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Peru 🇵🇪

backpacking South America Peru 🇵🇪Inca stone, glacier lakes and canyon condors, linked by long bus rides.

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Backpacking Peru in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
Traveling in Peru: what to expect

Backpacking Peru
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 25, 2026

Most people fly in expecting one big mountain with ruins on top. Peru is mostly jungle and desert. Roughly 60 percent of the country is Amazon rainforest, and the 2,400-kilometer Pacific coast is dry sand under a sky that almost never rains.

Then the Andes slam straight up through the middle. You can trek beneath 6,000-meter glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, watch cloud peel off the terraces of Machu Picchu and eat ceviche in Lima that justifies the flight on its own. My first leche de tigre came in a chipped glass at a market counter, so cold and sour with lime and rocoto that my lips buzzed for ten minutes. The traps are predictable. Machu Picchu entry is capped daily and sells out weeks ahead from June to August, so lock in tickets before anything else. Flying straight into Cusco at 3,400 meters flattens plenty of travelers for two days; climb gradually via Arequipa or the lower Sacred Valley instead. Road strikes in the south can freeze buses overnight, so keep a buffer day before any flight home.

Next to Bolivia, Peru costs a little more and runs smoother; next to compact Ecuador, it sprawls, and distances eat whole days. It suits hikers, serious eaters and anyone happy sleeping on an overnight bus. Travelers chasing lazy beach time or a tight week without altitude will feel squeezed.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Peru

Cusco and the Sacred Valley (Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu)

Fly Lima to Cusco in about 80 minutes, then resist the urge to sprint up cobbled lanes at 3,400 meters. Instead, drop straight to Ollantaytambo or Urubamba (around 2,800 meters) for two nights and acclimatize among working Inca terraces. Machu Picchu entry tickets and Inca Trail permits sell out weeks to months ahead, so lock them in before anything else. This is Peru’s busiest circuit, packed with trekkers, tour vans and first-timers, and it rewards anyone who plans early.

Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca (Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Puno)

Arequipa’s white volcanic-stone center hums with university students and serious food (order rocoto relleno at a picantería), and it sits a 90-minute flight from Lima, or a 15 to 17 hour bus ride. Colca day tours leave around 3 a.m. and are mostly van time, so book two days or hike down to Sangalle. Buses climb to Puno in about six hours. Skip the hour-long Uros floating islands stop and sleep at an Amantaní homestay. Suits steady-paced travelers comfortable at 3,800 meters.

The South Coast (Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca Lines)

Hop a bus south from Lima on the Panamericana and you hit Paracas in about four hours, Huacachina’s dune-ringed oasis in five and Nazca in seven to eight. Grab an early Ballestas Islands boat, when the sea runs calmer. Huacachina runs on dune buggies and hostel bar noise, so sleep in Ica if you want quiet. Nazca overflights are pricey and brutal on stomachs; skip breakfast, or settle for the roadside mirador, which shows only a few figures. Perfect for short, social trips.

Huaraz and the Cordillera Blanca (Huaraz, Laguna 69, Santa Cruz Trek)

Overnight buses from Lima reach Huaraz in about eight hours, and the town itself is a scruffy, practical base of gear-rental shops and trekker cafés at 3,050 meters. Most altitude trouble here comes from charging up to Laguna 69 (around 4,600 meters) on day one. Warm up on Laguna Wilcacocha first. Aim for May to September, when trails stay dry and the white peaks show. Hikers and climbers thrive here; anyone chasing nightlife or comfort should head elsewhere.

The Amazon (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata)

No road reaches Iquitos, so you fly in from Lima in under two hours or ride cargo boats from Yurimaguas or Pucallpa for three to five days, hammock strung on deck. Puerto Maldonado is a 50-minute hop from Cusco and the gateway to Tambopata’s reserve lodges. Ignore street touts pushing cheap jungle tours; lodges farther upriver see far more wildlife. Pack long sleeves and check yellow fever advice before you go. Humid, slow and loud at night, it suits patient wildlife lovers.
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Why go?What draws travelers here

Mountains

Peru holds around 70 percent of the world’s tropical glaciers, and plenty of them hang directly above … read more 👉
Peru holds around 70 percent of the world’s tropical glaciers, and plenty of them hang directly above trails you can walk without ropes or technical skills. The Cordillera Blanca alone packs dozens of peaks over 6,000 meters, crowned by Huascarán at 6,768 meters, the country’s highest summit. Hike the four-day Santa Cruz trek and you camp in meadows below ice walls; push further and the Huayhuash Circuit loops for eight to twelve days over passes above 5,000 meters. Near Cusco, Ausangate throws in red and ochre mineral slopes and herds of alpacas, while Salkantay ends at the doorstep of Machu Picchu. I’d spend my trekking days on the Huayhuash rather than the busier Cusco routes, and I’d carry my own sleeping bag rated to minus 10°C, since most camps sit above 4,000 meters.

Backpackers

Backpacking Peru plugs you straight into the Gringo Trail, the well-worn loop from Lima down the coast … read more 👉
Backpacking Peru plugs you straight into the Gringo Trail, the well-worn loop from Lima down the coast through Paracas and Huacachina to Arequipa, Cusco and Puno. Along it, hostels run nightly family dinners, rooftop bars and trek sign-up boards, so you can show up solo and have hiking partners by breakfast. Huacachina sends you sandboarding down dunes at sunset, Cusco turns every evening into a pub crawl around the Plaza de Armas, and up north, Máncora pulls surfers into a looser beach-party rhythm. Volunteering gigs in hostels and farms stretch your time without stretching your budget. If you want sleep in Cusco, book a hostel a few blocks uphill in San Blas rather than on the plaza, where the music thumps until 3 a.m. on weekends.

Architecture

Inca masons in Peru shaped stone without mortar so precisely that earthquakes have toppled Spanish churches … read more 👉
Inca masons in Peru shaped stone without mortar so precisely that earthquakes have toppled Spanish churches built on top while the walls beneath stayed put. Walk Cusco’s Hatun Rumiyoc street to find the Twelve-Angled Stone locked into place, then visit the Qorikancha, where a Dominican convent sits directly on the old Inca sun temple. Above town, Sacsayhuamán stacks zigzag walls of boulders weighing over 100 tonnes. Arequipa answers in white sillar, a volcanic stone carved into fat baroque facades, and its Santa Catalina Monastery is a walled city of its own, with lanes painted cobalt and terracotta. Up north near Trujillo, Chan Chan spreads its adobe walls across the desert as the largest adobe city in the Americas. Walk Cusco’s Loreto and Hatun Rumiyoc alleys at 7 a.m., before the vendors set up, when the low sun picks out every seam in the stone.

Food

Lima’s Central topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, yet the everyday cooking across … read more 👉
Lima’s Central topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, yet the everyday cooking across Peru is the stronger reason to come hungry. The base flavors are ají amarillo, rocoto and lime, poured over ingredients from three climates: Pacific fish, roughly 4,000 native potato varieties from the Andes and Amazon fruit you have never heard of. Grab anticuchos of grilled beef heart from a street cart at dusk, sit down to lomo saltado where wok-fried beef meets fries, and order rocoto relleno in an Arequipa picantería, where the stuffed pepper arrives with a slab of pastel de papa. In the jungle, unwrap juane, rice and chicken steamed in a bijao leaf. Eat ceviche at lunch, never dinner, because cevicherías buy fish at dawn and many close by late afternoon.

Scenery

Peru crams desert, high Andes and Amazon into one country, so the view out the bus window changes completely … read more 👉
Peru crams desert, high Andes and Amazon into one country, so the view out the bus window changes completely within a single day. On the coast, the Paracas Peninsula drops red-sand beaches into a cold, dark Pacific, with no vegetation in sight. Climb inland and the puna opens up, a windswept grassland above 4,000 meters dotted with alpacas and turquoise lagoons. Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, stripes its slopes in mineral bands of red, mustard and green at over 5,000 meters. Drop east and cloud forest tumbles into the lowland jungle, where rivers loop like brown ribbons as far as you can see. Skip the crowds on Vinicunca and hike Palccoyo instead, a nearby striped ridge with similar colors, a far easier trail and only a fraction of the people.

Low cost

A backpacker in Peru typically spends around US$30 to 45 a day (roughly 110 to 170 soles), covering … read more 👉
A backpacker in Peru typically spends around US$30 to 45 a day (roughly 110 to 170 soles), covering a dorm bed, three meals and local transport. The biggest saving is lunch: the menú, a set meal of soup, a main course and a drink served in markets and small local restaurants, fills you up for a fraction of tourist-menu prices. Colectivos, shared vans and local buses keep getting around cheap, and many hostels include breakfast. The real budget pressure comes from the big-ticket items: Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, Amazon lodges and multi-day guided treks. Set those aside as a separate fund before you arrive. Carry small notes and coins, because market stalls and drivers often can’t break a 100-sol note, and that one detail saves plenty of awkward haggling.

People

Peruvians tend to start reserved and warm up fast. In the highlands, people may answer a question quietly … read more 👉
Peruvians tend to start reserved and warm up fast. In the highlands, people may answer a question quietly and briefly at first, then later wave you over to share a bench and a plate of boiled corn with cheese. On the coast, the register shifts to rapid-fire banter, teasing and slang, and you will be ribbed about your Spanish, your height or your sunburn within minutes. Sit at a shared market table and expect a friendly interrogation: where you come from, whether you are married, why you have no children yet. Answer with humor and the conversation keeps rolling. Learn allillanchu, the Quechua for how are you, and use it in Andean villages. In the evening, join a pickup volleyball game in a town plaza; asking to play gets you a team in seconds.

Wildlife

Peru has recorded around 1,850 bird species, one of the highest counts of any country, and the wildlife … read more 👉
Peru has recorded around 1,850 bird species, one of the highest counts of any country, and the wildlife extends far beyond the jungle. In Tambopata, hundreds of scarlet and blue-and-gold macaws descend on riverbank clay licks at dawn in a screeching, flapping cloud of color. Paddle oxbow lakes in Manu or Tambopata and you may spot giant otters hunting in family groups. Out at the Ballestas Islands off Paracas, sea lions bark from the rocks while Humboldt penguins waddle past guano-streaked cliffs. Up in the Andes, wild vicuñas graze the Pampa Cañahuas reserve on the road between Arequipa and Colca, and around Iquitos, pink river dolphins surface in the Pacaya-Samiria waters. Bring your own binoculars to the Amazon, since lodge pairs run short, and be at the clay lick before 6 a.m., when activity peaks.

⭐ HighlightsHighlights of Peru

  • Machu Picchu: Catch the first buses up and the citadel is still damp, its terraces stepping down toward the Urubamba roaring some 400 meters below. Llamas crop the grass between walls with total indifference to the crowds, and the granite of the Temple of the Sun is fitted so tightly you can’t slide a fingernail into the joints. Visits now run on fixed circuits, so choose the route that includes the viewpoints you came for.
  • Laguna 69: From Cebollapampa the trail climbs roughly 700 meters past grazing cattle and zigzag switchbacks to 4,600 meters, where your lungs burn right before the lake appears, an absurd milky turquoise beneath the glacier of Chacraraju. Chunks of ice crack off the face with a boom that rolls across the water. Plan five to six hours of walking, plus the long drive in from Huaraz.
  • Colca Canyon: Nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon by most measurements, Colca is lined with pre-Inca terraces still farmed by Collagua and Cabana communities. At Cruz del Cóndor in the
… read more 👉
  • Machu Picchu: Catch the first buses up and the citadel is still damp, its terraces stepping down toward the Urubamba roaring some 400 meters below. Llamas crop the grass between walls with total indifference to the crowds, and the granite of the Temple of the Sun is fitted so tightly you can’t slide a fingernail into the joints. Visits now run on fixed circuits, so choose the route that includes the viewpoints you came for.
  • Laguna 69: From Cebollapampa the trail climbs roughly 700 meters past grazing cattle and zigzag switchbacks to 4,600 meters, where your lungs burn right before the lake appears, an absurd milky turquoise beneath the glacier of Chacraraju. Chunks of ice crack off the face with a boom that rolls across the water. Plan five to six hours of walking, plus the long drive in from Huaraz.
  • Colca Canyon: Nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon by most measurements, Colca is lined with pre-Inca terraces still farmed by Collagua and Cabana communities. At Cruz del Cóndor in the morning, Andean condors ride thermals up from the gorge close enough to hear air rushing through their wingtip feathers. Hiking down to the Sangalle oasis and sleeping there turns a viewpoint into a proper descent.
  • Taquile Island: More than 500 stone steps lead up from the dock, and at over 3,800 meters every one of them counts. Up top, the sun bites hard, the lake glows an almost electric blue, and men knit as they walk, their woolen hats signaling whether they are married or single. Lunch is usually grilled lake trout with quinoa soup, eaten facing Bolivia’s mountains across the water.
  • Barranco, Lima: Lima’s old seaside resort district mixes peeling republican mansions, giant street murals and bars pouring pisco sours until late. Cross the wooden Puente de los Suspiros, then follow the Bajada de Baños down to the ocean, where salt spray and smoke from anticucho grills drift together at dusk. Come hungry and stay past dark, when the music spills onto the sidewalks.
Off the map, the cloud-forest fortress of Kuélap, the hike-in Inca city of Choquequirao and the surf town of Huanchaco all repay the extra travel days, and I’d head to Choquequirao first, while its trail still sees only a trickle of hikers.
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🧭 RoutesPlanning a route that makes sense

The 7-Day Inca Heartland Route


One week in the highlands around Cusco, with stone terraces, steep cobbled lanes and the Andes’ most famous ruin. It starts low in the valley and climbs slowly, so the altitude adds to the trip instead of ruining it.
  • Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley terraces
  • A sunrise visit to Machu Picchu
  • Qorikancha and the walls of Sacsayhuamán

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Southern Loop


Two weeks from the Pacific desert to the roof of the Andes, mixing sea lions, sand dunes, a canyon descent and a lake at 3,800 meters. It is the classic backpacker circuit, with lively hostels and plenty of good company along the way.
  • Islas Ballestas and the Huacachina dunes
  • Arequipa’s white-stone center
  • An overnight trek into Colca Canyon
  • Lake Titicaca before the finale at Machu Picchu

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day North-to-Cusco Expedition


Three weeks through the side of Peru most visitors never reach: glacier lakes, giant adobe cities and cloud-forest citadels. It finishes … read more 👉

The 7-Day Inca Heartland Route


One week in the highlands around Cusco, with stone terraces, steep cobbled lanes and the Andes’ most famous ruin. It starts low in the valley and climbs slowly, so the altitude adds to the trip instead of ruining it.
  • Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley terraces
  • A sunrise visit to Machu Picchu
  • Qorikancha and the walls of Sacsayhuamán

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Southern Loop


Two weeks from the Pacific desert to the roof of the Andes, mixing sea lions, sand dunes, a canyon descent and a lake at 3,800 meters. It is the classic backpacker circuit, with lively hostels and plenty of good company along the way.
  • Islas Ballestas and the Huacachina dunes
  • Arequipa’s white-stone center
  • An overnight trek into Colca Canyon
  • Lake Titicaca before the finale at Machu Picchu

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day North-to-Cusco Expedition


Three weeks through the side of Peru most visitors never reach: glacier lakes, giant adobe cities and cloud-forest citadels. It finishes in the Inca heartland, so you still get the icon after seeing what lies beyond it.
  • Laguna 69 in the Cordillera Blanca
  • Chan Chan and the Lord of Sipán’s gold
  • Kuelap and Gocta Waterfall
  • Machu Picchu and Cusco

👉 explore this 21-day route

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

The best months for backpacking Peru are May and September: the Andes are dry and clear, the trails are firm, and you avoid the June to August crush and its higher room rates. Region changes the picture a lot. The Andean highlands and the Amazon follow a dry winter and a wet summer, while the desert coast flips the script, sunny from December to March and under a low gray sea fog (the garúa) from June to September.
  • Peak dry season (June to August): Sunny highland days around 18 to 21°C in Cusco, with nights near or below freezing. Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits go fast, and Cusco dorms climb to roughly S/40 to 70 (US$11 to 19). Best for high treks around Huaraz and the Colca Canyon, and for low-water wildlife trips in the Amazon. Lima sits under flat gray skies.
  • Shoulder season (April to May, September to October): The same trails with far fewer people. April carries leftover showers and green hillsides; October brings the first afternoon storms. Hostels and tour agencies discount more readily, and Machu Picchu can usually be booked days or weeks out instead of months.
  • Rainy season (November to March): Daily afternoon downpours in the highlands, heaviest in January and February, with landslides cutting mountain roads. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Amazon rivers rise and flood the forest. Highland prices hit their lowest point of the year.
  • Coastal summer (December to March): Lima, Paracas and the north coast around Máncora turn hot and sunny. This is beach season for Peruvians, so coastal weekends and holidays fill up and cost more.
For a dry-season trip, I’d buy Machu Picchu tickets or Inca Trail permits the day your dates are fixed, then pack a proper down jacket, because highland nights are colder than most people plan for.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
!pixabay - peru-machu-picchu-43387

💰 Costs (as of 2026)Prices, expenses, and money tips

Backpacking Peru on a budget runs about US$30 to 45 a day if you sleep in dorms, eat set lunches and ride overnight buses, but the Machu Picchu trip alone can add US$150 or more to that.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 18 per nightA dorm bed in Cusco runs US$8 to 14. In Lima’s Miraflores or Barranco it’s US$11 to 18, and Huacachina has beds for US$8 to 12. Breakfast is usually included, which saves you US$2 to 3 a day. You pay less by booking directly at the desk outside June to August and by staying a week. Rates are similar to Ecuador, and Bolivia is about 20 to 30 percent cheaper.
MealsUS$8 to 15 per dayThe menú del día (soup, main course and a drink) costs US$3 to 5 almost anywhere outside tourist streets. On the street, anticuchos are US$1.50 to 3 and salchipapas US$2 to 3, and a market ceviche is US$5 to 8. Supermarket staples from Plaza Vea or Tottus (bread, fruit, yogurt) cost US$3 to 5 for a day of breakfasts and snacks. Self-catering rarely beats the set lunch on price. I’d skip the hostel kitchen at lunchtime and eat the menú, then save money by buying fruit at the mercado instead.
Local transportUS$3 to 10 per day, plus long-distance legsOvernight
… read more 👉
Backpacking Peru on a budget runs about US$30 to 45 a day if you sleep in dorms, eat set lunches and ride overnight buses, but the Machu Picchu trip alone can add US$150 or more to that.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 18 per nightA dorm bed in Cusco runs US$8 to 14. In Lima’s Miraflores or Barranco it’s US$11 to 18, and Huacachina has beds for US$8 to 12. Breakfast is usually included, which saves you US$2 to 3 a day. You pay less by booking directly at the desk outside June to August and by staying a week. Rates are similar to Ecuador, and Bolivia is about 20 to 30 percent cheaper.
MealsUS$8 to 15 per dayThe menú del día (soup, main course and a drink) costs US$3 to 5 almost anywhere outside tourist streets. On the street, anticuchos are US$1.50 to 3 and salchipapas US$2 to 3, and a market ceviche is US$5 to 8. Supermarket staples from Plaza Vea or Tottus (bread, fruit, yogurt) cost US$3 to 5 for a day of breakfasts and snacks. Self-catering rarely beats the set lunch on price. I’d skip the hostel kitchen at lunchtime and eat the menú, then save money by buying fruit at the mercado instead.
Local transportUS$3 to 10 per day, plus long-distance legsOvernight buses are the cheapest way to cover long distances in Peru. Lima to Cusco costs US$25 to 35 with budget companies and US$45 to 70 on Cruz del Sur’s premium seats. Arequipa to Puno is US$8 to 15, and Lima to Ica is US$10 to 25. A city combi costs US$0.30 to 0.80. Fares run slightly higher than in Bolivia and are on par with Ecuador.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 50 per day on averageMachu Picchu is the main cost driver. Entry is about US$45, the round-trip Consettur bus is US$24, and the train from Ollantaytambo costs US$60 to 90 each way. The Cusco boleto turístico is about US$37, a Rainbow Mountain day tour is US$25 to 40, and a 2-day Colca Canyon tour is US$30 to 50 plus a US$20 entry fee. The 4-day Inca Trail costs US$650 to 800.
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 6 per dayA Claro or Entel SIM with data costs US$3 to 10. Laundry runs US$1 to 2 per kilo, and public toilets charge about US$0.15. A 2.5-liter bottle of water is about US$1. Coca tea and snacks on long bus rides add up, as do ATM fees of US$4 to 6 per withdrawal at some banks.
Total Daily BudgetUS$30 to 45 per dayOn a typical day in Cusco or Arequipa, that covers a US$10 dorm, US$10 to 12 in food and a US$5 to 8 site entry. Spending is higher than in Bolivia (about US$25 to 35) and lower than in Chile (US$50 to 70). Budget separately for Machu Picchu and any multi-day trek.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutPeru Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (310 pages) contains:
✅ 102 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
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✅ Culture & traditions
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base for your trip

Peru has a deep hostel scene, with dorm beds from roughly S/ 30 to 60 (US$8 to 16) and simple private rooms from about S/ 80 to 150 (US$21 to 40), with the most choice in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. In Lima, Miraflores is the safest and easiest base with ocean-cliff walks and plenty of restaurants, while Barranco next door has the better bars and street art but gets noisy on weekends. In Cusco, rooms around the Plaza de Armas put you closest to tour offices and nightlife (thin walls, loud Fridays), and San Blas is quieter and artsier but means steep cobbled climbs at 3,400 meters, while Arequipa’s … read more 👉
Peru has a deep hostel scene, with dorm beds from roughly S/ 30 to 60 (US$8 to 16) and simple private rooms from about S/ 80 to 150 (US$21 to 40), with the most choice in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. In Lima, Miraflores is the safest and easiest base with ocean-cliff walks and plenty of restaurants, while Barranco next door has the better bars and street art but gets noisy on weekends. In Cusco, rooms around the Plaza de Armas put you closest to tour offices and nightlife (thin walls, loud Fridays), and San Blas is quieter and artsier but means steep cobbled climbs at 3,400 meters, while Arequipa’s Historic Center keeps everything walkable and calm after dark.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Peru


Best quality hotels in Peru

🚌 Getting aroundWhat moving around is really like

Backpacking Peru usually means a long-distance bus: Cusco to Arequipa runs 10 to 11 hours overnight for S/ 70 to 150 (US$19 to 40), and Lima to Cusco grinds through 20 to 22 hours of switchbacks. Ride at night and you save a hostel bed and wake up somewhere new.
  • Long-distance buses: S/ 40 to 200 (US$11 to 54) depending on route and seat class. Lima to Arequipa takes 15 to 17 hours, Lima to Huaraz 8 hours, Cusco to Puno 6 to 7 hours. Premium companies offer “cama” seats that recline to about 160 degrees,
… read more 👉
Backpacking Peru usually means a long-distance bus: Cusco to Arequipa runs 10 to 11 hours overnight for S/ 70 to 150 (US$19 to 40), and Lima to Cusco grinds through 20 to 22 hours of switchbacks. Ride at night and you save a hostel bed and wake up somewhere new.
  • Long-distance buses: S/ 40 to 200 (US$11 to 54) depending on route and seat class. Lima to Arequipa takes 15 to 17 hours, Lima to Huaraz 8 hours, Cusco to Puno 6 to 7 hours. Premium companies offer “cama” seats that recline to about 160 degrees, plus meals and blankets. Book online or at the company counter. The bargain operators save you S/ 30 and cost you safety on mountain roads, so pay for an established company with two drivers and speed monitoring. In Lima, each company runs its own terminal, so check the address before you hail a ride.
  • Domestic flights: Lima to Cusco takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, with low-cost fares from US$40 to 150 one way. Those headline fares exclude checked bags and often carry-on too, which can add S/ 100 to 200 at the airport. Pay for luggage when you book. Cusco flights get delayed or canceled by weather, so never book a tight onward connection the same day.
  • Trains to Machu Picchu: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes 1.5 to 2 hours and costs US$60 to 150 each way. Book directly with the rail companies weeks ahead from June to August, when cheap seats vanish. The budget alternative is a minivan to Hidroeléctrica (about 6 hours from Cusco) followed by a 2.5 to 3 hour walk along the tracks.
  • Colectivos and combis: city minibuses cost S/ 1 to 3, and shared vans between towns, such as Cusco to Ollantaytambo, run S/ 10 to 15 for 1.5 to 2 hours. They leave when full and you pay cash on board, so carry coins and small notes. Drivers rarely break a S/ 100 note.
  • Taxis and ride-hailing: apps work in Lima, Arequipa and Cusco, where short city hops cost S/ 8 to 20. Street taxis have no meters, so agree on the fare before you get in. In Lima, stick to apps instead of flagging cars down.
I’d fly the Lima to Cusco leg to dodge 20 hours of road and give your body time to adjust to the altitude, then travel overland from there. Buy bus tickets a day ahead in high season so you get the seat you want.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Callao sits about 11 km (7 miles) from Lima’s Historic Center and about 18 km (11 miles) from Miraflores, where most travelers in Peru stay, and the cheapest reliable option is the Airport Express Lima bus.
  • Airport Express Lima (60 to 90 minutes, about S/ 20 / US$6, or S/ 15 each for two or more): this dedicated shuttle leaves from the arrivals area of the terminal and stops at several points along Miraflores, and you can pay at its counter or buy the ticket online beforehand for a small discount.
  • Official airport taxi (45 to 90 minutes, about S/ 60 to 90 / US$16 to 25 to Miraflores): book and pay at one of the authorized taxi counters inside the arrivals hall before you step outside, which gives you a fixed fare and a registered car around the clock.
  • Uber, Cabify or InDrive (45 to 90 minutes, about S/ 40 to 70 / US$11 to 19): request the ride once you are on airport Wi-Fi or a local SIM and meet the driver at the designated app pickup zone, checking the plate before you get in; fares climb sharply at rush hour, roughly 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
If you land late at night, skip the touts outside the doors and take an official counter taxi or an app ride straight to your booked bed, or wait inside the terminal until dawn if you have no reservation.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)Staying safe while traveling

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Peru is reasonably safe for solo travelers who take normal big-city precautions, and thousands of solo backpackers travel the Lima, Cusco and Arequipa circuit every year without trouble. The main risks are pickpocketing and bag snatching at bus terminals and markets, plus occasional robberies in unofficial taxis, so book rides through apps and keep your phone out of sight on busy streets. Women traveling alone often face catcalling and persistent attention, which is usually verbal, and choosing well-reviewed hostels and avoiding walking alone late at night helps a lot. Same-sex relationships are legal, but Peru has no same-sex marriage and attitudes outside Lima’s Miraflores and Barranco remain conservative, so most LGBTQ+ travelers keep public affection low-key in smaller towns.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
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source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaDo you need a visa to visit?

Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and most of Latin America do not need a visa to visit Peru for tourism, and the immigration officer grants a stay of up to 183 days on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and you may be asked for proof of onward travel. Nationals who do require a visa must apply in advance at a Peruvian embassy or consulate before traveling.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?A practical packing list

Packing for Peru means preparing for several climates in one trip: Lima’s coast is mild and grey for much of the year, Cusco and the Andes swing from strong midday sun to near-freezing nights, and the Amazon is hot, humid and buzzing with mosquitoes. Layers beat bulk, so think warm fleece and a light down jacket you can stuff in a daypack rather than one heavy coat. A waterproof shell and quick-drying gear matter from November to March, when the highland rainy season brings daily afternoon downpours. High-altitude sun burns fast, and broken-in trekking shoes help on uneven cobblestones and Inca stairways. Peruvians dress neatly and fairly modestly, so pack at least one clean, non-hiking outfit for evenings in the city.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQCommon questions before visiting

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Peru can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Peru itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

Make sure routine vaccinations are up to date, and get hepatitis A and typhoid, since both spread through food and water in Peru. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you are heading into the Amazon or other areas below 2,300 meters, such as Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos, though it is not needed for Lima, Cusco or Machu Picchu only. Hepatitis B and rabies are worth considering for long trips or time around animals, and Amazon visits may also call for malaria prevention, so see a travel clinic 4 to 8 weeks before departure.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Peru, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Peruvians value politeness and patience, so keep your cool when buses run late or service is slow, as raised voices lose you goodwill fast. Always ask before photographing people, especially women and children in traditional dress in the Andes, and expect to pay S/ 1 to 2 when someone poses with a llama in Cusco. Dress modestly when entering churches and cathedrals, removing hats and covering shoulders, and never touch or climb on Inca walls and stonework at archaeological sites. Accepting coca tea or coca leaves is normal and respectful in the highlands, while refusing food offered in someone’s home can come across as rude. Bargaining is fine in markets but keep it friendly, since a few soles matter more to the seller than to you. Public affection between same-sex couples draws stares outside Lima, and women may feel more comfortable in less revealing clothing in rural areas.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Peru.
  1. Ceviche: raw white fish cured in lime juice with red onion, ají limo chili and salt, served with sweet potato and toasted corn. It is Peru’s national dish, eaten at lunch because the fish is freshest early in the day.
  2. Lomo saltado: beef strips stir-fried in a wok with tomato, onion, soy sauce and vinegar, served with fries and rice. It is the classic result of Chinese immigrants’ influence on Peruvian cooking, known locally as “chifa”.
  3. Ají de gallina: shredded chicken in a creamy sauce of yellow ají amarillo chili, bread, milk and walnuts, poured over rice and potatoes. It is home cooking at its most comforting and appears on almost every lunch menu.
  4. Cuy: guinea pig, roasted or fried whole, a traditional Andean dish eaten for celebrations in Cusco, Arequipa and the highlands. It was raised for food long before the Spanish arrived.
  5. Anticuchos: skewers of marinated beef heart grilled over charcoal, sold at street stalls in the evening. Tender, smoky and cheap, they date back to colonial times.
  6. Rocoto relleno: a fiery rocoto pepper stuffed with spiced minced meat, onion, olives and cheese, then baked. It is the signature dish of Arequipa, usually served with a slice of potato gratin.
  7. Pachamanca: meats, potatoes, corn and fava beans cooked under hot stones in an earth oven. It is a highland ritual meal, prepared for festivals and family gatherings.
Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink for travelers, and most locals boil it or buy large refill bottles rather than drinking it straight from the tap. Stick to bottled, boiled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth if you have a sensitive stomach. Many hostels offer filtered water refills, and a filter bottle cuts down on plastic waste during long trips.
The main language in Peru is Spanish. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Spanish skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Peru includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English in Peru is patchy: you can get by in Lima’s Miraflores and Barranco districts, around Cusco’s main squares and at Machu Picchu, where hostel staff, tour guides and many younger Peruvians speak it reasonably well. Step into markets, local buses or small Andean towns and Spanish takes over, with Quechua also common in the highlands. Spanish is the language that helps most, and even basic phrases for numbers, directions and ordering food will smooth every bus ticket and market haggle. Download Spanish offline in a translation app before you go, since signal disappears on many mountain roads.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Peru is PEN (S/. ).
ATMs are easy to find in Peru’s cities and tourist towns, though many banks charge S/ 15 to 25 (US$4 to 7) per foreign card withdrawal on top of your home bank’s fees, so take out larger amounts less often. Use machines inside banks or shopping malls rather than standalone street ATMs, and expect few or none in small villages and the Amazon. Cards work in mid-range restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and for tours in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa, sometimes with a 3 to 5% surcharge, but markets, colectivos, street food and small shops are cash only. US dollars are the most useful backup currency and widely exchanged, while euros get worse rates outside Lima and Cusco. Bring crisp notes without tears or marks, because damaged bills are often refused. Change money at banks or licensed exchange offices (casas de cambio) and skip the street money changers, who sometimes pass counterfeit notes.
Tipping in Peru is appreciated but modest: in sit-down restaurants, leave around 10% if a service charge is not already on the bill, while small eateries serving set lunch menus do not expect anything. Taxi drivers are not tipped, but tour guides typically receive S/ 10 to 20 per day. On multi-day treks such as the Inca Trail, porters and cooks rely heavily on tips, with groups usually pooling S/ 150 to 250 per hiker for the whole crew.

🧩 Nearby countriesSimilar backpacking destinations

📸 PhotosA visual impression of the trip

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

Things learned while traveling

Six month backpacking trip through Bolivia, Peru and central America: update 6/14

Peru | Napaykullayki kgochu! This might sound more like Nepali, but I’m still in South America. To add a cultural touch to my emails, let me disrupt your simple worldview that they speak Spanish or Portuguese throughout this continent. The above greeting is Quechua, and a few days ago, I ended up with a family on an island where it was the only language t...
Read more

Six month backpacking trip through Bolivia, Peru and central America: update 7/14

Peru | I’ve had some more adventures: Rafting on the Apurimac River In Cuzco I did an insane four-day rafting trip. Now, the issue was that our guide was really into surfing (with a raft). That means you raft in the same spot in the river while the river flows super fast underneath you, WITHOUT PADDLING. So, we thought that was fun too, only he di...
Read more

Six month backpacking trip through Bolivia, Peru and central America: update 8/14

Peru | The last 3 days in Peru have given the concept of ‘car’ a whole new dimension. Things a car definitely doesn’t need are (a) the starter motor and (b) the gas pedal. First, I was in a bus without a starter motor. Not a big deal as long as you park the bus on a hill and can start the engine using gravity. The problem arises when the only way down is...
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We 💚 feedbackIs Peru worth visiting?

Come to Peru for the sheer range packed into one trip: glacier camps, desert coast and Amazon riverbanks within a few days’ travel of each other, with cooking good enough to plan whole days around. The drawback is the time it takes. Distances are long, much of the action sits above 3,000 meters, and bad roads or a sudden strike can wipe out a day you had carefully planned. So go deep instead of wide. Pick two or three regions for a three-week trip and leave the rest for next time. You will spend fewer hours on buses, acclimatize properly, and still have the energy to say yes when someone invites you to a village fiesta.

✈️ When did I visit Peru?
Peru I visited during my half year trip through South and Central America back in 2003 Since then, this guide is regularly updated based on feedback from locals and recent backpackers (last update: 25 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Peru, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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