Wondering about things to do in Peru after the pope’s visit? If you have days to spare, make the most of the trip: Puno, Arequipa and Ica are one tour away. With Turismo Liberty you can add the Colca Canyon tour with transfer to Puno from $99 USD per adult, Lake Titicaca from $145 USD and Paracas and Ica from $265 USD. One clear note: the pope does not visit those cities; this route is for extending your trip, not for seeing him there.
The Holy See confirmed that Leo XIV will be in the country from November 11 to 17, 2026, with stops in Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa (Andina). In this guide you’ll find where he will be, which Turismo Liberty tours connect southern Peru, what each one costs, which entrance fees you pay separately, a suggested route with real schedules and the most common questions before booking.
⚡ Things to do in Peru after the pope’s visit: where will he be, and which southern cities are left out?
According to the schedule reported by Peruvian media, the pope arrives in Lima on November 11, flies to Chiclayo on the 13th, is in Cusco on the morning of Sunday, November 15, and leaves Lima on the 16th. Times can change, so always confirm with official sources before planning your trip.
Cusco will gather thousands of pilgrims from the south, including people coming from Puno and Arequipa. If you want to overlap with the visit, book hotels and transfers early. And if you prefer quieter days, the southern Andes and the Ica coast are waiting before or after that weekend.
🗺️ Tours to extend your trip: prices, departures and what’s included
These are the five Turismo Liberty tours you can combine. Prices are those published on turismoliberty.pe on November 6, 2026 (per adult).
| Tour | Departs from | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colca with transfer to Puno | Arequipa (historic-center hotels, 7:30 AM) | 2 days / 1 night | $99 |
| Puno: Lake Titicaca and Andean Culture | Puno (historic center) | 3 days / 2 nights | $145 |
| Arequipa Imperdible | Arequipa (historic-center hotels) | 4 days / 3 nights | $155 |
| Route of the Sun Puno → Cusco | Puno bus terminal, 6:00 AM | 1 day | $90 |
| Ica and Paracas | Lima (pickups from 4:10 AM) | 2 days / 1 night | $265 |
✅ What’s included (varies by tour)
- Pickup from your hotel or meeting point and tourist transport (van or tourist bus)
- Professional guide (English / Spanish)
- Hotel: 1 night in Chivay (Colca), 2 in Puno, 3 in Arequipa or 1 in Paracas, depending on the tour
- Hotel breakfasts and, on the Route of the Sun, a buffet lunch, snack and water
- Entrance fees to Pukara, Raqchi and Andahuaylillas on the Route of the Sun
- Permanent assistance
❌ What’s NOT included
- Lunches and dinners (except the Route of the Sun buffet and any meal a tour lists)
- Colca Valley entrance and the Chacapi hot springs ticket (S/ 15)
- Dune buggies and sandboarding at Huacachina (reference $10) and Yaku Park ($14)
- Flights, hotels in Cusco and Lima, and transfers outside the tours
📅 Suggested 11-day route: Arequipa → Colca → Puno → Cusco → Lima → Ica
This route uses only verified tours from Arequipa, Puno and Ica. The days in Cusco and the flight to Lima are on your own.
- Days 1–2 · Arequipa → Colca → Puno. Pickup at 7:30 AM, Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve, Patapampa viewpoint (4,900 m), a night in Chivay and the Chacapi hot springs. On day 2: Cruz del Cóndor, Yanque, Maca and arrival in Puno between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.
- Days 3–5 · Puno. Chucuito, Inca Uyo and Aramu Muru; then the Uros Islands and Amantani Island; the last day is free to rest or shop downtown.
- Day 6 · Puno → Cusco. Route of the Sun: boarding at 5:30 AM and stops at Pukara, La Raya, Raqchi and Andahuaylillas.
- Days 7–8 · Cusco. If your dates line up, this is where you overlap with the papal visit (Sunday the 15th per the published schedule). Book your hotel early.
- Day 9 · Cusco → Lima. Flight or transfer on your own.
- Days 10–11 · Lima → Paracas → Ica. Ballestas Islands, a night in Paracas, a pisco winery, the Noelia chocolate shop and Huacachina. You are back in Lima around 10:00 PM.
🎫 Total cost and the entrance fees you pay separately
Adding the four base tours on the route (Colca–Puno $99, Puno $145, Route of the Sun $90 and Ica $265), the reference total is $599 USD per adult, before entrance fees, meals, flights and hotels in Cusco and Lima. These are the fees paid separately:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Colca Valley entrance — Foreigners | S/ 70.00 |
| Colca Valley entrance — Latin Americans | S/ 40.00 |
| Colca Valley entrance — Peruvians | S/ 20.00 |
| Colca Valley entrance — Students (Peru) | S/ 5.00 |
| Chacapi hot springs | S/ 15.00 |
| Dune buggies and sandboarding at Huacachina (optional, reference) | $10 |
| Yaku Park (optional) | $14 |
Carry cash in soles: card payment is limited in small towns like Yanque and Maca. Amounts are those published by each tour and may change; confirm them on WhatsApp.
🌤️ Best time to visit southern Peru: March to November
The Puno and Arequipa tours list March to November as the best season, and the Ica tour can be done year-round. Mornings on the altiplano and in Colca are cold in any month, so warm clothes are a must.
🎒 What to pack for southern Peru
- Warm clothes for cold mornings in Puno, Colca and the high parts of Arequipa
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Cash in soles for entrance fees, meals and purchases
- Swimsuit, towel and sandals for the Chacapi hot springs
- Water bottle and, if you like it, coca or muña tea for the altitude
- Light clothes for the Ica and Paracas coast
❓ Frequently asked questions about extending your trip around the papal visit
No. The Holy See confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa during his trip to Peru from November 11 to 17, 2026. Puno and Arequipa came up in earlier planning but were left out of the official route, and Ica was never on the agenda. According to the schedule published by Peruvian media, the pope will be in Cusco on Sunday, November 15, so that is the only city in the southern Andes where you could overlap with him. Times can change, so check official sources before you book. Turismo Liberty suggests Puno, Arequipa and Ica as an extension of your trip: a lake, a canyon and a desert you can add before or after Cusco.
With Turismo Liberty, the four base tours add up to $599 USD per adult: Colca with transfer to Puno ($99), Puno in 3 days and 2 nights ($145), the Route of the Sun from Puno to Cusco ($90) and Ica in 2 days and 1 night ($265). If you would rather stay in Arequipa, Arequipa Imperdible (4 days, 3 nights) costs $155. Prices are the ones published on turismoliberty.pe on November 6, 2026. They do not include entrance fees (the Colca Valley costs S/ 70 for foreigners), the lunches and dinners each tour lists, flights or hotels in Cusco and Lima. Message us on WhatsApp to confirm the current rate and availability for your dates before booking.
Take the Route of the Sun tourist bus for $90 USD per adult. It leaves from the Puno bus terminal, counter C-5: boarding at 5:30 AM and departure at 6:00 AM. Along the way you stop at the Pukara Archaeological Museum (40 minutes), the La Raya viewpoint for photos, a buffet lunch, the Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi (50 minutes) and the San Pedro Apóstol church in Andahuaylillas (35 minutes). The price includes a bilingual guide, entrance fees to Pukara, Raqchi and Andahuaylillas, a snack and water. This tour only runs from Puno toward Cusco; if you need the opposite direction, message us on WhatsApp and we will go over the options.
The 2-day, 1-night Ica tour costs $265 USD per adult and departs from Lima, not from Ica, with pickups between 4:10 and 6:00 AM. On day 1 you tour the Ballestas Islands by speedboat (about 1 hour 45 minutes) and spend one night in Paracas. On day 2 you visit a wine and pisco winery with tasting, the Noelia chocolate shop and the Huacachina Oasis, and you are back in Lima around 10:00 PM. Dune buggies and sandboarding are optional (reference fee $10) and Yaku Park costs $14 extra. Since the pope leaves Lima on November 16, Ica fits well at the end of your trip.
The suggested route in this guide takes about 11 days between Arequipa and Ica, not counting domestic flights: 2 days from Colca to Puno, 3 in Puno, 1 on the bus to Cusco, 2 in Cusco, 1 to return to Lima and 2 for Ica. If you are short on time, choose Colca with transfer to Puno ($99) and add Ica from Lima. The best season for Puno and Arequipa is March to November, and Ica can be visited year-round. The Puno tour reaches 3,827 m above sea level and the Arequipa routes 4,900 m, so allow time to acclimatize; Ica sits at just 79 m.
Now you know the best things to do in Peru after the pope’s visit: adding Puno, Arequipa and Ica turns a short trip into a full route through the south. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we’ll send the itinerary, availability and updated prices.
Ready to add Puno, Arequipa and Ica to your trip?
Check availability for your dates — Colca with transfer to Puno from $99 USD per adult.
