Travel to Peru — everything you need to know
When to go to Peru?
- May – October — Dry season (Andes) : Best time for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail: blue skies, dry trails. Cool but pleasant temperatures.
- June – August — Inti Raymi : Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) in Cusco on 24 June. Peak dry season, lively Andean festivals.
- December – April — Lima & Coast : Wet season in the Andes (but Machu Picchu remains doable). Lima and the coast are great year-round. Lush Amazon.
Weather in Peru
Check the weather city by city, starting with Lima.
- Lima: daytime highs from 19 to 26 °C depending on the season, 1 mm of rain per month on average.
- Cusco: daytime highs from 20 to 22 °C depending on the season, 61 mm of rain per month on average.
- Arequipa: daytime highs from 21 to 25 °C depending on the season, 8 mm of rain per month on average.
- Machu Picchu: daytime highs from 21 to 23 °C depending on the season, 176 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Peru?
Peru is the heart of Andean America: Machu Picchu, the Inca city above the clouds, Cusco the Inca capital, the sea of dunes at Huacachina, Lake Titicaca the highest in the world, and Peruvian cuisine, among the best in the world.
Machu Picchu
The Inca city perched at 2,430 m in the Andes is the symbol of Peru. Reachable by train from Cusco or on foot via the legendary Inca Trail (4 days).
Highlights : Machu Picchu Inca city, Huayna Picchu Mountain, Inca Trail (4 days), Aguas Calientes — starting village.
Cusco
The former capital of the Inca Empire, today a magnificent colonial town at 3,400 m altitude. Baroque cathedral built on Inca foundations, Pisac market and the Sacred Valley.
Highlights : Qorikancha — Inca Temple of the Sun, Sacsayhuamán Fortress, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Pisac Market & Sacred Valley.
Lima
The gastronomic capital of Latin America, with restaurants ranking among the best in the world (Central, Maido). The Miraflores district and the Larcomar offer cosmopolitan city life.
Highlights : Miraflores & Barranco districts, Larco Museum — pre-Columbian collections, Huaca Pucllana — Inca pyramid in the city.
Lake Titicaca
At 3,810 m altitude, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The floating Uros Islands, built from reeds, and Taquile, home to weavers, are unlike anywhere else.
Highlights : Floating Uros Islands, Taquile Island — weavers, Amantaní Island — homestay overnight, Sunrise over the lake.
Travel budget for Peru
Peru is relatively affordable, especially for food and local transport. Organised tours (Machu Picchu, Inca Trail) represent the biggest expense.
- Backpacker : 35–60 €/j — Hostel + local set menus + bus + basic activities
- Comfort : 90–150 €/j — Comfortable hotel + mid-range restaurants + activities
- Luxury : 300 €+/j — Boutique hotel + fine dining in Lima + private excursions
Practical tips for travelling to Peru
- Flight from Paris : ~13–14h with a layover (Bogotá, Miami, Madrid)
- Visa : No visa required for French citizens (90 days)
- Currency : Peruvian sol (S/) — ATM withdrawals recommended, few cards accepted
- Language : Spanish and Quechua — English in tourist areas
- Electricity : Type A/B/C — 220V (adapter recommended)
- Mobile network : Local SIM (Claro, Movistar) — limited network in remote areas
- Tap water : Not drinkable — bottled water essential
- Health : Yellow fever vaccine recommended for the Amazon, altitude sickness medication (Diamox)
Compare Peru with other destinations