Why visit Peru?
Peru has it all. If you are into hiking, Huaraz has one of the best and highest alpine regions in the world, second only to the Himalayas. It's like a little Kathmandu up there.
If you are interested in Inca history, a visit to Machu Picchu, Cusco, and a number of museums in Lima will greatly improve your knowledge about their culture and how they were able to flourish and become the biggest empire in Pre-Colombian times. Not to mention, the best gastronomy in South America.
Truth be told, food in South America is not the best, but Peruvian food is exceptional, and eating your way through the country is one of the highlights of visiting here.
When to Visit Peru?
Due to the geography of the country, the weather can vary a lot depending on where you go. In the Andes, the best time to go there is around September - November when the weather is sunny and dry at the beginning. By November, you may risk some rain as it is a shoulder season, but you will also experience the Andes without crowds, which I think is a perfect balance. The weather pattern is quite similar in the Amazon part of the country as well.
For the best time to visit the coasts, December to March is hot and sunny, which is perfect for swimming and surfing.
All in all, traveling to Peru at the end of the year seems to have the perfect balance of clear and rainy days throughout the country. At the end of the day, the weather may not be as expected. There might be rainy days in the summer and vice versa, so do not sweat too much and enjoy the trip, whatever comes your way.
How to Get to Peru?
The best way to get here is to fly into Lima if you are coming from abroad. I would recommend you browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find a cheap flight from where you live to Lima that best fits your itinerary. If you are already in Ecuador, you can simply cross the border from the north with an overnight bus from Loja to Trujillo and traverse from north to south as suggested in the itinerary.
How To Get Around Peru?
In the city, local mini-buses (collectivo) are quite easy to flag down and extremely cheap, but you will have to know where you are going and tell them where to stop (saying something like "Pare Aqui" should do). Otherwise, taxis are reasonably priced and more convenient when you don't know exactly where your destination is.
In between cities, traveling via buses is the best option. Buses in Peru are one of the most comfortable ways to go around the country without breaking the bank. With fully reclining seats, hot food, and entertainment offers on long-haul trips, for an affordable price, buses are the way to go.
Note: Buses in Peru operate differently from those in other countries due to bus companies having bus terminals in separate locations, so make sure you go to the right one.
Recommended bus companies: Cruz del Sur and Oltursa for the long-haul southern route, Linea for the northern route, and any local bus companies are fine for a short-haul trip.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Peru?
Claro is widely available, and I found it to be more tourist-friendly than Movistar, as they have a 2GB data SIM card available for 30S. Refilling the SIM card is as easy as going to any shop with a Claro sign and asking them to refill the money for you. You can also reactivate any package you like. For more information, the data speed is 4G in most cities, and I never had coverage problems, except in the mountains in Huaraz, but that was expected. Read more here.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Daily Budget
This place is quite affordable compared to all the other countries in the world. If you are planning a trip here, you can expect to spend around $25 - $45 USD per day per person, which should include accommodation and three meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Peru?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Peru:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
