) serve dishes that are difficult to find elsewhere: rocoto relleno (a spicy local pepper stuffed with minced meat and cheese), chupe de camarones (a rich river prawn chowder), and adobo arequipeño (slow-cooked pork in chicha de jora, a local corn beer). Order from the menu del día for the best value.
Best time to visit: May to October is Peru's dry season. June to August is the most popular period; April and October offer similar weather with fewer visitors. Avoid the wet season (November to March), especially January and February when heavy rain can close roads and sites in the Sacred Valley.
Altitude: The whole route sits above 2,335 m, with the Puno to Chivay road reaching nearly 5,000 m. Acclimatise in Cusco for at least one full day before the longer drives.
Machu Picchu tickets: Book via the official Peru government platform well in advance. Entrance is capped and sells out, particularly in peak season.
Money: Soles (PEN) are used across the country. ATMs work in all four cities; carry cash for rural stretches, toll roads, and market stops.
Getting there: Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, Cusco. Fly out of Rodriguez Ballon International Airport, Arequipa. Lima is the main hub for international connections to both cities.
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The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
Drive Peru's ancient spine from Cusco's Inca streets through the Sacred Valley, across the world's highest navigable lake, and into the White City of Arequipa via the condor country of Colca Canyon.
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