Peru Travel Guide

• Peru is a mid-size South American country spanning three quite different climate zones: Pacific coastal plains, Andes and foothills, and the Amazon jungle, so there are lots of great things to see.
• Machu Picchu is the top attraction. The site is home to the remains of an Inca city built as a refuge from the invading Spanish conquistadors, found high up on a mountain, which rises hundreds of metres straight up from the Urubamba River. The ruins are less of a city and more like a village in size, but they are extremely impressive, with ancient stone walls, pyramids and incredible views.
• The Nazca Lines are another ancient site, but these remain unexplained. They are very long, perfectly straight score lines in the ground, which is mostly solid rock. From the air, they are intriguing, with many different discernable patterns, but from ground level, you can’t make them out, so you really need to take a short flight to see them properly. There are patterns depicting a dog, parrot, monkey and many other familiar things, some of the shapes being over 100 metres long. One is called the Spaceship, and indeed there are suggestions that the long lines were caused by spacecraft landing and that some form of alien species drew the images.
• Lima is an interesting Spanish colonial city, which has now spread far from its main plaza. In the city, you can visit gold exhibitions and other interesting cultural sites, or head over to the popular beach resort of Miraflores, which is a good place to stay for a few days.
• Cusco (or Cuzco) is a world heritage site and a ‘must’ if you’re in Peru. Tourists flock to the city to visit its many ruins and beautiful colonial buildings. High in the Southern Sierra Mountain Range, Qoricancha, the sun temple, was an important place for Inca worship and boasts some spectacular views. There are many other temples and historic buildings to see and it’s the base for trips to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of The Incas. You can also enjoy a thrilling white water raft on the Urubamba River.
• Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The trip takes four days and you carry what you need, although often there are porters to help you out. It is well worth the effort when you arrive at Machu Picchu in the early morning, ahead of the bus crowds.
• The Amazon rainforest lies in Peru’s eastern part. It’s a jungle with incredible biodiversity, and the murky Amazon River is more than a kilometre wide here.
• It’s a great place to learn Spanish.

Peru is the home of the potato, with over 5000 different varieties available! A side of potatoes comes with most dishes, and there is often rice on offer too. Coastal menus favour fresh fish, including Peru’s national dish, ceviche. This is a mixture of seafood with lemon, coriander, chilli and garlic and is a wonderfully fresh and delicious treat. 

In the Andes region, you might sample grilled Alpaca (a small variety of llama) which is a lean meat and a speciality of the region.  If you’re feeling really adventurous you could try a plate of seared guinea pig – although this Peruvian delicacy is not for everyone!

Peruvians love sweet treats and if you’re in Lima you should definitely try the ‘churros’ – a caramel-filled deep-fried doughnut which will give you an amazing sugar rush!

There are three distinct regions in Peru: the Coastal plain, the Andes highlands and the Amazon.

On the arid coastal strip, it is hot and dry from December to March. From April to November it can be misty, as the warmer air from the desert meets cold Humboldt air currents, but is still warm and dry although the sea is very cold.

In the highlands, the winter is dry and cold (May to August) and summer is hot and wet (December to March). In the winter, the temperature can drop down to freezing at night. Top temperatures are in the mid-20s.

It rains all year round in the hot and lush Amazon region. The driest time is June to September. However, even during the wet months, it rarely rains for more than a few hours at a time, although this can be torrential. If you don’t like heat and humidity, avoid the jungle!

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Peru’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Peru set and enforce entry rules. If you are not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Peruvian Consulate General in the UK (in Spanish).

Passport validity requirements

To enter Peru, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can travel to Peru without a visa for tourism or short visits. If you are travelling for any other reason, check requirements with the Peruvian Consulate General in the UK (in Spanish).

When you arrive in Peru, you will normally get permission to stay for up to 90 days in a 180 day period. The 180 day period is calculated from the date of your first entry into Peru. Immigration officials can grant you a maximum of 183 days in a 365 day period as a visitor or tourist.

If you overstay, you will get a fine and you could be detained.

Arriving at an international airport

If you arrive in Peru at an international airport, authorities will register your entry digitally through a Tarjeta Andina de Migración (TAM) - a virtual immigration control document.

You can check how long you are allowed to stay in Peru on the Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones website (in Spanish).

Airport fee

From 7 December, passengers transiting or connecting through Lima (Jorge Chávez International) Airport will be required to pay a fee, known as a TUUA (Tarifa Unica por Uso de Aeropuerto, or Airport Use Fee).  

This fee is not currently included in airline tickets.  

To avoid delays, travellers are encouraged to pay in advance via the Lima Airport online platform or use available on-site payment options, including mobile POS (Point of Sale) agents, dedicated payment modules, and QR codes.

Arriving by land

If you enter Peru by land from a neighbouring country, get a passport entry stamp at the immigration checkpoint. You cannot leave Peru without one. If you did not get a stamp, apply to get a passport entry stamp online (form in Spanish) and:

• give your passport details
• give evidence of your entry to Peru, such as a bus ticket in your name
• show an exit stamp from the last country you visited

The British Embassy can help you to apply for an entry stamp. You should start this process as soon as possible.

If you cannot give the information needed, you must apply for an exit order or expulsion order to leave Peru in person at the Immigration Office in Lima. These orders may stop you from re-entering Peru for a number of years. The British Embassy cannot intervene in these decisions but can help you with the exit procedure.

Travelling inside Peru without a passport 

If your passport is lost or stolen and you plan to travel inside Peru, contact your travel agency, airline or bus company to check their requirements. Some companies will not allow you to travel carrying a police report only. You may need a new passport or an emergency travel document.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Peru guide.

Travelling with children

Children aged 17 and under who are travelling on a British passport and have Peruvian resident status need written permission (‘Autorización de Viaje Notarial’) from the non-accompanying parent or parents to leave Peru.

You must get permission in a letter signed by a public notary in Peru. The letter must include:

• proposed destination
• purpose of the trip
• departure date
• return date

These requirements do not normally apply to children with tourist status, but immigration officers may ask for them in circumstances considered suspicious, or if the child has overstayed in Peru and the stay lasts more than 183 days.

For further information, contact the Peruvian Consulate General in the UK (in Spanish) or the Peruvian Immigration Department (in Spanish).  

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Peru (in Spanish). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

You can bring one laptop and 2 mobile phones into Peru without paying tax.

When you leave Peru, you may be stopped and prosecuted if you are carrying:

• products made from wild animal skins
• crafts made with preserved butterflies, spiders, starfish, sea horses or other fish or insects
• crafts and jewellery made with condor or other wild bird feathers, turtle shells, teeth, bones and other animal parts

The sale of souvenirs made with wild animal parts, including condor feathers, is illegal in Peru. These products are often sold in tourist markets in Cusco and Iquitos.

It is illegal to remove any archaeological artefacts from Peru without authorisation.

If you intend on getting a bit snap-happy while away, it’s best that you ask permission before photographing government buildings or people/children in traditional dress, as this can be a sensitive issue.

The majority of the population in Peru adheres to the Roman Catholic faith. If you intend on visiting any churches or places of worship while there then it’s important that you show your respect by dressing modestly, particularly on days of religious significance.

Selling souvenirs made with any animal parts, including condor feathers, is illegal in Peru although these can often be found for sale at tourist markets in Cusco. Do not buy souvenirs made with animal parts.

Although homosexuality is legal in Peru, social attitudes are conservative and same-sex partnerships are not formally recognised. Sex with anyone aged under 18 in Peru is illegal and can incur long jail sentences.

We have selected what we believe to be the key points that you should be aware of when travelling in Peru.

Gap 360 follows advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and we recommend that you frequently check the FCDO for updated travel advice. You can find the website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office

Crime

Street crime such as thefts and muggings can be a problem in urban areas such as Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and other major cities. Take extra care when in public places and if withdrawing cash from ATMs. Do not walk alone at night or in quiet areas.

There have been some reports of tourists being targeted by bogus taxi drivers, especially those offering cheap fares, and they can target travellers arriving at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport. We advise that you use one of the three official taxi desks at the airport. At other times, we recommend that you take registered taxis from the bus terminal or book one using a reputable company. Don’t use street taxis. If hailing a taxi, note the registration number before getting in. Avoid using open station wagon taxis if you have luggage as these can be a target for theft.

There have been reports of some robberies and hold-ups on inner-city buses, so keep an eye on your valuables, especially your passport.

Please note: You should keep a photocopy of your passport or a form of identification with you at all times.

Travellers are advised to walk in groups when at Lake Titicaca, as some armed robberies against lone travellers have been reported.

Some cases of rape have been reported, mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas and travellers are advised to be vigilant at bus terminals and in taxis. Buy your own drinks and don’t let drinks out of your sight, in case of the use of ‘date rape’ and other drugs.

Transport

Peru has poor driving standards and car and bus crashes are common. Avoid travelling overnight and only use reputable transport companies. Always wear a seat belt.

Flying over the Nazca Lines involves serious risks, and there have been a number of fatal accidents involving planes from the Maria Reiche airport, with poor aircraft safety leading to problems.

Unregulated, recreational sand buggies have been involved in accidents, particularly in the sand dunes around Ica and Lake Huacachina.

Ensure that you use reputable companies if river rafting or boating and make sure that your travel insurance covers you for any activities.

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.

Spiritual Cleansing

‘Spiritual cleansing’ is unregulated but is offered to tourists by Shamans, especially in the Amazon and in Cusco, and there have been reports of serious illness and deaths after cleansing ceremonies.

Money

Take care when using ATMs and try to use them during business hours and if possible at a bank or other large commercial site. Be aware that in Peru, some ATMs don’t automatically release your card and you may have to push a button to retrieve it. Only change money at reputable outlets and do not use street money changers who can pass you counterfeit currency. Credit cards are used, but not widely.

Terrorism

Terrorism was a threat in Peru during the 1980s and 1990s from the Shining Path terrorist movement, who are still active in some coca-growing areas in central Peru such as Alto Huallaga, Aguaytia and Apurimac-Ene VRAE river basins.

Demonstrations

There have been occasional political demonstrations in Panama City, mainly around Panama University, the Transistmica main road and the main road from Bocas del Toro. Keep an eye on media reports and avoid demonstrations.

Drugs

Penalties for drug use or trafficking in Peru are severe and conditions in Peruvian prisons are poor. Pack your own luggage and don’t carry anything through customs for other people. It is illegal to import coca leaves or coca tea into the UK. Sex with minors (anyone under 18 is considered a minor in Peru) is illegal and offenders will face long-term jail sentences.

Hiking

Hiking on the Inca Trail should be done as part of a guided group, as hikers must pay a government fee and numbers are restricted in order to protect the trail. Always register on entry to national parks and take care in difficult conditions, steep areas or unfenced or unmarked areas. Climbers have suffered accidents, injuries and death while climbing Huayna Picchu, a peak near Machu Picchu.

Peru’s highest peaks lie in the Huaraz Region of the Cordillera Blanca Mountains and several hikers have had serious accidents and have had to be rescued, or have lost their lives hiking in this area, with rescues taking place on foot as helicopters can’t reach the remote areas.

Natural Disasters

Peru is in an active earthquake zone and can experience frequent earth tremors. If you are inside a building during an earthquake, avoid windows and find the building’s ‘safe zone’ (usually marked with an ‘S’ sign). Earthquakes can result in higher tides.

Peru’s rainy season runs from November to April and heavy rain, particularly in the Andes, can cause land, rock and mudslides and cause rising river levels.

Health

You should be in touch with your GP around 8 weeks before you travel for vaccination or health advice. Diarrhoea can be caused by contaminated food or water so we advise you to drink bottled water.

Altitude sickness can be a problem, so take care when staying in high-altitude areas like Puno, Cusco and the Colca Canyon. Don’t drink alcohol for the first couple of days, and make sure you eat only light meals and drink LOTS of water. It is important that you visit your GP before travelling to areas of high altitude if you suffer from either high blood pressure, respiratory problems or a heart condition.

You may need to present a valid Yellow Fever certificate when entering Peru, as a number of areas throughout the Andes Mountains (not including Cusco and Machu Picchu) have been designated as risk areas. Malaria is also common in some of the north and jungle regions of Peru including Loreto, Ucayali, San Martin, Tumbes, Piura, Junin and Madre de Dios and taking anti-malarial medication is recommended.