u/timmoody4

Hi!

We're three friends travelling to Peru from December 1st–12th.

We're into good food, beer, cocktails, nature and unique experiences. Museums aren't really our thing, but we're definitely interested in local culture.

Originally we wanted to do an Amazon river cruise from Iquitos, but the ones we liked ended up being way over our budget. So we're probably doing a 2-day jungle lodge instead, which seems like a good compromise. (Unless there are recommendations for an affordable cruise)

Our rough itinerary looks like this:

• 2 nights in Lima (food, bars and exploring the city)
• 3 nights in Iquitos/Amazon (2-day jungle lodge + 1 night in Iquitos)
• 4 nights for the final part of the trip
• 2 final nights in Lima before flying home

For those 4 nights, we're considering a few different options.

Option 1 (our current favourite)
Rent a car and head south:
Paracas → Ballestas Islands → Ica → Huacachina → pisco distillery → Lunahuaná (rafting/ATVs) → back to Lima.

Option 2
Fly to Arequipa.
Colca Canyon, condors, hot springs, good food and beer.

Option 3
Fly north to Máncora.
Beach, seafood and just slow things down for a few days.

Option 4
Cusco + Machu Picchu.

I know Machu Picchu is incredible, but with only 12 days I'm wondering if we'll spend too much of the trip travelling.

At the moment we'd rank them like this:

1. South coast road trip
2. Arequipa
3. Máncora
4. Cusco + Machu Picchu

Would you change that order?

Anything obvious we're missing?

Are there any cruises on the Amazon that are affordable? We do not need a luxury option.

Any restaurants, bars, breweries or experiences you'd tell your own friends not to miss?

We're still in the planning stage, so don't be afraid to tell us if we're making a mistake. We'd much rather change the plan now than regret it later.

Thanks!