Peru
Watching dawn break over Machu Picchu is one of the great payoffs in world travel, but Peru is far more than one ruin: Cusco's Inca stonework, the Sacred Valley's markets, Lake Titicaca's reed islands and Lima's restaurants all compete for your time. Book the Inca Trail months ahead, as permits are strictly limited.
Overview
Peru packs desert coast, high Andes and Amazon rainforest, which covers around 60% of the country, into one trip. Most first visits follow the southern circuit: fly from Lima to Cusco, acclimatise in the Sacred Valley, reach Machu Picchu by train or on foot, then continue to Puno and Lake Titicaca and on to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. Two to three weeks covers it comfortably. Add a few days in the Amazon from Puerto Maldonado, the Nazca Lines and Paracas on the south coast, or the mountains around Huaraz and the adobe ruins near Trujillo in the north.
Peru is good value away from Machu Picchu, whose train, bus and entry tickets add up fast. Altitude defines the trip: Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres and Puno at 3,800, so plan slow first days. June to August is dry in the Andes but also peak season, and Inti Raymi fills Cusco in late June. Lima surprises many visitors twice: with grey sea mist, the garúa, for much of the year, and with some of the best restaurants in the Americas. It suits hikers, history lovers and anyone who travels to eat.
Map of Peru
Top 5 highlights
- 1History
Machu Picchu
The 15th-century Inca citadel on a ridge above the Urubamba, its terraces and temples framed by Huayna Picchu. Entry is by timed ticket on set circuits; arrive by train to Aguas Calientes or on foot via the classic four-day Inca Trail.
- 2History
Cusco
The former Inca capital, where Spanish churches and mansions sit on flawless Inca stonework. See the Qorikancha sun temple, the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán above town, and the steep artisans' quarter of San Blas.
- 3Culture
Sacred Valley
The Urubamba valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu, lower and warmer than Cusco, links the Pisac market and ruins, the Inca fortress-town of Ollantaytambo, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans.
- 4Culture
Lake Titicaca
At about 3,800 metres, the vast lake is reached from Puno. Visit the Uros people's floating reed islands, then stay overnight with a family on Amantaní or watch Taquile's men knitting their famous hats.
- 5Adventure
Cordillera Blanca
A range of glaciated peaks topped by Huascarán (6,768 m), Peru's highest mountain and the highest summit in the tropics. From Huaraz, hike to turquoise Laguna 69 in a day or tackle the four-day Santa Cruz trek.
Biggest cities
Lima
Peru's food capital: eat ceviche at lunch in Miraflores or Barranco, see the pre-Columbian collections of the Museo Larco, and walk the colonial centre's balconied streets and monastery catacombs.
Arequipa
The 'White City', built of pale volcanic sillar stone beneath El Misti volcano; visit the walled Santa Catalina Monastery and the Inca ice maiden Juanita, and use it as a base for Colca Canyon.
Trujillo
A colonial city of pastel mansions near the north coast, and the base for the vast Chimú adobe city of Chan Chan and the Moche temples of the Sun and Moon.
Lima's figure includes the port city of Callao, which forms one metropolitan area with the capital.
When to go to Peru
Best time: May–Sep.
Average climate in Cusco
Festivals & events
- FebFiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria
Puno's huge February fiesta, on UNESCO's heritage list, brings tens of thousands of costumed dancers and musicians to the shores of Lake Titicaca over two weeks.
- JunInti Raymi
On 24 June Cusco re-enacts the Inca festival of the sun, with a costumed procession from Qorikancha to Sacsayhuamán; seats there sell out, but the events in town are free.
- OctSeñor de los Milagros
Lima's October processions of the Lord of Miracles, among the largest Catholic processions in the world, fill the centre with purple-robed devotees and stalls selling turrón.
How much does Peru cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Ceviche
Raw white fish cured briefly in lime juice with red onion, ají limo chilli and coriander, served with sweet potato and big-kernelled corn; a lunchtime dish in cevicherías.
Lomo saltado
Strips of beef stir-fried with onion, tomato, soy sauce and vinegar, served with chips and rice; a criollo classic shaped by Chinese-Peruvian chifa cooking.
Ají de gallina
Shredded chicken in a creamy, mildly spicy sauce of yellow ají amarillo chillies, bread, milk and nuts, served over rice with potatoes, olive and egg.
Getting around
LATAM, Sky and JetSMART fly from Lima to Cusco in about 80 minutes and connect most cities. Overnight buses run by companies such as Cruz del Sur, with near-flat 'cama' seats, cover the coast and the south. PeruRail and Inca Rail trains run from Cusco and Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu, and PeruRail's Titicaca train links Cusco with Puno. Uber, Cabify and InDrive work in Lima and Arequipa.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- ABC220V — bring a UK-to-A/B/C adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +51
- Time zone
- UTC-5 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Leave about 10% in sit-down restaurants unless service is included, and tip trekking guides, cooks and porters generously at the end of the Inca Trail.
- Etiquette
- Ask before photographing people in Andean communities; children posing with llamas in Cusco expect a sol or two. Greet people with 'buenos días' and expect a relaxed approach to time.
- Main airports
- Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), Lima; Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ), Cusco; Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP), Arequipa
Visas & entry for Peru
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel to Peru without a visa for tourism or short visits. If you are travelling for any other reason, check requirements with the Peruvian Consulate General in the UK (in Spanish).
When you arrive in Peru, you will normally get permission to stay for up to 90 days in a 180 day period. The 180 day period is calculated from the date of your first entry into Peru. Immigration officials can grant you a maximum of 183 days in a 365 day period as a visitor or tourist.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueRabiesTuberculosisYellow fever
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter. There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- Low risk of malaria
- There is a low risk of malaria in the Amazon basin of Peru along the border with Brazil, particularly in Loreto province and in the other rural areas of Peru below 2,000m including that part of the Amazon Basin which borders Bolivia: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Peru
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | Immaculate Conception |
| Wed 9 Dec 2026 | Battle of Ayacucho Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Maundy Thursday |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Mon 7 Jun 2027 | Battle of Arica and Flag Day |
| Tue 29 Jun 2027 | Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day |
| Fri 23 Jul 2027 | Peruvian Air Force Day |
| Wed 28 Jul 2027 | Independence Day |
| Thu 29 Jul 2027 | Great Military Parade Day |
| Fri 6 Aug 2027 | Battle of Junín Day |
| Mon 30 Aug 2027 | Rose of Lima Day |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Battle of Angamos Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Disculpe | dees-KOOL-peh |
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
Know before you go
- Inca Trail permits are capped and sell out months ahead for May to September, and the trail closes every February; Machu Picchu entry tickets are timed, so book both early.
- Ease into the altitude: start in the lower Sacred Valley rather than Cusco, take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol.
- Use Uber, Cabify or a hotel-booked taxi in Lima rather than hailing one on the street, and keep phones out of sight on busy pavements.
Peru travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Peru?
The best time to visit Peru is generally May–Sep. Peak months are May, June, July, August and September. Average highs in Cusco range from 19°C to 21°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Peru cost per day?
Roughly £35 a day on a tight budget, £85 mid-range and £190+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Peru?
Peruvian sol (PEN).
What plug type does Peru use?
Type A, B and C sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Peru?
Traffic drives on the right in Peru, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Peru?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel to Peru without a visa for tourism or short visits. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Peru before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Peru?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Rabies, Tuberculosis and Yellow fever sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
