Travel Information
- Peru has three main geographical zones with their own type of climate
- The whole of Peru knows 2 seasons; the dry and the wet season.
- The wet season is from November through March
- The dry season is from April through October
- Duration of the two seasons does depend on their geographical zone
- The Peruvian Coast, hardly sees any rain
- The Jungle can have rain all year round
- The highlands driest period is from May through September



- That Lima is the second biggest desert city in the world after Cairo, Egypt.
- That the Peruvian North Coast is home to some of the most ancient civilizations in South America such as the Moche Culture, the Caral Culture and the Sipan Culture
- That Machu Picchu probably has been discovered twice before Hiram Bingham discovered the site and that from one occasion there are still carvings in the rocks to be found
- That the battle in 1536 in Ollantaytambo is the only known battle where the Inca defeated the Spanish. They did this with help from nearby jungle tribes and the strategic location of Ollantaytambo.
- That in 2008 the source of the Amazon River was retraced to the Arequipa region, making it not only the longest river in the world but also means that the longest part of the Amazon River runs through Peru.
- That the Andes Mountain range is the longest in the world. The largest part of this mountain range can be found on Peruvian territory.
- Lake Titicaca besides being the highest navigable lake in the world, is also the biggest lake in South America.
- That some of the highest sand dunes in the world and the highest in South America can be found in Nazca
- That the Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The world’s deepest Canyon, the Cotohuasi Canyon (200 meters deeper) is located just a couple of 100 kilometers from the Colca Canyon
- That about 60% of Peruvian Territory is occupied by the Amazon Rainforest
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Cusco is Quechua (Local native Language) for Navel of the World
Following is a list of some of our favorite restaurants in Peru’s main culinary destinations; Lima, Cusco and Arequipa. For recommendations in other destinations, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are travelling with us and would like us to make reservations for a certain restaurant, do not hesitate to contact your Travel Representative.
LIMA
LA GLORIA
Atahualpa 201, Miraflores.
Mediterranean food with strong Peruvian influences. Several years elected as one of the best restaurants in Peru. Locally recommend are the “sesos de ternera” and “el rabo de toro”
ASTRID & GASTÓN
Cantuarias 175, Miraflores.
Fusion restaurant under impulse of Gaston Acurio, Peru’s most famous chef with several restaurants in Peru as abroad. Is considered one of the top 20 most influential chefs in the world and this is one of his most famous restaurants in Peru.
RAFAEL
San Martín 300, Miraflores.
This restaurant provides a great combination of Peruvian food cooked with different influences. The restaurant is known for its large variety of Peruvian ingredients they know to incorporate in their dishes in new and innovative manners.
HUACA PUCLLANA
General Borgono 8, San Isidro.
The Miraflores restaurant is located in what is probably one of the best settings for a restaurant in Lima. The Huaca Pucllana is a pre-Inca temple located on the border between Miraflores and San Isidro. The restaurant provides outside as well as inside dinning possibilities and offers a great variety of Peruvian and international dishes. Especially during the nighttime when the site is illuminated this makes for some great romantic dinning at this amazing location.
CEVICHERIA LA MAR
Av. La Mar 770, Miraflores.
This cevicheria from Gaston Acurio is one of the best places in Peru to get your introduction to a good ceviche, the national dish from Peru. The restaurant provides great seafood in a nice ambient and close to most hotels in Miraflores. The restaurant provides set menus as well as A la carte dining options. A very popular place among Limeños this is a great option to get to know the Lima eating culture and the fact that food is taken seriously by people from Lima.
L’EAU VIVE
370 Jiron Ucayali 3188, Cercado de Lima
This restaurant is located in Lima center and a good place to have lunch while discovering the beautiful colonial city center of Lima. The restaurants is located a couple of blocks from the main square and belongs to a French monastery. It are the nuns themselves that run the restaurant and every day the Ave Maria is sang at certain times during the day. The dishes are simple but very well prepared French and Peruvian dishes. Most days the nuns provide a fixed and economical menu for about US$5 per person.
LA ROSA NAUTICA
Espigon 4 Circuito de Playas, Miraflores
Probably one of the better known Lima seafood restaurants. Located on its own private pier in the sea, this restaurant is reached by going down to the Costa Verde or the Miraflores beaches. The restaurant provides a great location for a romantic dinner based on the amazing seafood culture Lima has. The restaurant is somewhat more expensive but the location is definitely worth the extra.
AREQUIPA
LA NUEVA PALOMINO
Pasaje Leoncio Prado, 122 - Yanahuara
This typical Arequipa restaurant offers a great selection of Arequipa dishes such as fried pork and shrimp soups. Plates are well served and often there is live music to accompany your dinner.
MAMACOCHA
Calle Las Orquídeas, 101 - Cayma
This typical Peruvian restaurant is specialized in seafood and provides some original dishes combining Peruvian with international cuisine.
ZIG-ZAG
Calle Zela 210 - 212
This restaurant is specialized in the Andean Cuisine, especially meats. Alpaca, ostrich and beef are all part of their large choice of meats. Most meats come served on your own stone grill grilling the meat in front of you while dining. Definitely recommendable for meat lovers.
CUSCO
CICCIOLINA
Calle Triunfo 393, 2do piso
This restaurant has been elected several times as the best restaurant in Cusco. A mixture of Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisine this restaurants has something for all tastes. From nice salads over homemade pasta to great seafood and meat dishes, here you can find it all. The restaurant has its own in-house bakery and provides for some great breakfasts too. Decoration is warm and the service very friendly.
LA DIVINA COMEDIA
Calle Pumacurco, 406
This great restaurant is part of the Arqueologo Hotel and is nicely decorated with an eye for detail. The food is a mixture of Peruvian and international cuisine and the restaurant often offers special nights with theater and live piano music.
PIZZERIA LA JUSTINA
Calle Palacio 110
This nice small pizzeria is located in the Cusco city center and provides some great pizzas in wood oven for economical prices. The restaurant is located on the inside of a small patio giving it a lot of tranquility. Service is very friendly and the decoration is very sober but warm.
- The 4 day Classic Inca Trail is the most popular hike in South America
- There is also a 2 day version available for people who don’t have the time for the 4 day one
- The best hiking regions in Peru besides Cusco are; Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Huaraz (Cordillera Blanca)
- There are several alternative hikes to Machu Picchu such as the Lares and the Salkantay Trek
- Besides hiking to Machu Picchu you can also hike other Inca sites such as Choquequirao and Espiritu Pampa
Peru is a great hiking destination. Having the Andes Mountains running from North to South through the country, Peru is blessed with an amazing scenery and large diversity when it comes to hiking. The most famous hikes in Peru are of course the hikes leading to Machu Picchu. The main ones and most famous are called the Classic Inca Trails. There are two options; the complete 4 day Inca Trail and the shorter 2 day Inca Trail. Both of these end up at the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu, giving you the same view as the Inca received when arriving from Cusco to this majestic site. Being such popular hikes they do sell out months in advance. Therefore there are some alternative trails that allow you to enjoy the amazing scenery of South Peru and take you to Machu Picchu. The two alternative trails are the 4 day Lares Hike taking you through Quechua villages and small Inca ruins to Ollantaytambo from where you will embark your train to Machu Picchu, or the even more challenging 5 day Salkantay Hike.
This hike takes you on 5 days from Cusco via the foot of the mighty Salkantay Mountain (6264 meters) over highland pampas to the border with the jungle, the cloud forests. From here you will pass by coca fields and other ancient Inca roads until you reach the village of Aguas Calientes. Another recently new alternative route to Machu Picchu is via de 4 day Inca Jungle Route. This route is a combination of downhill biking, wild water rafting and hiking to Machu Picchu.
Besides all these hikes with final destination Machu Picchu, there are some other hikes taking you to lesser known Inca sites that due to the fact that they are much less visited make for an experience much different than Machu Picchu.
The two most popular sites to be visited on multiday hikes are Choquequirao and Espiritu Pampa. Choquequirao can be reached by a 4 day hike starting from a village at 4 hours’ drive from Cusco. It takes you through the mighty Apurimac River Valley and then starts climbing to the top of valley on the other side. As Machu Picchu the site is also located between two mountain tops and spreads out over these two mountains. The site has not been fully recovered from the jungle and some archeologists even think the site may be bigger than Machu Picchu. The other site is Espiritu Pampa. This site has been recognized as the final refuge of the Inca after the Spanish invasion. The site is located almost in the actual Amazon Basin, and based on the building techniques the most recent Inca site as some Spanish building features were found here. It was this site Hiram Bingham was looking for when looking for Machu Picchu. Ironically enough he stumbled to Espiritu Pampa before discovering Machu Picchu and discarded it as being the Lost City of the Incas. Espiritu Pampa can be reached with a minimum 6 day hike from Cusco. The hike is due to the large altitude differences and climate changes also one of the harder ones to do in the region.
Other great hiking in South Peru can be done in the Arequipa region. Close to Arequipa you can find the Misti Volcano. This volcano well over 5000 meters is an impressive mountain but the climb up there is relatively easy and can be done in 2 days. For multiday hikes in the region another mecca is the Colca Canyon. This Canyon, the second deepest in the world is surrounded by snowcapped mountains such as the Ampato and provides great 2-5 day hikes.
Finally the true mecca for high mountain hikes would be the north of Peru. In the region around Huaraz (8 hours in bus from Lima) you can find the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. The Cordillera Blanca is the highest cordillera in the Peruvian Andes and holds the Huascaran Mountain. This mountain of 6768 meters high is Peru's highest peak and impressive to see. The entire Cordilllera Blanca is full of snowcapped mountains and blue lakes. Another mountain worth mentioning is the Alpamayo Mountain north of Huaraz which was declared several times to be the world’s most beautiful mountain. In the Cordillera Blanca it is possible to do weeklong hikes without bumping in to anyone.
For more information on Hiking in Peru, see; www.howtotraveltomachupicchu.com
- The Coca Leave is sacred in Peru, especially in the Andean region
- The Coca plant is also used for the production of cocaine
- Coca leaves are considered to have several beneficial characteristics
- Chewing coca leaves helps suppress hunger and fatigue
- Mate de Coca is the remedy for altitude sickness according locals

- Before buying your flight, make sure your passport is still valid for 6 months after departure.
- Compare international flight prices from day to day, weekend flights may be cheaper at times.
- Make sure if your airport taxes have been included or not.
- Most tickets issued these days are E- tickets, meaning that you will just have to provide you passport at the check in desk to obtain your boarding pass.
- Lima airport is about 1 hour drive from Miraflores, where most hotels are located.
- The main airlines serving Peruvian destinations are; LAN Peru, TACA Peru, Star Peru and Peruvian Airlines – not all airlines cover all destinations.
- Peru has borders with; Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile
- The Pan-American Highway runs all along the Peruvian Coast in between the Ecuador and Chile borders.
- The entire border with Colombia and Brazil lies in the Amazon Rainforest.
- The border crossings with Bolivia by Lake Titicaca are one of the highest in the world
- When crossing borders, stay calm do not go off with people pressuring you into using their services and keep an eye on your luggage.
- For the moment there are two train companies providing trains to Machu Picchu; PeruRail and IncaRail
- Both companies offer a standard and superior train
- PeruRail also offer the Luxurious Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu
- Cusco’s San Pedro Station is no longer used
- All trains leave from either Poroy or Ollantaytambo Station
- Ollantaytambo Station is a good option as it allows you to combine the Sacred Valley tour with the train to Machu Picchu
- Poroy Station is the station closest to Cusco at about 40 minutes’ drive form the center
PeruRail





- Taxis are quite cheap in Peru
- Be sure to take taxis displaying the company number
- Negotiate the fare before getting in the taxi
- Take well known bus companies for long distance travel in Peru
Peruvian public transport can as is the case for many South American countries be quite frightening initially to people coming from the states or Europe. It seems that Latinos need less space to push a car through a car jam and especially are less laid back when it comes to driving. Nevertheless as you will not have your car here, chances are quite small you actually will have to get involved in this chaos. Most of the time you will have a driver, be it a bus, combi, taxi or what have you not. These drivers range (as in any other country) from great to terrible but most will drive “proactive”. In general there are several types of public transport to get around in Peru.
In the cities most common public transport are combis and busses. Combis are small minivans that have their fixed routes that are shouted out by the helpers in the back. Some of these combis are suicidal experiences and not recommend if you do not know the city and hence the stops. Busses are the same as combis except bigger and even cheaper. In return the combis do their routes faster than the busses. Besides all these options there are off course also Taxis. Taxis in Peru are everywhere and are very cheap in general but nevertheless a headache for many tourists. This is because Peru does not know the taxi meter system automatically telling you the fee at the end of the ride. No, in Peru one has to negotiate the price for the ride in advance. This would not be that complicated were it not that most tourists do not have an idea of the distance and even less of the price for a ride. Therefore when you want to go in a taxi, stop the taxi and have clear the maximum price you want to pay for the ride. Then tell the place you would like to go and drop the taxi driver’s initial offer with at least 25%. In general in Lima you can count about 5 soles (US$2) for a 10 minutes’ drive and this can be multiplied for longer rides. Whenever taking a taxi it is important to go with your gut feeling. In case you don’t feel comfortable with the driver or his first impression, do not board the taxi and take the next one. In general secure taxis are the one with a large sign on top with the number of the central. Unmarked taxis are better to avoid.
Inner-city public transport in Peru is relatively well organized and with the improving road quality all over the country more and more an option to get around. There are hundreds of bus companies all serving a large number of destinations and routes. The most common routes are over the Panamerican Highway and from here routes go inland over the Andes to the Amazon Jungle. Peru is starting to control more and more of the bus companies and implementing new regulations for long distance busses. Nevertheless the number of malfunctioning busses and even worse bad or even unlicensed drivers is still quite high. Therefore it is strongly recommend using well-known bus companies for overland travel. Many routes are over 15 hours long and only the better companies hold to the obliged resting times and two driver systems. The most known companies for long distance busses are; Tepsa, Cruz Del Sur, Oltursa and Cial. Most of these busses include meals and provide two types of classes standard and superior.
- Altitude sickness can be felt from an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level
- The main symptoms are shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and insomnia
- Most people will only experience small discomforts due to altitude sickness
- It is important to drink plenty of water during the first couple of days
- Eat light food and do not drink alcohol or coffee
- If the symptoms remain strong after a couple of days you may want to visit a doctor or go to lower altitudes
- Oxygen is widely available in higher tourist cities in Peru
For most South American countries there are several vaccinations that are strongly recommend and some that are obliged for some regions. The most common recommended ones are:
- Yellow Fever 10 years (Obliged for some countries such as Bolivia and Colombia)
- Typhoid 3 years
- Hepatitis A 10 – 20 years (depending on the vaccine)
- Polio 10 years
- Tetanus 10 years
Traveler’s diarrhea can be caused by change of climate, water and food. You can reduce the risk of contracting it by drinking only bottled or sterilized water (never tap water), avoiding ice in drinks, fruit juices to which water has been added, peeling all fruit, not eating salad or seafood and avoiding ice-cream not of a recognized brand. If suffering from diarrhea, it is advisable to eat little but to drink plenty of clean water with mineral replacement supplements, or fizzy drinks (no fruit juice or milk). Rehydration products, such as Dioralyte, should be taken to replenish lost salts. If it does not clear up or is accompanied by a fever, you should seek medical advice as you may need to take a course of antibiotics. Take with you some anti-diarrhea tablets such as Lomotil or Imodium, but we don’t recommend these be used as a preventative.
As we are not medical professionals, this information is no substitute for obtaining accurate medical information. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic.
If you are travelling to coastal and jungle regions within the tropics, you may enter infected zones and should take an appropriate prophylactic. Which anti-malarials to take depends on a number of variables, such as current illnesses and medication, previous illnesses, pregnancy, previous travel, duration of intended stay, so seek advice from your doctor or Health Centre before traveling. The best widely available repellent (in the UK) is the Jungle Formula range. The effectiveness of repellents depends on the percentage of diethyl toluamide (deet), the active ingredient. If you prefer something natural, Mosiguard can be very effective. Many other brands have only 10-15% deet and are therefore not very effective. Some repellents have up to a 95% concentration - this is very powerful and should not be used for long periods. It also has a deterious effect on leather, plastics and Lycra.
As we are not medical professionals, this information is no substitute for obtaining accurate medical information. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic.
Water-purifying tablets, e.g. Sterotabs, are a useful standby in the jungle - or when trekking off the beaten track but are ineffective against amoebae and give the water an unpleasant taste. Boiling water for 10 minutes will kill amoeba. Mineral water is available at most jungle lodges that we book from here. It is important to ensure that you have a high intake of liquids in tropical and semi-tropical regions. You should also be aware of the fact that the sun is much stronger than at temperate latitudes and sunstroke is a danger. Avoid midday sun on tropical beaches, especially in the summer. Take plenty of high factor sunscreen lotion and sun block.
- Peru’s official currency is the Nuevo Sol, called Sol in general
- US Dollars are widely accepted but the exchange rate can differ from day to day
- Small daily payments are best made in Soles
- Make sure that when you receive Dollar bills they are in 100% good state, one rip or crinkle can make them useless
- Always use ATM’s inside of banks and never accept any help
- When changing money, take your time going over the bills and if you are not sure, do not accept them
- Make sure there is a watermark on the blank part of the note
- There should be a bar that changes color in the center of the note
- When the face side is up, on the right hand side the picture should have a bit of profile you can feel when going over the bill with your finger
- The amount stated on the face side of the bill also should change colors when putting it in a different angle
Debit cards can be sometimes a bit more problematic. Some debit cards are accepted but others are not. Furthermore this still varies a lot between countries.
Therefore if you are planning to travel only with a debit card, we strongly advise you to pass by your bank to obtain the latest information regarding the working of your debit card in the destination you will be visiting. In any case this is advisable even for credit card holder to get clarity regarding withdrawal limits and other possible restrictions.
- Travel insurance is highly recommended for travels to South America
- Some Credit card offer some kind of insurance that you get the services you paid for but does in general not cover issues with flights, bad weather or illness
- Feel free to ask your Travel Representative more about travel insurances
In 2010 for instance, travelers to Latin America had their plans disrupted by various events including flooding near Machu Picchu, an earthquake in Chile, and a volcanic ash cloud grounding flights from Europe. Events like these, despite being unpredictable and rare, can ruin entire vacations if you are not properly insured. Therefore we at Peru Travels Online STRONGLY recommend taking out travel insurance before travelling.
For more information about travel insurance and in order to compare the different kinds of companies and policies offered, a good website to start with is squaremouth.com
- Peru is one of the most diverse countries in the world having 6 out of 8 climates zones
- When it comes to biodiversity, Peru is one of the top three countries in the world
- Peru has a long coast line on the west, the Andes in the centre and the Amazon Rainforest in the east of the country
- Peru was home to several ancient cultures among which the Caral, the oldest civilization known in the Americas
- Peru has a great diversity of outdoor activities, hiking, rafting, cycling, etc...
This may seem a bit of a stupid question, but as many peoples main reason to visit Peru is to see Machu Picchu we do feel the need to expose some of the wonderful experiences one can expect when visiting this amazing and fascinating country outside of the world wonder.
Being such a diverse country Peru provides you with dry deserts, snowcapped mountains and some of the deepest forests in the world all in one country. Even more; top this off with some of the most fascinating history of the Americas and some real mysteries and you truly have a once in a lifetime travel destination.
Machu Picchu is indisputably the biggest tourist attraction in Peru and the most emblematic historic site in South America. The site of Machu Picchu was built by the Inca but these are not the only ancient civilizations that have roamed Peru and left behind impressive constructions. As Peru is one of the oldest inhabited areas in South America, you can find impressive sites from different civilizations all over Peru. In the north one can find the ruins of Chan Chan, the biggest adobe city in the world or visit the Temple of the Sun and the Moon, the biggest pyramids ever found in South America. Closer to Lima you can find Caral, the oldest city ever found in the Americas. South of Lima one can visit the Nazca Lines, which still present us with the mystery of how they have been designed. From here we enter Southern Peru or the original Inca Territory as this where the Inca rose and have left most of their impressive constructions such as Machu Picchu, Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
Without doubt, one of the main Peru tourist attractions would be the awesome hiking and trekking this country offers. Being home to the largest mountain range in the world, the Andes, Peru is a mecca for all who look for high altitude adrenaline and flabbergasting mountain views. The number of hikes is endlessly and the levels of difficulty vary a lot. You can hike ancient Inca Trails, climb “top of the world” mountains, and hike down to the Amazon basin or even do it all in one. The most famous hike is without doubt the Inca Trail taking you via the ancient route to Machu Picchu.
This popular hike does sell out quickly, but no worries the options are plenty; the Salkantay or Lares treks take you through the true Peruvian highlands also ending in Machu Picchu, or what about Choquequirao or Espiritu Pampa, two lesser known important Inca sites, the latter being the last refuge of the Inca’s after the fall of Cusco. In the north of Peru we find the famous Cordillera Blanca and the Huascaran, the highest mountain of Peru. The nice thing about the treks in northern Peru is the fact that the starting points are relatively accessible from Lima. Finally in southern Peru we find another extreme, the two deepest canyons in the world, both twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA, and located at 3 hours from Arequipa, the Cotohuasi Canyon; the deepest in the world and only challenged in beauty by the nearby Colca Canyon, only 150 meters less profound and home to the famous condors. Together with the Misti Volcano, without doubt some of the best hiking possibilities in South West Peru. No matter what type of hiking you may be looking for, we are positive that Peru can offer it all.
Peru is known for its artisanal products, for its wool, gold & silver and its ceramics. All these products can be found easily, cheap and of great quality in Peru. You would not be the first visitor not being able to resist the colorful jumpers and hats being offered here. For shopping the bigger cities are maybe your best choice; Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, they all have large artisanal markets close to the city center were you can find almost anything you would imagine from a Peru artisanal market. Nevertheless, one of the main Peru attractions when it comes to shopping is without a doubt the market of Pisac. This market covering several blocks of this small town is famous for all the artisanal products you can find here in a typical Andean atmosphere.
Off course this list wouldn’t be complete without including the largest part of Peru, the Amazon Rainforest. This Peru tourist attraction is full of amazing discoveries and adventures. National parks such as Manu and Tambopata hold some of the most pristine and untouched Rainforest on the continent. Head down on some of the many waterways through this dense forest in a canoe, walk over a canopy walkway through the forest treetops, fish for piranhas, evening walks, these are all experiences part of a jungle stay. Of course there are other activities such as visiting indigenous villages and doing overnight camping trips. For the more luxury seekers, from Iquitos you can embark one of the luxury cruise boats doing multiple day cruises on the Amazon River.
Agreed, Peru may not be the first destination that comes to mind when thinking about surfing, but nothing is lesser true. Surf culture always has been big in Peru and the last couple of years this is starting to pay off. With the organization of the Women’s World Championship in 2008 in Mancora, Peru recently won the world title for teams, it is safe to say that surfing is the next big thing in Peru. Having good waves all over the north coast from Lima to the border with Ecuador, especially Lima and Mancora are known for its surfing beaches. As Lima weather only allows one to enjoy the waves a couple of months a year, we would recommend going to the beaches at Mancora and combining a couple of days relaxing with surfing classes. For the advanced surfers, in Chicama you will find the longest wave in the world. Besides the surfing on waves there is another type of surf Peru has to offer;
Sand boarding. This is done on a surf board greased up with wax and then sliding you down some of the highest sand dunes in the world. A buggy will take you into the desert and drive you up these gigantic dunes for a slide full of adrenaline down to the foot of the dune. The best sand boarding you can find in the Huacachina Oasis or in Nazca.