Peru travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Peru packs three countries into one. There is a dry, grey desert coast with some of the best food in South America, a spine of Andean mountains where Inca stonework still holds up whole towns, and a green Amazon basin that covers most of the map. You can eat ceviche on a Lima cliff in the morning and be above 3,000 metres by the afternoon.

Most trips are built around Cusco and Machu Picchu, and that is worth doing well. This guide covers when to go, where to go beyond the famous ruins, a twelve-day route, how to cope with altitude, and what changes when you are planning it with friends.

Capital: Lima
Currency: Peruvian sol (S/)
Languages: Spanish, with Quechua and Aymara widely spoken in the Andes
Plugs: Type A, B and C, 220 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC-5, no daylight saving
Best time to go: May to September (the dry season in the Andes)
Daily budget: About US$90–180 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

The dry season (May to September) is the best time for the Andes and the usual choice for Machu Picchu and treks. Days are sunny and clear, nights are cold at altitude, and the mountains are at their best. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, with July and August the peak. Book the things that sell out, such as Machu Picchu tickets and trek permits, well ahead.

The wet season (November to March) brings afternoon rain and cloud to the highlands, with the heaviest rain in January and February. Landslides can cut roads and rail, and the classic Inca Trail closes for maintenance every February. In return the hills are green and the sites are quieter. Machu Picchu is still open, and often beautiful in mist.

The coast has its own pattern. Lima is dry all year, but from about May to November it sits under a grey, damp blanket of cloud called the garúa, and the sun appears mostly in summer, December to April. Beaches in the north are warm for most of the year.

The Amazon is hot and humid all year. The wetter months bring higher rivers and easier boat travel; the drier months, roughly May to October, make walking easier and wildlife easier to spot on the banks.

Festivals shape the calendar. Inti Raymi, the Inca sun festival, fills Cusco around 24 June. Fiestas Patrias, Peru's independence holidays on 28 and 29 July, are a busy time for domestic travel. Holy Week is also busy across the country.

Where to go

Lima

The capital sits on cliffs above the Pacific and is the country's food city: ceviche, lomo saltado, anticuchos and Nikkei cooking, which blends Peruvian and Japanese ideas. Stay in Miraflores or Barranco, walk the clifftop paths, and spend a morning in the colonial centre. Two or three days is enough, though you can fill more with food alone.

Cusco

The old Inca capital, at around 3,400 metres, is a mix of Inca walls with Spanish buildings on top. The Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, the San Blas neighbourhood and the ruins on the hills above town are all within reach on foot. Give yourself a day or two to adjust to the altitude before you do anything strenuous. Three days is a good length.

The Sacred Valley

A lower, warmer valley north-west of Cusco, dotted with Inca sites and villages: Pisac and its market, the terraces of Moray, the salt pans of Maras, and the stone town of Ollantaytambo. Sleeping here, at around 2,800 metres, is easier on the body than sleeping in Cusco. Two or three nights.

Machu Picchu

The Inca citadel high above the Urubamba river needs little introduction, and it is as striking as the photographs. Tickets are limited and sold for set entry times, so book as early as you can through the official government ticketing site. You reach it by train to Aguas Calientes, the town below, then a short bus ride or a steep walk up. Stay a night in Aguas Calientes to see the site early. For the Inca Trail, permits are limited and sell out months ahead; book through a licensed operator as soon as your dates are fixed. Shorter treks to Machu Picchu exist for those who miss out.

Arequipa and the Colca Canyon

The white volcanic stone city of Arequipa sits under three volcanoes and has a fine old convent and excellent food. From there, Colca Canyon is a long day or an overnight trip: one of the deepest canyons in the world, with condors rising on the morning thermals. Allow three days for both.

Lake Titicaca

The highest navigable lake in the world, at about 3,800 metres, shared with Bolivia. Puno is the base, and boat trips go to the reed islands of the Uros and to Taquile. It is cold and thin-aired, so it works best after you have adjusted. Two days.

The Amazon

Flights from Lima or Cusco reach Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Tambopata reserve, where lodges run river and jungle trips. Iquitos, in the north, can be reached only by air or river. Two to four nights at a lodge is a good length.

The south coast

Paracas has boat trips to the Ballestas Islands and its sea lions and seabirds, and Nazca has the ancient lines drawn in the desert, best seen from a small plane. Huacachina is a desert oasis with dune buggies and sandboarding. It makes an easy two days between Lima and Arequipa.

A 12-day itinerary

Days 1–2: Lima. Arrive, rest and eat. Walk the coast and take a food tour or cooking class.

Days 3–5: Cusco. Fly from Lima, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Take the first day slowly, drink water and tea, and avoid heavy meals and alcohol. Explore the old town and the ruins above it.

Days 6–7: The Sacred Valley. Move down to the valley by road, about 1 to 2 hours. See Pisac, Moray and Ollantaytambo, and sleep in the valley.

Days 8–9: Machu Picchu. Take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Go up early, spend the morning at the site, and return to Cusco that evening or the next day.

Days 10–12: Arequipa. Fly from Cusco, about 1 hour. Walk the old town and, if you have the energy, take a short trip into the Colca Canyon. Fly home via Lima.

With more time, add the Amazon from Cusco or a few days at Lake Titicaca. For a slower trip, cut Arequipa and stay longer in the valley.

Getting around

Peru is large and the mountains slow every road, so domestic flights are the usual way to cover long distances, such as Lima to Cusco or Arequipa. Book early for the dry-season months and check bag limits, which tend to be strict on small planes.

Trains matter in two places: the lines to Machu Picchu, which have several classes of service and sell out, and the long scenic route between Cusco and the Lake Titicaca area.

Long-distance buses are the cheap way to travel. The better companies run comfortable overnight coaches with reclining seats, which also save a night's hotel. Roads in the highlands are winding and can close in the rainy season, so build in a spare day.

In towns, colectivos (shared vans) and taxis are cheap. Agree the price before you get in, or use a ride-hailing app in Lima, where it is widely used. If you are tempted to rent a car, our guide to renting a car abroad covers the checks worth making; in Peru, driving in the Andes is for confident drivers only.

Money and costs

The currency is the sol, and you should carry some cash. Cards are accepted in hotels and most restaurants in Lima and Cusco, but small shops, markets, village restaurants, buses and taxis want cash in small notes. ATMs are common in towns, less so on treks and in rural areas, so take what you need before you leave. See how to pay abroad for how to avoid fees.

In restaurants, a tip of around 10% is usual if service is not already added; check the bill. Guides, drivers and porters on treks are tipped at the end, and it matters to them.

Food is good value: a set lunch, called a menú, costs little, while Lima's top restaurants can cost a lot. Machu Picchu and the trains that serve it are the biggest single costs on most trips, along with the flights.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$45–80, with hostels, set lunches and buses.
Mid-range: about US$90–180, with hotels, restaurant meals, a flight or two and a train.
Comfortable: US$250 and up, with boutique hotels, private guides and the best train service.

Planning Peru as a group

Peru is a good country to see with friends, as long as the fixed-date items are sorted first.

Machu Picchu comes first. Tickets and Inca Trail permits are limited. Settle your dates as a group, then book tickets and trains before anything else, and plan the rest of the trip around them. Altitude is personal. In a group, some people will feel fine at 3,400 metres and some will have headaches. Plan a gentle first day in Cusco, and have a plan B for the one person who needs to rest.

Rooms. Hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley often have family rooms and apartments with several beds. Check that heating is included, as nights are cold.

Tours. Day trips and treks are usually priced per person with a minimum group size, and a private tour for four to eight people can cost less each than joining a large group. Book a licensed operator for treks.

Cash. Because buses, markets and small restaurants want cash, one person often pays and the others owe them. Log costs in soles when they happen, so the trip ends in a few simple payments.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Peru and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs, altitude, and trek cancellations. Check that it covers the altitude you plan to reach.
Connectivity: an eSIM or local SIM works in towns, with patchy coverage in the mountains and the jungle. See our guide to eSIMs and staying connected.
A plug adapter for Type A and B (and some C) sockets at 220 V. Check your devices accept that voltage; most phone and laptop chargers do.
Health: ask a travel clinic well before you go about vaccines, especially if you are going to the Amazon, and about altitude medication. Drink bottled or treated water.
Customs: greet people before you ask for anything, ask before photographing people in traditional dress, and expect to be asked for a small tip if you do. Coca tea is the traditional remedy for altitude and is offered in most hotels.

What to pack

Layers matter more than anything: a Cusco day can start near freezing and end in strong sun. Bring a warm fleece, a light waterproof, a hat and gloves for mornings, and sun protection, as the sun at altitude is fierce. Good walking shoes with grip are essential on stone steps and trails.

For the Amazon, light long sleeves and trousers, insect repellent and a rain jacket. Bring a small day pack for treks, and leave unneeded luggage at your hotel in Cusco. Our hiking trip packing list is a good starting point.