Things to know before visiting Peru

While USD is widely recognised in Peru, creators note that having local soles in cash is essential for day-to-day use. Samuel and Audrey specifically call out keeping soles on hand as one of their 11 key truths about Lima.

Street vendors and local market sellers routinely charge foreigners more. Haggling is considered common practice and creators recommend going in expecting to negotiate.

Tipping culture in Peru is not as strong as in some countries, but creators consistently highlight tour guides as the one person you should tip, especially for multi-day treks.

App-based taxis like Uber and Cabify are the safest and most reliable way to get around Lima. Street taxis have inconsistent pricing and safety standards. Creators who live in Lima personally use ride apps daily and recommend visitors do the same.

The Peru Rail trains to Machu Picchu have a strict luggage size restriction. If you're travelling around Peru with a large pack, you'll need to store it or leave it before boarding.

For treks like Ausangate, going with a tour company is simply the practical default. Creators note that the logistical difficulty of doing remote Andean hikes solo makes organised tours — which range from budget to luxury — the sensible choice.

Lima's Metropolitano is a cheap and useful transit option, but crowded rush-hour buses create pickpocket opportunities. One creator witnessed a robbery firsthand and advises keeping your phone away from windows and staying aware at busy stations.

Creators with on-the-ground Lima experience advise dressing down and not displaying expensive accessories — this is the single most practical step to avoid being targeted, especially in crowded areas and during busy periods.

Creators consistently point to Miraflores as Lima's safest and most visitor-friendly neighbourhood — clean parks, good restaurants, walkable cliffs — with Barranco as a bohemian, also-safe alternative. The historic centre has heavy police presence but attracts crowds that can raise petty crime risk.

Busy shopping zones like Gamarra and crowded streets during peak periods significantly raise the risk of petty theft. Creators highlight that crowds are the main safety variable, not violent crime.

Leaving In 5' specifically promotes using a Saily eSIM for Peru travel, reflecting the broader creator consensus that getting data sorted before arrival (rather than hunting for a local SIM on the ground) is the smarter move.

Creators warn against drinking water straight from the tap in Peru, flagging it specifically as something to avoid when making drinks or brushing teeth with local water.

From Lima's cluster of internationally ranked fine-dining restaurants to cheap ceviche and lomo saltado, creators are unanimous that the food scene across Peru — Lima especially — is one of the country's greatest attractions and should not be treated as an afterthought.

Multiple creators warn that altitude sickness hits fast and hard the moment you land in Cusco or other high-altitude areas — symptoms can appear even before you've done anything active. Spending 2–3 days acclimatizing before treks or tours is strongly recommended.

Creators consistently point to coca tea (mate de coca) and altitude sickness pills as the standard local remedy and supplement for combating soroche. If you don't pack pills from home, you can buy them affordably in Peru.

Beyond coca tea, creators advise drinking lots of water, eating light high-carbohydrate meals, and steering clear of alcohol and heavy food while your body adjusts to the altitude — the combination of dehydration and thin air amplifies symptoms fast.

First-time visitors expecting sunny skies in Lima are often surprised by persistent cloud cover and fog. Samuel and Audrey flag this as one of the most 'shocking truths' about the city, emphasising it shouldn't discourage a visit.

Creators who covered Cusco point to the neighbourhoods around Plaza de Armas and the artisan district of San Blas as the best areas to eat, stay, and explore from — centrally located and packed with character.

English is limited outside major tourist hubs. Creators flag that knowing even a few Spanish phrases transforms interactions with locals and helps you navigate markets, transport, and everyday situations.

Jordan and Emily express genuine amazement at Chan Chan near Trujillo, comparing it to the Valley of the Kings — and note they had it almost to themselves at 9am on a Saturday. Northern Peru in general gets far fewer visitors than the south.

Machu Picchu entry tickets and Inca Trail permits sell out well ahead of time, especially in high season (May–October). Creators warn there is no walk-up option for the trail — permits must come through a licensed agency, and once they're gone, you're out.

Across Peru's top archaeological sites, arriving right when doors open is the single most effective way to get a less-crowded experience. Creators who visited Machu Picchu, Chan Chan, and other ruins all echo this advice.

A cautionary real-world lesson: Ms. Travelher had her luggage lost by the airline on arrival in Peru and was left without clothes, soap or any of her key items for multiple days right before a Machu Picchu tour — making the case for carry-on redundancy.

The Andes and Rainbow Mountain have extreme UV exposure alongside cold winds and unpredictable weather — creators who've done these hikes stress that conditions change fast and you need layers, gloves, a windproof layer, and strong sunscreen even on sunny days.