Planning your trip to Peru

The thirty-minute run-through

Six decisions, in this order, because each one depends on the previous one:

1. Documents (5 minutes). No visa for a tourist stay with a Swiss or French passport, for up to 90 days set on entry; your passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival. If a child is travelling with only one parent, check the exit authorisation. See borders and documents.
2. The season (5 minutes). It determines which regions are possible: the Andes are dry from May to September, Lima is sunny from December to April, the Amazon gets rain all year round. See when to go.
3. The itinerary (10 minutes). Choose a main region, then a compatible extension; count the hotel changes and plan a gradual climb to altitude. See itineraries, altitude and solo, as a couple, as a family.
4. Tickets with quotas (5 minutes). Book Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail first; the train and the nights nearby then fall into line. See what to book.
5. The budget (3 minutes). Add up the items separately, with a margin. See the calculator and prices in Peru.
6. Health (2 minutes). Book an appointment at a travel medicine centre, with your itinerary to hand; check your insurance. See health.

A planning timeline

There is no universal lead time; this timeline follows the order of dependencies, to be adapted to your departure date.

The checklist

To print or save on your phone:

• Valid passport, and a copy kept separately (borders)
• Exit authorisation for a minor travelling with only one parent, if it is needed (minors)
• Machu Picchu ticket, train and nearby nights, in that order (what to book)
• Written confirmation of every booking (template)
• Travel medicine consultation done (health)
• Insurance: medical care on the spot and repatriation covered (insurance)
• Two bank cards kept separately, soles in small notes (money)
• Mobile data sorted: eSIM or Peruvian SIM card (connectivity)
• A gradual climb to altitude built into the itinerary (altitude)
• A day in hand before the international flight (transport)
• Nothing made from coca in your luggage home (coca)

Depending on your trip

• As a family: beds, breaks, ages and the children’s documents. See as a family.
• Trekking and mountains: acclimatisation, choosing the agency and the porters. See altitude, hiking and porters and guides.
• Amazon rainforest: yellow fever vaccine, mosquitoes, choosing a lodge. See health and which Amazon to choose.
• A stay of several weeks: the length of stay allowed and everyday life. See the length granted and staying several weeks in Lima.
• Reduced mobility: access, steps and altitude, place by place. See reduced mobility.

Current alerts (as of 2 October 2026)

This summary dates from the day shown; reread the sources before you leave.

• Social unrest. The FDFA reports a tense situation since the change of government in September 2025, particularly in the electoral context: strikes, demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and rivers are possible throughout the country, including in tourist regions, and a state of emergency or a curfew is in force in some regions. Keep a day in hand and bookings you can change. See everyday safety.
• Machu Picchu. New visiting rules were published in September 2026; check the route, the time and the length of the visit on your ticket. See Machu Picchu.
• Rainy season. During the rainy season, from January to April, the Machu Picchu train leaves from a station in the valley, with a bus journey from Cusco; the Inca Trail closes in February. See when to go.

Before booking an excursion

A beautiful photo and a “book” button do not tell you everything about an outing. Who goes with you? How long do you spend on the road? Are the entry fees included? Is there a simpler option, or one better suited to your pace? See local customs and compare two offers.