20 Things you should know before travelling to Peru

There are things in Peru beyond Machu Picchu:
Most people come to Peru to see Machu Picchu, and, understandably, it is impressive and very beautiful. But Peru has so much more to offer, and if you’re going to do it once, you might as well do it properly. You should look at spending a couple of nights in Arequipa, visit the Colca Canyon, go to Paracas and visit the Peruvian Rainforest.

2. Not all Travel agencies are legal:

Only 20% of travel agencies in Cusco are legal. This can mean they don’t carry first-aid kits and oxygen, and the staff who work at the company do not get a pension, health coverage, minimum wage, or unemployment benefits. Many companies offer very cheap tours to get you to book, but this means spending time at shops or restaurants where guides can get commissions. It is not uncommon for most of the guide’s salary to come from commissions and tips. So as a bit of advice, check this guide for finding legal travel companies.

3. You pay for what you get:

This is true everywhere in life but especially in Peru; the cheapest hotels are unlikely to have warm showers, wifi, or any amenities included, so be sure to look at reviews before booking anywhere to stay. On the cheapest trips, the guides won’t have a good level of English, a university degree necessary to be an official guide or first aid training. Transport is regulated, but the driver may be working 14-hour days without a break; unfortunately, serious road accidents are common in Peru. So just because something is cheap does not mean it is a bargain; you often sacrifice trip quality and safety.

4. Don’t go over 4000 meters above sea level without spending at least three days at altitude:

It is not a good idea to do a day trip to Rainbow Mountain the day after you land in Cusco; you will be tired, out of breath and not in a very good state to climb the mountain. Unfortunately, people have died doing exactly this; check out this blog on why we don´t recommend doing Rainbow Mountain.

5. OxyShots and Agua Florida are only psychosomatic solutions to altitude sickness:

These miracle cures for altitude sickness get sold everywhere, but only have a calming effect and do not treat the problem. Everyone who comes to the Andes will experience MILD altitude sickness; symptoms often include: increased metabolism, dizziness, sleeplessness, flatulence, headaches, confusion, paranoia, clumsiness, nausea and shortness of breath. The trick is to recognise when this turns to MODERATE or ACUTE mountain sickness and seek help. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions (especially heart, lung or metabolism related) or are taking medication, please check with your doctor or do your own online research to understand any potential risks.

So what does work:

Drinking more water than normal
Drink Coca tea – this worked for the Incas!
Avoid large meals, alcohol and smoking
Taking more breaks (Put simply, if you are out of breath, stop, recover before continuing)
In some cases, use painkillers to treat headaches, but beware: headaches are often a symptom of underlying problems like a lack of water or overexposure to the sun.
In extreme cases, oxygen can be given. Hotels, transport & tour operators are legally required to have this available.
Acetazolamide (sometimes known as Diamox) can sometimes be used to help adapt to altitude, but we recommend getting a doctor’s advice before consuming this drug and checking the side effects.
If symptoms persist, descend to 2,800m (The height of the Sacred Valley of the Incas)
Do your own research to recognise the symptoms for yourself

In extreme cases of Pulmonary edema and cerebral Edema (Acute altitude sickness):

Consult the following guide

6. Cash is sometimes the only option:

In the US or Europe, you can pay by card everywhere, but in Peru, not so much. In the cities and at good restaurants, you will probably be able to pay with a card, but out in the countryside and in the mountains, cash is the only option.

7. Don’t drink the Tap water:

It is not safe to drink tap water in Peru, not even to brush your teeth with it. Use filters, boil water or if you have to buy some water. Filter water bottles like ‘Water to go’ are well worth the investment to purify tap water. At Amazonas Explorer, we offer free water on all our trips, allowing you to refill your water bottle without generating plastic, so bring a bottle with you.

8. Get Travel Insurance:

Anything can happen in Peru: flights are changed, protests erupt, you get scammed or robbed somewhere on the trail. It is well worth the peace of mind to have travel insurance even if you never use it. Buy travel insurance when you book your trips and flights, not the day before travel. You will not be able to claim compensation if you have a family emergency back home a week before your trip.

9. Check Vaccinations before leaving:

This is especially true if you are heading to the Amazon Rainforest. In some parts of Peru, you may need a yellow fever vaccine or dengue vaccine; if in doubt, ask a doctor.

You can also check the following site for advice:

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/177/peru

10. Travel from March to November:

This advice is to avoid the rainy season in the Peruvian Andes. During December, January, and February, it often rains heavily; roads may be blocked due to landslides; you won’t enjoy a biking trip if you are soaking wet, so save yourself by travelling later in the year. Whereas this is the best time to visit the coast and go surfing. The rainforest can be visited all year round – it is called a rainforest for a reason.

11. Follow these three tips when booking a Machu Picchu entrance:

Book Early: Circuit 2 (The most popular circuit) often sells out three months in advance, and other circuits sell out at least a month in advance. If you do not book them early, you could miss out. You should not rely on the 1000 permits sold in Machu Picchu town, as the queue could be very long, and you may spend two or three days in Machu Picchu Town and trust me, it is one of the most boring places on earth.
Book your Machu Picchu tickets later in the day: If you have a choice, book Machu Picchu tickets later in the day. Machu Picchu is located in the cloud forest, and that means it can be cloudy in the early morning. A great way to avoid this problem is to get to Machu Picchu through the one-day km 104.
Don’t book more than 1 Machu Picchu circuit: You can book multiple Machu Picchu circuits on your trip to Peru, but in most circuits you often see the same thing. We only recommend booking two if you are doing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain; then it is worth going up twice.

12. Book your Inca Trail Early

Inca Trail Permits go on sale in October, and permits for May often sell out in a matter of days. If you want to guarantee an Inca Trail permit, book before October of the year before you travel to Peru.

13. Do not book too many day trips

It is natural to want to see lots of Peru in a short amount of time, but what often happens is you spend longer in the car than at the actual place. Some examples of day trips where you spend longer in a car are: Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake, Taqrachullo, Ausangate 7 lakes, Waqrapuka, Qeswachaka bridge. You often spend ten hours in the car for two hours at the site. For us, travel should not be a quest to check off as many sites and get Instagram photos in as short a period of time, but something you have fun doing, whether that’s biking, rafting, or trekking. Travel should be more than sightseeing.

14. Consider reading a guidebook before travelling:

Take time to do the research to ensure you see the sites and do the activities you are interested in. An old-school guidebook has sections on geography, climate and history. By reading these, you ensure you make the best choices for you. If you simply follow TripAdvisor’s top ten things to do in Peru, you will be doing the same as everyone else at the same time. This results in queues at ruins at certain times; even an hour earlier or later makes a huge difference. Mass tourism has little imagination, and you will feel part of the herd.

15. Essential Airport online check-in:

Peruvian airport check-in times are two hours for National and three hours for International flights. Airlines in Peru frequently change flight times and even schedules. It is ESSENTIAL that you check in online the night before your flight to review times.

Airlines are becoming less flexible and will use late check-in as an excuse to bump you onto later flights without compensation. Please let us know if our current transfer times are incorrect.

16. Learn Spanish:

A bit of Spanish helps you communicate with locals and enjoy their humour. You can then do things at your own pace, not relying on mass tours.

17. Dietary restrictions:

If you are on a multi-day trek, it is almost impossible to change your dietary restrictions halfway through. This is also true in Rainforest Lodges where food and equipment are brought in by boat. So, to be sure, give your dietary restrictions well in advance to avoid any inconvenience.

18. Tipping:

While tipping is always voluntary, many places expect tips. On the Inca Trail, we recommend something between (30-90 USD) per person. For Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate, where muleteers are used, we recommend tipping 20-50 soles per person. At restaurants, tip about 10% for good service. Tipping is always voluntary, so don’t be forced to tip. If in doubt, check out a full breakdown of tipping in Peru on our FAQ’s page.

19. Always have your passport ready at hotels:

In Peru, tourists (of less than sixty days) are exempt from the 18% sales tax at hotels. At every hotel, you must present your passport to the reception to prove your tourist status. Failure to do so will result in being charged the 18% tax. Your passport will be photocopied for legal tax purposes.

20. Passports

Make sure you have a passport with 6 months’ validity remaining at the end of the passport. In Peru, they are very strict about this, and you won’t be able to enter Machu Picchu with a renewed or changed passport.