Peru travel guide

Getting there

Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport is the main gateway, with connections to Cusco and Arequipa; land borders link Peru with Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Brazil.

Best time to visit: May–Sep – dry season in the Andes, best for trekking.

Tougher months: January to March – heavy rains in the Andes and Amazon; the Inca Trail closes in February for maintenance.

Weather by month in Cusco

• 19°J●●●
• 19°F●●●
• 19°M●●
• 20°A●
• 20°M
• 20°J
• 20°J
• 21°A
• 21°S●
• 21°O●
• 21°N●●
• 20°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Lima. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 103 of 198 other passports can enter Peru without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 95 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Peru (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-04). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Peru travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Peru are based around Machu Picchu, Cusco or Sacred Valley. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$30–45 for a backpacker and US$80–150 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Peru page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, C. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +51.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Machu Picchu (Cusco region · Inca citadel): The iconic mountaintop Inca site, a wonder of engineering and setting.
• Cusco (Southern Andes · former Inca capital): A beautiful highland city of plazas, markets and museums, and the base for exploring the region.
• Sacred Valley (Cusco region · Inca sites & villages): Fertile valley of Inca ruins, markets and weaving communities at slightly lower altitude.
• Lima (Pacific coast · capital): A historic centre, clifftop Miraflores and Barranco's bohemian streets, plus world-class restaurants.
• Arequipa (Southern Andes · white city): An elegant colonial city built of white volcanic stone beneath snow-capped volcanoes.
• Lake Titicaca (Puno · high-altitude lake): A vast, deep-blue lake at about 3,800 metres with island communities.
• Colca Canyon (Arequipa region · canyon): Terraced valleys, traditional villages and condor viewpoints.
• Huaraz (Cordillera Blanca · trekking): Peru's adventure capital, with turquoise lakes, glaciers and some of South America's best trekking.

Things to do

• Explore Machu Picchu. Watch the mist lift from the Inca citadel as granite peaks rise all around.
• Hike the Inca Trail. Walk ancient stone paths through cloud forest and passes to arrive at the Sun Gate on foot.
• Wander Cusco. Stroll the former Inca capital, where colonial churches sit on perfectly fitted Inca stone walls.
• Explore the Sacred Valley. Visit terraced Pisac, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the salt pans of Maras.
• Eat ceviche in Lima. Taste the zesty raw-fish dish in the city often called South America's food capital.
• Fly over the Nazca Lines. See giant geoglyphs of a hummingbird, monkey and spider from a small plane.
• Visit Lake Titicaca. Stay with families on islands and visit the floating reed islands of the Uros.
• Spot condors in Colca Canyon. Watch Andean condors glide on morning thermals above one of the world's deepest canyons.

Source: full Peru guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Ceviche – raw fish cured in lime juice with chilli
• Lomo saltado – stir-fried beef with fries and rice
• Ají de gallina – creamy, mildly spicy chicken stew
• Cuy – roasted guinea pig, an Andean speciality

Source: RoamSun Peru guide

Talk

Twenty basic Spanish phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants; tip guides and porters on treks..

Emergency numbers: 105 police · 106 ambulance · 116 fire.

• The currency is the Peruvian sol; ATMs are common in cities, but carry cash in rural areas and markets.
• Cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants, sometimes with a surcharge.
• Watch for pickpockets and bag snatching in busy areas, especially in Lima and on buses.
• Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than hailing cars on the street.

Source: RoamSun Peru facts