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Machu Picchu Peru
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Ultimate PERU Travel Guide

Peru is a country located in South America. Lima is the capital and it is a country known for its high mountains, exceptional Incan ruins, culture, colors and landscapes. This Peru travel guide is laid out to help you plan the ultimate trip to this country.

Peru is easily one of the most visited countries in South America, with good reason as it is home to the wonder of the World, Machu Picchu. But there is so much more to the country than that one site.

There are deserts, there are rainforests, there are high altitude mountains and there are giant lakes. There’s an abundance of culture, history and wildlife to learn about too.

Anything less than a 2-week trip will leave you wanting more and I think you could easily max out your 6-month visa exploring Peru’s many wonders.

We’ve been to Peru three times over the years and will not hesitate when an opportunity to go again presents itself. We hope you find our advice both helpful and inspiring.

PERU TRAVEL: QUICK TIPS

Peru
  • Do you need a visa? US Citizens get a free 180 day Visa on Arrival
  • Currency: Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
  • Climate: Temperate, varying by region. Cooler at altitude, warm summers and cold winters
  • Primary Religion: Catholic
  • Local Languages: Spanish, English is widely spoken. 
  • Etiquette Tips: Dress conservatively, ask permission to take photos of people, do not give money to begging children, do not flash valuables
  • WIFI: Available in most, if not all, accommodation throughout the state. Many restaurants and tourist offices offer free WIFI too.
  • SIM Cards: If you have an unlocked phone, it is possible to pick up a local SIM card at most Peru airports on arrival. This will enable you to have data like you would at home. Another alternative is a universal SIM card that works in multiple countries.
  • Travel Insurance: With all travel, we highly recommend you take out a travel insurance policy when you book your trip. This will cover your trip in case of any unforeseen events happen.

Don’t Visit PERU Without:

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER

GET A GUIDEBOOK

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO PERU!

WHERE TO STAY IN PERU

Below you will find some of the places we have stayed during our travels in Peru. These are individual properties that we enjoyed and would recommend to other travelers.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN PERU

Anyone looking to travel to Peru will likely fly into Lima and connect to the other airports across the country. From these major cities, it is possible to use public transportation to see the city or take buses further afield.

Many people choose to engage in group tours or day tours to get around and see things in Peru. It is also possible to rent a car and plan a road trip that takes you further afield and out of the city.

TOP PERU TOURS

DECIDE WHICH MONTH YOU WANT TO VISIT!

PERU TRAVEL: BOOKING RESOURCES

  • SkyscannerA fantastic flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. Every single flight search we do starts here.
  • Hotel Seach Engine – Our custom-built hotel search engine allows you to search hotels all over the world and compare prices before booking. It pulls the best prices from all the major online travel agents, such as Expedia, Priceline, Booking, etc. to one place.
  • Discover Car Hire – Allows you to search car rentals across multiple rental agencies worldwide.
  • Viator – The best trips are made up of multiple smaller tours to really dig in and get to know the places you are visiting. Our preferred place to book day tours, day trips and shorter multi-day tours is Viator.
  • G Adventures – If you want to do a group tour around Peru, go with G Adventures. They offer great small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them.
  • World Nomads – We don’t travel without insurance and you shouldn’t either!
Divergent Travelers- Adventure Travel Blog