Photo: Machu Picchu · Draceane · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇵🇪Peru: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Peru
A typical first trip here runs about $600 to $800 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Ceviche, raw fish cured in lime juice with chili and onion; the national dish
- Lomo saltado, stir-fried beef with peppers, tomatoes, and french fries
- Cuy (guinea pig), traditional Andean protein, especially in Cusco region
- Peru has the most varieties of potato in the world (4,000+ varieties)
- Pisco Sour, brandy cocktail; fiercely debated with Chile as co-originator
- Inti Raymi (June 24), Inca Festival of the Sun at Sacsayhuamán near Cusco
- Corpus Christi (June), processions of saints through Cusco's streets
- Machu Picchu, the most visited archaeological site in South America
- Semana Santa in Ayacucho, the most elaborate Holy Week celebrations in Peru
- Marinera dance, elegant, graceful dance declared Peru's national dance
Spanish is official; Quechua and Aymara are also co-official in their regions. English is spoken in tourist areas.
Altitude sickness (soroche) affects most visitors to Cusco and Machu Picchu, give yourself time to acclimatize.
- Learn about Inca and pre-Inca history before visiting, it enriches every experience
- Ask permission before photographing Indigenous people and pay if requested
- Altitude respect: don't overexert on arrival in Cusco
- Tipping 10% is standard and appreciated
Best Time to Visit
Peru's weather varies by region across the coast, the Andes and the Amazon; the dry season is the popular time for the highlands and Machu Picchu, while the wet season brings more rain to the mountains.
- Peak: May to September
- Shoulder: April, October
- Off season: November to March, the wet season in the highlands
Source: senamhi.gob.pe
Getting Around
- Domestic flights cover the long distances between regions.
- Tourist buses and trains serve the main routes, including toward Machu Picchu.
- Allow time to adjust to the altitude in the highlands.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The dry-season peak around Machu Picchu is the priciest stretch, while the wet season is cheaper.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Peru?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Peru safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Peru
Updates for Peru will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.