🇵🇪 20 things you need to know before traveling to Peru
Peru attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year. Many travelers say that when visiting this country, a picture that was still in school textbooks comes to life before their eyes. For some, all the needs of life come together here: beautiful views, affordable prices, fresh ocean air in the capital of Peru – Lima, delicious food and friendly locals.
Visa
The best part about planning a trip to Peru is that you don’t need to apply for a visa. Citizens can stay in the country without a visa as tourists for up to 183 days. If you have another goal or want to obtain a visa for some reason, you should contact the nearest Peruvian embassy.
Please note that when going through passport control in Peru, your passport will not be stamped. The Peruvians abandoned this procedure some time ago.
But when visiting, for example, Machu Picchu, you can put a stamp yourself and record that you were here. Previously, by the way, such a mark was mandatory for all tourists.
How to get to Peru
Despite all the advantages of traveling to Peru, the most difficult remains the path to this beautiful country. It is not simple and far from the cheapest. If you have a Schengen visa, there will be much more flight options. And without it, probably the easiest option is to fly with the Turkish airline Turkish Airlines. And even then, it’s not so simple. After all, there is no direct flight between Istanbul and Lima.
Therefore, an approximate route might look like this: Istanbul – transfer in Panama or Colombia – Lima. The most profitable and convenient way to plan a trip is not only to Peru, but also to another country in South America. For example, to Brazil. After all, a low-cost airline flies from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Lima.
The round trip price for two will cost $600. In this case, an approximate route could be: Istanbul – Sao Paulo – Lima. But despite all the difficulties, Peru is definitely worth visiting. And all the difficulties will make this journey even more long-awaited.
Domestic flights
Lima is definitely a very beautiful city and definitely worth a visit. It will charm anyone with its views. But aside from the beauty of the charming capital, tourists travel to Peru to experience local history, world-famous landmarks and the legacy of the Inca Empire. And to do this you need to go to another city in Peru, which is an hour’s flight from the capital – Cusco. This is where all excursions to Machu Picchu begin.
The city of Cusco is located in the middle of the Andes. You can get here by bus, but this journey will take a whole day! And due to the mountainous terrain, the altitude above sea level of the route itself constantly fluctuates. This will not seem very comfortable to many.
Therefore, the most convenient and fastest option is to fly. Various airlines fly from Lima to Cusco. We used the services of low-cost Sky Airlines. But when choosing this company, you should carefully monitor the weight and size of your luggage. Since many travelers have to pay extra for their suitcases. Employees of this low-cost airline carefully check all parameters and dimensions of hand luggage.
You should also be prepared for strong turbulence. Most often, the flight from Lima to Cusco is accompanied by powerful gusts of wind.
To visit Lake Titicaca you will have to take another domestic flight. The city of Puno is located on the shore of the lake; the airport of this place is worth focusing on.
Where to stay in Lima
Lima is a fairly safe city if you follow the basic rules. For example, it is best to visit the historical center during the daytime; it is advisable not to walk on the outskirts of the city. And in general, the evening time should be freed up for tasting local cuisine.
There are four safe areas in the Peruvian capital: Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco and Pueblo Libre. We chose an apartment that we rented through Airbnb in the Barranco area. More information about Lima can be found here. If you are looking for a hotel, then you should use the services of the Trip.com service, where you can find a very profitable option.
Besides safety, another advantage of the Barranco area is that it is considered bohemian. There are many green areas and parks everywhere where older people do exercises. There will also be beautiful flower beds with exotic plants, wide sidewalks with views of the Pacific Ocean, and many restaurants, bars and cafes.
Where to stay in Cusco
Cusco is a fairly small town. Since the main goal when visiting this place is the historical center, you should choose accommodation nearby. We stayed in an apartment in an old colonial building right on the central Plaza de Armas.
What to see in Lima
The main attraction of Lima is the presence of the colorful, fresh, mesmerizing Pacific Ocean. However, there is one BUT. In prosperous areas of the city, the coastal zone is strewn with huge stones. So you won’t be able to calmly enjoy the ocean while lying on the waves. For a beach holiday, it is best to get out of the city. For example, in San Bartolo or Punta Hermosa.
For extreme sports enthusiasts, Lima is a treasure trove of entertainment. All conditions for surfing or paragliding are created here. You just have to want it.
Of course, the historical center of Lima is also worth seeing. In addition to the main attractions, most of which are located in the central Plaza Mayor, it is in the city center that you can enjoy the flavor of Peru. Here you will find shoe shiners and local women in colorful folk clothes selling souvenirs – information about them has been collected here. This area seems to be completely imbued with an Indian past.
The main and oldest square in the city was founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro back in 1535. However, unfortunately, all the buildings here were damaged due to a powerful earthquake. The only thing that managed to survive in its original form was the bronze fountain.
Nowadays in the Plaza Mayor you can see the buildings of the Government Palace, the Municipality, the Archbishop's Palace and the Cathedral of Lima.
A must-see in the city is the Parque de la Reserva, located between the two main streets. There is a fountain complex here, which is recognized as the largest in the world.
History buffs may want to check out the National Museum of Peru and the National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology.
What to see in Cusco
In Cusco, the historical center is no less beautiful. The main square here is called Plaza de Armas.
What makes the central square so beautiful is not only the buildings, but also nature itself. From the city center you can see how the Andes seem to have embraced the most important part of Cusco.
Plaza de Armas houses the Basilica of the Cathedral, the Church of the Society of Jesus, the chapels of Loreto, San Ignacio de Loyola, Del Triunfo and the Sagrada Familia.
Sweets lovers should definitely check out the local chocolate museum. There you can learn the production technology of this delicacy, as well as immediately taste it.
By the way, all Peruvians will tell you to try the local strong alcohol – pisco. This is a type of brandy made from Muscat grapes. And the most famous cocktail based on pisco is the pisco sour. Therefore, in Cusco, be sure to check out the Pisco Museum. Of course, it’s difficult to call it a museum, but a lot of emotions are guaranteed. The selection of pisco-based cocktails is simply amazing. And you can find out about the rest of the gastronomic component of the country here.
Cusco also has its own statue of Christ, which is worth a visit, primarily because of the stunning views of the city.
And on the way to the observation deck you can see another iconic place of the city – Sacsayhuaman. These are not just structures made of giant stones, but an ancient city -fortress of the Incas. All the details about the city's attractions are here.
Machu Picchu
Well, what would a visit to Peru be without the main attraction – Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is an Inca city that was built in the 15th century and later abandoned. According to one version, the Incas exchanged coca for food with the inhabitants of Cusco. But after the arrival of the conquistadors, exchange became impossible. Therefore, the inhabitants left their city.
Now, in addition to the recognizable postcard views, here you can see the incredible beauty of the mountain, as well as local residents – llamas and alpacas. More information about where to find excursions and what to look out for can be found here.