How To Plan a Trip To Peru?

Last Updated on February 1, 2021 by James Bustamante

What do we need to know on how to plan a trip to Peru? We begin by first going over the necessary paperwork we will need to go to Peru.

The next step is choosing the destinations we want to visit, then we move on to how many days we will need to see each one. Once we have figured out a rough estimate of the days required we can go over costs for the entire trip.

Most people will just think about the Machu Picchu hike but don’t realize we also need to include some destinations we have to cover before ever getting to the Inca city. 

Among the several factors to consider in how to plan a trip to Peru these four stand out: Documentation for Peru Trip, Destinations to Include in Peru Trip, Best Time of The Year to Visit Peru, Costs for your Trip, Tentative Itinerary to review

Documentation For Your Trip to Peru

When you are trying to plan a trip to Peru the first thing you will want to know is if you need any particular paperwork to enter the country.

For instance, if you are a US citizen you will not need any special paperwork done to come into Peru. There are a few items you will know to enter the country though.

Valid Passport

For American citizens, your passport will have to be valid for more than 6 months after you are scheduled to enter Peru. This means that if you are coming to Peru let’s say on January 1st, your passport would have to be valid for at the very least 6 months, so June 1st of the same year.

If your passport has not been renewed then you will not be allowed to leave US airspace.  More information on Passport details in things to know before you travel to Peru.

Covid-19 Requirements

At the time of writing this article if you want to take a trip to Peru all incoming travellers are required to have a certification for a negative Covid-19 test.

You will also need to wear a mask to enter the Lima Jorge Chavez airport as well as a face shield. 

Destinations To Include in Your Trip to Peru

There are around 8 Major destinations in Peru you will have the option to visit. Each one has something unique to offer.

So if you want to know how to plan a trip to Peru you will need to know about each location first. Below we go over 8 Major destinations in Peru.

Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru and has some interesting places for you to visit. This colonial city has some of the best restaurants in the entire world.

It also has extensive sandy (sometimes rocky) and dry beaches along the coast.  Within Lima, you will find 2 districts in particular that are very popular with tourists: Miraflores and Barranco.

Both of these districts are conveniently located on the coast and have restaurants, markets, coffee shops, stores, bars, and just about anything you need at walking distance.

Plan for 1-3 days in Lima to get to know the city, take a tour, and visit the restaurants.

Paracas and The Nazca Lines

The Paracas national reserve is located at about 4 hours to the South of Lima. The southern region of Peru can be quite entertaining to visit. You can visit Ica as well as Pisco on the way to Paracas.

Once in Paracas you must visit the Paracas national reserve as well as take a boat tour of the Ballestas islands. The biodiversity in the reserve is spectacular.

You will have a chance to see some of the most endangered birds on the planet as well as colonies of sea lions, fur seals, and even the rare “Gato Marino” better known as a marine otter.  

A few hours further south we arrive at the Nazca desert where we can go on a Nazca lines plane tour. We board a small plane and fly over these enormous drawings that have humanoid, plant, and animal shapes. 

To do this southern section of Peru we recommend taking 3 days in total.

Cusco

We now travel to the Peruvian highlands. To get to Cusco we will have to take a quick flight from Lima. The average time is around 1:30 minutes in total from Lima to Cusco.

Cusco is the major city in the Peruvian highlands and our gateway to Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and finally Machu Picchu.

Some activities in Cusco include the Koricancha museum, The Cusco cathedral, walking to the San Pedro market, and taking pictures by the main square.

The best part is that these activities will all be within walking distance from any hotel in the city. Plan to spend 2 full days in Cusco. One at the beginning of the trip and one towards the end, after the visit to Machu Picchu

The Sacred Valley

We now move on to a location that is around a 2-hour drive from the city of Cusco. The Sacred Valley of the Inca is where you want to go if you want to visit an Inca fortress, a giant sundial used by the Inca, or get some of the most picturesque views you have ever come across.  

There are six villages that make up the fairly large territory known as the Sacred Valley. 

These 6 villages are Pisac, Chinchero, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Calca y Yucay. Visit them all on a full-day Sacred Valley tour.

Usually, we will spend a full day in the Sacred Valley, sometimes 2 depending on the itinerary.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is by far the most requested place to visit in Peru. Why would you come to Peru if you did not have a chance to visit Machu Picchu?

All Peru trips are basically centered around getting to and touring the Inca citadel. The Machu Picchu travel experience just would not be complete without an expert guide taking you through the city’s passageways to all the major rooms such as the Incas bath or the Inti Punku sundial.

If you have the stamina for it make sure to also include the hike to Huayna Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a 1-day experience, there is no real reason to spend multiple days in Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It is located at over 13,000 feet above sea level (4,000 meters) and is quite beautiful.

The lake is home to several local communities that live on the floating Uros Islands.

This massive body of water is located in the Puno region a few minutes from the city of Juliaca.

If you would like to visit Lake Titicaca when you plan a trip to Peru, make sure to set aside 3 days in total.

The Amazon Rainforest

The amazon rainforest is definitely one of the more mysterious places to visit. The immense biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest is truly something to behold,  It has more species per square mile than any other place in the world.

Most travelers will reach the city of Iquitos by plane. We then take a boat to the Tambopata nature reserve where we spend at least 3 – 4 days.

Activities include Kayaking in the River, fishing for Piranhas, bird watching, excursions into the rainforest, canopy treetop walks, and much more.

When Is Best Time For a Trip to Peru?

The best overall time to travel to Peru will be between April – August because the highland as well as the Amazon rainforest are going through the dry season. On the opposite end is Lima since those months represent the winter months for the capital.

Since you will be spending most of the time in either the highlands or the Amazon we suggest you travel in the dry season.  The rest of the year is also a good time to plan a trip to Peru but the weather is definitely best in the Andes when it isn’t raining. 

The absolute time that you must avoid if you plan on traveling to Peru in February. It is by far the rainiest month of the year in the highlands and the Inca trail is closed due to maintenance.

If you plan on spending most of your trip in Lima, Paracas, Ica, Nazca then February is perfect because the Peruvian coastline is going through the dry, summer months.

List of Costs For Your Trip to Peru

Now that we know what the 8 major destinations are and how many days we will need to spend in each one we can go over some of the finances for your trip to Peru.

We will go over the costs for Airfare, accommodations, guided tours, meals, and lastly tips.

Airfare to Peru Cost

Airfare costs will of course be relative to your country of origin. There are a few tips we have to make sure you get the best price along with a schedule that will fit well into the itinerary. 

When you are looking at your international airfare when you plan a trip to Peru it might be a good idea to look at the red-eye flights.

Usually, red-eye flights depart at midnight or sometimes late at night. The point is that you will travel overnight and arrive in Lima in the morning. This works out well if your first destination is the capital city.

Let’s say you leave Miami on a flight departing at 1:00 am, you would sleep during the trip and land by 7:00 am. The price is cheaper and the scheduling would allow you to have your first full day in Peru.

Accommodations Cost for a Trip to Peru

One of the biggest costs when planning a trip to just about anywhere will be accommodations. There are several styles of accommodations to choose from for your trip to Peru. 

Hostels in Peru

They are quite cheap and are located in very popular parts of each destination. The upside is of course the price. If you are a younger traveler then this might be the best option for you.

It is a great place to meet other travelers such as yourself since you might be sharing a room with 2-10 other people.

You might not be into sharing a room and a bathroom though. Some hostels also offer private rooms but this kind of defeats the purpose since pricing will be on par with a 3-star hotel at that point.  

Price: $10 – $50/night

Hotels in Peru

When you are trying to figure out how to plan a trip to Peru? The most obvious option for accommodations will be hotels. 

You can find 3,4 and 5-star hotels in all the major destinations in the country.  All three ratings will provide private rooms as well as bathrooms, WIFI and breakfast.

The difference among all three in terms of pricing can be pretty significant though. 

A good 3-star hotel can be on the cheap side, pricing might rival that of a hostel while a 4 and 5-star hotel will cost in one night what you would pay for a hostel in 7 days.

It really depends on your budget and desired comfort level as well as location. 

Price: $50 – $250/night +

AirBnb in Peru

AirBnB’s have been increasing in popularity in the last few years. They are usually located in very nice neighborhoods at walking distance from stores, shops, restaurants, etc. Some prefer this approach to accommodations because they prefer the privacy of an apartment-style stay.  

Price: $38 – $200/night +

Cost of Guided Trips in Peru

One of the major reasons you are trying to figure out how to plan a trip to Peru is because you want to tour around the country. There are a few places where you might not need a guided tour, for example, if you are at the Larco museum in Miraflores you probably won’t need a guide.

On the other hand, you will need a guide for the Machu Picchu tour, it’s actually now a rule that you must enter with a guide. 

A day tour like one of Lima might cost around $25 and that would include the guide, permits, and transportation.

An option in Cusco would be the Sacred Valley tour which would cost around $65 on its own. On the other side, a trip to Machu Picchu would accrue the following costs:

Land transportation: $40 (Cusco – Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo – Cusco)

Train tickets roundtrip: $165 – $240+

Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes: $65 – $250+

Machu Picchu permit: $22

Machu Picchu guided tour: $20

As you can see this varies greatly depending on where you go and exactly what you want to do. For day tours average out $25 – $100.

What About Meals During Your Trip to Peru

Now we need to set a budget for food during your trip to Peru. First of all, let’s go over which meals you will not have to pay for separately and what is included with your hotels and tours.

When you book a room at a hotel breakfast is commonly included. Hotels in the 3,4 and 5-star category range will include a full breakfast or a breakfast buffet in many cases. 

Meals are usually included in full day tours. For example, if you book the Sacred Valley full day hike it will include a lunch buffet in Urubamba.

So basically on this day, you have breakfast at your hotel and lunch is included in your day tour. You would only be responsible for your dinner at this point.

Going out to dinner in Peru will always be an enjoyable experience. Lima has some of the best restaurants in the world.

On top of that, there are international chain restaurants, fast food, creole food restaurants, and much more to choose from. 

Eating out in Peru: $5 – $50

Tentative 7 Day Trip: Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu

If we were going to plan a trip to Peru that would allow us to visit major destinations while not being overly complicated or expensive then a 7-day trip would work well.

The itinerary would work as if you planned the entire trip on your own because you could add or remove certain destinations and since it is all packaged together the price would not be out of anyone’s budget.

• Day 1 Arrival in Lima 
• Day 2 Lima city tour
• Day 3 Arrival at Cusco
• Day 4 Sacred Valley full-day tour
• Day 5 Train to Aguas Calientes
• Day 6 Machu Picchu Guided Tour
• Day 7 Return to Airport – End of Services

The total cost for a package like the 7 day trip to Peru would be around $990 – $1390/person depending on which hotel rating you prefer. 

The great thing about the basic 7-day itinerary is that it gives you the freedom to move things around if you prefer a different activity.

For example, we would replace the Sacred valley tour with a tour to the Rainbow mountain.

So take the above itinerary and see where you can replace activities or better yet, add days and activities to make your trip longer.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Plan a trip to Peru