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Machu Picchu in morning mist

Americas · South America

🇵🇪 Peru travel guide

Inca trails, Amazon rivers & world-class cuisine.

Currency
S/ PEN
Time
UTC −5
Emergency
105 · 106

Best places in Peru

  • Machu Picchu. Book timed tickets in advance.
  • Sacred Valley. Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray terraces.
  • Lake Titicaca. Floating Uros islands.
  • Lima. Miraflores cliffs and food tours.

Hidden places

  • Choquequirao. Remote Inca ruins with few visitors.
  • Kuélap. Cloud-forest fortress in the north.
  • Huaraz. Glacier lakes like Laguna 69.
  • Paracas & Ballestas. “Poor man’s Galápagos”.

When to go

  • Best time. May–September dry season in the Andes.
  • Avoid. February (Inca Trail closed, heavy rain).
  • Festivals. Inti Raymi in Cusco (24 June), Virgen de la Candelaria (Feb).

What you need

  • Documents. Passport, Machu Picchu and Inca Trail permits.
  • Pack. Layers, rain jacket, hiking boots, sunscreen.
  • Health. Acclimatise to altitude; check yellow fever advice for the Amazon.
  • Apps. Uber, Cabify, Google Translate.

The soul of Peru

  • Start somewhere unforgettable. Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Lima and the Amazon.
  • Choose your season. May–September is dry in the Andes; the Inca Trail closes in February.
  • Before you leave. Book Machu Picchu and Inca Trail permits well ahead.

Visual money

  • Currency · PEN S/. Peruvian sol. Small notes are hard to change in villages.
  • A daily budget. Illustrative, per person: budget S/150–250; comfortable S/400–800.
  • Paying locally. Cards work in cities; cash for markets and rural areas.

Arrival playbook

  • Documents first. Many visitors enter visa-free; check official Peruvian sites.
  • Your first ride. Use official airport taxis in Lima.
  • Get connected. Claro and Movistar SIMs need your passport.

Street codes

  • Photos. Ask before photographing people in traditional dress; some expect a tip.
  • Pachamama. Offerings to Mother Earth are part of daily life.
  • Pace. Move slowly at altitude.

Beyond the postcard

  • Rainbow Mountain. Striped peaks — go early, altitude is high.
  • Colca Canyon. Watch condors soar.
  • Huacachina. Desert oasis and dunes.

Food dossier

  • A few first plates. Ceviche, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and pisco sour.
  • Lima. One of the world’s great food cities.
  • Eat with care. Drink bottled water and peel fruit.

Scam shield

  • Fake tour sellers. Book Machu Picchu only through official channels or licensed agencies.
  • Taxis. Use registered or app taxis.
  • Fake notes. Check bills for watermarks.

Language cheat sheet

  • Hello · Hola. Thank you · Gracias. Quechua thanks · Sulpayki.
  • How much? · ¿Cuánto cuesta?. Water · Agua. Help · ¡Ayuda!
  • Altitude sickness · Soroche. Coca tea is a local remedy.

Survival essentials

  • Emergency · 105. Police 105, ambulance (SAMU) 106, fire 116.
  • Altitude. Cusco sits at 3,400m; acclimatise for two days.
  • Power & time. 220V; sockets types A and C. UTC−5.

Your Peru chapter

  • A gentle first journey. Lima → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu over 10 days.
  • A different pace. Add an Amazon lodge stay near Puerto Maldonado.
  • Before confirming. This is a starter guide, not live advice. Verify visas, prices, opening times and safety conditions with official sources.
Plan my Peru trip with Ari