Peru travel tips
Inca Trail travel tips
Kathy Jarvis is the owner of our supplier, Andean Trails. She has hiked the Inca Trail many times, and has just updated Bradt's Peru Trekking guide. Here's her Peru travel tip for hikers:
"Make sure you acclimatise as much as possible. The more acclimatised you are, the more you'll enjoy it. You can suffer a lot if you try and force your body too high, too soon - as well as it being dangerous. So allow as much time as possible as you can before trekking. And then it's a case of having the right clothes - good kit, jackets, waterproofs, warm gloves, hats."
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Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
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Peru walking and cultural vacation
Trek the cultural sites and mountain scenery of Peru
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10 days
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Highlights of Brazil and Peru vacation
14 Days: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Iguazu, Rio
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Inca Trail adventure vacation
Discover Cuzco and the Sacred Valley on this Incan adventure
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US $1256 to US $1760
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Peru family adventure vacation
Peru Family Adventure activity vacation
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8 days
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Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
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Peru trip planning tips
Adam Walker, from our supplier Saddle Skedaddle, shares his top Peru travel tip:
"The thing I would stress most about the Inca Trail is how important it is that people get their act together. There's only 500 permits a day and around 300 of those are for guides and porters, so people don't realise quite how far in advance they have to book it. Five or six months is on the safe side. If people call us three months before the high season, it's probably too late."
Inca Trail permits
Inca Trail permits for each season's trekking are released the previous October. So For the 2020 trekking season, which begins in March, it is expected that permits will go on sale in October 2019. As with all permits, these can only be obtained via a licenced tour operator. There are a maximum of 500 permits per day for the Inca Trail, but as 300 of these are used by porters and guides, they sell out very quickly - especially for the peak trekking months of June, July and August, when it's recommended to book at least six months in advance. December, January and March tend to sell out slowest, as these are the wettest months (the trail closes for maintenance each February).
If you miss out on a permit, you can always trek one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, such as Lares or Salkantay. No permits are required for these.
If you miss out on a permit, you can always trek one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, such as Lares or Salkantay. No permits are required for these.
Lima travel tips
Tom Brown and Elena Larkin are Latin America specialists for our supplier Natural World Safaris. Elena is originally from Lima - they shared some tips about her home city:
"Lima is changing - and it's all due to the gastronomy boom of the last few years. The city itself has a lot to offer: the center is still very colonial, there are lots of museums and we have ruins about an hour away. It's been understated for so many years - people just stayed there for a night before heading to Cuzco - but nowadays people are starting to stay for two or three nights.
It's the capital and it's where you'll get the best food, so if part of your travel is about the culinary experience, then you really need to spend some time there. They even offer tours where you go shopping for ingredients on the markets, then come back to a restaurant and learn to cook your own ceviche with a professional chef. It's a really good cultural experience as you get to enjoy the market - and then hopefully you can recreate it when you get back home!"
Our top Peru Vacation
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
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15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
2023: 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
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Peru travel tips from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Peru travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Peru travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
"Peru and Bolivia are developing countries and hygiene and timekeeping are rather different there. Remember to respect locals and their way of life too!" - Kristiina Puusaari-Sheahan
"Take warm clothes - as we rose higher the nights were very cold and my thermals were not enough - ended up with hoodie, fleece, scarf and gloves not to mention two pairs of socks. My huge heavy-duty poncho was invaluable as it did rain a lot (supposed to be the dry season)." - Christine Ingham
"You can never have too many changes of clothes for the jungle..." - Claire Wood
"The most important thing to pack on a trip like this is your sense of HUMOUR! With that even the most difficult situation will not be stressful." - Roxanne Glaud
"Take warm clothes - as we rose higher the nights were very cold and my thermals were not enough - ended up with hoodie, fleece, scarf and gloves not to mention two pairs of socks. My huge heavy-duty poncho was invaluable as it did rain a lot (supposed to be the dry season)." - Christine Ingham
"You can never have too many changes of clothes for the jungle..." - Claire Wood
"The most important thing to pack on a trip like this is your sense of HUMOUR! With that even the most difficult situation will not be stressful." - Roxanne Glaud
make sure you are fit for the trek - it is hard going; good shoes are essential![]()
- Glenys France
"Make sure your camera has a huge memory card... and take a good lip balm because the altitude makes your lips dry!!" - Jo Curry
"Get as many 1 and 2 sol coins as possible - tipping is constant and people don't like exchanging 100 sol notes." - Jane Bolomey
"If you enjoy shopping for bargains then Pisac market is great." - Susan Gough
"Take plenty of bug spray for the Amazon!" - Leigh Hitzeroth
"Take some gifts for the kids. We chose crayons and paper and were amazed at how appreciative they were." - Matthew Smith
Pack clothes in waterproof bags. Despite the porters' efforts to keep everything dry, when it rained on the last day many of our clothes got wet in the duffle bags.![]()
- Carol Smith
More about Peru
Our Peru travel guide is here to help you travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping and culture, plus what we rate and what we don't...
Our Peru map and highlights will help you make the most of your vacation, whether you’re seeking classic highlights, an Inca trek or combining Andes and Amazon...
If you're hoping to rediscover Machu Picchu, explore the Amazon or get off the beaten track then read on for our top things to do in Peru...
Our guide to Machu Picchu reveals the history of this sacred site, with tips on what to see, how to travel there and the best time to visit...
Peru's Inca Trail is one of the highlights of a South America vacation. Discover the history of the trail, the best time to go and a sample itinerary...
There are several alternative Inca trails that lead to Machu Picchu, taking in cloud and rainforest, high passes and indigenous villages...
We explain why, when you cross the border at Lake Titicaca and see Bolivia and Peru together, you gain more than just an extra stamp in your passport...
Community homestays, brightly woven handicrafts and spectacular island hikes are Lake Titicaca’s calling cards.
The Nazca Lines in Peru remain one of the country’s great mysteries. Find out about the lines’ history, and how to view them from land and from the air...
Traveling in Peru with kids is a fabulous idea. Machu Picchu will delight children as much as parents, while long-lashed llamas are sure to enchant...
Porters' rights are one of the most important Peru responsible tourism issues. We also share information on volunteering, homestays and the environment...
Find all of our Peru guides in one place, for particular places in Peru such as Machu Picchu. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Peru vacations we offer such as culture or trekking the Inca Trail.
