Peru Useful Information

Important Things to Know Before and During Traveling

Entry Requirements

Visa:

• Most nationalities don’t need a visa for Peru (always check based on your passport).
• You can stay up to 90 days visa-free.
• Officially, you need proof of exit to enter Peru, however, the chances are they don't ask for it. It is better to have an exit ticket ready though.

Entering by bus:

• No additional documents needed, just a valid passport (and visa if applicable).
• The border process is easy and straightforward.

Vaccinations:

• Yellow fever vaccine is recommended, especially if visiting the Amazon. It is not mandatory for entry.

Safety in Peru

Despite some alarming government travel advisories, we found Peru to be incredibly safe. Use common sense and street smarts, just like you would in any unfamiliar country, but we personally never felt unsafe at any point during our trip.

• We usually paid local prices without getting scammed.
• Hiking independently felt completely safe, contrary to some blogs recommending tours for safety.
• In fact, we enjoyed doing treks on our own way more than following a group’s pace or schedule.

Transportation

Getting around Peru is a mix of organised chaos, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really doable.

• Long-distance buses run by major companies are well-organised, comfortable, and punctual (though slightly pricier than in Ecuador).
• Colectivos (shared minivans) can feel overwhelming at first, especially in busy terminals. Drivers usually shout their destinations, and if they see tourists, they’ll often guess where you want to go.
• Once you learn the departure spots and flow, colectivos are cheap, fast, and efficient for getting around locally.

When to go

We visited at the end of March and early April, which turned out to be not ideal, it rained quite a bit, and we felt miserable more often than not.

• Late April to May is a much better time: the start of the dry season, but before the heavy tourist crowds arrive.
• October is also a good window: still relatively dry and less crowded than peak season.
• Do keep in mind that the dry season can be colder, especially at high altitudes, so pack accordingly!

Costs and Budgeting

Even though we tried to be very careful spending money, Peru turned out to be quite the challenge. Below is a structured breakdown of our expenses in USD for one month (34 days). 

Average Daily Spending: $33 per person

Budget Insights

Peru ended up being more expensive for us than Ecuador. We spent around the same on food and accommodation, but the difference came from a few key things: transportation and activities. First off, we had to book an extra internal flight from Huaraz to Cusco (otherwise a 30+ hour bus ride), which added a chunk to the budget. On top of that, buses in Peru, while convenient and reliable, were noticeably more expensive compared to Ecuador.

We also chose to do more big-ticket activities in Peru, like visiting Machu Picchu and joining Amazon tours in Puerto Maldonado. Totally worth it, but it definitely pushed up our daily spending.

Some tips to keep your budget in check:

• Try to cook for yourself as much as possible. It’s easy to find cheap meals (usually 7–12 soles) at local Peruvian eateries, but those meals add up if you eat out every day.
• Since we were traveling as a couple, we almost always had a private room, which often came out cheaper per person than a dorm. If you’re solo, you might need to stick with shared rooms to save money.
• Take buses instead of flights. Peru is big and the bus rides are long, but it’s worth it for the savings, domestic flights with LATAM or Sky can get expensive fast.

• Book tours in person. Prices are often negotiable and cheaper than booking online.