Perú

Spanish is Peru's main language, alongside Quechua and Aymara in the highlands. English is spoken at hotels, tour agencies, and restaurants in Lima, Cusco, and other tourist areas, but far less in small towns and rural areas. A few Spanish phrases go a long way outside the main tourist circuit.

Prepaid SIM cards from Claro, Movistar, or Entel are sold at airports and phone shops in most cities; bring your passport, since registration is required. Coverage thins out quickly in the Amazon and remote mountain areas. An eSIM is a simpler option for a short trip and covers cities and the main tourist routes well.

Tap water isn't safe to drink in Peru — stick to bottled or purified water, including for brushing teeth, and check that ice in drinks comes from purified water. Pharmacies (farmacias) are common in cities and well stocked; some stay open late or 24 hours in tourist areas.

Altitude is the main health concern for most visitors. Cusco and Puno both sit above 3,000 meters, and altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness. Many travelers spend a day or two in the lower Sacred Valley first to help the body adjust before heading up to Cusco. Drink plenty of water, and try mate de coca (coca-leaf tea), a local remedy for mild symptoms. No vaccinations are mandatory for entry, but check with a travel clinic about yellow fever and typhoid if you're heading to the Amazon.

Most visitors from the United States, Canada, the EU, the UK, Australia, and much of Latin America can enter Peru visa-free as tourists. Border officers typically stamp passports for a 90-day stay; if you plan to stay longer, ask for more time when you arrive, since extensions are difficult to get once you're already in the country. Citizens of some other countries need a visa arranged in advance through a Peruvian consulate. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least two blank pages.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Modest dress is expected in churches and cathedrals — cover your shoulders and knees. Greetings are warm: a handshake on first meeting, and a single cheek kiss between women, or between a man and a woman who already know each other. Always ask before photographing people, especially in indigenous communities in the highlands; some expect a small tip in return. Bargaining is normal in markets and with street vendors, but not in shops, restaurants, or with registered tour operators.

Public holidays can close banks, government offices, and some shops, and long-distance buses fill up fast around major dates like Independence Day and Easter week.

Most shops and markets open daily, including Sundays, though smaller businesses often close for a long lunch in the early afternoon. Restaurants in tourist areas keep late hours; outside the main cities, expect earlier closing times.

• By air: Peru's size and mountainous terrain make domestic flights the fastest way between regions — Lima to Cusco takes about 1.5 hours, against a full day or more by road. LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSmart operate the main domestic routes.
• By train: Scenic but limited to a few routes, mainly linking Cusco and Ollantaytambo with Machu Picchu, and Puno with Cusco across the Andean highlands. Book PeruRail or Inca Rail tickets ahead in high season.
• By bus: Long-distance coaches connect most cities and are the main way to reach towns without an airport. Companies like Cruz del Sur and Oltursa run overnight buses with reclining seats on the busiest routes.
• By taxi and ride-hailing: Uber and similar apps work well in Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco; elsewhere, agree on the fare with the driver before you get in.

Peruvian food blends Indigenous, Spanish, Chinese (chifa), and Japanese (nikkei) influences. Lunch is the main meal of the day for most Peruvians, often a multi-course menu del día at a fixed, modest price. Dinner tends to be lighter and later, especially in cities.

Ceviche is the dish most associated with Peru, traditionally eaten at lunchtime, when the fish is freshest, rather than at dinner. Along the coast, seafood dominates; in the Andes, potatoes, corn, and quinoa are staples, often served with roasted or stewed meat. Street food and market stalls are a reliable, affordable way to try local dishes, from grilled skewers to fresh fruit juices.

Peru's highlights spread across three regions.

In the Andean south, Cusco is the historic Inca capital, and the gateway to Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo for Machu Picchu. Arequipa has striking colonial architecture built from white volcanic stone, and Puno sits on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.

On the desert coast, Lima is the capital and Peru's culinary center. Ica is known for sandboarding and pisco, Nasca for flights over the Nazca Lines, and the Paracas Peninsula for boat trips to see sea lions and seabirds.

Further north and inland, Trujillo sits near the pre-Inca ruins of Chan Chan, Chachapoyas is the base for the cloud-forest fortress of Kuelap, Huaraz anchors trekking in the Cordillera Blanca, and Iquitos, reachable only by air or river, opens onto the Amazon rainforest.