Peru Travel Tips

Peru is one of the most famous and popular countries in South America. Most people flock here to hike the Inca Trail and see Machu Picchu. Everything else takes a back seat. Lima and Cusco also get some minor attention but there is far more in this country that just these three major sites. Come explore the jungles, see the Amazon, head to Lake Titicaca, or the beaches. Learn about local culture, try the coca tea. In short, stay longer and see more. There’s more to Peru than Machu Picchu.

Typical Costs

• Accommodation: Budget hotels or hostels are in great supply in Peru. A dorm room costa between $4-8 per night. Most private rooms with a bathroom are between $10-15.
• Food: Street stalls and markets have very cheap food ($.50-1 USD) and in a sit down restaurant you can get lunch and dinner menus for $4-6 USD.
• Transportation: The usual price for a 10 hour bus journey is around $8-16 USD depending on how nice the bus company is. A good rule of thumb is about $1 per hour of travel.  A taxi around Lima should cost no more than $3. Lima has a brand-new, clean intra-city buses. These buses are safe and cost $.50 USD per trip.
• Activities: Trip to archeological sites are likely to be your biggest expensive with a day trip to Machu Picchu costing around $50 USD. The Nasca Lines helicopter tour is relatively expensive at $97 USD for 35 minutes in the air. Multi-day trips up the Inca Trail cost hundreds of dollars.

Money Saving Tips

• Hospedajes - These are family run hotels and are the cheapest accommodation you can find. They will be a great deal.
• Public transportation- Lima’s new intra-city buses is definitely a great alternative to Taxis, especially if you’re staying in the beautiful tourist suburb of Miraflores. It’s easy to access and will get to downtown museums quickly.
• Eat the meal of the day -These are set meals and are a bit like the ‘meal of the day’, which you can get for $2.75 USD.
• Travel off-season – For a low-cost trip, the best times to visit Peru are the fringe months of April and May or September and October.
• Take the collectivos – These are cheap buses. They cost around $.25-.50 USD for a ride. They are a bit confusing, but there is always a door person (usually a young man) whom you can quickly ask if the bus is going to your location. There are no bus stops, everywhere is a potential bus stop.
• Book last minute – If you are looking to do the Inca Trail and have a bit of extra time to wait for a deal, showing up in Cusco or booking a last minute tour can save you lots of money. Booking months in advance gets you the premium price but wait and you’ll find your patience rewarded.

Top Things to See and Do

• Lima – Chances are your trip will begin and end in Peru’s capital city, Lima and this is no bad thing as the city is a must-see. The Plaza Mayor is hugely popular and you’ll want to bring a camera to catch its colonial beauty.  At night, head to the Barranco district for the hottest parties in peñas– Afro-Perruvian clubs which bounce to the beat of cajón drums.
• Visit Machu Picchu – This legendary “lost city of the Incas” is one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of South America and one of the best historical sites in the world. The ruins are high up in the Andes and are regularly obscured by cloud cover, which adds to the mystery of the place! Aqueducts, granite and limestone temples and other forms of Inca architecture are all beautifully preserved at this essential tourist attraction. You can get here by the Inca Trail (see below) or by taking the train.
• Hike the Inca Trail – Getting to Machu Picchu is best via the famed Inca Trail. This multi-day hike allows you to see the mountains, jungles, and follow the route the Incas.
• Islas Flotantes de los Uros – The Floating Islands of the Uros may sound like an Indiana Jones title but it is actually the name of the group of handmade islands in Lake Titicaca.  The Islands are home to the indigenous Uros people who have built their own houses, islands and boats from the tortora reeds which grow along the banks of the lake.
• Colca Canyon – Colca Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world and is thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at certain parts. This is a great place to spot Andean condors and unlike the Grand Canyon, Colca is habitable.  A trip here isn’t complete unless you visit one of the small agricultural villages for a taste of life.
• Máncora Beach – Seafood, watersports, horse riding and relaxation are the order of the day at this popular beach resort.  Máncora is one of the finest beaches in South America and its year round sunshine and huge waves also makes it Peru’s surfing Mecca.  Prices here can be expensive December to March so it’s best to book in advance.
• Visit Nasca Lines – The Nasca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs that dominate the San José desert and in particular, the Nasca Valley. There are over 10,000 lines and 300 different plant and animal figures depicted. No one really knows how they got there (maybe aliens?).   Without a doubt the best way to view the lines is by a helicopter or plane tour which costs around $97.
• Batán Grande – Batán Grande is an archaeological site comprised of 50 pyramids and tombs thought to date back to between 100-1000AD. This was once the Sicán capital and has had its fair share of impressive pre-Columbian artifacts recovered over the years, for example a gold Tumi weighing almost 7 pounds which was recovered from one of the royal tombs.
• Lake Titicaca – Titicaca is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world.  The lake covers 8400 sq km and sits at 3808m above sea level and as such is considered the world’s largest high altitude lake. The towns surrounding the lake are tourist friendly and a mix of colonial architecture and bustling markets, while the islands dotted around the lake are largely off the radar for most travelers.
• Cuzco – This colonial city is a major tourist destination and sits on Inca-built stone foundations not far from Peru’s major attraction of Machu Picchu.  The area is popular with trail walkers, history lovers, and partygoers who come to enjoy the city’s many colorful festivals.  Cuzco is the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas and an essential part of your trip to Peru.
• Iquitos – Accessible only by boat or plane, jungle-locked Iquitos is the largest city within the Peruvian rainforest. The city sits at the mouth of the Amazon and so is the perfect destination for fans of eco-tourism.  The nearby Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is Peru’s largest Reverse and at 2million hectares, is home to a huge range of nearly 1000 birds, mammals, fish and reptiles.
• Huacachina - This little town is a desert oasis and a welcome relief after hiking through Machu Picchu. It’s very affordable for travelers looking to relax and are running out of funds. Hostels offer great deals for sandboarding and sandbuggies around the dunes that surround this idyllic town. In the center, there is a local lagoon hidden by palm trees and full of paddlers.