Peru travel guides
Everything you need to plan a tour of Peru, from Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits to itineraries that climb gently enough to avoid altitude sickness. We track Peru's frequent rule changes and show the date we last checked them.
When to go, at a glance
Peru's regions have different seasons. Green is the best time, amber is mixed and red is wet or difficult.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndesCusco, Machu Picchu, Titicaca | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult |
| Inca Trailclosed every February | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed |
| CoastLima, Paracas, Nazca | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best |
| AmazonPuerto Maldonado, Manu | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult |
When to go
Month by month
Weather, festivals and the best places to go in each month.
Itineraries
Peru itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days, with altitude charts
Seven days covers Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Ten adds Lake Titicaca, and fourteen adds Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. Each plan below climbs gradually so altitude is less of a problem.
Updated 15 October 2026
Peru and Bolivia in one trip: Lake Titicaca, La Paz and Uyuni
Cross Lake Titicaca from Puno to Copacabana, continue to La Paz and fly or bus to the Uyuni salt flats. Two weeks is enough for the highlights; three is comfortable. Most visitors no longer need a Bolivian visa.
Updated 15 October 2026
Peru and the Galápagos in one trip: how to plan it
Fly from Lima to Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador, then on to the Galápagos. Allow at least 7 days for Peru and 5 to 8 for the islands. The park fee is now US$200 for foreign adults.
Updated 15 October 2026
Peru trip planner: build your own route
Choose how many days you have and what to add to Cusco and Machu Picchu. The planner builds a route that climbs gradually, with a map, an altitude chart, a day by day plan and a rough cost.
Updated 15 October 2026Places and things to do
Machu Picchu tickets for 2026 and 2027: circuits, routes and prices explained
Every Machu Picchu ticket is for one circuit, one route and one hourly entry slot. Here is what each route shows you, a quick chooser, prices and the new booking rules from September 2026.
Updated 15 October 2026
Sacred Valley guide: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Maras
The Sacred Valley runs below Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where the train to Machu Picchu starts. It is lower and warmer than Cusco, full of Inca terraces, and the best place to spend your first nights.
Updated 15 October 2026
Lake Titicaca from Puno: Uros, Taquile and Amantani homestays
Lake Titicaca sits at 3,810 m on the border with Bolivia. From Puno, boats visit the reed islands of the Uros, Taquile's weavers and the farming island of Amantani, where you can stay with a local family.
Updated 15 October 2026
Rainbow Mountain: Vinicunca vs Palccoyo, and how to do it safely
Vinicunca is the famous one: a 1.5 to 2 hour climb to about 5,000 m with big crowds. Palccoyo has several striped hills, a much easier walk and very few people. Both are long day trips from Cusco.
Updated 15 October 2026
Arequipa and the Colca Canyon: condors, volcanoes and how many days
Arequipa, Peru's elegant White City, sits at 2,335 m below three volcanoes. A 2 day trip to the Colca Canyon adds hot springs, terraced valleys and Andean condors, and then continues neatly to Lake Titicaca.
Updated 15 October 2026
Peru's south coast: Paracas, Huacachina and the Nazca Lines
South of Lima, the desert coast has sea lions and penguins on the Ballestas Islands, giant dunes at Huacachina and the Nazca Lines. Allow 2 to 3 days, ideally at the start of your trip while you are at sea level.
Updated 15 October 2026
How many days in Cusco, and what the tourist ticket covers
Plan 2 to 3 days in Cusco itself, plus time for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The Boleto Turístico covers 16 sites around the city and valley for about S/130; the cathedral is extra.
Updated 15 October 2026
Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: which climb is for you?
Huayna Picchu is the steep peak in every photo: shorter, with narrow steps and big drops. Machu Picchu Mountain is higher and longer but less exposed. Both need their own ticket and sell out first.
Updated 15 October 2026Wildlife and safaris
Treks and routes
Inca Trail permits for 2027: when they go on sale and what to do if they sell out
Permits for the Classic Inca Trail are limited to 500 people a day, including porters and guides, and are sold only through licensed operators. The dry season months sell out months ahead.
Updated 15 October 2026
Inca Trail vs Salkantay vs Lares: which trek to Machu Picchu?
The Inca Trail is the only trek on original Inca paths into Machu Picchu, but it needs a permit. Salkantay is higher and wilder, Lares is about villages and culture. Compare all six with elevation profiles.
Updated 15 October 2026
Inca Trail packing list and how to get fit for it
On most Inca Trail treks, porters carry the tents, food and up to about 7 kg of your gear. You carry a daypack. Here is a tickable packing list, what to leave behind and how to train.
Updated 15 October 2026Costs and budgets
Practical tips
How to get to Machu Picchu: trains, buses and the budget route
No road reaches Machu Picchu. Most people take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then a 25 minute bus up to the gate. Here are the options, times and prices.
Updated 15 October 2026
Altitude sickness in Peru: how to acclimatise in Cusco and beyond
Cusco is at 3,400 m and Lake Titicaca at 3,800 m, high enough for most visitors to feel it. The single best thing you can do is plan your route so you sleep lower first, then climb.
Updated 15 October 2026
Peru travel tips: entry rules, money, safety and a pre-trip checklist
Most visitors from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, the US and Canada need no visa for Peru. Here is what to know about entry, money, safety and health, plus a checklist to tick off before you fly.
Updated 15 October 2026Private or small group tour of Peru: which is right for you?
Small group tours are the best value for solo travellers and couples, with fixed dates and a set pace. Private tours cost more per person but run on your dates and adapt to you, and get cheaper for families and groups.
Updated 15 October 2026Ready to compare tours?
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