How to plan my trip to Peru

Planning is one of my favorite parts of a trip since/when I discover everything I want to do at a particular destination. I love planning a trip!

1. However, planning a trip can be daunting, especially if you are busy with school or work or haven’t done it often. Where should I go?
2. How long should I stay?
3. When should I book hotels, flights, and tours?

I prefer to book everything in advance so that I won’t be worried and waste time once I reach my destination.

How many days should I stay?

Many people believe that two days in Lima is enough. I stayed for three days to go to the beach and ride my bike in some parks.

Where should I stay?

Lima’s best places to stay are the city center, Miraflores, and Barranco.

The center offers cheaper accommodation and the advantage of being close to many tourist attractions.

Miraflores is an upscale neighborhood and high-end business district with hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping centers. Accommodations here tend to be more expensive.

La Puerta Verde in Barranco is considered the most romantic and bohemian part. It has many houses and palaces in colonial and republican styles, parks, a lovely promenade to the beach, numerous clubs, bars, restaurants, the famous Bridge of Sighs, and a beautiful bay view. Accommodations here are reasonably priced.

Therefore, this article will describe how to plan a trip to Peru: Lima, Cusco, Chinchero, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu). You will need more information if you plan to go to the Peruvian Amazon or any other place in this country.

How do you organize it, and how much does a trip to Peru cost?

Everything you need to know to travel to Peru on your own with requirements, best time, places to visit, number of days required, tips to avoid altitude sickness, how to get around, recommended tours and guided visits, and a lot of information to organize your trip. Trip to Peru.

Shall we start? What is needed to travel to Peru?

People with passports from Spain and the European Union do not need a visa to travel to Peru as long as the visit is exclusively for tourism and they stay up to 90 days. We always recommend checking with your embassy to avoid problems upon arrival.

The countries that do not need to process a tourist visa are those that are part of the European Union, Oceania, the United States, Canada, and the following American countries: Antigua Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

What is the best time to travel to Peru?

You can travel to Peru throughout the year, but to visit Machu Picchu (see our post), you have to take into account the different seasons,

How to get to Peru

Lima is Peru’s most crucial airport. You can reach it from Europe by direct flight with Iberia, Air Europa, LATAM, or a more economical stopover like Avianca.

Tips for a trip to Peru on your own

Travel Insurance

Essential on every trip. We tell you from experience that we have used it many times, and the peace of mind that comes from not having to look for your life if something happens is that the doctor comes to your hotel or they indicate the nearest clinic.

There are many clinics, and you’re in trouble if you don’t know which one to choose! Here, we leave you the one we use. We know from experience that it works spectacularly in medical tests, etc., in Latin America. We have used it many times, traveling worldwide, and the response has always been outstanding.

Hiring travel insurance here gives you a 5% discount. If you have doubts about which modality to employ, contact us.

One of the best options is to have the internet on your trip to Peru. You receive the card, and once at your destination, you will have data by simply inserting the SIM card or activating the eSIM on your mobile and data roaming.

In Peru, you can get 5 GB and 12 GB plans for 34 euros, with a 5% discount with our Organizotuviaje code.

This way, you can navigate WhatsApp, social networks, GPS, or browsers without worrying.

It only works with unlocked mobile phones and is compatible with the country you are traveling to. Today, most mobile phones work without problem worldwide, but just in case, confirm it.

Altitude Sickness in Peru

On a free trip through Peru, the places where you can have problems with altitude are Cuzco, Arequipa-Colca Valley, and Puno. And if you travel to Bolivia, La Paz, and the Salar de Uyuni.

Cuzco is located at 3,350 meters. You will be above this height in the excursions made from Cuzco to see the Sacred Valley and various Inca ruins. On the other hand, Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude, only 2,400 meters.

We only used coca leaves to cope with the altitude, and there was no medication. We drank coca tea (infusion) daily for breakfast or tea. We made the tea with 3 or 4 coca leaves in boiled water, letting it rest for a few minutes and releasing the essence. With that, we had no problems.

We also didn’t notice anything strange in the body, which you asked us a lot about through Instagram Stories while we told you about the experience. We left everything saved, so you can still see it on our profile.

Chewed coca leaf is bitter, but you can add sugar to the infusion, which will make it taste much better.

As for advice for the first few hours, it is best to rest the first day and not make any effort. And if you go out, stroll, drink tea, and chew coca leaves.

Recommendation: At the airport, there is a basket with coca leaves. Take several to last you the first hour.

Places to visit on a trip to Peru on your own

We spent a month and a half in Peru, with 15 days volunteering in Cuzco, so we can recommend how to get around and what to see very well. And even so many days, we didn’t have time to visit areas like Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, or Paracas.

These are some ideas about “what you can do and see in Peru for free.” Everything depends on your availability, but it is best to travel for at least 15 days to know the most important things.

Lima, “The Capital”

Lima is a city well worth exploring and getting to know. Do not miss its historic colonial center, a World Heritage Site, the beautiful Plaza de Armas and cathedral, the Barranco neighborhood, and the Puente de los Suspiros.

Of course, do not forget to try the best Peruvian cuisine. It’s exquisite!! Take note of the cevicherías Beto; there are several in the capital.

Huacachina

The Huacachina lagoon and desert are among the few natural oases found on the American continent and an essential stop on a trip through Peru. Want to know how to get to Huacachina? Check out our post.

Arequipa and Colca Valley

Other important places to visit in Peru are the white city of Arequipa, with its condors, and the Colca Valley (see our post).