Packages

No, our Peru tours can start any day of the year. Our trips are fully customizable; you can choose the start and end date of your trip, the specific destinations you want to see, the hotels you prefer, and the tours you want for a unique experience.

Give yourself at least 4 days in Peru to avoid being affected by altitude sickness when visiting Machu Picchu. Most visitors exploring the iconic sites of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu spend between 7 - 10 days in Peru. If you want to add destinations like the Amazon Rainforest, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, or the Nazca Lines, allot 2-4 days for each destination depending on the destinations and tours you want.

After arriving at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, take an hour and a half flight from Lima to the city of Cusco. In Cusco, a scenic train ride will transfer you 3 hours and 15 minutes to the quaint town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. A 30-minute shuttle bus ascends you to the main entrance of the Machu Picchu citadel. You can also opt to hike one of the famous treks to Machu Picchu from Cusco or the Sacred Valley like the Inca Trail, Lares Trek, or Salkantay Trek instead of the train.

We recommend you pace yourself and arrive at Machu Picchu gradually to avoid being affected by altitude sickness. Spending one or two nights in Cusco will acclimate your body to the high altitude and result in a more enjoyable experience at Machu Picchu.

The best time to visit Peru is during Peru's winter months between May and September. This is the dry season in the Andes which offers favorable weather patterns for the most popular sites in Peru like Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Inca Trail, and the Amazon Rainforest in Puerto Maldonado. The prime time to visit coastal Lima is during Peru's summer months between December and April to enjoy the warm summer sunshine and coastal beaches.

Travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, and select other countries do not need a tourist visa to enter Peru. Do note that all travelers must have a passport that is valid for more than six months after your departure date. Upon arrival at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, Peruvian Immigrations will stamp your passport and mark the number of days you are permitted to stay, typically 90 days.

For specific information about visa requirements for your country, visit VisaHQ.

Yes, Peru is a safe tourist destination to travel to. Travelers should exercise regular caution by keeping expensive items in your hotel safety box, keeping an eye on personal belongings, and being aware of your surroundings in crowded areas like markets.

Our Top Pick hotels are all located in safe, convenient locations and come equipped with safes for storing your valuables.

For safety information regarding Covid-19, please review our updated post about coronavirus in Peru.

Consult your doctor and visit the CDC Peru website for more information about vaccination recommendations and requirements in Peru.

We think - yes! Lima houses something for every kind of traveler, world-renowned gastronomy that brings travelers specifically to Lima, a UNESCO downtown historic center, top museums like Larco Museum, art galleries, shopping malls overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and adventure activities like paragliding over the Lima skyline or surfing. Since you'll be landing at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport anyway, why not add on an extra day in Peru's capital?

Contact an Inca Expert travel advisor to see if Lima would be worth adding to your Peru trip.

Spanish is the primary language spoken in Peru as a result of being colonized by Spain in 1533. The indigenous languages of Quechua and Aymara are also official languages of Peru that can be encountered more often in rural areas. Even though English is not widely spoken in Peru, your guides, hotel personnel, and the use of a language translator like Google Translate will make your time in Peru easy.

All Inca Expert tours are done in private with English-speaking local guides.

No. Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink unless purified or boiled. Travelers should purchase bottled water. You can also utilize refill stations with boiled or filtered water often available in your hotel lobby. Boiled drinks like coffee and tea are safe to drink.

Inca Expert prearranges all transportation for your Peru tour to give you complete peace of mind. Private, clean, and roomy H1 or Sprinter vans will meet you at your hotels or airport and bring you from A to B. Choose between the Luxury Hiram Bingham train or Vistadome Train to Machu Picchu. If traveling from Lima to the Nazca Lines or Paracas, a VIP bus with large seats and ample leg-room will be reserved in your name.

You may need to bring a voltage converter and electrical plug adaptor for your electronics when traveling in Peru. Peru uses 220-volt electricity, instead of 110-volts. If your device does not have built-in dual voltage (110V/220V) you will need an adaptor so your electronics do not surge. Most mobile phones, laptops, and cameras have this built-in, but be sure to double-check before plugging in. Most electrical outlets, like the ones in top-rated hotels, are now designed to support both the American flat-pronged plug and the European round-prong plug, but if you plan to charge your devices offsite from your hotel, it will be handy to have a Type C plug adapter just in case.

Yes. ATMs are abundant in major cities but generally charge a $3-$6 fee to your debit card to use the machine. Locations include BCP, Scotiabank, Interbank, BBVA Continental, and more. Credit cards are widely accepted in Peru with VISA being the major credit card provider. Always keep some Peruvian soles on hand because some locations offer discounts for cash, and local markets and street vendors only accept soles.

It is customary to tip in Peru for exceptional services as you'll receive on a tour with Inca Expert. The exact amount is up to your discretion, but we recommend:

Guide:
Half-day private tour - 30-35 soles ($8-$10 USD)
Full-day private tour - 50-60 soles ($14-$16 USD)

Driver:
Half-day private tour - 5 soles ($1.50 USD)
Full-day private tour - 10 soles ($3 USD)

4-Day Inca Trail/ Multi-day Trekking tour:
Guide: 60-80 soles per person ($16-USD 22)
Chef: 115 soles collective tip (USD 30 collective tip)
Porters: 100 soles per porter collective tip (USD 25 per porter collective tip)

Servers:
10% of the total bill

The exchange rate for US dollars (USD) to Peruvian Soles (PEN) is currently $1 USD to 3.77 PEN. Money can be exchanged at an exchange house (casa de cambio) in any destination in Peru though bigger cities like Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima will have more options to find the best rates.

40-50% of travelers experience minor symptoms of altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness, like shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness when traveling in high altitude destinations in Peru such as on the Inca Trail, in Cusco, Arequipa, and Lake Titicaca. Symptoms of altitude sickness generally alleviate after 24-48 hours in altitude. Best practices for minimizing its impact on your trip include taking the time to acclimate, drinking lots of water, resting, avoiding alcohol, and eating light non-fatty foods upon arrival at altitude.

Consult with your doctor before traveling to high altitude destinations.