I'm currently organizing a trip around Peru, for 11-15 days.
Want to go in a circle, visiting Lima, Cizco, Machu Picchu, Puno and Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca canyon, Nasca, possibly Paracas or the Balestas if there is time and back to Lima.
Since I like photography, and also prefer to be indipendent of bus schedule, and possibly making a quick detour to some place ineresting off the main stream, I'm considering renting a car. Is this doable? I see the distances are quite big, and lots of the trip will be in the mountain, on unsurfaced roads according to the map I have (Part of Lima - Cuzco and Puno - Arequipa). How much time should I allow for these? Originally I thought to fly Lima-Cuzco and do the rest by car, but it seems the one way taxes are really big.
Also, is there a road from Cuzco to Machu Picchu? Or the only possibilities are the train and walking?
Thanks for any advice