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Frequently Asked Questions:
Prepare Your Trip to Peru

Peru Travel FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers

Article written by Peru Discovery

✦ Welcome to our ultimate Peru Q&A guide! ✦

Whether you're planning an Andean trek, an Amazon exploration, or discovering Peruvian cultural treasures, this FAQ gathers all practical information collected from our travelers and local experts.

💡

How to use this FAQ?

Browse by theme or use our built-in site search. Our answers are regularly updated.

📊 Most searched questions by our visitors

1

Entry requirements

2

Health & Vaccines

3

Daily budget

✉ A specific question?

Our team will be happy to answer you as quickly as possible via email: Contact Page

🛂

Trip preparation

1. What are the entry requirements for Peru?

  • Passport: Valid 6 months after return date
  • Visa: Not required for stays < 90 days (tourism)
  • Return ticket: May be required upon arrival
  • Extension: Possible on site (Apply to the Dirección de Migraciones)

2. What to pack for Peru?

Absolute essentials:

  • SPF50+ sunscreen (strong sun at altitude)
  • Basic medicines + Diamox (altitude, on prescription)

👉 Avoid: Fragile electronic devices (Amazon humidity).

3. Travel insurance: what must it cover?

Make sure your insurance covers:

  • Repatriation (including helicopter from Andes)
  • Medical expenses (expensive private clinics)
  • Cancellation (due to altitude issues)
  • Activities: Trekking (>3,000m) and adventure sports

4. Vaccines and health before departure

  • Recommended for all:
    • Hepatitis A
    • Typhoid (for rural stays)
  • Mandatory for the Amazon:
    • Yellow fever (at least 10 days before)
  • Others:
    • Rabies (if animal contact expected)

5. Organized tour or independent travel?

With agency (recommended for):

  • Families with children
  • First trip to Peru

✓ Advantages:

  • Managed logistics
  • French-speaking guides

Independent (for):

  • Experienced backpackers
  • Fluent in Spanish

✓ Requirements:

  • Itinerary prepared 3 months in advance
  • Advance bookings

Key tip: For groups/families, choose certified local agencies

🏥

Safety & Health

1. How to manage altitude (children and adults)?

  • Progressive acclimatization: 1–2 days in Lima before going up to Cusco
  • Remedies: Coca tea (not recommended for children), Diamox (on prescription)
  • Severe symptoms: Persistent headaches / breathing difficulties → Consult a doctor via your hotel

2. Water and food: essential precautions

  • Water: Bottled only (even for brushing teeth)
  • Food: Avoid roadside raw vegetables, favor busy places
  • Sanitizer: Hand sanitizer is a must

3. Areas to avoid in 2025

  • Lima: Callao and La Victoria (especially at night)
  • General rule: Avoid going out after 10 p.m., except in city centers
  • Amazon: Border areas with Colombia (without certified guide)

4. Is Peru a safe country for tourists?

Yes, with basic precautions:

  • Avoid displaying signs of wealth
  • Do not carry your original passport (photocopy is enough)
  • Use hotel safes for valuables

5. Common tourist scams

  • Taxis: Prefer using apps (Uber, Beat)
  • Currency exchange: Fake bills in informal exchanges → Banks and exchange offices
  • Excursions: Check agencies certified by MINCETUR (official logo)
  • Markets: Pay with small bills (change scams)
🚖

Transport

1. Bus or plane for domestic travel?

Criteria Bus Plane
Lima → Cusco 22h (€30-50) 1h15 (€80-150)
Arequipa → Puno 6h (€15-25) Not available

*2024 prices for a standard class seat

2. Which apps for safe taxis?

  • Uber: Available in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa
  • Beat: Local alternative (better prices)
  • Cabify: Premium vehicles

⚠️ Avoid: Unmarked street taxis

3. Tips for renting a car

  • License: International license required + credit card for deposit
  • Insurance: Choose maximum coverage (rough roads)
  • Areas: Avoid night driving and unpaved roads
  • Parking: Always use guarded parking lots (frequent theft)

4. Traveling with children

  • Car seats: Book in advance (rarely available locally)
  • Bus: Choose companies with toilets (e.g., Cruz del Sur)
  • Plane: Children <2 yrs = 10% of adult ticket (no seat)
  • Preparation: Games/tablet for long journeys
💵

Accommodation & Budget

1. Daily budget by region (2024)

🏔️ Cusco/Andes

  • Accommodation: €25-60
  • Meals: €8-20
  • Activities: €15-50

🌊 Lima/Coast

  • Accommodation: €40-100
  • Meals: €10-30
  • Activities: €10-40

*For 2 people – mid-season

2. Where to stay with a family?

  • Apartments: Airbnb in Miraflores (Lima) or San Blas (Cusco)
  • Family hotels: Search for "family room" with kitchenette
  • Ecolodges: Amazon (rates include children's activities)

Tip: Check for elevators in Andean hotels

3. Tipping: local practices

  • Restaurants: 10% (often included as "servicio")
  • Guides: 15–20 soles/day/person
  • Drivers: 10 soles/day/person
  • Hotels: 5–10 soles for the porter

4. Hidden costs to anticipate

  • Tips: Guides (20–40 soles/day), drivers (10–20 soles/day)
  • Bank cards: Exchange fees (3–5%) and commissions in small shops
  • Activities: Equipment not included (trekking pole rental, etc.)
  • Payments in dollars: Often unfavorable exchange rates in stores
🌦️

Climate & Seasons in Peru

1. What is the best time to visit Peru?

Peru has 3 distinct climate zones:

  • Coast (Lima, Paracas): December to March (summer, 25-30°C) → Ideal for beaches
  • Andes (Cusco, Machu Picchu): April to October (dry season, 15-20°C) → Best time for hiking
  • Amazon (Iquitos, Manu): May to September (less rain)

⚠️ Avoid: February (Inca Trail closed).

2. How to dress by region?

Plan for layers:

  • Daytime: T-shirts + light jacket (strong sun at altitude)
  • Night: Down jacket (0-10°C in the Andes)
  • Amazon: Long mosquito-proof clothing + raincoat

Tip: Waterproof hiking shoes for Inca sites (slippery stones in rainy season).

3. Rain and trekking: what are the risks?

  • December-March: Avoid difficult treks (muddy trails)
  • Solutions:
    • Prefer the Salkantay Trek (less affected by rain)
    • Bring a rain cover for your bag and spare shoes

Key data: In Cusco, 80% of rainfall occurs between November and March.

4. Cultural festivals by season

Not to miss:

  • June: Inti Raymi (Cusco) → Sun Festival, dry weather
  • February: Carnival (everywhere) → Very rainy in the Andes
  • September: Spring Festival (Trujillo) → Mild climate
🎭

Culture & Behavior

1. Gestures to avoid to not offend

  • Gestures: Prefer the right hand for exchanges (more polite)
  • Bargaining: Accepted in markets, but in moderation and with a smile
  • Disagreement: Say "no estoy de acuerdo" rather than a blunt "no"

2. Rules for photos

  • People: Always ask ("¿Puedo tomar una foto?")
  • Sacred sites: Forbidden in colonial churches
  • Markets: Some artisans ask for 1-2 soles for photos of their stalls

3. Dress code in sacred sites

  • Machu Picchu: No restrictions but bring closed-toe shoes
  • Churches: Covered shoulders + pants/skirts below the knee
  • Communities: Avoid shorts and tank tops in Andean villages

4. Must-see festivals

🎉 Inti Raymi (June 24)

Cusco - Reenactment of the Inca Sun ritual

🕺 Marinera (January)

Trujillo - National dance competition

*Dates vary according to the lunar calendar

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Traveling with Children in Peru

1. Is Peru dangerous for children?

No, with basic precautions. Key advice:

  • Cities: Avoid sensitive neighborhoods in Lima (Callao, La Victoria) after 8pm
  • Transportation: Prefer "VIP" buses (more spacious)
  • Altitude: Children > 2 years old often adapt better than adults!

2. Do children enjoy Peru?

Absolutely! Suitable activities:

🏰 In Cusco:

  • Meeting alpacas (San Blas)
  • Traditional pottery workshops

🌆 In Lima:

  • Park of Legends (local zoo)
  • Interactive chocolate museum

🌄 Elsewhere:

  • Boat excursion to Ballestas Islands
  • Dune buggies in Huacachina
  • Amazon wildlife observation

Tip: Bring a travel journal for them to stick tickets and draw their memories.

3. Behaviors to avoid

  • Food: Don't force them to try cuy (guinea pig) if reluctant
  • Photos: Ask before photographing local children
  • Markets: Avoid touching textiles without buying
  • Monuments: Don't run in sacred sites (e.g., Machu Picchu)

4. Managing without Spanish

You'll survive with:

🗣 Key words:

  • "Gracias" (thank you)
  • "¿Dónde está el baño?"
  • "Cuánto cuesta" (price)

📱 Tools:

Good to know: In Cusco and Lima, many speak English in tourist areas.

Other useful questions:

  • Vaccines: Yellow fever from 9 months for the Amazon
  • Kids' menus: Available in tourist restaurants (otherwise ask for "media porción")
  • Luggage: Bring a pediatric medical kit
🍲

Peruvian Gastronomy

1. How to spot hygienic establishments?

  • Certification: Look for the "Buenas Prácticas" sticker from the Ministry of Health
  • Visual clues:
    • Clean tablecloths and uniformed staff
    • Food protected from insects
  • Hours: Prefer local meal times (1-3pm lunch) when turnover is fast

2. Child-friendly dishes

🍚 Popular classics:

  • Arroz chaufa (fried rice)
  • Papa a la huancaína (potatoes with mild sauce)
  • Tallarines rojos (pasta with tomato sauce)

📝 Ask for:

  • "Sin picante" (no spice)
  • "Media porción" (half portion)
  • "Para niños" (kids' version)

3. Family cooking classes

  • Ideal activity: From 6 years old (safe handling)
  • Suitable recipes:
    • Peruvian lemonade
    • Cheese empanadas
  • Duration: Prefer sessions of max 2h with children

ℹ️ Check if the workshop provides child-sized aprons and utensils

📱

Communications

1. Which mobile solution to choose?

📲 Local SIM Card

  • Purchase in official stores (passport required)
  • 30-day plan ≈ 10-20€ (calls + 5-10GB)

🌐 eSIM

  • Purchase online before departure
  • Check compatibility with your phone

*Main operators provide good coverage in tourist areas

2. Areas without network

  • Andean treks: Inca Trail (from day 2)
  • Deep Amazon: Manu National Reserve
  • Coastal desert: Between Nazca and Arequipa

Tip: Preload offline maps on several apps

3. Essential offline apps

🗺️ Navigation

  • Maps.me
  • Google Maps (pre-downloaded areas)

💬 Translation

🥾 Hiking

  • AllTrails (offline maps)
  • Altimeter
🛍️

Shopping & Handicrafts

1. Where to buy authentic alpaca?

  • Recommended addresses:
    • Stores approved by the Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo
    • Production centers like Awanacancha (near Cusco)
  • Quality tests:
    • Discreetly burn a thread: alpaca doesn't melt
    • Minimum price: 50-80 soles for a basic scarf
  • Avoid: Street vendors near tourist sites

2. Recognizing ethical handicrafts

🏷️ Official labels:

  • "Hecho a Mano" (handmade)
  • Artesanías del Perú logo
  • Certificate of origin

✨ Quality signs:

  • Irregularities in weaving (handmade)
  • Seller able to explain techniques
  • Reasonable prices (≠ too low)

3. Customs rules for return

  • Alpaca/textiles: No restrictions (keep receipts)
  • Animal products: Prohibited (feathers, untreated skins)
  • Antique handicrafts: Export certificate required for pieces > 50 years
  • Plants/food:
    • Prohibited: Fresh fruits, plants
    • Allowed: Packaged coffee/chocolate

ℹ️ Limit: €430 of souvenirs/person (excluding alcohol/tobacco)

🗺️

Off the Beaten Path

1. Lesser-known alternatives to Machu Picchu

🏔️ Choquequirao

"Sacred sister" of Machu Picchu, accessible via a 4-day trek (less crowded)

🧭 Kuélap

Chachapoyas fortress with spectacular cable car (Northern Peru)

*These sites require good physical condition

2. Authentic encounters with communities

  • Lake Titicaca:
    • Uros floating islands (½ day)
    • Taquile or Amantaní (homestay)
  • White Mountains:
    • Textile workshops in Chavín
  • Amazon:
    • Shipibo communities near Pucallpa

Tip: Bring useful small gifts (pencils, notebooks) rather than money

3. Family-friendly treks

🚶‍♂️ Sacred Valley (1 day)

  • Pisaq → Ollantaytambo
  • Elevation gain: 300m (children +6 years)

🏞️ Colca Canyon (2 days)

  • With homestay nights
  • Minimum age: 8 years

ℹ️ Plan to use pack donkeys to carry children's belongings

"Peru adapts to all travelers - all that's left is to prepare your adventure!"

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