Peru has no shortage of great sights. Cusco alone is a hub for activity and the gateway to Machu Picchu. Beyond Cusco, you’ll find deserts, beaches, mountains, jungle, and so much more. But as you’re planning your trip, don’t forget to look beyond the destinations and for the things that you might not have considered.
These Peru travel tips are all of the things I wish that I had known before I visited Peru. So whether Peru is your first destination in South America or the tenth, here’s what I think all travelers should know before visiting Peru.
Peru Travel Tips for First Time Travelers
Many travel tips are the same no matter which country you are visiting. This guide will focus on the things that surprised me during my trip to Peru. These are all things that I wish I would have known before visiting.
You Don’t Need to Use PeruHop
If you start researching your trip to Peru, you’re likely going to come across PeruHop at some point. It’s marketed as an easy way to get around the country without the stress and uncertainty of public buses. It’s a popular service, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a requirement for traveling in Peru.
I used public buses across Peru, including the dreaded night buses that PeruHop tries to warn you about, and I never had any issues. Obviously you need to use some common sense, but you can absolutely use these buses.
I know I sound harsh on PeruHop, but there are some benefits to PeruHop. You can meet other travelers, get door to door service, and have the option to stop at some sights along the way. For me, these benefits didn’t outweigh the costs associated with PeruHop.
Even though I had to pay for a few more taxis (some bus stations are outside the city center), it was still cheaper for me to take public buses than use PeruHop. Plus, with public buses, you have a much larger selection of bus choices.
Bus Stations are Often Far From the Tourist Action
Honestly I think one of the best arguments for PeruHop is the door to door service. In cities like Arequipa and Cusco, the bus station is nearly a 30 minute walk from the main historic center.
In Arequipa, I took a taxi both to and from the bus station. In Cusco, I made the mistake of walking from the bus station to the city center and learned my lesson when it was time to return. By the time I arrived in Lima, I opened the Uber app before even leaving the station.
The bottom line is to make sure that you’re accounting for the taxi expense or be ready for some long walks with all of your luggage.
Bus Websites May Not Accept Your Credit Card
As I researched my buses across Peru, I got excited when I found actual websites. Not every country in South America has this luxury so it’s exciting when you find schedules and bus tickets available online.
However, I then became disappointed when some websites refused to take my payment. I’m not sure what it was since I tried on different days and with different credit cards, but the website refused to take my card payments. This didn’t happen with every company, but it happened more than I would have liked.
I had a great experience with all of my buses on Cruz del Sur, but their website hated my credit card. Other sites, like Transzela, had no issues taking my payment.
Note that there are other sites like BusBud and RedBus that sell tickets and supposedly you can pay with PayPal as well, but all of these options were more expensive than what was advertised on the website.
In the end, I finally just walked to the bus station to purchase my ticket. At the bus station, my card was accepted, so I’m not sure what happened. But don’t be surprised if purchasing a ticket online is not as straightforward as you had hoped.
Buses Are Typically on Time
I took numerous buses while I was in Peru and every single time I was shocked when we arrived on time. I started my trip in South America with six weeks in Colombia where every bus takes longer than advertised and I never quite made the adjustment to buses that arrive on time.
Of course, there are situations where a bus might run late, but every single bus I took was on time. This is important because you can plan your days appropriately, especially if you need a transfer or want to get off the bus for a quick sightseeing stop before continuing on to your final destination.
Cusco and the Surrounding Areas is High in Altitude
Lima, the capital of Peru, sits along the coast, but so many of the other famous cities in Peru are high in the mountains. Cusco, the city that every tourist seems to visit, sits at 11,000 feet of elevation. If you’re not used to that elevation, you’re going to feel it.
I’ll fully admit that I had it easier than most people in Cusco, but that’s only because I had spent a month in high elevations in Bolivia and southern Peru before arriving in Cusco. I realize that’s not feasible for many travelers, but that elevation hit me hard at first too, so be prepared.
Give Yourself Extra Time in Cusco
If you’re planning to hike the Inca Trail or the Salkantay Trek, you need to spend a few days in Cusco getting acclimated to the elevation. Your tour company should remind you of this when you book your tour.
The longer you acclimate, the better chance of success that you’ll have on your trail. Machu Picchu is actually lower than Cusco, but the trails to reach Machu Picchu are at high elevations and you’ll get even higher than Cusco.
The Inca Trail Needs to Be Booked in Advance
If you want to hike the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu, you need to book that in that in advance. Specifically, you’ll want to book nearly six months in advance if you want to guarantee your specific trekking dates. The Inca Trail is popular and it books up fast.
As a result, the Salkantay Trek has become more popular with backpackers since it doesn’t need to be booked quite as early. It still should be booked about a month in advance, but that’s a big difference between the six months needed for the Inca Trail.
Now, I did see a sign for last minute Inca Trail permits while I was in Cusco, but I wouldn’t count on it. Book the dates you want in advance to guarantee a spot on the trail.
Machu Picchu Tickets Should Be Booked in Advance
Even if you don’t plan to hike to Machu Picchu, you’ll need to book your tickets in advance. Tickets for the famous site can and do sell out on a regular basis.
My advice is to book your tickets as soon as you know when you’ll be traveling. Save the headache and purchase the tickets as soon as you can. You’ll get the dates you want as well as the tour route you prefer.
Note that if you are hiking the Inca Trail or the Salkantay Trek, you should contact your tour operator. They may already handle booking your Machu Picchu tickets for you.
Expect to Pay a Fee for Credit Cards at Hotels
While you’ll be able to use your card to pay for many things in South America, you should expect that convenience to come with a fee. Every hotel I stayed at in Peru accepted credit cards, but every hotel credit card payment came with an additional fee of about 5.5%.
In some stops, this fee was small enough to justify the convenience. In other stops (when I stayed in places for longer and had a higher credit card bill), that fee was more than I wanted to spend. Plan accordingly.
Bank Lines at ATMs in Cusco Can Be Long
Because many merchants prefer cash, tourists often find themselves needing to get cash. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in Cusco where lines at ATMs can be long.
Now, it’s not every ATM line, but the ATM lines with the lowest fees definitely can stretch longer than you’re anticipating. Bring your patience or better yet, get a card that refunds all ATM fees so it doesn’t matter which ATM you use.
Some Restaurants Need a Warning if You Want to Try Cuy
I will fully admit that I’m not a foodie traveler, but I seem to be in the minority. I meet so many travelers who are interested in trying the unique foods offered all over the world. In Peru, one of the most popular foods for tourists to try is cuy, or guinea pig.
You’ll find restaurants with cuy on their menu across Peru, but you shouldn’t note that not every restaurant has cuy readily available. Some restaurants need a warning that you want to eat cuy, just so they have enough time to prepare it properly.
So, if you want to try cuy when you’re in Peru, do your research.
Final Thoughts
Peru is a wonderful country to travel through and it’s many travelers’ first visit to South America. With these Peru travel tips, you’ll be more prepared for your trip and be able to have a more successful trip.
Continue Your Adventure
Cusco & Machu Picchu: Spend a day in Cusco acclimating to the altitude or take a some time to visit some of the amazing day trips. Huamantay Lake has gorgeous views, Rainbow Mountain is busy but beautiful, and Ausangate 7 Lakes Hike was my favorite. For a DIY trip, visit Pisac. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or just climb Huayna Picchu. Don’t miss my top tips for visiting Machu Picchu.
More in Peru: There’s more to Peru than just Cusco. I really enjoyed Arequipa which is also a great base for visiting the Colca Canyon. For different scenery, head to the beach town of Paracas for Las Ballestas Islands or to cycle the Paracas Reserve. The desert oasis of Huacachina is always a hit and the Nazca Lines are a bucket list item for many. Get even more info in my Peru Travel Guide.
