Planning Your Trip to Peru: A Practical Guide

When to go, which vaccines, which itinerary, what to see: here is our practical guide and travel tips to help you prepare your trip to Peru!

At a Glance: Essential Facts Before You Go to Peru

• Best time to travel: During the dry season, between May and October
• Entry requirements: Valid passport (at least 6 months’ validity); no visa required for EU nationals
• Flight duration: 12h30 (direct Paris–Lima) to around 16h with a stopover
• Time difference: The time difference between Peru and the UK varies: –4h in summer and –6h in winter.
• Languages: Since the 16th-century Spanish colonisation, Spanish has been Peru’s official language. The indigenous languages Quechua and Aymara have been recognised as co-official languages.
• Population: 34.05 million
• Area: 1.285 million km²
• Currency: The Peruvian Sol (PEN). As of January 2024, €1 is worth approximately 4 soles. We recommend checking the exchange rate before departure.
• Plug type: Types A, B and C, an adapter is required.
• Country code: +51

Climate: When to Travel to Peru?

Peruvian Climate

One reminder before planning your Peru trip: in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed compared to Europe. Peru’s summer runs from December to February, and winter from June to August.

On the Pacific coast, the climate is desert-like: hot during the day and cool in the early morning and from 5pm onwards.

In the Andes Cordillera, temperatures vary according to sunlight. It is cooler from June to September when days are shorter (15–25°C by day). At night, temperatures can drop below zero and winds pick up.

In Lima, the capital, it is warm during the day except between June and September due to the garúa (a damp coastal fog).

To the east, in the Amazon, the climate is hot and humid, with less rainfall from June to October.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Peru?

In tropical zones, travelling from April to December is recommended. The Pacific coast, however, is more pleasant from December to March, as it is less humid.

In the Andes Cordillera and at Machu Picchu, the best window is May to November, when temperatures are more temperate.

For the Amazon rainforest, the advised period is April to November, to avoid the most intense heat and humidity.

Planning Your Peru Itinerary

Peru’s Must-Sees

Between the Andes Cordillera, the Amazon and the Pacific Ocean, there are as many Peru circuits as there are travellers! The unmissable centrepiece of any Peru trip: following the trail of the Inca Empire from Cusco to the mythical Machu Picchu through the Sacred Valley, then continuing your Peruvian journey all the way to Lake Titicaca!

Other must-sees for a Peru stay:

• The Colca Canyon and the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint
• The ‘White City’ of Arequipa
• Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon
• Huaraz in the Cordillera Blanca
• The Nazca Lines
• Paracas and the Ballestas Islands on the Pacific coast

How Long Should You Spend in Peru?

Depending on your travel project, we recommend spending at least 2 weeks in Peru, including international travel time. At Tierra Latina, the average length of our Andean highlights circuits is 13 days.

If you wish to add a further stage (such as the Amazon, the Pacific coast, the Chachapoyas region or the Cordillera Blanca) allow an extra 2 or 3 days, making a minimum of 15 days excluding flights.

What Budget Do You Need for Peru?

Determining your Peru budget depends on several factors:

• Season: high or low
• Type of activities: independent trekking or with a guide, self-guided or guided visits
• Accommodation: 2–4 star hotels, guesthouses, homestays
• Services: private guide or shared, public or private transport

For an organised tailor-made circuit with a travel agency, budget around €180 per person per day with 2–3 star hotel accommodation.

Health and Vaccines in Peru

Source: France Diplomatie.

Health Risks in Peru

High Altitude

To prevent symptoms of high altitude sickness (Cusco sits at over 3,000 metres above sea level), consulting your doctor beforehand is strongly advised. If you have cardiovascular conditions, a treatment such as acetazolamide can be prescribed to prevent altitude sickness.

Good to know: you can easily find effective local remedies for soroche (altitude sickness) on the ground. If in any doubt, ask your local guide or message our WhatsApp follow-up group.

Drinking Water

In Peru, tap water is not safe to drink. Drink only sealed bottled water, or use chlorine purification tablets available from pharmacies in France. We recommend bringing a filter water bottle.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases

At low altitude and during the rainy season, there is a limited but real risk of dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Standard mosquito protection measures are recommended: repellent and covering clothing.

Which Vaccines Are Required for Peru?

No vaccinations are required to enter Peru. However, it is advisable to check the validity of your DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and hepatitis A and B vaccinations.

If you plan to visit the Amazon, the yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended (and mandatory if subsequently travelling to Venezuela from Peru). Depending on your accommodation and itinerary (particularly in rural areas) your doctor may also recommend rabies, typhoid and meningitis vaccinations. Consult your doctor or an international vaccination centre before departure.

Safety in Peru

Peru is one of the safest countries in Latin America. That said, as with any capital city, vigilance is advised in Lima, particularly in less-frequented alleyways. Our recommendations:

• Keep your means of payment and identity documents on your person during bus journeys
• Do not wear jewellery, valuable watches or other conspicuous signs of wealth
• Avoid informal taxis: opt for a private driver or ride-hailing apps such as Cabify or Uber

Documents You Need for Peru

Do You Need a Visa for Peru?

For stays of less than 3 months, no visa application is required for EU nationals. On arrival, customs will issue a tourist visa valid for 90 days

Valid Passport

At check-in and on arrival, you must present a passport with a validity of at least six months beyond your planned entry date into Peru

Travel Insurance for Peru

A comprehensive multi-risk insurance policy is recommended for a trip to Peru, to cover potential medical and cancellation costs.

When travelling to Peru with Tierra Latina, you benefit from multi-risk insurance. You are also met at each stage by a French-speaking guide who provides all the information you need. A WhatsApp group keeps you in direct contact with our experts throughout, to ensure your Peru stay runs smoothly.

Packing Your Suitcase for Peru

For visiting the Andes Cordillera, pack both light clothing for the day and warm layers for the night: temperatures drop sharply with altitude! For Lima and the Pacific coast, cotton clothing is ideal; for the Amazon, light but covering clothing.

In your travel pharmacy, it is advisable to include:

• Painkillers
• Medication against traveller’s diarrhoea (‘turista’)
• Mosquito repellent
• SPF 50 sun cream
• Alcohol-based hand sanitiser

Culture: Films and Books Before You Go to Peru

Documentaries and Films to Watch Before Travelling to Peru

• Magic of the Andes – documentary, Netflix
• Street Food Latin America – episode on Lima, Netflix documentary series (2020)
• The Motorcycle Diaries by Walter Salles (2004) – retracing Che Guevara’s journey across Latin America aboard the Poderosa; available on VOD

Books to Read Before Travelling to Peru

• Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa – a masterpiece by Peru’s Nobel Prize winner in Literature
• Your Eyes in a Grey City (Tes yeux dans une ville grise) by Martín Mucha – a contemporary Lima novel
• The Incas by Alfred Métraux – a landmark anthropological study of Inca civilisation
• Tintin and the Temple of the Sun by Hergé – a beloved classic set in Peru, ideal for young travellers!

On the Ground: Transport, Accommodation and Food in Peru

Getting Around Peru

Buses are very comfortable and reliable, and allow you to travel easily between the country’s main tourist attractions.

The train is also an excellent option, particularly for exploring the Andes Cordillera. From Cusco, you can:

• Travel to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca: an exclusive service operating twice a week, with panoramic views over the altiplano, a gourmet meal on board and live folk music
• Reach Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes through the Sacred Valley: the Perurail company offers various comfort tiers, from standard to premium

Domestic flights are an excellent option for longer distances from Lima or on the way back. We also recommend private drivers for transfers and excursions in cities and certain sections of the Sacred Valley.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Peru?

• Lima: the Miraflores and Barranco neighbourhoods
• Arequipa: in the historic city centre
• Colca Canyon: we recommend Yanque (less touristy than Chivay) where you can stay in a lodge with thermal baths or with a local family
• Puno and Lake Titicaca: in the historic centre and with local families on the lake islands (Llachon, Amantani…) for an authentic experience
• Cusco: in the historic centre or the San Blas neighbourhood
• Sacred Valley of the Incas:
• Aguas Calientes – at the foot of Machu Picchu
• Misminay Community – for a homestay experience
• Ollantaytambo – in the heart of the Sacred Valley
• Urubamba – which offers exceptional accommodation options
• Skylodge – an extraordinary suspended mountain lodge accessible only by via ferrata or zip-line!

What to Eat in Peru?

491: that is the number of dishes offered by Peruvian cuisine, one of the richest and most diverse in the world! Unmissable specialities to try during your Peru trip:

• Ceviche – Peru’s most iconic dish: fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juice with chilli and coriander
• Ají de gallina – shredded chicken in a creamy sauce of yellow chilli pepper, bread and walnuts
• Causa limeña – a layered cold dish of yellow potato purée filled with chicken, tuna or vegetables
• Papas a la Huancaína – boiled potatoes served with a spiced fresh cheese sauce
• Pisco sour – Peru’s national cocktail: pisco (a grape brandy), lime juice, sugar syrup, egg white and Angostura bitters