Passports and Visas
Passports and Visas
Peru is an easy country to enter.
People from most countries in the Americas and Western Europe do not need a tourist visa to enter Peru. The maximum length of stay that the authorities grant to tourists is 183 days, which cannot be extended. If you wish to stay longer for other reasons, such as business, studying or working, you need to request the relevant visa at a Peruvian consulate in your own country.
It is essential when entering Peru to present a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry into the country. Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Chile can enter with their national ID document.
Covid (Updated August 2021)
Quarantine is currently not required upon entry to Peru.
Travellers entering the country are required to present a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before departure, or a negative antigen test, taken up to 24 hours before departure.
If you have had COVID 19 in the past 3 months you no longer need to present a negative test. Instead, you will be asked to present a certificate of good health or a medical discharge document.
The sworn health affidavit is still required before entering the country.
Entry from Brazil, South Africa, and India is suspended until the 22nd of August 2021. This includes layovers or entry of any kind for the past 14 days in the country. Please check if coming from or through any of these countries.
Masks remain compulsory throughout the country. Double masks are required in closed areas such as shopping centres, airports, and public transport. ~~~
Health
Health conditions in Peru are good, especially in the cities. In recent years, the range of health services has increased and become more modern. Hospitals and clinics provide proper care, but we recommend taking out travel insurance. There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering Peru. As we will be visiting the Amazon region, the Ministry of Health recommends that you are vaccinated against yellow fever. ~~~
Weather
Peru has three seasons as well as distinctly different climates in the coast, mountains and jungle areas. The dry season runs from May – October and is the best time of year to travel, especially around Cusco when the days are sunny, the nights cold and there is very little rain. During the day the temperature can reach 24 ° C and at nightfall to Zero °C. In the lower jungle, the temperatures and humidity will be higher and temperatures can reach 30°C. and rain is always a possibility, especially in the shoulder season. You should bring a waterproof jacket and pants, while Cusco can get quite cold so bring a fleece and some colder weather riding gear such as arm-warmers and a gilet for the days at altitude. Sun cream is also a must, as is a covering for your head. ~~~
Food
If you’re a food enthusiast, you will probably already have Peru firmly in your sights as it has been fêted on the world food scene as one of the world’s best culinary destinations. The country’s gastronomic boom owes a great deal to its biodiversity along with its multicultural heritage and the mix of flavours in Peruvian cuisine reflects the mix of cultures that have arrived in Peru over the last 500 years. It began with pre-Hispanic cuisine that developed dishes and cooking methods like pachamanca and cuy chactado. Then, when Spanish colonization brought European and Moorish influences, followed by African, Chinese, Japanese cuisine that blended seamlessly to produce Chifa cuisine and dishes such as Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and Ají, Peruvian hot-sauce. You will have lots of opportunities to try the local cuisine and we work hard to make sure you sample a wide variety of typical dishes during your time in Peru. ~~~
Drink
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Coldwater, some energy restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. You may also want to bring electrolytes in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks are available everywhere but are not included. Beer in Peru is freely available and very good. Peruvian wine is not the best in the world but near neighbours Chile and Argentina do produce world-class wines and are freely available. However, the most popular drink in Peru is Pisco. Pisco is distilled in southern regions of the country like Moquegua, Arequipa, Tacna and Ica and this brandy-like liquor served as a Pisco sour is an excellent appetizer to precede lunch or dinner. ~~~
Solo Travelers
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your single room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above. ~~~
Extra Expenses
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra US Dollars for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. ~~~
Money
The official currency of Peru is the Sol (S/). Banknotes have denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 or 200 soles. Coins come in values of 1, 2 and 5 soles, as well as 10, 20 and 50 cents. ATMs that accept major credit cards can be found in all sizable towns and cities. It’s best to use credit cards as a backup for cash. There are many foreign exchange offices in every city and town and at major attractions. The best currencies to take are US dollars. ~~~
Be Aware
Overall, the level of petty crime is much less than in most Western countries. However, take the usual precautions about avoiding rowdy political demonstrations, not flashing money around and being aware of pickpockets in crowded places. ~~~