Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling to Peru

Peru packs an enormous range of destinations into one country, and a first trip usually means the same string of questions: when to go, how to get from Lima to Cusco, how early to book Machu Picchu, what else is worth seeing while you are in the region, and how to handle the altitude. Here is what actually matters for each one.

Best Time to Visit Peru

The dry season, from May through October, is when most travelers plan their trip, and for good reason. Trails and archaeological sites stay open, skies are clear over the mountains, and rain rarely gets in the way of a hike or a train ride. June through August draws the biggest crowds and the highest prices, since it lines up with summer holidays in North America and Europe. April, May, September, and October offer nearly the same weather with fewer people and better rates. The wet season, November through March, still works for Lima and the coast, but Cusco and the Sacred Valley see more rain, and February in particular can close parts of the Inca Trail for maintenance.

The Lima to Cusco Route

Most trips to Peru start in Lima and move on to Cusco within a day or two, and this remains the most common route by far. Flights between the two cities run frequently and take about one hour twenty minutes. Travelers with more time sometimes add a stop in Arequipa or the Sacred Valley on the way, but flying straight to Cusco keeps things simple for a first visit. Once in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu sit within easy reach by train or road, which is part of why this route has become the default for so many itineraries.

How Far in Advance to Book Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu tickets sell by circuit, and the more complete routes go first. Circuit 2, which includes the classic viewpoint along with the citadel, tends to sell out three to four months ahead during the June through August rush, and even further out for December through February despite that being low season. Circuit 1 covers the viewpoint without the citadel and generally stays available closer to two months out. Train tickets follow a similar pattern and are worth locking in as soon as travel dates are set.

Other Places to Visit Near Cusco

Llamas grazing at the Sacsayhuaman fortress walls near Cusco

Cusco itself holds enough Inca and colonial architecture to fill a full day, but the surrounding region is where a lot of the best experiences happen. The Sacred Valley includes Pisac, with its hillside ruins and market, and Ollantaytambo, a still functioning Inca town that doubles as the train departure point for Machu Picchu. Moray and its circular agricultural terraces sit a short drive away, along with the Maras salt pans, and the three combine easily into a single day trip.

Why Preventing Altitude Sickness Matters

Cusco sits above 3,300 meters, and the altitude affects nearly every traveler to some degree in the first day or two, regardless of fitness level. Headaches, shortness of breath, and fatigue are common, and pushing through a full day of sightseeing right after arrival tends to make it worse rather than better. Spending the first day at a slower pace, drinking more water than usual, and easing into coca tea all help. Machu Picchu sits lower, around 2,430 meters, so most of the discomfort happens in Cusco rather than at the ruins, which is one more reason to build in a rest day before heading further into the region.

Planning It Yourself vs. Booking with an Agency

Planning a Peru trip alone means tracking Machu Picchu ticket releases, train schedules, hotel bookings, and transport between each stop, all on your own timeline. It is doable, but it takes real research, and mistakes on timing, especially around Machu Picchu circuits, are easy to make on a first visit. Booking with an agency instead hands off that planning to someone who already knows the release dates, the current entry rules, and which combinations of tours make sense for a given number of days.

Andean Moments puts together full itineraries covering Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, and their Machu Picchu packages range from a single day trip by train to private tours that span several days through the region. For a first visit, that tends to save more time than it costs.

A trip to Peru works best with a little planning built in ahead of time, particularly around Machu Picchu tickets and the first couple of days in Cusco. Getting those two things right leaves the rest of the trip free to actually enjoy.

Aspect	Recommendation
Best time to visit	April to October (dry season)
Lima to Cusco flight	About 1 hour 20 minutes, multiple daily flights
Machu Picchu ticket lead time	2 to 4+ months depending on circuit and season
Altitude in Cusco	Above 3,300 meters, plan a rest day
Nearby highlights	Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras