Peru
Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lima's food scene, and the Amazon.
Peru packs three completely different trips into one country. Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley are the headline act, and they earn it. Lima has become South America's serious food destination. Add the Amazon, the high desert at Arequipa and Colca Canyon, or the rainbow mountain trekking — the variety is unusual.
The standard route works: a couple of days eating in Lima — ceviche in Barranco, a splurge tasting menu if you book far ahead — then fly to Cusco and drop straight down to the Sacred Valley to acclimatize. Ollantaytambo makes a calmer base than Cusco itself. Machu Picchu comes by train or the four-day Inca Trail, and then you branch: Arequipa and Colca Canyon, or a flight into the Amazon. Permits, trains, and entry tickets are where the money goes.
The honest part: Cusco sits at 3,400 meters and the altitude flattens most arrivals for a day or two — plan for it. Machu Picchu runs on timed tickets and feels like it, and Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead. Lima is grey and traffic-choked, worth visiting mostly for the food. December through March means rain in the highlands. None of it dims the payoff: ruins, mountains, and a food scene this good rarely share a border.
Highlights
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Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley
Acclimatize in the valley first — Ollantaytambo beats Cusco as a base.
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Lima
World-class food. Stay in Miraflores or Barranco.
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Arequipa & Colca Canyon
The white city plus condors and one of the deepest canyons on earth.
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Amazon (Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado)
Jungle lodge — caiman, monkeys, macaws.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).
- Currency
- PEN (Sol). Roughly 3.7 PEN ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Spanish (Quechua in highlands). Limited English.
- Safety
- Generally safe in tourism. Altitude sickness in Cusco is the bigger concern.
- Getting around
- Domestic flights for distances. PeruRail to Machu Picchu.
- Tap water
- Tap water not safe.
- Plug type
- Type A Type B Type C 220V
- Money
- Cash dominant outside Lima; cards in tourism.
General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit Peru?
- Peru is at its best in May–October. It's best to avoid January, February, December.
- How many days do you need in Peru?
- Most trips run 2–5 weeks, depending on how much ground you want to cover.
- Is Peru expensive?
- Plan for backpacker – budget daily spend, depending on how you travel.
- Is Peru safe for travelers?
- Generally safe in tourism. Altitude sickness in Cusco is the bigger concern.
- Do you need a visa for Peru?
- Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).
Compare Peru with
If you like Peru, also consider
Mexico
Mexico City is world-class. Add the coast, ruins, and food culture.
United States
A continent pretending to be a country — cities, deserts, and the best national parks anywhere.
France
Paris is only the opening act — wine country, the Alps, and two coastlines.
Italy
The benchmark for food, history, and beauty.
Greece
Ruins in the morning, a swim by noon, taverna until dark.
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