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Travel guide

Peru holidays: a travel guide for UK visitors

Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon: a practical guide to Peru holidays and tours, with the best time to visit Peru and Machu Picchu month by month, and plain advice on altitude.

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Why visit Peru

Machu Picchu is the reason most people go to Peru, and the reason most of our Peru tours exist: an Inca citadel on a saddle of rock high above a river gorge, its terraces falling away into cloud forest. The journey to it is half the point. Cusco, the old Inca capital, is a city of Spanish churches built on Inca walls whose stones fit so closely that no blade will pass between them. Below it, the Sacred Valley is a green, farmed valley of market towns, salt pans and terraced hillsides, with the fortress of Ollantaytambo at its end. Further south, Lake Titicaca lies at nearly 3,800 metres, with reed islands and villages that keep their own customs, and Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, where condors ride the morning air, are on many longer routes. There is the Amazon, too, a short flight from Cusco. Altitude worries many people, and it should be taken seriously, but tours are planned around it, and a good guide makes the difference between a hard trip and a gentle one.

Best time to visit Peru

The best time to visit Peru for Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Andes is the dry season, from about May to September, when days are sunny and clear and nights at altitude are cold. June to August is the busiest period, with Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun, in Cusco in late June; April, May, September and October are quieter, and the hills are greener at either end. The rainy season in the Andes runs from about November to March, with afternoon rain, muddy trails and more cloud over Machu Picchu. It is wettest in January and February, and the Inca Trail closes for all of February, though the train to Machu Picchu runs all year. The coast around Lima is dry all year, with a grey sea mist for much of the southern winter, May to October. In the Amazon it is hot and humid all year, and drier from about May to October.

Peru month by month

JanuaryAvoid
The wet season is well established in the Andes, with frequent afternoon rain around Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
FebruaryAvoid
The wettest month in the highlands; the Inca Trail itself closes for the whole month for maintenance and conservation.
MarchQuiet
Rain begins to ease in the Andes, though trails can still be muddy and afternoon showers remain common.
AprilGood
A reliable shoulder month as the dry season sets in, with green hillsides still lingering from the rains.
MayBest
The Andean dry season begins in earnest: clear skies over Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, and comfortable trekking conditions.
JuneBest
Dry and clear in the highlands, with cold nights at altitude; one of the most reliable months to travel.
JulyBest
Peak dry season and peak visitor numbers; book popular trails and permits well ahead.
AugustBest
Still dry and busy, with the clearest skies of the year over the Andes.
SeptemberGood
The dry season begins to wind down; still largely rain-free with slightly thinner crowds than midwinter.
OctoberGood
A transitional month, generally dry but with the first rains beginning to reappear by the end of it.
NovemberQuiet
The wet season returns to the highlands, with showers becoming more frequent, especially in the afternoons.
DecemberQuiet
Warm and increasingly wet in the Andes; the coast around Lima stays largely dry and mild.

Top things to do in Peru

  1. 1

    Visit Machu Picchu

    Almost every one of our Peru holidays reaches Machu Picchu, most by the train along the Urubamba valley to Aguas Calientes, then a bus up the hairpins to the gate; a few walk the Inca Trail. Entry is by timed ticket and set route, with limited numbers each day, so tours book well ahead. Mornings are often misty, and the clouds lifting off the peaks is part of the show.

  2. 2

    Explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley

    Most of our tours spend several days here. Cusco’s colonial centre is built on Inca foundations, with the Qorikancha temple beneath the church of Santo Domingo. The Sacred Valley, lower and greener, holds the markets of Pisac, the circular terraces of Moray, the salt pans of Maras and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Many itineraries stay in the valley first, which helps the body adjust to the altitude.

  3. 3

    See Lake Titicaca

    Often called the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca lies between Peru and Bolivia, with Puno on its shore. Boats go out to the Uros islands, built of floating reeds, and to Taquile, whose people are known for their weaving. Many of our tours travel here from Cusco by road or train across the high plain. It is cold at night, and higher than Cusco, so take it slowly.

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Peru travel questions

When is the best time to visit Peru?
May to September, the dry season in the Andes, is best for Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca. June to August is busiest. April, May, September and October are quieter. November to March is the rainy season, and the Inca Trail closes for February.
What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
May to September, for the clearest skies, with May and September a little quieter than midwinter. Machu Picchu is open all year, and in the rainy season, November to March, mornings are often clear before the afternoon rain. Book tickets and trains well ahead for June to August.
Will altitude sickness ruin my trip?
It is a real risk, and GOV.UK names Cusco, Puno and the Colca Canyon, but most people manage well if they take it slowly. Good itineraries climb gradually, often starting in the Sacred Valley, which is lower than Cusco. Rest on the first day, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Speak to your GP before you go, especially if you have a heart or lung condition.
Is Machu Picchu higher than Cusco?
No, it is lower, at roughly 2,400 metres. Cusco is above 3,300 metres, the Sacred Valley is in between, and Lake Titicaca is higher still, at nearly 3,800 metres. Many people find Machu Picchu itself easier to breathe at than Cusco.
Do I have to hike the Inca Trail to see Machu Picchu?
No. Most visitors, and most of our tours, take the train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes and a bus up to the site. The Inca Trail is a four-day trek with limited permits that sell out months ahead in the dry season. It needs good fitness, and it closes every February.
How many days do I need in Peru?
Ten days covers Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu at a sensible pace. Two weeks adds Lake Titicaca, and often Arequipa and the Colca Canyon or the Amazon. Some of our holidays continue into Bolivia, Ecuador or Argentina.
Can I take medicine for altitude sickness?
There is a prescription medicine, acetazolamide, that some people take to help prevent altitude sickness. It is not right for everyone, so ask your GP or a travel clinic well before you go. Coca tea is offered everywhere in the Andes, but do not bring coca leaves home, as they are illegal in the UK.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Peru?
No. UK tourists can usually stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive. Check the UK government’s travel advice before you go.
Is Peru safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble-free. Take care with bags and phones in busy places and at bus stations, and use transport arranged by your hotel or tour. Protests and strikes happen and can block roads or stop the trains to Machu Picchu at short notice, which is one advantage of being on a tour, with an operator to rearrange things. Read the UK government’s advice before you go.
What vaccinations do I need for Peru?
See your GP or a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. They will check your routine vaccinations and advise on yellow fever and malaria, which matter mainly if you are going to the Amazon, and on altitude. TravelHealthPro publishes the current advice for Peru.
How do I avoid getting ill from food and water?
Drink bottled or filtered water, and avoid ice and salads unless you are confident they are made with treated water. Eat food that is freshly cooked and hot. Ceviche is a Peruvian classic, best eaten at lunchtime in a busy, reputable restaurant.
What should I pack for Peru?
Layers: days in the Andes can be warm in the sun and nights near freezing, especially in the dry season. A warm jacket, hat and gloves, a waterproof, sun cream and sunglasses for the strong high-altitude sun, and comfortable shoes with grip for uneven Inca steps.
Do I need a travel adaptor for Peru?
Yes. Peru uses Type A and Type C sockets, with two flat or two round pins. The voltage is 220V, close to the UK’s 230V, so you need only an adaptor, not a converter.

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