Peru: Complete Travel Guide for 2025

Peru packs an extraordinary amount into one country: a New Wonder of the World at Machu Picchu, a food scene that regularly tops "best in Latin America" lists, high-altitude Andean cities where Inca stonework meets colonial cathedrals, and a coastline, jungle and desert all within reach. It is a place where the headline sights genuinely live up to the hype — and where the surrounding experiences often surprise travellers even more.

It is also one of South America's better-value destinations. Set menus (menús del día) cost a few euros, buses are inexpensive if you have time, and even the flagship experiences can be planned smartly to keep costs down. The catch is logistics: altitude, permit deadlines for the Inca Trail, and train tickets to Machu Picchu that sell out mean Peru rewards planning more than most.

This guide leads with the practical questions — when to go and what it costs — then covers getting around, the key regions and the essentials.

Best Time to Visit

Peru has three very different climate zones, so your timing should follow your route.

• Andes (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Titicaca): The dry season, May to September, is the classic window — clear skies, cold nights, best trekking conditions. June to August is peak season, so book Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail well ahead.
• Rainy season (November to March): Cheaper and greener, but afternoon downpours are common and the Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance.
• Coast (Lima): Counterintuitively, Lima is grey and misty (garúa) from roughly June to November, and sunniest December to April — the opposite of the Andes.
• Amazon (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado): Wildlife viewing and river access shift with water levels; the drier months (roughly May–October) are generally easier for trails.

If you only care about Machu Picchu and the Andes, aim for the shoulder months of April–May or September–October: good weather with fewer crowds than mid-winter peak.

What a Trip to Peru Costs

Using our verified budget data, a day in Cusco — the base for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley — works out roughly like this:

• Backpacker: around €24/day (hostel, market meals and set menus, walking the centre)
• Mid-range: around €92/day (private room, restaurants, guided day trips and site tickets)
• Comfort/luxury: around €258/day (boutique hotels, top restaurants, private guides)

Machu Picchu itself is a notable extra: the entry ticket, the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (from roughly €50 one-way) and transfers push that single day well above a normal Cusco budget. Lima and the Sacred Valley tend to sit around or below the Cusco mid-range figure. Model your own trip with our trip cost calculator.

Flights. Distances in Peru are large, so internal flights save serious time. Based on our verified route data, Lima to Cusco starts around €50 one-way — versus a bus of roughly 20+ hours. Regional connections such as Bogotá–Lima (around €120) and Buenos Aires–Lima (around €160) are worth factoring in if Peru is part of a wider South America trip.

Getting Around

• Domestic flights (LATAM, Sky) connect Lima with Cusco, Arequipa and other hubs quickly and cheaply if booked ahead.
• Long-distance buses are Peru's budget backbone. Cruz del Sur and Oltursa are the most reliable, with reclining "cama" seats on overnight routes.
• Train to Machu Picchu: PeruRail and Inca Rail run from Ollantaytambo (and Poroy) to Aguas Calientes. Book early — seats sell out in high season.
• Colectivos — shared minivans — cover shorter Sacred Valley hops cheaply.

Top Destinations

Cusco

The former Inca capital at 3,400 m: the Plaza de Armas, the San Blas district, Sacsayhuamán and the springboard for Machu Picchu. Our Cusco guide covers acclimatisation, sights and costs.

Machu Picchu

The cloud-wrapped Inca citadel — the reason many people come to Peru. Reachable by train plus bus, or on the multi-day Inca Trail (which needs a licensed operator and a permit booked months ahead).

Lima

South America's culinary capital, with the seaside districts of Miraflores and bohemian Barranco, ceviche everywhere and several of the region's most celebrated restaurants.

Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo, Pisac, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans — worth at least a full day between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

The world's highest navigable lake at 3,812 m, home to the floating Uros islands and Taquile.

Peruvian Cuisine

• Ceviche — fresh fish cured in lime with onion, ají and sweet potato; the national dish
• Lomo Saltado — stir-fried beef with tomato, onion and chips, a Chinese-Peruvian fusion
• Ají de Gallina — shredded chicken in a creamy yellow-chilli sauce
• Anticuchos — grilled beef-heart skewers, Lima's classic street food
• Pisco Sour — the national cocktail of pisco, lime and egg white

Suggested Itinerary

Most first trips centre on the Andes. Fly into Lima for a day or two of ceviche and coast, then on to Cusco — but build in acclimatisation before heading higher. A common approach is to drop straight to the lower Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo sits below Cusco) to adjust more gently, spend a day or two among the ruins, then take the train to Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco itself. Eight to ten days covers this loop with proper acclimatisation; two weeks lets you add Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, or a stretch of Amazon.

Practical Essentials

• Visa: Citizens of many countries — including EU nations, the UK, US, Canada and Australia — can typically enter visa-free as tourists for extended stays. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with an official source before you travel.
• Currency: The Peruvian sol (PEN). ATMs generally give fair rates; carry cash for markets, small towns and site entries.
• Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants; guides and porters are customarily tipped.
• Safety: Tourist areas are generally safe, but watch for pickpockets in Lima and Cusco and avoid walking alone late at night. Check current local advice before travelling.