Full of mystery and culture dating back millennia, Peru is an indomitable land of deserts etched with ancient geoglyphs, rainforests teeming with wildlife, and soaring peaks harboring secret cities.

While many travelers come to visit one of South America's most famous sites, the ruins of Machu Picchu, the real Peru lies within its warm, proud inhabitants – many of whom can trace their bloodlines back to the Incas. What you might not expect is the foodie bonanza found in Lima or the adventures that await in the ancient capital of Cusco. Whether you’re exploring the cobbled streets of Arequipa, bobbing on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca or uncovering mummies in Nazca, our Peru tours will have you feeling like a modern-day Indiana Jones. Just don’t forget to pack your fedora.

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Top Peru travel deals

Departing Days From USD
6 Apr 2023
Inca Trail Express from Lima
8 1890
1701
6 Apr 2023
Sacred Land of the Incas
15 3875
2907
7 Apr 2023
Classic Peru
9 2830
2123
7 Apr 2023
Best of Peru & Galapagos
18 8415
7587
8 Apr 2023
Inca Trail Express
7 1540
1309
8 Apr 2023
Premium Peru
9 4685
4217
8 Apr 2023
Best of Peru, Argentina & Brazil
21 9600
9120
8 Apr 2023
Premium Highlights of South America
24 14340
12906
8 Apr 2023
Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure
12 3285
2628
8 Apr 2023
Majestic Peru
15 4335
3252

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Peru tour reviews

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Articles on Peru

Peru travel highlights

Transport in Peru

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are lots more fun.

Depending on which trip you're on while in Peru, you may find yourself traveling by:

Tourist group embarking on bicycle journey through Peru

Bicycle

Pedal along Lima’s incredible coastline, making your way through local neighborhoods and go on a cycling adventure to the epic Sacred Valley.

Travellers on board small boat on Peruvian river

Canoe

Spot exotic flowers, birds and mammals while enjoying a canoe ride down the mighty Amazon River.

Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure

Sacred Land of the Incas

Peru Encompassed

Tourists travelling in a vista dome train in Peru

Train

Everyone gets a window seat while riding on the Vistadome train. The clear roof and windows allow maximum viewing for all.

Inca Trail Express

Peru Encompassed

Peru Family Holiday

Accommodation in Peru

Traveling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavor to provide travelers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible. When traveling with us in Peru you may find yourself staying in a:

Beautiful home made traditional Peruvian cuisine.

Homestay

Experience home-grown hospitality and food while staying with a local family who live right on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Explore Peru & Bolivia

Sacred Land of the Incas

Peru Encompassed

Jungle Lodge, right in the midst of the Amazon Jungle, Peru

Jungle Lodge

Stay close to the action in a lodge located within the wilds of the awesome Amazon Jungle.

Sacred Land of the Incas

Peru Encompassed

Peru Family Holiday

camping Inca Trail Peru

Camp

Camping along the Inca Trail is one of world's most sought-after travel experiences. Bond with fellow travelers over some food and rest up before another day of trekking.

Peru holiday information

At a glance
Best time to visit Peru
Culture and customs
Eating and drinking
Geography and environment
History and government
Must-visit places in Peru
Shopping
Festivals and events in Peru
Health and safety
Further reading

Peru travel FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). 

However, we continue to strongly recommend  that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Peru has visa-free travel agreements with most countries, and foreign nationals including those from the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Canada do not require a visa for tourism purposes.

Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. You can also check the Essential Trip Information section of your itinerary for more information.

Learn more about visa requirements for Peru

While tipping isn't mandatory in Peru, it's customary to add spare change or a small amount to restaurant bills. Although most restaurants and bars may already include a 10% service charge within the bill, feel free to add more if the service was good. Taxi drivers generally don't expect tips.

Internet can be accessed at hotels and internet cafes in large cities, but is quite limited in rural and remote areas.

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Peru’s cities, but may not be available in more remote and mountainous areas. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.

Learn more about using your mobile phone in Peru

Peru has a mix of both squat toilets and western-style flushable toilets. It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as they are not always provided. Some public toilets charge a small usage fee. Expect to use squat toilets if traveling on the Inca Trail. 

Prices in restaurants and stores are generally listed in Peruvian nuevos soles (PEN). Below are the average prices for everyday items and services:

  • Short ride on a public city bus = 1 PEN
  • Bottle of beer = 4 PEN
  • Street cart snack/lunch = 6 PEN
  • Lunch in a café = 15 PEN
  • Dinner at a nice restaurant = 30 PEN

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Peru. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader or the hotel where you’re staying where filtered water can be found. It's advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Learn more about drinking tap water in Peru

Most hotels, large retailers and tourist attractions accept credit cards but will usually charge a fee (about 7%) for using them. Expect to pay cash when dealing with small vendors, family-run restaurants and market vendors. 

ATMs can be found in most of Peru's major cities and tourist areas. ATMs are far less common in rural areas and small villages so have enough cash to cover purchases when traveling away from the larger cities.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of your trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

  • 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
  • 19 April: Good Friday
  • 1 May: Labor Day
  • 25 June: Inti Raymi
  • 29 June: Feast of St Peter and St Paul
  • 28-29 July: National Independence Days
  • 30 Aug: Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima
  • 8 Oct: Battle of Angamos Day
  • 1 Nov: All Saints Day
  • 8 Dec: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
  • 25 Dec: Christmas

For a current list of public holidays in Peru go to World Travel Guide.

No vaccines are required in order to enter Peru but some are recommended for protection against disease. Visit your doctor or travel clinic for advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Recommended travel vaccines for Peru

1. Hepatitis A (transmitted through contaminated water)
2. Typhoid (transmitted through contaminated water)
3. Yellow Fever (transmitted by mosquitos): This vaccination is recommended if you’re visiting Puno or the Amazon. Some countries require a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry after visiting Peru. Do your research before leaving home to see if you require this vaccine.

Most people can start to feel the effects of altitude at over 6561 feet (2000 m) regardless of age, gender or fitness level. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you make yourself aware of the cause and effects of traveling at altitude, monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly. It’s important to take it easy, drink plenty of water and speak to your group leader at once if you feel unwell.

We recommend seeing your doctor if you have any health concerns before undertaking the trip. Particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition or take any medication.
 

While it might be common to see rainbow flags displayed throughout the Andes, this is in fact the flag of the Inca Empire and not a gay pride flag. Peru is a conservative, Catholic country where LGBTQI-rights are still developing. Many members of the LGBTQI community don’t publicly identify themselves and generally Peruvians will tolerate homosexuality on a ‘don’t-ask-don’t-tell’ basis. While Lima may be more tolerant towards LGBTQI-travelers, it’s advised that you should exercise discretion when traveling in country areas. 

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to traveling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behavior, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while traveling.

ceviche in cusco

How we're giving back

In Peru, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travelers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.

 

 

Rainforest Alliance icon

Rainforest Alliance tick of approval

We are proud to have the tick of approval from the Rainforest Alliance indicating that we meet and operate at the highest standards in environmental, social and economic sustainability

Similar Destinations

We have a variety of similar destinations, trips and routes that you could consider! Tie another trip into your holiday, or, see how we can help you get from A to B. We have tours departing from a range of locations across South America. If you want to base your tour around Lima we have tours from Lima and tours to Lima. If you want to base your trip around the Andes we have tours to Cusco or even combine both on our Lima to Cusco trips. If you fancy a trip across the border, discover our Lima to La Paz trips.