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Peru
The complete guide

Peru

Everything you need to plan a great trip — from Machu Picchu's Sun Gate to Lima's world-class ceviche — without the guesswork.

Flight time 6-10h from US gateways, 11-14h from Europe (via Lima)From $450-900 round-trip from the USVisa Visa-free up to 90-183 days for most Western nationalities*Time zone GMT-5

Peru rewards 12-16 days: Lima (2-3 days), Cusco and the Sacred Valley (5-7 days including altitude acclimatization and Machu Picchu), and optionally Lake Titicaca or an Amazon eco-lodge (2-4 more days). Best months for the Andes are May-September (dry season) — but book Machu Picchu tickets, trains, and any Inca Trail permit 3-6+ months ahead for that window, since it's also when everyone else visits. Most Western nationalities get 90-183 days visa-free. Budget from $35/day backpacking, $80-150/day mid-range.

Peru gets reduced to a single postcard — Machu Picchu at sunrise — and that postcard undersells almost everything else going on here: a coastal capital with a genuinely world-class restaurant scene, a still-living Inca town you can actually walk through, the highest navigable lake on the planet, and more than half the country buried under Amazon rainforest most visitors never see.

This guide covers everything: where to go, how many days, when to fly around the real booking-window logic (not just 'go in the dry season' — the timing of when you buy tickets matters as much as when you travel), what it actually costs in USD, the visa rule for your specific passport, and an honest, non-scary breakdown of altitude sickness, which is the one practical issue that catches more travelers off guard here than anywhere else on this site. Written to be genuinely useful, and updated through the season.

Destinations

All Destinations ←
Cusco
Destinations

Cusco

3-4 days, take the altitude seriously, and let the city itself surprise you.

The Sacred Valley
Destinations

The Sacred Valley

Lower and warmer than Cusco — a smart first stop, not just a day trip.

Lima
Destinations

Lima

2-3 days, stay in Miraflores or Barranco, and come hungry.

Lake Titicaca
Destinations

Lake Titicaca

The world's highest navigable lake — plan an extra acclimatization day.

Attractions

All Attractions ←
Machu Picchu
Attractions

Machu Picchu

Book months ahead in peak season — this is the single biggest planning mistake to avoid.

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
Attractions

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Genuinely stunning, genuinely tough — a serious altitude day, not a casual walk.

Experiences

All Experiences ←
Inca Trail Trekking
Experiences

Inca Trail Trekking

The classic 4-day route to Machu Picchu — but you must book through a licensed operator, months ahead.

Amazon Eco-Lodges: Tambopata vs. Iquitos
Experiences

Amazon Eco-Lodges: Tambopata vs. Iquitos

Two very different ways to experience the world's largest rainforest.

Food

All Food ←
Peruvian Food: Ceviche, Pisco Sour and Lima's World-Class Scene
Food

Peruvian Food: Ceviche, Pisco Sour and Lima's World-Class Scene

Arguably South America's best food city — and a cuisine that rewards real attention.

Practical Info

All Practical Info ←
Peru Visa and Entry Requirements (2026)
Practical Info

Peru Visa and Entry Requirements (2026)

The real answer, broken down by passport — not one generic rule.

Altitude, Money, Safety and eSIM in Peru
Practical Info

Altitude, Money, Safety and eSIM in Peru

Altitude is the practical issue most guides underrate — here's the honest playbook.

Articles & Comparisons

All Articles & Comparisons ←
Inca Trail or Alternative Treks: How to Choose
Articles & Comparisons

Inca Trail or Alternative Treks: How to Choose

An honest decision guide — not just 'they're all great.'

Best Time to Visit Peru and Machu Picchu
Articles & Comparisons

Best Time to Visit Peru and Machu Picchu

The Andes run on a dry-season calendar, not a summer-vacation one.

Questions people actually ask

How many days do I need in Peru?
10 days is a workable minimum focused on Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. 12-16 days is the strong balance, adding real acclimatization time and either Lake Titicaca or an Amazon eco-lodge. 18+ days lets you do all of it without feeling rushed.
When is the best time to visit Peru and Machu Picchu?
May-September is the Andean dry season — the most reliable weather for Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, and the best trekking conditions. May and September specifically offer nearly the same weather with smaller crowds and better ticket/permit availability than peak June-August. See our full best-time guide for the region-by-region breakdown, since Lima and the Amazon run on different calendars.
How much does a trip to Peru cost?
Backpacker budget: from $35/day (hostels, menu del día lunches, local transport). Mid-range comfort: $80-150/day (a good hotel, restaurant meals, guided day trips). A 12-day trip for two people, flights included, typically runs $3,000-$5,000 mid-range from the US, more from Europe or Australia — plus the Inca Trail or a top Lima tasting menu if either is on your list.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
It depends on your passport — see our full visa and entry guide. Most Western nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, NZ) need no advance visa, just a passport valid 6+ months, for stays of 90-183 days depending on nationality. Several other nationalities (India, China, some Gulf states) need a visa in advance unless they hold a valid US/Canada/UK/Schengen/Australia visa.
Is altitude sickness a big deal in Peru?
Genuinely, yes — Cusco (11,152 ft/3,399 m) and Lake Titicaca (12,507 ft/3,812 m) are high enough to affect otherwise healthy travelers regardless of fitness level. Build in 2-3 acclimatization days, hydrate heavily, and consider sleeping in the lower-altitude Sacred Valley first. See our full altitude guide for the complete playbook.
Do I need to book Machu Picchu tickets far in advance?
For June-August travel, yes — book entry tickets, trains, and especially the Huayna Picchu climb 3-4+ months ahead, and an Inca Trail permit 5-6+ months ahead. Shoulder months (April-May, September-October) need less lead time; rainy-season months (November-March) sometimes just a few weeks.
Cusco or Lima first?
Fly into Lima first if your international routing allows it, spend a couple of days there, then head to Cusco — landing straight at Cusco's altitude off a long-haul flight with zero adjustment is a rougher start than most travelers expect.
Does eSIM work well in Peru?
Well in cities and along the main tourist circuit — Airalo and Holafly offer data plans from about $6-18 for 7-15 days. A physical local SIM (Claro or Movistar) is similarly priced; expect thinner signal in remote Amazon and high-Andes areas regardless of provider.