Peru is a country in South America known for its diverse natural beauty and historical heritage.
Lima, Peru’s capital and largest city, is both modern and historic. It’s a culturally rich city with a variety of restaurants, museums, and art galleries, and the world-famous Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s top tourist attractions. Known as the ruins of the ancient Inca civilisation, it attracts many tourists for its beautiful scenery and historical significance, while the Nazca Lines, located in Nazca, are famous for their gigantic ground leaps drawn in ancient times. These mysterious shadows can only be seen from high altitudes, so they can be viewed from aircraft or observation decks.
1. Peru Quick Facts
Language Spanish
Religion Catholic
Currency nuevo sol (PEN)
Visa Visa Free for 183 days for most countries or require a visa.
Power Plugs 117 V, 220 V 60 Hz (A/B Type)
Capital Lima
ATM ATM are available at banks in Peru’s urban centers.
Use card Unless you’re in a large shopping centre or airport, credit cards are limited, have high fees, and should be avoided unless it’s an emergency.
APP
Google Maps
Uber
DiDi
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Metropolitano Bus BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)
Metro city buses, travelling in bus-only lanes.
Fares are 2.5 soles for a single fare, or 5 soles for a card.
Metro
The Metro is a train and currently only one line is in operation, and it runs around the outskirts of Lima rather than through the main tourist areas, so travellers are unlikely to have the opportunity to use it.
Apart from the Metropolitano, the card costs 5 soles to buy and a single fare is 1 sol 50 centimos.
Combi/Couster
This is the most common form of transport you’ll see when travelling around Peru. They are converted vans or minibuses. They try to fit as many people as possible on board, so if there is an empty seat, you may have to wait for someone to fill it. You pay when you get on, or if it’s crowded, stay on and a fare collector will go around and ask for a fare based on distance. US$ 05
Autobus
A bus that runs similar routes to the combi/custera, but mainly on major roads, and picks up and drops off at designated bus stops.
Fares are usually paid to the driver when you board. When you get off, ring the bus bell to get off at the next stop.
Distance within 10 minutes: 50 centimos(0.5sol(PEN))
Distance within 15 minutes: 80 centimos
Distance within 30 minutes: 1 sol(PEN)
Within 45 minutes : 1.20 sol(PEN) – 1.50 sol(PEN)
Less than 1 hour away : 2 sol(PEN)
Distance over 1 hour and 30 minutes: 3 sol(PEN)
Taxis do not use meters, so you must tell the driver your destination and negotiate the price before getting in. However, if you appear to be a foreign tourist and do not speak the language, you may be charged several times the fare, or you may be taken to an area other than your destination and robbed. If you want to take a taxi, we recommend using a taxi service app.
Getting to Machu Picchu
PeruRail departs from San Pedro station in downtown Cusco and takes you directly to Agua Calientes, the entrance to Machu Picchu, in one trip.
Cusco -> Aguas Calientes: train journey (4 hours), price US $50 -$59 one way, $109return
Agua Calientes -> Machu Picchu: bus journey (30 minutes) $24 per person round trip
4.Safety
Pickpocketing, robbery, and theft are common in Peru. When travelling in Peru, you should take extra care with your valuables.
Taxi drivers may take advantage of poor language skills to drive you to an area other than your destination, where they will pick up another group of people and steal valuables such as mobile phones and wallets before leaving you in a remote area and disappearing.
If your car window is open, watch out for carjackers who may reach in through the gap and make off with your items.
5. Climate
Summers are warm, very dry and often cloudy. Winters are pleasant, dry and mostly sunny. Over the course of the year, temperatures typically range from 15°C (59°F) to 28°C (82°F), with the coldest days falling below 12°C (54°F) and the hottest days rising above 31°C.
The warm summer months are from January to April, with average daily high temperatures above 27°C (81°F). The hottest month is February, with an average high of 28°C (82°F) and an average low of 20°C (68°F).
The cooler months are June to September, with average daily temperatures below 24°C (75°F). The coldest month is July, with an average low of 15°C (59°F) and an average high of 23°C (73°F).
6. price
Unless you go to a very expensive restaurant, the cost of living is very low.
Petrol (1 liter) 5.20 PEN
McDonald’s Combo Meal:20 PEN
Water (1.5 liters): 2.70 PEN
Milk (1 liter) 4.60 PEN
7. Travel precautions
Peru is an alpine country with high altitudes, so be aware of altitude sickness.
To prevent endemic malaria, which occurs throughout Peru, you should take anti-malarial medication and be careful to avoid mosquito bites.
Cholera can also be prevented by washing your hands frequently, drinking only bottled or boiled water, and eating cooked food.
Contact with nocturnal animals should be avoided to prevent tropical fever.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
Peru is home to many different cultures, including Indians, mestizos, and white people. When travelling in Peru, be respectful of these different cultures.
You should avoid making noise during meals, and if you must speak during a meal, it is polite to swallow your food before speaking.
Peruvians are open and sociable. Don’t be intimidated if you are greeted by a tourist, and respond with a smile and simple Spanish.
There is a South American custom of cheek-to-cheek greetings between men and women, but it is perfectly acceptable to shake hands without doing so.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Peru, but it is customary to tip if you are satisfied with the service.
If you look at the menu, it will say that the service charge is included, so pay close attention.
If the bill does not include a service charge, it is customary to tip 5-10%.
10. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
28 Mar Thu Maundy Thursday
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
1 May Wed Labour Day
29 Jun Sat Feast of St Peter and St Paul
28 Jul Sun Independence Day
29 Jul Mon Independence Day Holiday
30 Aug Fri Santa Rosa de Lima
8 Oct Tue Battle of Angamos
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
8 Dec Sun Immaculate Conception
9 Dec Mon Battle of Ayacucho
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Thursday, 17 April : Maundy Thursday
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Sunday, 29 June : Feast of St Peter and St Paul
Wednesday, 23 July: Air Force Day
Monday, 28 July: Independence Day
Tuesday, 29 July: Independence Day Holiday
Wednesday, 6 August : Battle of Junín
Saturday, 30 August : Santa Rosa de Lima
Wednesday, 8 October : Battle of Angamos
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Monday, 8 December: Immaculate Conception
Tuesday, 9 December: Battle of Ayacucho
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day