Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Peru

A photograph of Peru
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Peru is 1,285,216 square kilometres arranged in three long bands: an arid Pacific coast, the Andes behind it, and Amazon rainforest east of the mountains. Which band a city sits in decides nearly everything about visiting it — Lima, the capital, is a coastal city under grey winter cloud, Cusco sits high enough in the Andes to cost a first day doing nothing, and Iquitos in the rainforest has no road connecting it to the rest of the country. It is the third largest country in South America. The distances between those three worlds are why itineraries here are counted in flights rather than in bus rides.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Spanish; Quechua, Aymara and other Indigenous languages have official status where predominant
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+51
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Peruvian sol (PEN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
105 police · 116 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and C · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Anubis
    04 2 hours

    Anubis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  2. Central
    05 2 hours

    Central

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  3. Cinema Alis
    08 2 hours

    Cinema Alis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco
  4. Cinemark
    09 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  5. Cinemark
    10 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  6. Cinemark
    11 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  7. Cinemark
    12 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  8. Cinemark
    13 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  9. Cinemark
    14 2 hours

    Cinemark

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  10. Cineplanet Cineplanet
    16 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco
  11. Cinepolis
    21 2 hours

    Cinepolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  12. Cinépolis
    22 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  13. Cinerama
    24 2 hours

    Cinerama

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco
  14. Cinerama
    25 2 hours

    Cinerama

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  15. Cinestar
    27 2 hours

    Cinestar

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  16. Cine Star
    28 2 hours

    Cine Star

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  17. Cine Star
    29 2 hours

    Cine Star

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  18. CineStar Sur
    34 2 hours

    CineStar Sur

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  19. Cine Susy
    35 2 hours

    Cine Susy

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  20. Cine Tauro
    36 2 hours

    Cine Tauro

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  21. Circuito Mágico del Agua Circuito Mágico del Agua
    38 2 hours

    Circuito Mágico del Agua

    The Magic Water Circuit, known locally as Circuito Mágico del Agua del Parque de la Reserva, is an illuminated fountain complex situated within Parque de la Reserva in Lima, Peru.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  22. Coney Local
    39 2 hours

    Coney Local

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  23. Coney Park
    40 2 hours

    Coney Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  24. Coney Park
    41 2 hours

    Coney Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  25. Coney Park
    42 2 hours

    Coney Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  26. Coney Park
    43 2 hours

    Coney Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  27. Coney Park
    44 2 hours

    Coney Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  28. Danico
    45 2 hours

    Danico

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco
  29. Divercity
    46 2 hours

    Divercity

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  30. Ecogranjita
    47 2 hours

    Ecogranjita

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  31. El Pacifico
    49 2 hours

    El Pacifico

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  32. Fantasy Park
    50 2 hours

    Fantasy Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  33. Happyland
    51 2 hours

    Happyland

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  34. Kis Kas
    53 2 hours

    Kis Kas

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  35. Lasertag
    54 2 hours

    Lasertag

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco
  36. Las Musas
    55 2 hours

    Las Musas

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  37. Mini Mundo
    56 2 hours

    Mini Mundo

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  38. Mini-Mundo
    57 2 hours

    Mini-Mundo

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  39. Relax
    69 2 hours

    Relax

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  40. UVK
    70 2 hours

    UVK

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  41. UVK
    71 2 hours

    UVK

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  42. VirtualX
    76 2 hours

    VirtualX

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Lima
  43. Zona VIP
    77 2 hours

    Zona VIP

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Cusco

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Peru be?

Ten to fourteen days can combine Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley with one additional region. Altitude adjustment and rail or road transfers need their own time, so compressing the Andes and Amazon into the same short visit is unwise.

What entry documents are needed for Peru?

Peru’s Migraciones authority publishes admission information. Passport, nationality and permitted-stay rules must be checked for the actual traveller, and any border or immigration form should come from the government service.

What is the best way to travel around Peru?

Lima is the principal air hub, with domestic services to Cusco, Arequipa and other gateways. Intercity buses cover many routes, and selected tourist trains serve the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu area.

When is a practical time to visit Peru?

May to September is the broad dry-season window for many Andean routes. Lima’s coastal conditions and Amazon rainfall follow different patterns, so an itinerary spanning regions needs separate forecasts and access checks.

What money and payment basics apply in Peru?

Peru uses the sol (PEN). Current acceptance and withdrawal charges are Not recorded here; confirm whether an operator expects soles, cards or advance payment before leaving a major city.

What practical safety details should I save for Peru?

Peru records 105 for police and 116 for fire services. Type A and C sockets use 220 V; national tap-water guidance is Not recorded, so obtain local advice.