country

PeruPerú

First trip: Lima 2 nights, fly to Cusco and sleep low in the Sacred Valley first (2–3 nights), then Machu Picchu, then Cusco 2–3; add Lake Titicaca or Arequipa only with 12+ days, and fly the long legs.

Not field-verified

Peru's trip is shaped by altitude and by Machu Picchu's timed tickets. Cusco is at about 3,400 m and Puno on Lake Titicaca at about 3,800 m; flying straight from sea-level Lima and climbing stairs the same day is how trips start with two lost days. Sleep lower in the Sacred Valley (about 2,800–2,900 m) first, book Machu Picchu tickets, the train and any Inca Trail permit before anything else, and fly between Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and the Amazon instead of riding 20-hour buses.

All regions, cities and parks in Peru (Atlas) →

Regions

Limaplanned

Arrival city and food capital; Miraflores and Barranco as bases

2–3 nights

Cusco and the Sacred Valleyplanned

Acclimatise in the Valley (Urubamba, Ollantaytambo), train to Machu Picchu, then Cusco

5–7 nights

Southern Peru (Arequipa, Colca, Lake Titicaca)planned

Arequipa and Colca Canyon, then Puno and the lake

4–6 nights

Peruvian Amazonplanned

Lodges from Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos (fly in)

3–4 nights

Arrive

LIM

Jorge Chávez International (Lima)

Main international hub; allow 45–90 minutes to Miraflores by taxi or app depending on traffic

CUZ

Alejandro Velasco Astete (Cusco)

Mostly domestic flights from Lima and Arequipa; 15–30 minutes to the centre

Time math

7 days: Lima 1 + fly to Cusco, Sacred Valley 2 + Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu 1 + Cusco 2, fly out via Lima
10 days: Lima 2 + Sacred Valley 2 + Machu Picchu 1 + Cusco 3 + 2 spare days (Rainbow Mountain or Lima food)
14 days: Lima 2 + Arequipa 2 + Colca 1 + Puno 2 + Cusco/Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu 6 + 1 spare, ascending gradually from Arequipa

Country rules

Inherited by every page below

Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.

Etiquette

Ask before photographing people in traditional dress; many expect a small payment.
Greet with buenos días or buenas tardes before asking for anything.
Respect site rules at Machu Picchu: no drones, no walking sticks without rubber tips, no leaving the marked circuit.

Inti Raymi (June 24, Cusco): Very high demand for Cusco rooms and Machu Picchu tickets in late June.
Fiestas Patrias (July 28–29): National holiday; domestic travel peak and higher demand across Cusco and the coast.
February: Inca Trail closed; heaviest rain in the Andes.
Rainy season (November–March): Landslides and flooding can suspend trains and roads.

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 3/5

Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
US dollars are accepted by some hotels and tour operators; carry clean, undamaged notes.
Use ATMs inside banks or malls, and carry small notes: change for large ones is often short.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Safety

Altitude: headache, nausea and poor sleep in the first 48 hours are normal; worsening symptoms mean go down and see a doctor.
Taxis: use app-booked or hotel-called taxis in Lima and Cusco, never unmarked street cabs at night.
Protests and road blockades happen, especially in the south: follow local news and keep your plans flexible.
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the VRAEM valley region and to areas near the Colombian border in Loreto (except the Amazon River): neither is on standard routes.
Rainy season (November–March) brings landslides that can cut the Machu Picchu rail line and mountain roads.
Earthquakes: Peru sits on an active fault zone; note your hotel's exits and follow official instructions.

Lima is a LATAM hub with flights across South America; Puno connects overland to Bolivia's Lake Titicaca and La Paz.

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