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The Perfect Peru Travel Guide
Peru is an amazing country that has a variety of South American wonders to see. From the iconic city of Machu Picchu to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Peru has some bucket list experiences to offer. Combine these amazing destinations with wonderfully welcoming people and a thriving tourism infrastructure, you’ll find a trip to Peru awe-inspiring and easy to navigate!
Why Visit Peru?
Peru was the first country we visited in South America – and for good reason. With people flocking en masse to Machu Picchu it seemed like a place that would be easy to navigate for us tourists. And it was. It felt safe, friendly and there was plenty to do!
Besides being a great country for a vacation, Peru is a great county to see something truly unique. A rainforest or two – yup. Cities that are hundreds of years old – yup. Dessert oasis – yup. Foodie cities to explore – yup. Preserved cultures that still welcome visitors – yup. Peru really has a lot that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Keep reading for more Peru travel advice.
Our Top 5 Things to do in Peru
- Machu Picchu: Awe-inspiring and bucket-list worthy, the hype around Machu Picchu is not over exaggerated.
- Madre de Dios: this rainforest region is rich in birdlife and is a amazing experience for birdwatchers and others interested in wildlife.
- The Amazon River: The Amazon River starts in Peru. The rainforest surrounding it is also incredibly biodiverse and great for people who love a nature adventure.
- Huacachina oasis: Rolling over the sand dunes of Huacachina is one of the best tours we’ve ever been on!
- Ceviche: cities along the Pacific coast of Peru are rich in seafood and Peru does an amazing ceviche – even hole in the wall restaurants have the best seafood!
The best time to visit Peru is really dependent on where you are planning on going. Check out our location dependent posts below to get more information on best times to visit specific places.
The temperatures in Peru vary widely by region. There are rainforests, cool cloud forests, snow capped mountains, temperate coastal cities. Packing in layers is recommended.
Getting Around:
Lima has the country’s major international airport. However, there are relatively inexpensive domestic flights to many Peruvian cities. Consider exploring these options if you are short on time and have a wide variety of places you want to visit – Peru has winding roads and traveling by car often takes longer than anticipated.
Within cities, it’s popular to take tourism shuttles (aka vans), city buses and taxis. Using Uber is also an easy way to get around in cities. If you’re doing tours, make sure to get tours that include transportation – strikes and traffic can often cause unpredictable travel times so having transport included in your tours ensures smooth transitions from your accommodations to your tourist sites.
Language:
Spanish is the official language of Peru. Quechua is also widely spoken as it is legacy language of the Inca people.
However, if you only speak English, you’ll be able to get by. Learn a few phrases to be polite but the only times we needed to speak in Spanish were a few smaller local restaurants we went to. You could avoid this by visiting English-oriented providers if you really can’t speak Spanish.
Know Before You Go
Currency and Budget:
The Peruvian Sol is the official currency. Cash and cards are widely accepted through the country. Make sure to have a regular stash of cash on you as some local shops don’t accept credit cards.
Lodging in Peru is inexpensive, averaging around $60 USD/night for a mid-range hotel. We found food costs to be just slightly below average at around $30 USD/day. However, vacationing in Peru can get expensive. Lots of places are so out of the way or restricted that you have to hire a tour guide or take a plane to get there. Tours can vary widely from $25 for a full day tour to $400 for a full day tour. When you pay for one of these each day, your Peru travel costs can skyrocket.
Health & Safety:
Peru felt like a really safe country. We often walked around cities after dark and they were well lit and locals were friendly. We often used certified tourism guides – which is a national certification in Peru – and they were trustworthy.
The most common crimes are petty theft and pickpocketing so make sure to leave your valuables behind and be aware of your wallet/bags, especially in popular tourist towns like Cusco. Just be safe and make smart choices like everywhere else in the world.
Tap water is not safe for foreigners to drink – and locals will warn you of the possible consequences. Traveller’s diarrhea is common if you ingest the water or unfamiliar foods. Make sure to pack anti-diarrheal medication so your trip is not impacted.
There are several tropical diseases, like Malaria and Yellow Fever that can be present in mosquito populations in Peru. Additionally, altitude sickness is a really thing! If you’re visiting Cusco or the Sacred Valley, consider altitude sickness medication. Check out the US CDC’s Yellow Book on Peru for vaccination and medication recommendations based on locations you’re planning on visiting.