Tours by Destination 
Machu Picchu Tours
The Essence of Peru Tour
from: $ 345015 Days / 14 Nights
- Lima, Arequipa & Cuzco City Tours
- Paracas Bay Beach Resort
- Ballesta Islands Cruise
- Nazca Lines Overflight
- Colca Canyon & Condor Mirador
- Lake Titicaca & Floating Islands
- Tour of Machu Picchu
Tours of Peru Just for You!
Discover the essence of Peru on one of our tailor-made Peru guided tours. Journey back-in-time to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and follow in the footsteps of the Incas through the Sun Gate to a stone citadel surrounded by green mountains. Explore the cobblestone streets of classic Cusco and relax at a local restaurant serving traditional Peruvian cuisine. Unwind on a Peru and Bolivia train tour through the Andean highlands, featuring panoramic views of the Sacred Valley. All of this and more can be experienced on a custom, no hassles tour of Peru.
Your Own Tailor-Made Peru Tour
Get started exploring our Peru vacation packages today and work with one of our Travel Consultants to customize your travel experience in Peru. We'll customize your any aspect of your tour to fit your preferences - from half-day to full day tours, for any number of travelers. Curious as to where to start? Explore our Peru Travel Guide to learn everything you need to know before you plan your dream trip to Peru.
Keep in mind, you can combine Peru with a trip to Argentina, a Brazil tour, Ecuador and the Galapagos, or any other country in South America. These places are easy to combine into one cohesive South America Travel Package!
Learn more about our Peru destinations
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Top 15 Peru Tours & Trips 2019-2020
Whatever your destination, our travel consultants will create unique experiences & tour packages for your trip to South America.
The Peru and Bolivia Train Tour
from: $ 468518 Days / 17 Nights
- Lima & Cuzco City Tour
- Train tour to Huancayo and Huancavelica
- Train through the Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Machu Picchu Tour
- Train Puno to Cuzco
- Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
- Lake Titicaca Tour & La Paz
- Note: Tren Macho is currently not operating
Machu Picchu and La Paz Tour & Lake Titicaca Cruise
from: $ 259510 Days / 9 Nights
- Lima City Tour
- Cuzco City Tour
- Sacred Valley Tour and Train Ride
- Machu Picchu Tour
- Lake Titicaca Cruise
- La Paz City Tour
Classic Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu Peru Tour
from: $ 9804 Days / 3 Nights
- Peruvian Capital of Lima
- Cuzco City Tour
- Scenic first-class train ride
- Mysterious Machu Picchu
Peru Chocolate and Machu Picchu Tour
from: $ 7502 Days / 1 Night
- Cusco
- Cacao Plantation Farm
- Chocolate and Coffee Activities
- Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu & the Amazon Jungle Tour
from: $ 19008 Days / 7 Nights
- Lima City Tour
- Cuzco City & Ruins Tour
- Pisac Market & Sacred Valley Tour
- Ride through the Sacred Valley by Train
- Machu Picchu Ruins Tour
- Peru Amazon Jungle Lodge & Excursions
Trujillo, Chiclayo & Cajamarca Peru Archaeology Tour
from: $ 11958 Days / 7 Nights
- Trujillo City Tour
- Chan-Chan
- Chiclayo
- Sipán
- Cajamarca City Tour
Tambopata Research Center Amazon Lodge & Machu Picchu Tour
from: $ 295010 Days / 9 Nights
- Lima & Cuzco City Tour
- Pisac market & Sacred Valley Tour
- Scenic 1st class train ride through the Sacred Valley
- Machu Picchu Tour
- Peru Amazon Rainforest Lodge and daily guided activities
Chan Chan, Trujillo & Kuelap Peru Tour
from: $ 250512 Days / 11 Nights
- Trujillo City Tour
- Moche Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon
- Chan Chan
- Sarcophagi of Karajia
- Kuelap Tour
- Revash & Leymebamba Museum
- Cumbemayo Aqueduct and Otuzco & Tres Molinos
- Cajamarca City Tour
South America Deluxe Tour
from: $ 634526 Days / 25 Nights
- Lima City Tour
- Pisaq Market & The Sacred Valley
- Machu Picchu
- Buenos Aires City Tour & Tango Show
- Brazilian and Argentine sides of Iguassu Falls
- Train journey through the Atlantic Rainforest
- City Tour of Rio de Janeiro, including Sugarloaf & Corcovado
- Salvador da Bahia Tour, including the Pelourinho
- Amazon
World Wonders of South America
from: $ 238011 Days / 10 Nights
- Lima, the City of the Kings
- Cuzco, the former Inca Capital
- Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Iguassu Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
- Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City
Coast to Coast Tour
from: $ 1267037 Days / 36 Nights
- Lima
- Puerto Maldonado
- Cuzco
- Machu Picchu
- Lake Titicaca & Puno
- La Paz
- Uyuni
- Salta
- Puerto Iguazú
- Buenos Aires
- Montevideo
- Punta del Este
From Machu Picchu to Rio de Janeiro Tour
from: $ 426518 Days / 17 Nights
- Lima
- Cuzco
- Machu Picchu
- Titicaca Lake
- La Paz
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- Asunción
- Iguassu Falls
- Rio de Janeiro
Galapagos Cruise and Machu Picchu Tour
from: $ 462012 Days / 11 Nights
- Lima, the gastronomic capital of Peru
- Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire
- Quito, the capital of Ecuador
- Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Otavalo, the largest Indigenous Market in South America
- Galapagos Islands Cruise to see wildlife
Gocta Waterfalls & Kuelap: The Chachapoyas Experience
from: $ 12006 Days / 5 Nights
- Chachapoyas
- Kuelap Fortress
- Gocta Waterfall
- Karajia and Huanacas
- Leymebamba
Want More South America?
Check out our South America Trip Planner it's fun! A Travel Consultant will design your trip for you and reach out.
Also explore our Top 15 South America Tours for more inspiration.
Peru Travel Info
Check out our Peru resources below to help you have the perfect trip to Peru!
Trip to Peru as a Great First Introduction to South America
If you only have time to visit one country in South America, embarking on a trip to Peru should be at the top of your list. Peru has diverse cultures, exquisite cuisine, impressive Incan ruins, complex history, and an absolute abundance of wildlife.
While on your Peru vacation, you’ll travel from the highlands of Arequipa to spot the Andean Condor down to the Amazon rainforest, where you can cruise through gorgeous tributaries of the Amazon River. Lima, the capital of Peru, is a great starting point for any trip to South America, with plenty of international flights arriving and departing daily.
Trips to the Peruvian Amazon
After your high altitude adventure in Machu Picchu, come explore the jungle on a guided Peru Amazon tour! The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest is home to some of the most varied wildlife in the world. While in the jungle, you’ll stay in a fantastic rainforest lodge and have the chance to embark on nighttime safaris where you’ll discover the wondrous, thumping nightlife of the Amazon Rainforest. Consider lodging at the Posada Amazonas Peru Amazon lodge, perfect for honeymooners, families, and avid bird watchers. Or maybe you’d prefer the Reserva Amazonica, close to the Madre de Dios River, surrounded by rare flora and fauna. A trip to Peru’s Amazon will surely introduce you to some of the best wildlife the Amazon rainforest has to offer.
As you continue your Amazon adventure in Peru, you’ll want to visit the beautiful Lake Titicaca, legendary birthplace of the Incas. Here, you’ll get to see traditional reeds craftsmen and weavers at work. Not only that, but you’ll get to explore the enormous body of water on a Lake Titicaca cruise.
Regardless of what you hope to see on your trip to Peru, our travel experts will help you plan your trip and more! Call us now or reach us online and curate any of our tour packages with the help of an expert Travel Consultant.
Sacred Valley and Cuzco Tours
Many people visit Peru to see the impressive Incan ruins on a Machu Picchu tour, which are deservedly a stand-alone destination. However, when visiting Machu Picchu, make sure to set aside time to discover both Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
Meet the locals and tour other nearby Incan ruins and museums to learn about the famous Inca Empire. In the Sacred Valley, visit the open-air Pisac Market and purchase some of the colorful textiles, authentic alpaca sweaters, watercolor paintings, and other fun souvenirs on offer there. If time permits, spend the night in the town of Ollantaytambo, a town that has been around since the Incan empire. From Ollantaytambo take the train to Aguas Calientes, the final town before Machu Picchu.
Arequipa & Colca Canyon Tours
From the capital city of Lima, visit Arequipa, the city sitting at the foot of El Misti Volcano in the southern deserts of Peru. Arequipa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site complete with beautiful colonial architecture and cathedrals. Here you will find old world charm with the colorful buildings and Spanish-style plazas. Just outside of the city Arequipa is the Colca Canyon where the large Andean condors soar.
Our Best Peru Trips & Travel Advice
The Essence of Peru Tour is a popular Peru travel package and the perfect introduction to South America. Visit Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, Arequipa and more! The journey from Cuzco down to the Sacred Valley, to Aguas Calientes and finally to Machu Picchu is an adventure in and of itself. Along the way, you will learn about the traditions and practices of the Incan civilization. It is no wonder this is our most popular choice among our Peru holiday packages!
If you're interested in Northern Peru, our Chan Chan,Trujillo & Kuelap tour takes you to ruins that predate Machu Picchu. Visit the coast of Peru and go on a day cruise to the Ballestas Islands where you stand the chance to spot penguins!
From diverse salt flats to archaeological sites that inspire wonder and awe, Peru truly has it all. Whether you are looking to explore everything Peru is famous for, learn all about when Peru's Rainy Season is before you travel, or are simply looking to learn about how to avoid altitude sickness when visiting Cusco, SouthAmerica.travel is your expert source for Peru travel advice.
Top Places to Visit in Peru
Peru Travel FAQ's
The best part of the answer
to this question is: No, you do not have to do the
Inca trail to get
to
Machu Picchu! As a matter of fact, the overwhelming
majority of travelers going to Machu Picchu take
the
train, which is the best option.
There are no direct roads leading to Machu Picchu since the valley has space only for the tracks of this rail line. Fortunately, there are several train options: The luxurious Hiram Bingham train, connecting Cuzco to Machu Picchu, and the comfortable Inca Rail and Peru Rail options connecting the Sacred Valley to the Citadel. From the train station in Machu Picchu Pueblo, originally called Aguas Calientes for its hot springs, you then take a shuttle up to the ruins.
Yes and no! Due to limited
access into the ancient ruins, you need to plan
your
trip to Machu Picchu carefully. There are certain
entrance time slots you can get tickets for, valid for 4 hours.
So, make sure you get the right train down there or stay overnight
near the ruins - that way you don’t miss your timeslot. The
Peruvian authorities are well aware of the fact that Machu Picchu
is not a cash-cow but a UNESCO
heritage
site, in need of protection! Lucky for you, your
Tour Consultant knows all the details and will make sure you
maximize your time there.
It costs approximately $1200
to $5000 to go to Machu
Picchu depending on the experience in
hotels and accommodation you are looking for.
Consider this: At least one night in Lima, one night in the Sacred Valley, as well as perhaps one in Aguas Calientes, and ideally at least two in Cuzco, are necessary to make the journey. Additionally, calculate for your international flights (ex: from Miami to Lima is about $ 500 return). Then add in domestic flights (return trip Lima-Cuzco), which can be relatively inexpensive ($100 on up). When you’re traveling to a place of high altitude, you’re going to want to splurge on some comfort for your accommodations. Food can be inexpensive however consider the aspect of hygiene - you may want to avoid the cheapest restaurant option! Overall, plan on spending $ 2200 for a minimally comfortable trip. Then we recommend taking advantage of many of the other historical sites in Peru and surrounding countries since you are already there!
Consider this: At least one night in Lima, one night in the Sacred Valley, as well as perhaps one in Aguas Calientes, and ideally at least two in Cuzco, are necessary to make the journey. Additionally, calculate for your international flights (ex: from Miami to Lima is about $ 500 return). Then add in domestic flights (return trip Lima-Cuzco), which can be relatively inexpensive ($100 on up). When you’re traveling to a place of high altitude, you’re going to want to splurge on some comfort for your accommodations. Food can be inexpensive however consider the aspect of hygiene - you may want to avoid the cheapest restaurant option! Overall, plan on spending $ 2200 for a minimally comfortable trip. Then we recommend taking advantage of many of the other historical sites in Peru and surrounding countries since you are already there!
That really depends on where
you go, mostly on the altitude! In principle, the best time to
travel to Peru is in April. During April, the land is still green,
yet it rains little and the mountains are still dusted with the
snow that fell during the summer on those almost 20,000 feet
peaks, that surround you wherever you go.
Peru is situated just South of the Equator, so the sun is very intense year round! But Lima and most of the coast is cooled by the Pacific Ocean, which is rather cold here. In the mountains around the Inca ruins, it is cool because of the altitude. Only in the Amazon and there only during the day you will experience tropical heat. There is no monsoon-like weather in Peru, like in Asia. In the summer (from December to March) you can experience heavy rains in the Andes and the Amazon. It never rains along the coast, which is a coastal desert. In June to August, it can get cold in the mountains, but it rarely rains there during that dry season. So just bring a good jacket along.
The best way to prepare
for
altitude sickness is to go slow upon arrival in the
mountains and drink loads of water! If you’re going
to
Cuzco and Machu Picchu, make sure your first night is in
the Sacred Valley, which is just 90 minutes away from the Cuzco
airport and much lower in altitude than Cuzco. And explore Cuzco
after you come back from Machu Picchu. Note: Machu Picchu is
actually lower than the Sacred Valley, which in turn is lower than
the city of Cuzco!
Yes, but the government
decided that tourism should be a sector of growth and has
dedicated a lot of education and investment in this area. Also,
the country has been steadily growing for the last 30 years. With
low unemployment and low inflation, the tourism sector is highly
developed! Expect world-class service, especially in 4-star
to
5-star hotels. Also, the airlines operating in Peru are
world class and many codeshare with International Airlines. Latam
is a member of the Oneworld Alliance together with American
Airlines, while Avianca is a member of the Star Alliance like
United or Lufthansa.
Everything you know from
home, but so much more! Peru’s
cuisine nowadays brings all ingredients together. From the
Amazon, from the mountains, and from the coast. Manioc, yams,
plantains, alpaca meat, quinoa, pink corn, blue potatoes, fish,
all kinds of fresh vegetables, and wine. Peru is a country where
you can eat like you are at home or try new things! In Peru, we
make reservations for you at all of the famous restaurants. But we
also love to show you the ingredients first, then take you to a
cooking class, and then have you enjoy the meal that everybody is
talking about. Your travel consultant has a list of restaurants
ready to go and will recommend the ones that fit your preferences.
It depends! You, as a
tourist, usually have no interest in dangerous parts of Peru, just
like how you would avoid those parts of Los Angeles, New York,
Rome, or Paris. Tourists, however, attract pick-pockets worldwide.
But your guide has a very good eye for them. A guide will also
always know about possible disturbances, like demonstrations, and
will avoid them to
keep you safe. In your hotel, always close the safe in your
room. Remember, a maid in Peru earns as much per month as you
spend for a good dinner in a restaurant at home. Close your safe
but tip well!
The general rule is 10%! Big exceptions are taxis because you need to negotiate the price for the trip before entering the taxi. For your guides please reserve
$10 - $15 per day, and half of that amount, if traveling in a bigger group. On a cruise ship, $10 - $15 for your guide and another $10 to $15 per person per day is recommended.
