Is Chile or Peru cheaper?

Peru is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Chile versus under $35–65/day in Peru.

When is the best time to visit Chile vs Peru?

Chile is at its best in November–March; Peru peaks in May–October.

Is Chile or Peru better in August?

Peru is the better of the two in August. Chile has the edge in January, February, March, November, December, Peru in May, June, July, August, September, October.

How long do you need in Chile vs Peru?

Plan 2–4 weeks for Chile and 2–5 for Peru.

Should I choose Chile or Peru?

Pick Chile if you want somewhere stronger for nature, more urban / city-focused. Pick Peru if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for history, adventure. Both deliver on food, so on those either works.

Chile vs Peru

Two strong destinations, different in important ways. Here's the side-by-side, then a verdict on which suits which traveler.

South America

Chile

A 4,000km country of deserts, wine valleys, lakes, and southern fjords.

Best time to visit

January: peak
February: peak
March: peak
April: fine
May: avoid
June: avoid
July: avoid
August: avoid
September: fine
October: fine
November: peak
December: peak

Peak Fine Avoid

South America

Peru

Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lima's food scene, and the Amazon.

Best time to visit

January: avoid
February: avoid
March: fine
April: fine
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: peak
September: peak
October: peak
November: fine
December: avoid

Peak Fine Avoid

Read our full guides about Chile and Peru.

Side by side

Emphasised where they differ. Muted rows are much the same either way.

	Chile	Peru
Best time	November–March	May–October
Climate	mild	mild
Budget	Budget – Mid-range · $35–130/day	Backpacker – Budget · under $35–65/day
Trip length	2–4 wks	2–5 wks
Visa	Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days). Verify before travel.	Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).
Currency	CLP (Chilean Peso).	PEN (Sol). Roughly 3.7 PEN ≈ 1 USD.
Language	Spanish. Limited English.	Spanish (Quechua in highlands). Limited English.
Tap water	Tap water generally safe in Santiago and major towns.	Tap water not safe.
Safety	One of the safer countries in the region. Watch for petty theft in cities.	Generally safe in tourism. Altitude sickness in Cusco is the bigger concern.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Chile or Peru, month by month

Which of the two is the better bet for each month of the year, scored on how well the season suits each place.

Which to choose

Choose Chile if:

You want somewhere stronger for nature.
You want somewhere more urban / city-focused.

Choose Peru if:

You want somewhere cheaper across the board.
You want somewhere stronger for history, adventure.

Both deliver on food — so on those dimensions either works.

Common questions

Is Chile or Peru cheaper?: Peru is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Chile versus under $35–65/day in Peru.
When is the best time to visit Chile vs Peru?: Chile is at its best in November–March; Peru peaks in May–October.
Is Chile or Peru better in August?: Peru is the better of the two in August. Chile has the edge in January, February, March, November, December, Peru in May, June, July, August, September, October.
How long do you need in Chile vs Peru?: Plan 2–4 weeks for Chile and 2–5 for Peru.
Should I choose Chile or Peru?: Pick Chile if you want somewhere stronger for nature, more urban / city-focused. Pick Peru if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for history, adventure. Both deliver on food, so on those either works.