Before You Go

Vaccinations

Most travelers to Peru [1] do get the vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov [2]), which include hepatitis A and B and typhoid for the Andean areas, and yellow fever and malaria for certain jungle areas.

Passports and Visas

Citizens of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia and residents of any other European or Latin American country do not require visas to enter Peru as tourists at present time, but they will need to pay departure taxes of $31 for international flights and $7 for domestic flights. Visitors entering the country can get anything from 30 to 180 days stamped into both a passport and an embarkation card that travelers must keep until they exit the country. If you require more than 30 days, be ready to support your argument by explaining your travel plans and showing your return ticket. Extensions can be arranged at Peru’s immigration offices in Lima [3], Arequipa [4], Cusco [5], Iquitos [6], Puno [7], and Trujillo [8] for US$21.

Transportation

Most travelers arrive in Peru by plane, and all international flights into Peru arrive in Lima. Travel to Cusco or the jungle is an additional plane ride. Because of flight patterns, most travelers end up spending a night or a day in Lima either coming or going. We recommend travelers spend at least a day in Lima, preferably on the way home, to take in this amazing city. Peru’s new buses, with luxurious onboard service, are a great option for domestic travel.