Peru Travel Guide: Entry Rules, Money, Transit and What to Know Before You Go

Visa requirements for Peru vary by nationality and require attention upon arrival. United Kingdom passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days. For United States citizens, the permitted stay is determined at the immigration officer's discretion; while typically granted for up to 90 days, sources conflict on whether a longer ceiling is possible, so you should confirm your stamp at entry rather than assuming a flat allowance. European Union citizens generally enter visa-free, but exact terms vary by nationality and should be verified before departure. Across all nationalities, a passport valid for at least six months from arrival is standard.

A critical operational detail for arrivals at Lima's Jorge Chávez airport and authorized seaports is the Tarjeta Andina de Migración (TAM). This entry registration is issued electronically as the TAM Virtual, meaning you receive neither a physical slip nor an ink passport stamp; travellers verify their legal status directly via Peru's official Migraciones portal. Crucially, your granted stay length reportedly cannot be extended from within Peru once admitted. A common traveller mistake is assuming extensions are routine; you should request your full planned duration directly from the border official upon entry to ensure adequate time.

Peru's official currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN). Exchange rates fluctuate regularly, so travellers should check a live currency converter rather than relying on static estimates. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across established businesses in major urban destinations, including Lima, Cusco city, and Arequipa, as well as at major hotels, sit-down restaurants, and licensed tour agencies. However, the country remains profoundly cash-reliant once you step outside modern commercial hubs. Open-air markets, small neighbourhood shops, rural villages throughout the Cusco region, and local public transport operate almost exclusively on cash, making physical soles indispensable throughout your itinerary.

When withdrawing cash from ATMs, decline Dynamic Currency Conversion whenever prompted on-screen, ensuring your home account is billed in local soles rather than an inflated home-currency conversion. Because foreign ATM transaction fees can accumulate quickly, opt for fewer, larger cash withdrawals rather than frequent small transactions. In dining establishments, tipping roughly 5% to 10% is customary for good service in restaurants; inspect your bill beforehand, however, as upscale venues often add an included "servicio" charge. At small family-run local eateries, tipping is entirely optional but remains appreciated given modest regional service wages.

Peru's dramatic topography—dominated by the Andes cordillera and Amazon basin—makes domestic flights indispensable. An overland journey between Lima and Cusco is a grueling multi-day undertaking rather than a practical single-day trip. Consequently, domestic aviation serves as the standard transit corridor between coastal and highland regions. Airlines including LATAM Peru, Sky Airline, and JetSMART operate daily nonstop services between Lima and Cusco, with flight durations averaging roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Airfares fluctuate by season and demand, so check current schedules and prices directly with the carriers before booking.

Within urban centres, ride-hailing availability differs sharply between destinations. In Lima, Uber functions smoothly and provides a convenient, trackable means of navigating the sprawling metropolis between airport terminals, residential districts, and coastal neighbourhoods. In Cusco, however, Uber maintains a far more limited footprint, and travellers should not assume app coverage is uniform nationwide. Instead, platforms such as InDriver and Cabify are more widely cited by travellers as functional local alternatives for on-demand rides. Where app services are scarce, establish agreed taxi fares with licensed drivers before boarding, or arrange vehicle transfers directly through your hotel accommodation.

Visiting Machu Picchu requires navigating strict administrative regulations that have evolved significantly. Outdated advice often describes admission as a single, general-access ticket, but this is no longer how the citadel operates. Following an official Ministry of Culture resolution in mid-2024, entry is organized into multiple designated circuits and specific routes; your ticket grants access solely to the route selected during booking. Furthermore, an administrative daily visitor cap governs admissions and changes periodically. Never rely on unofficial daily figures quoted online; check current availability and secure tickets exclusively through the official Ministry of Culture portal (tuboleto.culture.pe) while steering clear of unauthorized resale sites.

The classic Inca Trail operates under even tighter restrictions. Trekkers draw from a separate, strictly limited permit pool that accounts for all accompanying guides, porters, and support staff. Independent hiking is strictly prohibited by law; every trekker must join an authorized tour operator who secures permits on their behalf. Due to high demand, permits sell out far in advance, making reservations six or more months ahead strongly advisable. Annual permit allocations reportedly open around October for the subsequent year, though you should reconfirm this release window directly with licensed operators as government administrative dates occasionally shift.

Peru's travel seasons differ sharply across its Andean highlands, coastal strip, and Amazon basin. For Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Inca Trail, the dry season running roughly from May to October offers the best trekking conditions and clearer skies. Within this period, June through August sees peak crowds and highest demand. The shoulder months of May and September offer an appealing balance of manageable visitor numbers and favorable weather. September is also notably advantageous for Amazon basin journeys, as lower water levels expose riverbanks for easier wildlife spotting alongside drier hiking trails and reduced mosquito activity.

Conversely, the highland wet season spans roughly from November through April, impacting major elevated destinations including Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, Huaraz, and Chachapoyas. During these months, frequent Andean rainfall can bring muddy trekking paths, cloud cover that obscures mountain panoramas, and occasional transit disruptions. However, visiting during the wet months carries distinct advantages for flexible travellers: the surrounding Andean landscapes turn intensely green, historic ruins and urban centres see far fewer tour groups, and accommodation rates are noticeably lower. If you plan to hike the Inca Trail during this season, note that trail maintenance and safety regulations can impact route availability, requiring advance confirmation.

Government safety assessments for Peru highlight the importance of understanding regional boundaries. Secondary sources report that the US Department of State assigns Peru an overall Level 2 advisory ("Exercise Increased Caution"); because this derives from secondary reporting rather than an official direct fetch of travel.state.gov, travellers should hedge accordingly. Crucially for visitors, Cusco city, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu are reportedly explicitly excluded from higher-risk designations, remaining at the baseline Level 2 rating. This provides meaningful reassurance for standard tourist corridors, confirming that headline alerts do not apply uniformly across the country.

Elevated advisories are concentrated in remote interior and border districts. Reported US Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") zones encompass the Loreto region along the Colombian border, the VRAEM area (Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, including Vilcabamba) due to crime and terrorism, and specific cities including Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Huancayo. Directly fetched UK FCDO guidance similarly advises against all travel within 20 kilometres of the Putumayo River border in Loreto—with exceptions for the Amazon River corridor and the Caballococha triple-border area—and the VRAEM. The FCDO also notes landmine risks at unofficial Peru-Ecuador border crossings.

Altitude sickness (soroche) represents a significant health consideration that requires careful preparation. Health authorities flag destinations above roughly 2,500 metres as potential altitude-illness zones; Cusco sits at approximately 3,400 metres, while Puno and Lake Titicaca reach roughly 3,800 metres. Rapid ascent directly to sleeping altitudes above 3,400 metres is considered higher-risk. This guide does not provide medical advice, and you should consult your doctor before travelling to discuss personal prevention strategies; a doctor-prescribed preventive medication exists should your physician recommend it. Beware of locally marketed over-the-counter "soroche pills," which feature variable, non-standardized formulations that should not replace regulated professional medical care.