Peru

Peru is rarely a trip you can plan in a single evening. The country is big, the main sights are split between the coast and the mountains, and Machu Picchu tickets need to be thought through before you even buy your flight. Readers usually arrive here having already decided to go and with a long list of open questions. We have gathered the answers in one place so you don't have to piece them together.

The core of this section is made up of guides to the two cities where almost every trip around the country begins. In the Lima guide we look at where to stay by the ocean and what to see in the center. The Cusco guide covers the city's main sights, the journey from Lima and the combined ticket that gives entry to several sites at once. Both help you decide how much time to give each city.

A separate block is devoted to Machu Picchu. There we explain what kinds of tickets and circuits exist, how the train journey works and how to get there on your own, without an organized group. Next to it is a guide to Humantay Lake, where the main practical question is altitude. There is also a piece on lesser-known places: a deep canyon and a city high in the mountains. It is useful for anyone who wants to go beyond the standard route.

For a first introduction to the country there are two starter guides. One is written for people going to Peru for the first time: visa, flights and Machu Picchu tickets laid out in one sequence. The other is about getting there and around: flights to Lima, visa questions and overland routes within the country. Alongside them are pieces on Peruvian food in Lima and Cusco and on souvenirs: alpaca goods, silver and pisco from the markets of Cusco.

Every guide opens with a short takeaway so the main point is clear right away. After that come the practical blocks: how to get there, what to buy in advance, what takes up time. We give the source and the date checked for figures, and we verify prices and timetables against official websites. We are direct about the downsides: complicated logistics, altitude, tickets that have to be planned ahead.

This section is meant for people who travel independently and want to put together their own route, accommodation and tickets. It works both for a first trip to the country and for those who already know Lima and are now planning the mountains. If you need a ready-made escorted tour, our guides are not a substitute for one. We explain how things work, and the decisions are yours.

We suggest starting with the beginners' guide: it gives you the overall picture and the order of steps. Then read the piece on flights and overland routes to understand how to link the cities together. After that, move on to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu in the order they appear in your plan. Food and souvenirs are best left for last. They don't affect the route, but they help during the trip itself.

Peru is part of the "South America" section, which belongs to the larger "Destinations" category. On the same level you will find "Argentina", "Brazil" and "Venezuela". If you are planning a trip across several countries on the continent, take a look at the neighboring sections and compare how travel works there. That makes it easier to decide what to combine in one trip and what to save for the next.

The rules for Machu Picchu ticket sales, train timetables and entry requirements change. That is why we return to published guides, check them against official sources and update the date checked. We don't give specific recommendations on visas or insurance: we show what to look at and where to verify it with the official authorities of your country and of Peru. Questions about health at altitude are likewise left to doctors and official sources. Before buying tickets, reread the relevant guide and look at the date checked in it.