Peru
Phone Code
+51
Capital
Lima
Population
34 Million
Native Name
Perú
Region
Americas
South America
Timezone
Peru Time
UTC-05:00
On This Page
Peru spans three distinct worlds — the coastal desert (Costa), the Andean highlands (Sierra) and the Amazon rainforest (Selva, 60 percent of the country) — with Spanish, Quechua and Aymara as official languages reflecting an indigenous heritage that is still a living culture, not a museum piece. The Inca Empire was South America's largest pre-Columbian civilization, and its engineering legacy still anchors the country's identity. Most Western nationalities enter visa-free for 90 to 183 days depending on nationality.
Visa Requirements for Peru
Peru offers visa-free entry to citizens of approximately 90 countries — including the US, Canada, UK, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of South America — for 90 or 183 days depending on nationality (183 days typical for US, EU and Canadian citizens). No advance application is required: immigration stamps passports on arrival, and the Andean Immigration Card (TAM) is now virtual — generated automatically at the control module, with no paper card to keep or return. Citizens of around 100 other nationalities need an advance consular visa. See the visa categories below for the specific application requirements and durations.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry (Tourist)
For tourism or business for citizens of approximately 90 countries including US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, and most of South America.
Consular Visa (Tourist/Business)
For nationalities requiring advance visa, approximately 100 countries including many African, Asian, and Middle Eastern nations.
Work Visa (Visa de Trabajo)
For foreign nationals employed by Peruvian companies or organizations, requires employer sponsorship.
Student Visa (Visa de Estudiante)
For international students enrolled in Peruvian universities or educational programs.
Important Travel Information
Peru delivers one of the richest travel experiences on Earth — three utterly different worlds in one country, from Andean citadels in the clouds to a world-class food capital to Amazon rainforest lodges. The classic route runs Lima to Cusco to the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, with side extensions south to Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca, or east into the Amazon around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Careful timing and advance booking matter almost everywhere — trekking permits, train tickets and citadel entries all sell out in high season — and because the coast, highlands and rainforest don't share one weather calendar, itineraries work best planned region by region rather than as a single uniform trip.
Discover Peru
The citadel was built around 1450 under the Inca emperor Pachacuti and abandoned during the Spanish conquest; it stayed known to local communities long after that but only reached wide international attention through Hiram Bingham's 1911 expedition. A standard entry ticket covers the citadel only — Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain each require a separate ticket capped at 400 permits a day, so book those specifically and early if either climb is the goal. Most visitors reach Aguas Calientes by train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo and finish with a short bus up the switchbacks; a slower, cheaper approach is the bus-then-walk route via Hidroeléctrica. The citadel itself sits at a moderate 2,430 m — Cusco, not Machu Picchu, is where altitude actually becomes a factor.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Machu Picchu is a bucket-list destination for a reason — the 15th-century citadel perched at 2,430 m above the Sacred Valley, shrouded in cloud and ringed by green peaks, is genuinely breathtaking. Entry tickets (USD 50-75) must be booked online in advance; morning and afternoon time slots. The Classic Inca Trail (4 days, 43 km, crossing Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m) is limited to 500 permits/day including guides and porters — book 6+ months ahead for May-September. Alternatives: Salkantay Trek (5 days, stunning mountain scenery), Lares Trek (cultural focus through Andean villages), or the train to Aguas Calientes for those who prefer not to trek. Acclimatise 2-3 days in Cusco (3,400 m) before any high-altitude activity.
Lima has emerged as one of the world's great food cities. Central (Virgilio Martínez, #1 in the World's 50 Best 2023) maps Peru's ecosystems from sea level to 4,000 m on a single tasting menu. Maido (Mitsuharu Tsumura) pioneered Nikkei cuisine blending Japanese precision with Peruvian ingredients. Astrid y Gastón (Gastón Acurio — the chef who started the revolution) is a Peruvian fine dining landmark. But the real magic is democratic: ceviche (raw fish in lime juice, the national dish, USD 3-8 at any cevichería), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with fries and rice — Chinese-Peruvian chifa influence), anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers from street carts), causa (layered potato terrine), and pisco sour (the national cocktail). Lima's Miraflores and Barranco neighbourhoods concentrate the restaurant scene.
Cusco — the former Inca capital at 3,400 m — is a living museum of Inca walls topped by Spanish colonial buildings: the Plaza de Armas (two cathedrals, surrounded by restaurants and bars), San Blas artisan quarter (ceramic and textile workshops), and Sacsayhuamán (massive stone walls with blocks weighing 100+ tonnes fitted without mortar). The Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu unfolds with Pisac (market and Inca terraces), Ollantaytambo (Inca fortress and train departure point), the Moray circular agricultural terraces (an Inca crop laboratory), and the Maras salt terraces (thousands of evaporation pools cascading down a hillside, harvested since Inca times). Budget a minimum of 5-7 days for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu combined.
Peru's Amazon (La Selva) covers 60% of national territory. Two main gateways: Iquitos in the northeast (accessible only by air or river, access to Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve) and Puerto Maldonado in the southeast (access to Tambopata National Reserve and Manu National Park — one of the most biodiverse places on Earth). Jungle lodges offer guided forest walks, canopy towers for birdwatching, nighttime caiman spotting, piranha fishing, visits to indigenous communities, and clay-lick observation where macaws and parrots gather. 3-5 day packages from USD 300-1,500+ depending on remoteness and comfort. Yellow fever vaccination required. Best months: April-November (dry season). Over 1,800 bird species, jaguars, giant otters, pink river dolphins and anacondas.
The Nazca Lines — giant geoglyphs (hummingbird, spider, monkey, condor) etched into the desert 2,000+ years ago, stretching up to 300 m, visible only from the air — remain one of archaeology's great mysteries. Overflight tours from Nazca or Pisco in small Cessna aircraft (30-45 minutes, USD 80-150). Arequipa — the 'White City' built from white volcanic sillar stone (UNESCO) — sits beneath the El Misti volcano with the spectacular Colca Canyon (twice the Grand Canyon's depth, Andean condors riding thermals) a day trip away. Lake Titicaca at 3,812 m on the Bolivian border: floating Uros reed islands, homestays on Taquile and Amantaní, and the crossing to Bolivia via Copacabana.
Beyond the Inca Trail: the Salkantay Trek (5 days, crossing a 4,630 m pass with stunning glacier views), the Choquequirao Trek (4-5 days to the remote 'sister city' of Machu Picchu with far fewer visitors), the Ausangate Trek (5-7 days circling a sacred 6,384 m peak including the Rainbow Mountain), and the Huayhuash Circuit (regarded by many as the world's finest alpine trek — 8-12 days through the Cordillera Huayhuash). Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca, 5,200 m) has become viral — striped in red, yellow, green and turquoise by mineral deposits, accessible as a strenuous day hike from Cusco. White-water rafting on the Apurímac and Urubamba rivers. Sandboarding on the dunes of Huacachina, a desert oasis south of Lima.
Money & Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Currency code: PEN
Practical Money Tips
Peruvian Sol (PEN) — exchange USD, EUR at BCP (Banco de Crédito del Perú), Interbank, BBVA, Scotiabank in Lima (Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco), Cusco, Arequipa; street money changers (cambistas) on busy streets — use only in tourist zones with care; USD accepted at most tourist hotels, Machu Picchu entrance; airport exchange at Jorge Chávez International at poor rates — avoid
Peru uses the Sol (PEN). Exchange USD and EUR at bank branches in Lima (Miraflores, San Isidro), Cusco (Plaza de Armas area), Arequipa, Trujillo, and Iquitos. BCP (Banco de Crédito del Perú), Interbank, BBVA, and Scotiabank are the main banks with the best rates and widest ATM networks. Street money changers (cambistas) operate in tourist zones — convenient but always count your money carefully and be aware of counterfeit risk. USD is widely accepted in Lima hotels, Cusco's tourist restaurants, and at Machu Picchu (entrance in PEN but sometimes USD accepted). Avoid exchanging at the airport — rates are significantly worse. GBP and EUR exchange well at major bank branches.
ATMs widespread in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, Iquitos — BCP, Interbank, BBVA, Scotiabank; use ATMs inside bank branches or major shopping centres (Larcomar Miraflores, Mall del Sur) for safety; always pay in PEN to avoid DCC (dynamic currency conversion); limited outside cities; Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) has ATMs but they frequently run out of cash
ATMs are widespread in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, and major tourist cities. BCP has the largest ATM network in Peru. Interbank, BBVA, and Scotiabank also have extensive coverage. In Lima, ATMs are in shopping centres (Larcomar, Jockey Plaza, Mall del Sur) and on main streets. In Cusco, ATMs are on Avenida del Sol and near the Plaza de Armas. Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) has ATMs but they can run out of cash during peak season — withdraw in Cusco before departure. Always choose to pay in PEN at ATMs — dynamic currency conversion (DCC) offers poor rates. For security, use ATMs inside bank branches, not on street corners.
Cards excellent in Lima (Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco) and Cusco tourist centre — Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; Apple Pay available at some modern retailers; Google Pay limited; always pay in PEN not USD to avoid DCC; cash essential in markets (Mercado Central Lima, San Pedro Cusco), local transport, smaller towns, Machu Picchu ruins; use ATMs inside bank branches for safety
Card acceptance in Peru is excellent in Lima's tourist districts (Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco) and in Cusco's tourist centre. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually all hotels, upscale restaurants, supermarkets (Wong, Metro, Plaza Vea), and shopping centres. American Express acceptance is more limited. Apple Pay works at some modern retail chains and upscale restaurants in Lima. Google Pay has limited availability. Always choose to pay in PEN rather than USD when offered a choice — the conversion rates on USD transactions are unfavourable. Cash (PEN) is needed at local markets, on local transport (combis, taxis), in small towns, and at many budget restaurants throughout the country.
Affordable to mid-range: budget guesthouse Lima PEN 60–150/night (USD 16–40); mid-range hotel Miraflores USD 80–200/night; menu del día lunch PEN 12–25; restaurant main course Cusco PEN 25–60; Machu Picchu entrance PEN 152–200 (circuits vary); Inca Trail 4-day guided USD 700–1,200; safety: use bank-branch ATMs, avoid street ATMs at night
Peru is an affordable to mid-range destination. Budget guesthouse in Lima or Cusco: PEN 60–150/night (USD 16–40). Mid-range hotel in Miraflores or Cusco tourist centre: USD 80–200/night. Luxury hotel: USD 200–600/night. Menu del día (3-course set lunch, available everywhere): PEN 12–25 (USD 3–7) — exceptional value. Restaurant main course in Lima or Cusco: PEN 25–60 (USD 7–16). Machu Picchu entrance: PEN 152 (lower circuit) to PEN 200+ (Huayna Picchu) — must be booked in advance online. Classic Inca Trail (4-day guided): USD 700–1,200 per person. Bus Lima–Ica: PEN 30–60. Cruz del Sur or Oltursa overnight bus Lima–Cusco: not possible by road — fly (USD 60–150). Safety: use ATMs inside bank branches; avoid using ATMs on street corners after dark.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Regions in Peru
Explore different regions and their cities.
Peru — Embassies worldwide
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Embassies in Peru
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Accredited missions for Peru
Royal Danish Embassy in Santiago
Based in Santiago, Chile
Embassy of Ireland in Santiago
Based in Santiago, Chile
Namibian Embassy in Brasília
Based in Brasília, Brazil
New Zealand Embassy in Santiago
Based in Santiago, Chile
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Santiago
Based in Santiago, Chile
Yes — entry tickets and the train up from Cusco or Ollantaytambo routinely sell out weeks ahead in the June-August peak, and the Classic Inca Trail's 500 daily permits go months in advance, so this is the one part of a Peru trip that can't be planned last-minute.
Ten days to two weeks covers the core Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu route comfortably with acclimatisation time built in; add three or four days for an Amazon lodge or the Arequipa-Colca-Titicaca extension if either is a priority.
Most visitors feel some effect at Cusco's 3,400 m, since the city sits far higher than Machu Picchu itself — spending two or three easier days there before any strenuous hike is the standard fix, and it works for the great majority of travellers regardless of fitness level.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.