Route questions in Peru and a side trip to Chile

Hi everyone, After a lot of hesitation due to the season, I finally booked my tickets to Lima from June 30 to March 11—I’ll be crossing my fingers for the weather! We’re planning the classic southern loop with a rental car, either the whole thing or part of it. I’ve got a ton of questions: Is it possible to drive to the Salinas y Aguada Blanca Reserve with our own vehicle? Is the road to Cusco (the 34 E) in good condition? Is it better to return via Andahuaylas, Pampachiri, Nazca? Or through Ayacucho toward Paracas? I’m also hesitating about heading to the Cordillera Blanca and pushing on to Trujillo and Chan Chan because of the weather. The other option would be to spend a week or 10 days in northern Chile, which I think is amazing...

So, if you’ve got any tips or suggestions?

Hi there, it all depends on what there is to see in Chile and the northern part. Is there anything special? Chan Chan is still worth a visit. And for the weather, the coast is very dry with little to no rain

hi there, actually we’d explored all around San Pedro de Atacama—there are gorgeous Andean high-plateau landscapes, lagoons, volcanoes… so I’m not sure I’ll find the equivalent in Peru?

If you want to find something similar in Peru, you’ve gotta head to Huaraz and travel around the area. There are quite a few lagoons there. Especially along the road to Chavín de Huántar. The area around Trujillo is desert.

OK, thanks. I had seen that, but in February at high altitude, isn’t there a risk of rain and fog, so you end up seeing nothing? In Chile, I don’t know if we were just lucky, but we had sunshine—it’s more desert-like. I saw that the climate on the coast is warmer and drier at this time of year, but we don’t want to spend much time there.

Hi, it really depends on what there is to see in Chile and in the northern part. Is there anything special?

Northern Chile is stunning and there are practically no tourists. I spent almost two weeks there in 2024 (before heading to Bolivia) and it remains my most beautiful trip.

Is it possible to go to the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve with your own vehicle?

I think it's possible, but the road is tough. I went there on a day tour, solo; it was perfect.

Is it better to return via Andahaylas, Pampachiri, Nazca? Or via Ayacucho to Paracas?

I did Cusco -> Nazca -> Paracas, all by bus.

Hi there, for Salina Blanca I think we’ll do a tour too. Thanks for the info. As for northern Chile, it’s still up in the air! 😄 Marie

Hi there, I didn’t say otherwise about northern Chile—it’s definitely stunning. But if you want to head north, you’ll have to make a choice since the country is pretty big after all. As for the weather, you can’t really predict it, obviously

Sorry for my late reply. Yeah, that’s the dilemma—either northern Peru, Trujillo (Chan Chan), the Cordillera Blanca..., or northern Chile... I still have a little time to decide.

Just a heads-up—this isn’t really the best season to venture into the Andes with a rental car. You’ll definitely need to stay flexible if it rains a lot. On the other hand, the climate along Peru’s coast will be hot and sunny! !