Experience the sunrise on Machu Picchu, hike through the Andes, discover the charming towns of Cusco and Arequipa & taste incredible coffee in Lima.
Peru, a land of ancient cultures and traditions invites you to discover its history and diversity. Whether you are travelling long-term or taking a short vacation from work, you will find in Peru all the things you are looking for: wildlife, food, hikes, party, history… But what you may love the most in Peru is the multitude of its landscapes.
Not too long ago, Peru had a bad reputation. Internal conflicts deterred many from visiting, leaving explorers to discover Peru alone. However, in recent years the country has calmed and has since fully embraced tourism. As a testament to this, the icon of Peru, Machu Picchu, now caters for 2 million amazed tourists a year.
In this Travel Guide to Peru, you will find our best tips and articles to organise and prepare for your trip to Peru on a budget.
General information
Capital: Lima
Currency: Sol – PEN
Language: Spanish
Population: 32.5 million (2019)
Plugs: Type A and C – standard voltage = 220 V & standard frequency = 60Hz.
Credit Cards and ATMs: Main cities have ATM’s – Visa is the most widely accepted card.
The best time to travel to Peru
The best is to visit Peru during the dry season from May to October. July and August tend to be the busiest and coldest months in altitude.
I would recommend avoiding the rainy season and in particular, the month of February during which the Inca Trail is closed and train journeys to Machu Picchu are often cancelled due to railways maintenance/issues.
When to visit Peru
Choose a region, then click a month to explore.
Visting Peru on a budget
Hostels and luxury stays
Peru has become one of the most important tourism hubs in South America and luxury hotels have opened all around the country to host short-term holidaymakers.
However, Peru is still a country for backpackers where you will find cheap and good accommodations pretty much everywhere.
Budget backpacking
It is quite easy to go around Peru on a shoestring. Budget backpackers, our advice is to take night buses, stay in hostels and eat locals.
But don’t hesitate to spend a bit on experiences such as flying the Nasca lines or taking hiking trips. The daily budget in Peru should be around €25, depending on how fast you travel.
Local transportation
Travelling in Peru by local bus is easy but not as simple you may think. In Peru, there are many bus companies offering good prices for long-distance journeys.
However, one thing that can be a bit frustrating is that in most cities, buses leave from different private terminals.
| Accommodation | Food | Transport | Leasure | Average cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | Hostels/Dorms = €5/€10 | Food market/home cooking = €5/€8 | Bus = €3 | DIY/Shared tour = Free/€10 | €25/€40 per day |
| Middle Range | Airb&b/Hotel = €20/€50 | Food Market/Restaurant = €20 | Bus/Taxi/Train = €15 | Shared tour = €50 | €60/€100 per day |
| Luxury | Resort/4 stars+ = €75/€100 | Restaurants = €50 | Flight = €35/€50 | Private tours = €100/€150 | €250+ |
Find out all our favourite Experiences in South America you can book on Viator! We hand picked the most popular and well rated tours on the platform that we would recommend, so you know you are booking an top-notch activity without any stress…
Itinerary – Highlights of Peru
At the border with Bolivia, right on Lake Titicaca, visit the floating islands of Uros for a day or two. Make your way South, to Arequipa before organising a 2 to 3-day hike in the Colca Canyon. After another few days of relaxing in the charming white city, head north to the region of Cusco.
The area is rich and there are plenty of things to do such as hiking the Salkantay on the way to Machu Pichu or discovering the incredible archaeological sites of Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Moray and Maras in the Sacred Valley. To end your time in the region in colours, hike to the 5,200m in order to witness the breathtaking Rainbow Mountain.
It’s now time to get back to low altitude and chill by the Peruvian coast. Head to Nasca to fly above the intriguing Nazca Lines and go sandboarding in the sand dunes of Huacachina near Ica.
Finally, treat yourself by filling up your belly with amazing food and coffee in Lima before making your way to Ecuador via the relaxing beaches of Huanchaco and Mancora where you can go surfing, swimming with turtles or going whale-watching…
MUST DO’S IN CUSCO
CUSCO
RAINBOW MOUTAINS
SACRED VALLEY
MACHU PICCHU
TRAVEL CITY GUIDES
HIKING IN PERU WITHOUT A TOUR
GOOD TO KNOW
Helpful sentences in Spanish
– Hello = hola / Good Evening = Buenas noches
– Thank you = gracias
– A beer please = Una cerveza, por favor
– Where are the toilets = Donde estan los baños?
– Do you have a (double) room? = Tienen una habitacion (matrimonial)?
– How much? = Cuánto cuesta? / Qual es el precio?
– That’s too expensive = Este es muy caro