For those of you coming from LA, there’s a LATAM flight to Buenos Aires that goes through Lima. If that’s your case, you might want to stay in Perú for a few days. You get to visit 2 South American countries in one trip! 

Machu Picchu alone is worth the stay, as you can imagine, but you also have Cuzco and the surrounding valley, with even more ruins and hikes, and if you don’t like high altitudes you can go to the Amazon (we explored the Peruvian side of the Amazons with Aqua and loved it, it was our favorite part of the trip). Make sure to stop in Lima for the food. There are so many unique restaurant experiences you’ll need to spend extra time in the city to pace yourself and to digest the meal before tackling the next one. Just one piece of advice: if you decide to go to Lima, make dinner reservations months in advance. 

You can visit all of these sights in less than 2 weeks. It is easier to get around than Argentina or Brazil, that are much bigger.