Peru Travel Guide: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu in 2026

Citizens of the EU/Nordic countries, UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most of Latin America can enter Peru visa-free for up to 183 days as tourists — one of the most generous policies in the region. Russian citizens also enter visa-free for up to 90 days. The 183-day stamp is granted in single or multiple chunks within a 365-day period — immigration sometimes gives 90 or 120 days as a default; ask for 183 if you need it. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry. Andean Migration Card (TAM) is now digital — you'll fill it out electronically on arrival or via the official Migraciones portal. Keep proof of onward travel and accommodation ready; immigration spot-checks both.

Plan early — Machu Picchu requires timed-entry tickets and the Inca Trail requires permits booked 5–7 months ahead in peak season (May–September). The standard route: fly into Cusco (3,400m), spend 2 days acclimatizing (essential — altitude sickness ruins trips), drop down to the Sacred Valley (2,800m — gentler altitude, base in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo for 1–2 nights), take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (PeruRail or IncaRail, ~2 hours), then bus up to Machu Picchu (2,430m). For the Classic Inca Trail (4 days, 42km, closed all February for maintenance), book through a licensed operator — independent trekking isn't allowed. Alternatives if Inca Trail permits are gone: Salkantay (5 days, no permit needed) or Lares trek.

May to September is the dry season in the Cusco region and the Andes — clearer skies at Machu Picchu, best conditions for the Inca Trail (the trail closes entirely in February for maintenance). July is the busiest month; May, June, and September are the sweet spots — same dry weather, fewer crowds. October to April is wetter but lush — manageable if you're flexible, and shoulder months April and October offer the best balance. Lima and the coast follow a different pattern: December to April is the only window with reliable sun (the rest of the year sits under a coastal fog called garúa). For the Amazon (Iquitos, Manú), dry season runs May–October, but wildlife viewing is excellent year-round. Inti Raymi festival (24 June in Cusco) is spectacular but books out fast.

Cusco sits at 3,400m — high enough to give most visitors mild altitude sickness if they don't prepare. Three rules. Drop down to the Sacred Valley first (2,800m, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo) for 1–2 nights before going up to Cusco — this is the single best preventive move, recommended by every reputable Peru operator. Move slowly on day one — no alcohol, light meals, plenty of water (3+ liters), early bed. Drink coca tea (legal, locally traditional, helps) and consider Soroche pills from any Peruvian pharmacy — about $5, taken preventively. Symptoms to watch: headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea. If they worsen, descend. Bring a copy of any altitude medication prescriptions if you're sensitive — Diamox (acetazolamide) is the standard preventive. Machu Picchu itself is lower at 2,430m and most people feel fine there.

Peru's food and landscapes deserve at least 10–14 days, not just the standard 5-day Cusco loop. Lima (2–3 days) — South America's culinary capital, with Central, Maido, and Kjolle all in the World's 50 Best, plus the Larcomar cliffs and the Barranco district. The Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero — the ruins are arguably more atmospheric than Machu Picchu without the crowds). Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) for the photo-famous striped peak, a punishing 5,200m day-hike from Cusco. Humantay Lake for an easier alternative. Arequipa for white-stone colonial architecture and access to the Colca Canyon (deeper than the Grand Canyon, condors). Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Uros floating islands and Taquile. For the wild: Manú or Tambopata for serious Amazon rainforest.