Peru travel guide for Canadians

Canadians do not need a visa for Peru for tourism. You can stay up to 183 days per entry. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure, and you should carry proof of onward travel (a return or onward ticket) as border officers may ask for it.

The main decisions are timing and altitude. Fly into Lima, then to Cusco for Machu Picchu, but sleep low in the Sacred Valley first to adjust. Budget about CAD 150–250 per day for a comfortable trip, less if you stay in hostels and eat locally.

Canadians enter Peru visa-free for tourism. The immigration officer stamps your passport with a stay of up to 183 days. You need a passport valid for at least six months and evidence of onward travel. Overstaying can mean fines and trouble at departure.

For business, study, or stays longer than 183 days, contact the Peruvian embassy in Ottawa before you travel. Entry rules can change, so check the official sources before you fly.

The Embassy of Canada in Peru is in Lima. It provides consular services for Canadians: passport renewal, emergency assistance, and help if you are arrested or hospitalised. For routine questions, contact the embassy before you travel.

If you need help in an emergency, call the embassy or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. Register with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service so they can reach you in a crisis.

Peru is affordable for Canadians. A budget traveller can manage on about CAD 60–100 per day (hostels, street food, buses). A mid-range trip with private rooms, nicer restaurants, and domestic flights runs CAD 150–250 per day. Machu Picchu entry and the train from Cusco add a significant chunk.

Domestic flights (Lima–Cusco, Cusco–Arequipa) cost roughly CAD 60–150 each way if booked ahead. Use the currency converter on this site for live rates.

From Toronto (YYZ) or Vancouver (YVR), direct flights to Lima take about 8–9 hours. Most Canadians fly via Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver with a connection in the US or Mexico. From Lima, domestic flights to Cusco take about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Book domestic flights early, especially in the dry season (May–September). Use the flight-time planner to compare routes from your home city.

Peru uses plugs of types A (two flat pins) and C (two round pins), with a standard voltage of 220 V and a frequency of 60 Hz. Canadian devices with type A plugs will fit, but check the voltage: most modern chargers handle 100–240 V, but some appliances (like hair dryers) may need a converter.

If your device is dual-voltage, you only need a plug adapter. If not, bring a voltage converter. Power outages are rare in cities but can happen in remote areas.

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. In sit-down restaurants, about 10% is customary if service is good. Tip guides, porters, and drivers on tours: for example, S/ 10–20 per day for a guide, and a few soles for porters. In taxis, rounding up is fine.

Some restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill; check before tipping extra.

In an emergency in Peru, call 105 for police, 116 for fire, and 106 for SAMU ambulance. For consular help, contact the Embassy of Canada in Lima or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Keep a copy of your passport and travel insurance details. For minor issues, pharmacies and clinics in cities are plentiful and inexpensive.

Government of Canada travel advice for Peru, and the Embassy of Canada in Peru. Entry requirements can change; always confirm with official sources before travel.