Peru is totally amazing and I've done this exact trip, but included the Inca Trail and Wayna Picchu. Whilst there is no permits left for the Inca trail, you can easily catch the train to visit. This trip is nearly 3 weeks in length and you'll travel to many different sights. I'm sure some people would look at this and probably panic, but I've done it and it is a great trip for those that love to move around and see as much as a place as possible!

The long haul flights are a bargin at under £330 from London to Lima and with a long stop in Mexico city, you could also do a good bit of exploring in Mexico. I've included flights from Lima to Cusco but if you have Avios, you can use them to fly with LAN for 4500 Avios and £8.70 (I love using Avios to fly in South America, such a bargain)!

5/05
Depart London at 10:30pm.

06/05
You'll arrive into Mexico city at 4:30am, but your flight leaving isn't until 11:50pm so you have ample time to get out of the airport and explore.

07/05
You arrive into Lima at 5:30am. After getting your luggage you will fly straight to Cusco arriving early in the morning. There will be plenty of taxis so you can make your own way to the centre of Cusco cheaply and easily or look at sharing with likeminded travellers. In Cusco you'll stay at the Cusco Packers https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g294314-d6017983-Reviews-Cusco_Packers_Hostel-Cusco_Cusco_Region.html which although is a hostel, is No1 on Tripadvisor and has amazing reviews. It is right in the centre of town and rooms have a private bathroom and breakfast.

08/05
You have a full day to explore Cusco, the main square and cobbled streets, cheap hiking gear and the amazing food at Jack's cafe.

09/05-13/05
You can make your way to the Sacred Valley. This can be done via bus or cheaply by hiring a driver and car which can allow you to stop at different places en-route before arriving at Ollantaytambo area. If you can, I strongly recommend visiting a small animal sanctuary en-route owned by two brothers. They have rescued many animals including condors and it is welll worth a visit/donation. Once in Sacred Valley, it is easy to pick up tours to Macchu Picchu or Ollantaytambo. You can also get the train to Agues Calintas. You will be able to visit Machu Picchu or Wayna Picchu (which I recommend climbing too if you can get permits). In Ollaytaytambo you'll stay at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g294319-d4596148-Reviews-Hostal_Chayana_Wasi-Ollantaytambo_Sacred_Valley_Cusco_Region.html which again is a hostel type accommodation but rooms have private bathrooms. You'll also get breakfast in this price.

13/05-15/05
You'll need to get yourself back to Cusco for the early (7am) bus to Puno. This is a full day trip, sort of a bus with a tour, stopping at a few sites on the way. In Puno you'll stay for 2 nights at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g298442-d1149611-Reviews-Suites_Antonio_s-Puno_Puno_Region.html
It may be that you can just stay 1 night in Puno and use the other night to stay on Lake Titicaca which is a great experience and it is also just a short 'hop' over to Bolivia too if you wanted to extend your trip.

15/05-17/05
You'll catch the local 4M bus from Puno to Colca Canyon (Chivay). Bus journeys in Peru are some of my favourite anywhere, so comfy and even the sleeper buses were brilliant, food, a movie and a reclining seat. I can honestly not recommend them more highly. You have two nights around the Colca Canyon area so make sure you do a trip to see the condors over the Colca Canyon. There are also some great hikes too so you could explore Colca Canyon and the hot springs too. You'll stay for 2 nights at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1066058-d1487003-Reviews-Killawasi_Lodge-Yanque_Colca_Canyon_Arequipa_Region.html which I've personally stayed in and I'd really recommend it. It's a lovely place, just outside the centre and the views are lovely. It is more expensive but I think it is totally worth it. You also get a lovely breakfast included too.

17/05-18/05
Arequipa is a lovely little place, with amazing views of El Miste. Highlights for me were the Ice princess and the monastery. If you want to extend your stay you can look at climbing El Miste. You'll stay for 1 night at Posada Nueva España.

18/05-20/05
You'll travel from Arequipa to Nazca, leaving Arequipa on 18/05 at 9:30pm (so you have the full day in Arequipa) arriving into Nazca on 19/05. I would never normally recommend night buses, but I did this trip myself and honestly, I had a fantastic nights sleep. This includes the VIP seats which are the bottom of the bus, and you get food, drink and there is also a toilet, and believe me I've seen worse airport ones and the seats recline back and sleep was pleasant and comfy. The journey takes around 9 hours to get into Nazca and plenty of taxis are there to wizz you off to your accommodation. I've allowed 1 night in Nazca to take in the Nazca lines on a flight or see the Chauchilla cemetery. I enjoyed it but I was very, very sick. The pictures were amazing but I had my head in a sick bag most of the time and I was not the one responsible for taking the pictures unfortunately. You'll stay in Nazca for 1 night at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g304044-d1884363-Reviews-Hospedaje_Yemaya-Nazca_Ica_Region.html as I personally don't think you need longer as after the flight and cemetery visit you can just chill out or wander round Nazca.

20/05-22/05
You'll catch the bus for the 2 hour trip to Ica where it's just a jump in a taxi to Huacachina, the strangest site in Peru. An oasis in the middle of the desert. The sandboarding and buggy ride is amazing, really a thrill seekers activity, no H&S as the boards speed down the huge dunes. You'll stay for 2 nights here glamping in the desert at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g304038-d10684528-Reviews-Desert_Nights_Ecocamp-Huacachina_Ica_Region.html.

22/05-25/06
Bus from Ica to Lima (you can break this journey up and stop at Paracas to do a boat trip of the Ballestas Islands which I highly recommend. Lima is a great place to spend a few nights, there has been such a lot of changes in the city and I do recommend a good guide if you want to make the most of Lima and see some of the hidden sights. You'll stay at https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g294316-d1484422-Reviews-Hotel_Vila_Santa_Miraflores-Lima_Lima_Region.html as the Miraflores area is a great place to be, public transport is accessible and there are also plenty of good restaurants in this area. You'll need to be at the airport at around 9:30pm on 25/05 for your flight just after midnight on 26/06.

Breakdown

Return flights to Peru £327.61pp http://www.opodo.co.uk/

Fly Lima to Cusco one way, price for 2 people $194.12/£154.52 http://www.starperu.com/

2 nights in Cusco book £43.40 https://www.ebookers.com/

4 nights in Ollaytaytambo £112.25 https://www.ebookers.com/

Bus for 2 people from Cusco to Puno $100/£79.60 http://inkaexpress.com/store/

2 nights in Puno £50.99 https://www.ebookers.com/

Bus Puno to Colca for 2 people $100/£79.60 http://www.4m-express.com

2 nights in Colca Canyon area £117.86 https://www.ebookers.com/

Bus Colca to Arequipa for 2 people $75/£59.70 http://www.4m-express.com

1 night in Arequipa £34.68 https://www.ebookers.com/

Bus Arequipa to Nazca for 2 people VIP seats $72/£57.31 http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/

1 night in Nazca £16.04 https://www.ebookers.com/

Bus Nazca to Ica for 2 people $26/£20.70 http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/

2 nights in Huacachina £71 http://www.booking.com

Bus Ica to Lima for 2 people $22/£17.51 http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/

3 nights in Lima £151 book on https://www.expedia.co.uk

Total for 2 £1721.38/£860.69pp