Visit Peru, an amazing South American country with a spectacular historical heritage that attracts tourists from all over the world. Archaeological findings date back to the year 10,000 BC in Guitarrero Cave in the northwest. Since then, there were many traces of human life discovered all around Peru and the last great ancient civilization was that of the famous Inca Empire, which left a great impact on the country to this day.

Magnificent Machu Picchu is just one of the Incas preserved legacies and there are more in the famous Sacred Valley. For explorers of mysteries, there are world-known Nazca Lines, incredible land drawings of colossal proportions usually observed only from high ground or from the air.

And the history of Peru, however captivating, is not the only reason to visit this magical country – there is expansive Amazon rainforest and mountain rivers and waterfalls, Andes Mountains, condor watching, volcanoes, Titicaca lake, long and beautiful coastline, tasty food, and friendly locals. So, pack your bags and hiking boots!

Table of Contents

1. Quick facts

Official name: Republic of Peru
Capital: Lima
Population: 32 million
Area: 1.28 million sq km (496,225 sq miles)
Major language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 72 years (men), 77 years (women)
Currency: Nuevo Sol

2. Where is it?

Peru is located in the northwest of South America and it shares borders with five countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. It has a large coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a fairly large country – based on its size, it is the 20^th country in the world.

3. Visa requirements

As with many countries, your passport must be valid for at least three months after you visit Peru, so please plan ahead. Most EU countries, the US, Australia, Canada, South American countries, and Japan do not require visas for tourism, but you need to have a return ticket.

More info about visa requirements for Peru.

The rest of countries require visa and details can be found here.

4. Getting there

Getting to Peru is the best via one of two main international airports: Lima (LIM) or Cusco (CUZ),

Here are some flight offers to Peru from the US:

More cheap flights and hotels in Peru:

5. Where to stay

Accommodation options in Peru are very diverse: from budget to high-end hotels to eco and jungle lodges and even camping. There are options for all kinds of tourists, individuals, groups, and families.

For more information on Peru accommodation options click here.

It is up to you and your budget and personal preferences. For budget (and young) travelers, there is plenty of cheap accommodation to choose from in hostels.

For the latest offers on hotels from our providers use the search form below:

6. Moving Around

The fastest way to travel around Peru is via air (there are many local and international airports), but then you are missing wonderful scenery. If you prefer renting a car, driving is a good option since roads are in good condition and you can reach all your destinations easily with many stops to enjoy wonderful landscapes. You can even rent a car with a driver, so you can completely enjoy your trip.

Car rentals – book your ride and transfer

Taking a bus, especially for long-range trips is also a good option as bus transport in Peru is reliable and quite cheap. There is also the option to travel by train, but the railway system is not that developed and doesn’t cover the entire country, so we would recommend it as a last resort.

For traveling along the coastline, you can use a boat, as this type of transport is quite developed.

Within cities, such as Lima, there is an established bus transport system which can be used to move around the city. You can also use a taxi service, which is very affordable.

More info about transportation in Peru.

7. Food in Peru

Peru has a very diverse cuisine that consists mainly of fish, meat, potatoes, and vegetables, and herbs.

Ceviche is the most famous national dish, raw fish marinated in lemon juice and spices and served with corn, potatoes, and onion. Papa a la Huancaína is a dish made of boiled yellow potatoes and spicy sauce. Anticuchos is usually sold as street food – it’s various types of meat grilled as pieces or on a skewer, served with – potatoes.

One of the dishes might not be immediately accepted by western tourists – cuy chactado is basically a grilled (whole) guinea pig. Not very usual destiny for animals that are kept as house pets, but this has been a delicacy for thousands of years in the Andes region. From the healthy food (or as they call it – ‘superfood’, for some reason) menu, you should try sopa de quinoa (quinoa soup), healthy and energizing soup.

Alpaca charqui is literally meat jerky (the word ‘jerky’ originated from ‘charqui’, the more you know..), made originally from alpaca meat, but nowadays made from all kinds. Jerky lovers will enjoy this, for sure. Grilled piranha is exactly what it says – grilled fish whose name was made popular in some movies of questionable cinematic qualities. Nevertheless, highly recommended, and it is served with rice or potatoes.

Suspiro de Limeña (“a sigh of a lady from Lima”) is a dessert made of caramel cream with meringue topping. Created in the nineteenth century, now popular countrywide.

These are just a few Peruvian foods we recommend, there are of course many more and we will write about it in our future posts.

More info about food in Peru.

8. Safety

How safe is Peru for tourists and to move around? Peru can be an unsafe place for tourists; there is a significant danger of being robbed and mugged. Tourist areas are generally safe, both for single tourists and groups or families, but extra caution for pickpocketers is advised.

More info about safety in Peru .

9. Prices

Peru is not costly at all for tourists, and you can always find great deals on accommodation, meals, and attraction tickets. If you travel throughout the entire country, your biggest expense might be flight or bus tickets and accommodation, if you choose high-end hotels.

For detailed pricing information for various items, click here.

Prices throughout Peru vary a bit, while Lima and Cusco are the most expensive for general tourism.

10. Weather

Peru is a country in the southern hemisphere and summer and winter are in reverse to the ones in the northern hemisphere. When there is summer in the US or Europe, it’s winter in Peru and vice versa.

Additionally, as the country is stretched along north-south longitude, weather changes as you travel south. Also, going to the high altitude locations in mountains can make it very cold, even in summer, so please plan to bring additional clothes.

More info about the weather in Peru.

11. Best time to visit Peru

The high season to visit Peru is between March and October when there is the dry season so the trip will not be ruined by rain or bad weather conditions. This is the best time of the year to visit both Inca ruins and attractions along the Amazon basin and it is especially pleasant between May and September.

More tips on when to visit Peru.

12. Money matters

Peru’s national currency is Peruvian Sol (PEN). The best exchange rate is obtained from ATM machines. In large cities, there are many ATM machines available and from various local and international banks. There are much fewer ATMs when visiting rural areas, so plan ahead before going on a trip.

Some ATMs have a withdrawal limit of about 700 PEN, which is around $215, so you need to take this into consideration if you need a large amount of cash at once.

Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but please do check card charges from your bank in foreign countries before the trip.

More info about money, banks and ATMs in Peru.

13. What to see in Peru?

Peru is a magnificent country which should be visited at least once in a lifetime. There is so much to see and so much to learn and we are giving you just top destinations and attractions to start you up.

Sacred Valley. Also known as Urubamba River Valley, this area of about 60 km in length is where ancient Inca civilization resided. Located between the town of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Colca Canyon. One of the deepest canyons in the world, located in southern Peru. Popular with hiking and bird watching especially famous condors.

Saqsaywaman. Inca ruins complex in Cusco, famous for its unique walls made of large stones fitted together without any mortar.

Moray. Located at a high altitude of 3,500m and about 50 km northwest of Cusco, this ancient Inca site is known for its round concentric terraces.

Qorikancha. Remains of an important Inca temple, once covered in pure gold, located in Cusco.

Huayna Picchu. An iconic mountain raising about ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Salcantay. More than 6,200m high scenic mountain peak and part of the Andes mountain complex.

Choquequirao Archaeological Park. Ancient Inca ruins in the mountains of southern Peru, similar to Machu Picchu. Featuring temples, palaces, and terraces.

Taquile Island. Small island inside the lake of Titicaca, in southern Peru. Offering day boat torus and shopping of locally knit fabrics.

Tambomachay. Ancient Inca site with canals, waterfalls, and aqueducts located north of Cusco. It is believed that it has been built to worship water.

Manu National Park. The large national park is known for its various habitats and diverse plant and animal life, located north of Cusco.

Ausangate. Located southeast of Cusco, this storied mountain rising with a 6,384m peak is an important place in Incan mythology. Popular also for multi-day hikes and llama herders.

Kuélap. Remains of fortified settlement from 6^th century, built by Chachapoya culture. Located in northwest Peru, in the Amazonas region.

Main Square of Lima. The central plaza in the capital Lima, is surrounded by the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union.

Puka Pukara. Ancient Inca Empire military fort ruins, located north from Cusco.

Paracas National Reserve. Desert peninsula is located in a marine reserve south of Lima. Featuring unique rock formations and serves as a reserve for seals, birds, and other marine species.

Huascarán. Located in the Cordillera Blanca, the world’s tallest tropical mountain range, this is Peru’s highest mountain, with scenic two peaks. Part of namesake national park, popular with mountain climbers.

Santa Catalina Monastery. Dominican monastery from 16^th century, located in Arequipa, in southern Peru. Offering guided tours.

Amantaní. Small, circular-shaped island in Lake Titicaca. Offering cultural tours to learn about its Quechua inhabitants.

Larco Museum. The former mansion was converted into a museum of pre-Columbian artifacts, located in Lima.

Lares Trek. High altitude hike trek from village Lares, going to Cusco and to Machu Picchu. It takes several days on the scenic hike,

Gocta Waterfall. Very tall, over 770 high waterfalls in a tropical jungle. It’s a two-tiered waterfall, located in the Amazonas region, and one of the largest in the world.

Qenko. Located in Sacred Valley, northeast of Cusco, these ruins are of an ancient Incan temple, consisting of tunnels carved from rock.

Tipon Archaeological Site. Located 24 kilometers east of Cusco, this large site has very diverse and elaborate terraces, channels, and water fountains.

Sillustani. Pre-Incan burial ground with unique massive cylindrical tombstones. Burial ground with cylindrical tombs. Located near the town of Puno on Titicaca lake.

Tambopata National Reserve. Located in southeast Peru, near the Bolivian border, this biodiverse area features a rainforest and small Lake Sandoval. Famous for its colorful parrots and macaws.

Chavín de Huantar. Located on the banks of the Mosna River in center-west Peru, this archaeological site contains ruins and artifacts dating back to 1200 BC.

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Located in northeastern Peru, this reserve features a vast Amazon jungle with the El Dorado lagoon. Apart from the diverse biosphere, this reserve also has about 100,000 indigenous inhabitants.

Misti. Locally also known as Putina or Guagua Putina, this volcano is located in southern Peru near the city of Arequipa. Popular for hiking and mountain climbers.

Alpamayo. Iconic mountain peak located in the Cordillera Blanca, north of Lima. It is a pyramid-shaped, ice-covered mountain top, popular with experienced mountain climbers.

Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima. A 17^th century Baroque-style Roman Catholic church and monastery located near Plaza Mayor in Lima. Featuring a large library and underground catacombs.

Cusco Cathedral. Built over the period of hundred years in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, this ornate cathedral is located in central Cusco. Famous for its colonial-era paintings.

Pikillaqta. Pre-Columbian ruins of a sacred ritual site of Wari people, located about 20 km east fro Cusco.

Huaca Pucllana. Remains of a pre-Incan period pyramid located in Lima. Sven layers stepped pyramid featuring guided tours and a museum.

Larcomar. Outdoor mall in Lima, built into the sea cliff, featuring restaurants, shops, movie theater, and bowling. Popular with tourists.

Raqch’i. High altitude archaeological site located in San Pedro District, southeast of Cusco.

Patallacta. Also known as Llactapata or Q’ente Marka is an archaeological site in Peru located northwest of Cusco. Featuring concentric terrace construction on a hilltop.

Government Palace of Peru. Originally built by Pizarro in the 16^th century, this palace today is a government seat and official presidential residence. Popular for guard changing ceremonies.

Temple of the Moon. Ancient Incan temple ruins were placed in a shallow cave. Located near famous Machu Picchu.

Chachani. Extinct volcano near the city of Arequipa, popular for mountain climbing.

La Huaca del Sol. Moche civilization temple, dating back to 100 CE, is located on the northern coast. The temple served as a royal residence, ceremony site, and burial site.

Cathedral of Lima. Central Catholic church with a museum in capital Lima. Built during 16^th and 17^th centuries, it features gold plated altar and a museum.

San Pedro Market. Colorful and lively market in Cusco. Local produce and souvenirs.

Túcume. A pre-Hispanic era site in northwest Peru, south of the La Leche River. Large archeological site with 26 major pyramids and mounds. Offering guided tours and a museum.

Chauchilla Cemetery. Ancient cemetery located in the south of Peru, near Nazca, famous for its mummies.

Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán. Pyramid-shaped museum exhibiting elaborate funerary objects from the pre-Inca Royal Tombs of Sipán, located in Lambayeque, northwest of Peru.

Historic Centre of Lima. The central area of the capital Lima with several famous landmarks and city views.

Nazca lines. Amazing large earth drawings in south Peru, near town Nazca, covering about 1000 sq km and consisting of about 300 drawings. Best visible from the air or from hilltops.

14. Interesting facts about Peru

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing country:

Potatoes originate from Peru. Now there are about 3,000 types of potatoes grown there.
The Inca Empire was once the largest civilization in the Americas.
It takes about 600 hours to make one Peruvian poncho. That’s why it lasts a lifetime.

More interesting facts about Peru.

We hope you enjoyed reading about Peru!

Safe travels!