Country guide
Flights to Peru
Everything arrives in Lima, and almost everyone leaves for the mountains
Peru is dominated by one journey: Lima to Cusco and on to Machu Picchu. It is the reason most visitors come, and it is worth the attention, but the altitude involved is routinely underestimated. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres, and arriving there directly after a long-haul flight is genuinely hard on most people.
Lima itself is more than a transit point. It has become one of the most interesting food cities in the world, and its airport terminal was replaced entirely in June 2025 with a building around three times the size of the old one.
Beyond the Andean circuit there is a long desert coast, the Amazon basin in the east, and the Colca canyon and Lake Titicaca in the south — enough that a three-week trip is easier to fill than a one-week one.
Where to go beyond the obvious
Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Cusco was the Inca capital and is the base for the whole region, though at 3,400 metres it is the highest point most visitors reach. The Sacred Valley — Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba — sits several hundred metres lower and is the better place to spend the first night for that reason alone.
Machu Picchu
Reached by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and then bus or a steep walk, or on foot via the Inca Trail over several days. Entry is by timed ticket with capacity limits, and both the tickets and the Inca Trail permits sell out well ahead in the high season.
Lima
A large coastal city with a serious restaurant scene, colonial centre and clifftop districts at Miraflores and Barranco. Worth two days rather than the overnight most itineraries give it, and at sea level it is the sensible place to recover from a long flight.
Arequipa and Colca
A white-stone colonial city beneath volcanoes in the south, at a moderate 2,300 metres, and the gateway to the Colca canyon where condors are reliably seen. Often used as a stepping stone to acclimatise before Cusco.
When to go
The Andean dry season runs roughly from May to September, and this is the standard window for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the Inca Trail. Clear skies, cold nights, and the busiest and most expensive period.
The wet season, November to March, brings rain to the highlands and the Inca Trail closes for maintenance in February. Machu Picchu remains open but cloud is common and trails are slippery.
The coast runs opposite to the mountains. Lima is grey and damp from roughly May to October and sunny from December to April, so the best time for the Andes is the worst for the beach.
Getting around
Domestic flights connect Lima with Cusco, Arequipa and the Amazon, and they are the practical option given the distances and terrain.
Long-distance buses in Peru are better than most travellers expect, with reclining seats on the premium services. Lima to Arequipa or Cusco overnight is a genuine alternative to flying.
Trains serve the Machu Picchu route from Ollantaytambo and Cusco. They are the only practical way in short of walking, and they should be booked in advance during the dry season.
The basics
- Currency
- Peruvian sol
- Main airport
- Lima (LIM), new terminal since June 2025
- Cusco altitude
- About 3,400 m
- Sacred Valley altitude
- About 2,800 m
- Andean dry season
- May to September
- Language
- Spanish, Quechua
Before you book
Do not go straight from the plane to Cusco
Flying long-haul overnight and connecting directly to 3,400 metres is how most altitude sickness on this trip happens. A night in Lima, or better, going straight to the Sacred Valley which is several hundred metres lower, makes a substantial difference.
Book Machu Picchu entry well ahead
Entry is by timed ticket with daily capacity limits, and Inca Trail permits are limited and sell out months in advance for the dry season. This is not a decision to leave until you arrive.
Check the domestic baggage allowance
The generous international allowance frequently does not carry over to the Lima–Cusco leg. Check the domestic segment separately when booking a through itinerary, because the counter is a bad place to discover it.
Allow extra time at Lima airport
The new terminal opened in June 2025 and the access roads changed with it. Journeys to and from the airport have at times taken longer than the distance suggests, so three hours before an international departure is the sensible default.
Routes to Peru
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to Peru — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
How do I avoid altitude sickness in Cusco?
Ascend gradually rather than flying straight in after a long-haul journey. Spending the first night in the Sacred Valley, several hundred metres lower than Cusco, is the most common practical approach, along with taking the first day easy, drinking water and avoiding alcohol. Discuss medication with a clinician before travelling if you are concerned.
Do I need to book Machu Picchu in advance?
Yes. Entry is by timed ticket with daily capacity limits, and Inca Trail permits are separately limited and sell out months ahead for the May to September window. Arriving without a ticket is not a workable plan.
Has Lima airport changed?
Yes. A new terminal opened on 1 June 2025, roughly three times the size of the previous one, and all commercial flights moved to it. Access routes changed at the same time, so allow more time than the distance suggests.
When is the best time to visit Peru?
May to September is the Andean dry season and the standard window for Cusco and Machu Picchu, though it is also the busiest. Note that this is when the Lima coast is grey — the coast and the mountains run on opposite seasons.
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