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Peru

Duration: All Weekend 4-7 days 8-14 days 15+ days Kids: All 👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-friendly
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Peru: the Andes and Machu Picchu
Peru 15 days

Peru: the Andes and Machu Picchu

Coast, desert, Andes and Machu Picchu

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Planning a trip to Peru? Here you'll find our day-by-day itinerary (Lima, the Andes and Machu Picchu), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.

When to go to Peru

Varies greatly with altitude. The dry season, the best, runs May to September: sunny days and cold nights at altitude. Lima's coast is often grey (garúa); the Amazon is hot and humid all year.

Practical info for travelling in Peru

Updated: June 2026

Currency

Peruvian sol (PEN). Keep cash for taxis, markets, tips and smaller sites; cards are accepted in city hotels and restaurants. ATMs are common (sometimes with fees): carry small notes.

Language

Spanish (and Quechua in the Andes). English is limited outside tourist areas: a few words of Spanish help a lot.

Visa

Citizens of the EU, UK, US and many other countries need no visa for tourism, for stays up to 183 days; on arrival check the period granted (stamp/registration). Passport valid for at least 6 months. Check the rules for your own nationality before leaving.

Health / Vaccines

No mandatory vaccines arriving from a non-risk country. Yellow fever and hepatitis A/B are recommended (not required) if you visit the Andean-Amazonian areas; dengue is present in the warm lowlands. Travel health insurance is strongly advised.

Altitude sickness (soroche)

The most important point: Cusco, Puno and the passes exceed 3,400-4,900 m. Ascend gradually (the itinerary is built that way), drink lots of water, avoid alcohol the first days and try coca-leaf tea. If symptoms are severe, descend.

e-SIM / Connectivity

Good 4G coverage in cities and main sites, weaker on the altiplano and some Andean stretches. Operators Claro, Movistar, Entel; international e-SIMs (Airalo, Holafly) are handy too.

Electricity

220V, 60Hz, type A (flat blades) and C (European) sockets. Two-pin European plugs fit type C sockets; a universal adapter is still handy.

Time zone

UTC-5 all year, with no daylight saving.

Payments

Cash in soles is essential for taxis, markets, tips and smaller sites; cards are fine in city hotels and restaurants. Change money at reputable casas de cambio, never on the street.

Good to know

  • Safety — Petty crime is high in the big cities and some districts of Lima and Callao. Avoid peripheral and non-touristy areas, don't flaunt valuables, and use app-based or radio taxis. For excursions, rely on known local agencies and guides.
  • Machu Picchu and trains — Entry to Machu Picchu is only with a timed ticket and an official guide, and the trains to Aguas Calientes must be booked weeks ahead, especially June to August. Plan early: they sell out.
  • Water and food — Don't drink tap water: bottled only. Be careful with raw food in rougher spots; ceviche is excellent but choose busy places with fresh turnover. At altitude, eat light the first days.
  • Transport — For long legs the "cama" buses (Cruz del Sur and similar) are comfortable and reliable; to save time, domestic flights from Lima to Cusco or Arequipa. Keep your passport handy: it's often needed for buses and sites.
  • Tipping — Appreciated: around 10% in restaurants if not already included. A small tip for guides and drivers is customary.

Useful numbers

  • 105 — Police / emergencies
  • 106 — Medical emergency (SAMU)
  • 116 — Fire brigade

💡 Gain altitude slowly and keep coca tea handy: altitude sickness ruins more trips than bad weather. And book Machu Picchu and the trains weeks ahead, because they sell out.