Peru
Republic of Peru
South America · PER
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Peru
Peru is one of South America's highest-payoff first trips if you want archaeology, mountain scenery, and one of the region's strongest food cultures in the same route. It works best when built around Lima and one or two Andean anchors such as Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Arequipa, or Lake Titicaca instead of trying to cover the full country in one pass.
Popular For
Things To See
- Lima
- Machu Picchu
- Cusco
- Sacred Valley
- Arequipa
- Lake Titicaca
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January through April is the easiest broad window in the current brief.
- Most first visits are stronger when centered on Lima and one major Andean corridor rather than a full-country loop.
- Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Arequipa, and Titicaca all fit the brief well, but you do not need all of them in one short itinerary.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Peru.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Peru
Lonely Planet
Comprehensive guide with coverage of Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon.
View on Amazon →
Moon Peru
Moon Handbooks
Peru travel guide featuring Machu Picchu, Amazon exploration, and the Nazca Lines.
View on Amazon →
Trekking in Peru: 50 of the Best Walks and Hikes
Bradt Travel Guides
Specialized trekking guide with 50 walking and hiking routes across Peru's diverse regions.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Peru.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Lima
- Population
- 34,350,244
- Area
- 1,285,216 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Aymara
- Quechua
- Spanish
Currency
Peruvian sol (S/ )
PEN
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
47.5
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 37.7
- Restaurants
- 28.3
- Rent
- 11.3
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Lima (12.05°S, 77.05°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
27/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 40/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.794
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.014
- 10-year change
- +0.037
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.959
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.340
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.757
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (13)
- 🏛️
Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Sacred City of Caral-Supe
Inscribed 2009
- 🏛️
Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa
Inscribed 1994
- 🌍
Río Abiseo National Park
Inscribed 1990
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Lima
Inscribed 1988
- 🌿
Manú National Park
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Chavin (Archaeological Site)
Inscribed 1985
- 🌿
Huascarán National Park
Inscribed 1985
- 🏛️
City of Cuzco
Inscribed 1983
- 🌍
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Inscribed 1983
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 22.5%
- Forest cover
- 56.1%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 51
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 93
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
51/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
82/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and the risk of kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: The Colombia-Peru border area in the Loreto Region due to crime. The Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba, due to crime and threats of terrorism. Some areas within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco*, Huancavelica, and Junín, due to crime and threats of terrorism. * The city of Cusco and popular tourist sites nearby, like the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu, are not located in the affected area. Country Summary: Crime is common in Peru. Petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around. Kidnapping is rare, but it does occur. The risk of crime increases at night. Criminal groups sometimes set up roadblocks to rob people in areas outside of Lima. Ayahuasca and Kambo Usage U.S. travelers should not use Ayahuasca or Kambo because of the known dangers. U.S. citizens have suffered serious illness and, in some cases, died after taking these drugs. They have also been sexually assaulted, injured, or robbed while under the influence of these substances. Demonstrations Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Public demonstrations can take place for a variety of political and economic issues. Demonstrations can shut down local roads, trains, and major highways. This often happens without warning or clear information on reopening times. Road closures can limit access to public transportation and airports. Closures may also disrupt travel in and between cities. Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving except within cities, between Lima and Huacho (to the north), and Lima and Paracas (to the south). U.S. government employees working in Peru may travel at night with commercial bus companies along the Pan-American Highway, to Huaraz, and on the Lima-Arequipa-Cusco corridor. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Peru. If you decide to travel to Peru: Stay aware of your surroundings. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Avoid demonstrations and large crowds. Develop a communication plan with family or your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business), so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you'll confirm you're safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you'll contact first to share the information. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Peru. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We strongly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Drug trafficking and crime, plus poor infrastructure, limit how well Peruvian law enforcement can operate in this area. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru must obtain special authorization to travel within 20 kilometers of the Peru-Colombia border in the Loreto region. They cannot travel on the Putumayo River, which forms much of the Peru-Colombia border. Due to the risks, the U.S. government cannot provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in this area. Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) includes areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín – Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Drug trafficking and crime, plus poor infrastructure, weaken Peruvian law enforcement’s ability to act effectively in this area. Remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group are still active in the VRAEM. The group might strike suddenly. They target Peruvian government sites and staff. Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru must obtain special authorization to travel to the VRAEM. Due to the risks, the U.S. government can’t provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the VRAEM.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data