What about a trip to the Andes mountains stretching in over eight countries? In the centre is Peru, a densely populated country in exotic America, and the home of many Andeans society.
With a 60% landmass belonging to Amazon Forest with the Incas ruling the Andean Mountain back the 15th century. How can we imagine a place vibrant with bio and natural life?
There’s also the Sechura Desert with dunes as high as a mountain distancing miles of a sprawling dry field. The exciting thing is this lifeless desert land is, it is perfect for lovers and learners of sandboarding located in the inland of the Andes Mountain.
To this date, Peru is famous for Pisco, Machu Picchu, Ceviche, and back by Peru’s enthralling geographical beauty, tourism grow and continuously held importance in the Peruvian economy.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO PERU
Peru is a country built by nature and the mountains. If you wish to travel to Peru, you have to prepare in handling yourself in heights, for such, altitude sickness can be a massive hassle during your vacation. Cusco is a city well-travelled located at the higher altitude side of the land.
Moreover, Cusco is not only the place to wander. In the country also sits the beautiful district of Miraflores and tons of museum and natural sites that can throw you back in time with extreme cultural awe.
Excited? Continue reading, I’ve provided a list of things you ought to know before travelling in a country that has the power in easing anyone’s wanderlust for fascinating views.
Visa
For many nationalities, Peru opens its doors for tourism providing all means for travellers on different nations to travel here with a maximum of 183 days. The Peruvian government hasn’t open application for a visa via online for those who need one. You have to apply for a tourist visa at the Peruvian Consulate that has jurisdiction over your country of residence.
You need to be aware that often the immigration officer will only give you 90 days upon arrival or entering Peru and you can extend for another 90 days.
Visas are the first thing to know in general, travellers need a passport valid with at least six months and have two free pages in the passport. In some cases, the immigration officer might ask you to show an exit ticket.
What are the essential things to pack
Before packing, you should be concerned about getting yourself with vaccinations for Hepatitis A and Typhoid, and also consider taking malaria preventative medication, especially when planning in spending a lot of time outdoors.
Travel fatigue is also quite real, so I’ve listed things that are beneficial for an extensive journey to Peru’s vast historic lands.
Peru also has four seasons, so, plan very well when you want to go and to do then you can decide what to pack.
- Hiking boots or athletic shoes
- Shirt/Dress
- Down Jacket during Peruvian winter
- Rain Jacket (the weather is unpredictable; it can rain during summer months)
- Gloves and Scarf, many towns in Peru gets really cold
- Power bank
- High SPF sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Toiletries (Bug or insects’ repellents, medicine for altitude sickness, preventative malaria medication, and blister plasters or band-aids) – read these travel vaccinations for South America
- Sleeping bags and tent (for overnight hikes)
- Get language app (Spanish and Quechua)
Machu Picchu
This might be the only reason you are heading to Peru. Be aware that this destination if very stunning yet can be challenging to understand. There are different ways on how to get to Machu Picchu; bus, train, or hike.
If this is the highlight of your trip, make sure you plan this well and understand its shenanigans, rules, and everything in between to avoid getting disappointed.
Getting to this place can be confusing, expensive, and exhausting. So, if you have limited time or on a budget, get yourself familiarise on how things work here.
Machu Picchu also has lots of policies, make sure to look them up online and remember them before and during your visit.
ALSO READ: Machu Picchu hike; everything you need to know
When is the best time to travel to Peru
May and September are perfect for travellers who want to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu. The season is winter but these months are the driest and therefore the best time for sightseeing and outdoor adventures. December to March is the month for summer, but rain showers are more frequent.
ALSO READ: When is the best time to go to Machu Picchu
If your planning to have a trip on the rainforest of Peru, expect a sub-tropical climate that often rains from October to April. And April to November offers an even better view in Machu Picchu, these months rarely rains, and you can witness the place with its clear mountain peaks and unclouded blue sky.
What’s the average travel cost per day
Travelling to Andean countries is quite expensive for backpackers on a shoestring budget but still manageable. Cusco, for example, is a city that mind-blows every guest because of its genuinely mesmerizing qualities for the lovers of nature, history, crafts, museums, things of old, and preserved artefact of the pasts.
However, the question most adventurist often ask is how much do we have to spend in Peru for a budget, average, or a luxury trip?
On a budget
- Food: $4 is enough for buying ingredients for cooking an entire meal throughout the day. Meanwhile, if you want to get a taste of local food, consider heading to family-owned place restaurant away from the tourist areas. Expect to pay $5 to $7 for a Peruvian menu or $3-$5 for Peruvian street foods that include Butifarra(sandwich), Tamales, Antichuchos(traditional Peruvian street food), Rachi, and Arroz con Leche
- Transportation: You can commute around cities of Peru by paying $1-$25 for local transports such as Moto taxis, train, bus, minibus, and shared taxi and depends on the distance
- Accommodation: Expect to spend $10-$30 a night at hostels in Peru
Mid-range budget
- Food: Mid-range budget traveller can expect to pay around $10+ for Ceviche, Causa(Peruvian mashed potato), Lomo Saltado(traditional Peruvian dish), Alpaca and many more, this is where they often stretch more of their budget
- Transportation: Spend $5-$30 in hiring Uber or street taxis depending on the distance
- Accommodation: Expect to budget $35-$40 for hotels with basic amenities, own comfort room, hot shower/ cold shower, and breakfast
Luxury
- Food: High-end restaurants like Central Restaurante will cost you $15-$35 per meal
- Transportation: For luxury travellers, it is advisable to spend $60-$80 on renting a car, mainly if your itinerary covers a long distance while train tickets can cost up to $200, domestic flight costs between $50 and up
- Accommodation: If you want a luxurious experience, expect to pay around $75-$400 up for luxurious and elegant rooms
Accommodations in Peru
Tourism in Peru is the third-largest industry besides fishing and mining. So, expect huge waves of guests in peak seasons, especially in Machu Picchu.
Booking accommodation extra early is a must for top tier destinations, you might find hotels and hostels get fully-booked upon arrival. Which such, belongs to the many things to know before travelling to Peru. And you don’t want to find yourself at night cramming the streets new to you in looking for accommodations.
If you are planning to go do a Machu Picchu hike, remember to know when the peak season starts because accommodation prices can really climb up and get fully booked months in advance.
While accommodations in Cusco and Aguas Calientes hotels are often without a heating system, it’s best to prepare some thick clothing for sleeping.
Transportation and getting around
Peru is a country extensive with natural barriers, so it is not easy to make way and travel along stretches of mountain terrain, desert coasts, and vast rain forest.
Travellers often transit by land on a bus which is the cheapest and most popular form of transportation in Peru, and coaches also have greater reach compared to the train system.
However, the train provides more comfort in reaching Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. On the other, there are also very affordable flights around the country to and from the big cities.
Language and communication
Spanish and the indigenous dialect Quechua are the two official languages that locals speak in Peru. Natives also speak several languages and often taught to speak Spanish, which is essential for the transaction of daily life in this Latin American country.
The language barrier is can be a problem, especially when you are travelling in rural areas. So, it is best always to download Spanish translation app on your phone.
However, it’s also pretty easy to meet locals who speak excellent English, especially the young people in big cities like Cusco, Lima, and Arequipa.
Following the rules and regulations
Peru receives millions of travellers yearly, they also have the most tourist destinations in the world. To protect this site, like everywhere else, there are some rules to follow not only for your safety but also to make sure that you don’t offend the Peruvian culture.
Remember these dos and don’ts to avoid getting into trouble while visiting Peru.
Do’s and Don’ts
Dos:
Get a permit for your drone – One of the issue travellers who carry drones and first time entering Peru is the drone laws. You’ll be needing custom-forms given in your international flight before flying to Peru.
Always be polite – Many Peruvians are very traditional, always be respectful to their culture even if it’s different to your beliefs, be respectful when asking for directions.
Keep your belongings close to you – When visiting crowd places, place your backpack in front of you, don’t wave your camera and phone around.
Be on-time – buses and trains that are scheduled often leave on time, make sure you arrive with plenty of time before you schedule departure.
Book things in advance – when travelling during peak season, always book things in advance to avoid hassle and extra expenses.
Don’ts:
Don’t take photos of the people without their consent – When you take photos of the locals, especially the indigenous people, always ask for permission. Never take photos of children.
Machu Picchu’s don’ts – Because of its popularity, visiting this place comes with you knowing the rules and following it to avoid getting kicked out or worse, banned from the country. For example, you can’t bring food inside the Citadel, Drones are not allowed here, walking sticks are only allowed to those who physically need it, etc. You can’t sit and lean on the walls in the Citadel, you can’t spit or chew gums and throw it on the ground, etc.
Don’t use the word “Indio” – Most importantly, don’t use the derogatory word “Indio” as a way to call locals.
Well, that’s it from me for now. I hope you find this list of things to remember before travelling to Peru helpful.
If you have more tips to add or questions, let us know in the comment section below.
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