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. 7 Vidas
    05 2 hours

    7 Vidas

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  2. 902
    06 2 hours

    902

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  3. Acholado
    07 2 hours

    Acholado

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  4. Alma Andina
    09 2 hours

    Alma Andina

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  5. Alqa
    10 2 hours

    Alqa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  6. Amar-te
    11 2 hours

    Amar-te

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  7. Angelica
    13 2 hours

    Angelica

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  8. Antonia
    18 2 hours

    Antonia

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  9. Apu Inka
    20 2 hours

    Apu Inka

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  10. Arbana
    22 2 hours

    Arbana

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  11. Atrio
    26 2 hours

    Atrio

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  12. Ayasqa
    29 2 hours

    Ayasqa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  13. Bancheto
    30 2 hours

    Bancheto

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  14. Baracoa
    31 2 hours

    Baracoa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  15. barbarian
    32 2 hours

    barbarian

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  16. Barbarian
    33 2 hours

    Barbarian

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  17. Barbarian
    34 2 hours

    Barbarian

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  18. Bar Brahma
    36 2 hours

    Bar Brahma

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  19. Bar Chelona
    37 2 hours

    Bar Chelona

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  20. BarDen
    38 2 hours

    BarDen

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  21. Bardock Bardock
    39 2 hours

    Bardock

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  22. Bar inglés
    41 2 hours

    Bar inglés

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  23. Bar Inglés
    42 2 hours

    Bar Inglés

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  24. Bar Lima Bar Lima
    45 2 hours

    Bar Lima

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  25. Bar Munich
    46 2 hours

    Bar Munich

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  26. Bar OK
    47 2 hours

    Bar OK

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  27. Bar Paraiso
    48 2 hours

    Bar Paraiso

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  28. Bar Pepe
    49 2 hours

    Bar Pepe

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  29. Barra 55
    50 2 hours

    Barra 55

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  30. Barzela
    54 2 hours

    Barzela

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  31. Bizarro
    61 2 hours

    Bizarro

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  32. Blackbird
    62 2 hours

    Blackbird

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  33. Black Cat
    63 2 hours

    Black Cat

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  34. Blue
    66 2 hours

    Blue

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  35. Blue Bar
    67 2 hours

    Blue Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  36. Boom Xtreme
    71 2 hours

    Boom Xtreme

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  37. Brama
    73 2 hours

    Brama

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  38. Brama
    74 2 hours

    Brama

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  39. Break
    75 2 hours

    Break

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  40. Buho
    76 2 hours

    Buho

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  41. Cańas
    78 2 hours

    Cańas

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  42. Carmencita
    79 2 hours

    Carmencita

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cusco
  43. Carnaval
    80 2 hours

    Carnaval

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  44. Cava
    85 2 hours

    Cava

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  45. Cervecería
    87 2 hours

    Cervecería

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  46. Chacchar
    97 2 hours

    Chacchar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Lima
  47. Chaska
    100 2 hours

    Chaska

    • Notable
    • Nightlife 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.