Peru
Three countries stacked into one, desert coast, high Andes and Amazon jungle. Peru rewards travelers who give the altitude time to settle, and quietly wrecks the trip of anyone who flies straight to Cusco and starts the trek the next morning.
Peru is one of the best-value big trips on this list, give it two to three weeks, build in real altitude days, and let the route run coast to mountains to jungle.
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At a glance
- Top marks for nature and culture, both at 90. Few places pack ruins, canyons, jungle and 20,000-foot peaks into one country this well.
- Budget around $50 a day backpacking, $125 mid-range. Peru is genuinely affordable, one of the cheaper long-haul trips in this guide.
- The dry season runs May through September; that is also peak crowds and peak prices, especially around Machu Picchu.
- Two weeks covers Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley properly. Three weeks adds the Amazon, Lake Titicaca or the Colca Canyon without rushing.
- The catch: Cusco sits at 11,150 feet / 3,400 m. Altitude sickness is real, arrive two or three days before any trek, not the night before.
Everything to know before you book
The essentials for a Peru trip, visa, money, climate window and power, in one scan.
What Peru is, and isn’t
Ten categories scored 0 – 100 from tourism data, traveler reports and on-the-ground experience.
Peru pairs world-class ruins and living Andean culture with one of the best food scenes in Latin America. The variety is the headline, desert, mountains and jungle in one trip.
The lowest score, and a fair one. Petty theft and taxi scams are common in Lima and Cusco, Peru is manageable with normal city sense, but it asks more attention than New Zealand or Japan.
Best places to visit in Peru
Eight destinations that anchor most trips, filter by region to plan your route.
Cusco
The Inca capital and the launch point for Machu Picchu, cobbled streets, colonial squares and the best base for the whole highland region.Arequipa
A white-stone colonial city below three volcanoes, and the gateway to the Colca Canyon and its condors.Sacred Valley
Inca terraces, weaving villages and a lower altitude than Cusco, the smart place to acclimatize first.Puno
The Peruvian shore of Lake Titicaca, the Uros reed islands and Taquile sit a boat ride away.Huacachina
A real desert oasis ringed by dunes, sandboarding and buggy rides, an easy stop on the coastal route south.Nazca
The ancient desert geoglyphs, only fully readable from a small plane, a short flight over the figures.Iquitos
The largest city reachable only by boat or plane, the deep-jungle gateway for Amazon lodges and river trips.Huaraz
The trekking hub of the Cordillera Blanca, Laguna 69, glacial peaks and far thinner crowds than the Cusco circuit.Around Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Coast & Southern Andes
Northern Peru & the Amazon
Peru at a glance
Click a pin to open that destination guide.
All Peru guides
Every Pack Lightly guide for planning, preparing and exploring Peru.
Planning & Logistics
Practical & Preparation
Plan your Peru trip
A free Google Sheets template, itinerary planning, daily expenses, budget tracking and a packing list, with a dashboard that updates as you go.
Get the Free TemplateWhat Peru costs per day
Per person per day in USD, drawn from the Pack Lightly budget calculator, food and activities go further here than almost anywhere else in this guide.
Peru, month by month
Cusco, temperature (°F) and rainfall (inches). At 11,150 feet / 3,400 m the highs stay mild year-round; what changes is the rain.
Peru in one first impression
A quick sweep of the country before you plan the trip.
What if…
Peru by trip length
Real day-by-day itineraries, one for each trip length. Pick the time you have and open the full plan.
Experience the vibrant coastal life of Lima, where fresh seafood meets stunning ocean views, then transition to the high-altitude charm of Cusco, rich in history and culture.
See the full day-by-day planFeel the coastal breeze of Lima as you savor fresh ceviche, then transition to the high-altitude air of Cusco, where ancient stone walls rise to meet the sky.
See the full day-by-day planExperience the vibrant coastal breezes of Lima, the serene colonial charm of Arequipa, and the awe-inspiring heights of Machu Picchu.
See the full day-by-day planArrive in Lima, where the cool Pacific breeze contrasts sharply with the humid warmth of Puerto Maldonado. This month-long journey takes you from vibrant street art and world-class ceviche to the lush depths of the Amazon rainforest.
Take the whole Peru guide offline
Every practical decision for Peru sits in one PDF: what a day costs, when to go, how Cusco, Arequipa and Sacred Valley fit into one trip, and what to book before you leave.
- Routes that hold up: route options from 7 to 28 days, with the stops worth the travel time and the ones worth skipping.
- Real numbers: daily budgets from $50 to $265 per person, split over beds, food, transport and activities.
- Weather, crowds and price: which months are dry, which are cheap, and where the two overlap.
- The practical layer: money, transport, connectivity, safety and the local etiquette that saves you a misstep.
Opens the PDF straight away. Save it to your phone and it works offline.
Book your Peru trip
Everything to sort before departure, same price as booking direct, and it helps keep these guides free.
Before you commit
Why Peru works
It is three trips in one. The Pacific coast runs on desert, dunes and ancient lines; the Andes on Inca ruins and living Quechua culture; the Amazon on rivers and wildlife. Few countries hand you that range in two or three weeks.
It is also the rare big trip that stays affordable. Food is cheap and excellent, domestic flights are short, and a strong daily budget goes a long way once the international flight is paid for.
Honest downsides
- Altitude is the real planner, Cusco at 11,150 feet / 3,400 m hits hard; build in two acclimatization days before any trek
- Petty theft, Lima and Cusco see bag-snatching and taxi scams; book rides through an app and watch belongings on buses
- Machu Picchu needs booking ahead, entry tickets and the train sell out weeks out in dry season
- Distances eat days, overland routes are slow and winding; budget for a domestic flight or two
Peru with kids
It works, with one caveat: altitude. Children feel the thin air as much as adults, so the same slow acclimatization rule applies, start lower in the Sacred Valley before Cusco.
The payoffs are easy wins. Sandboarding at Huacachina, the boats out to the Uros islands, llamas and alpacas everywhere, and food that even cautious eaters take to. Keep daily travel times short and the trip lands well.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Peru?
No. US citizens do not need a visa for tourism. A tourist stay is granted on arrival, usually for up to 90 days, with no fee. The exact number of days is set by the immigration officer, so confirm the stamp before leaving the airport.
How much does Peru cost per day?
Budget around $50 per person per day backpacking, hostels, set-menu lunches and public transport. Mid-range is closer to $125 with guesthouses and restaurant meals; comfort travel runs $265 and up. Peru is one of the better-value long-haul trips in this guide.
What’s the best time to visit Peru?
May to September is the Andean dry season, the reliable window for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and trekking. It is also the busiest and priciest stretch. April and October are quieter shoulder months with decent weather and thinner crowds.
How long do you need in Peru?
Two weeks covers Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu at a comfortable pace, with altitude days built in. Three weeks adds a major extra, the Amazon, Lake Titicaca or the Colca Canyon, without rushing the highlights.
How do you handle the altitude in Cusco?
Cusco sits at 11,150 feet / 3,400 m, high enough to cause altitude sickness. Spend the first two or three days low and slow, the Sacred Valley is several hundred feet lower than Cusco and a better landing point. Drink water, skip alcohol early, and never start a trek the day you arrive.
Is Peru safe for solo female travelers?
Yes, with normal city sense. Peru is a well-traveled solo route and the trekking scene makes it easy to meet people. The real risks are petty: bag-snatching and taxi scams in Lima and Cusco. Book rides through an app, keep valuables hidden on overnight buses, and stick to busy areas after dark.