Backpacking Peru

There are plenty of factors to consider while you decide when the best time to go backpacking in Peru is for you. The first thing you must consider is which regions you want to visit. If you only want to experience the beaches and the coastal region, then it is best to visit in the summer months, November to March when the sun is at its hottest. However, this is also the rainy season in the highlands and in the jungle, and many treks to Machu Picchu close in February due to the heavy rainfall.

If you are interested in visiting any of the places in the highlands (for example, Machu Picchu) then you may wish to visit during the dry season, which is from May to August. It is important to remember that this is the Peruvian high season, and so many treks are more expensive, and the routes are more crowded.

Deciding when the best time to visit Peru is, is a very personal choice with a few different factors to consider. It’s worthwhile to note that February a lot of the most popular things to do are closed (such as the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek, and Peru Hop), but if you are interested in the coastal regions, then this could still be a great option for you.

Visas for Backpacking Peru

Visas are generally NOT required to enter Peru as a backpacker (some exceptions – people from parts of Asia, Africa, and communist countries). You simply arrive and can be given up to 183 days of visa at immigration. The first 90 days are free, but can ask for longer and pay a very small fee. If you stay over your allotted time then you will need to pay $1.50 per day for every day you stay over your visa – pay in airport or at the border when leaving. Be aware that if you do this then you will need to pay the fine in cash. Make sure you have it with you or you could run into trouble. You can find out a little more from our official visa advice page here.

Transport in Peru

The best way to get to and from the airport is easily Airport Express Lima. Taxis are known to overcharge, with the standard price being 3x the price of an Airport Express ticket. Once you’re in the cities, it’s quite easy to find your way around, most of the time you will be able to walk to get to where you need to go. In fact, some cities, such as Cusco, don’t allow buses to go through the historical center, meaning that you will be forced to walk or take a taxi. It’s wise to think hard about taking a taxi in Peru, as many times they will overcharge you, and many more times they may not take you exactly where you want to go.

Quick Tip: If travelling to or from Lima Airport, it is strongly recommended to use the luxury Airport Express Lima bus to get to or from your hotel. Safer and well within every backpackers price range, with no baggage limit as well as free Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard, it is ideal for travellers.

When in Lima, you can use the metropolitano system, which is the fastest and easiest way to get between the different districts. You need a card to access it, but you can always ask a local, and more often than not they are happy to top their card up with your money and let you on. You pay on entry and can exit wherever. Entrance to the metropolitano is less than $1.

The best way to travel through southern Peru, (where most of the attractions are), is by Peru Hop’s hop on, hop off service. A suggested route from Lima to Cusco is the full south to Cusco pass. With many fascinating stops along the way and all just on one ticket, you can spend as much time as you please in each city before hopping on the next bus continuing on your journey.

Accommodation while Backpacking Peru

Hostels in Peru are extremely cheap, helping backpackers stick to a strict budget. Almost all come to a regular standard of lockers, hot water and wifi. It is a good idea to book your hostel in advance online, as you can find “Hostels” almost anywhere, with huge signs offering 20/25 soles rooms (roughly $7). This is an hourly charge, and these places are often reasonably dirty and have none of the expected commodities. If you want to find decent places to stay, then check out some of Peru Hop‘s recommended places.

As you are backpacking in Peru, you will find more and more companies that you can trust for a great time.

If you are traveling with Peru Hop then you can find plenty of exclusive discounts and deals just for customers.

Peru Backpacking Budget

A careful backpacker can easily get by on $25-30 a day, but it’s always smart to bring some extra for emergencies or last minute changes of plans. Sites such as FindLocalTrips are an excellent way to find attractions and tours throughout Latin America on a budget while avoiding unscrupulous tourism companies that exploit the local Peruvians. If you speak a bit of Spanish you’ll save money at markets and such as well, since you’ll be able to haggle with the sellers.

Hostels.com and Booking.com are good resources for finding hostels in an area, but they are sometimes missing towns and outdated, so cross reference with sites like Tripadvisor.com to make sure you’re getting the best deal available. Couchsurfing is also beginning to take off in Peru, and can make an excellent alternative to more traditional accommodations, as long as you take the usual precautions mentioned on the website.

Tipping in Peru

It’s normal to tip a guide, generally around $5-$10 per day they helped you. This means that if you go on a 4 day trek, it would be normal to tip the guide around $30-$40. The expected amount is slightly less for porters and cooks, averaging around $3-$5. per day, so for a four day trek, a tip of $12-$20. If you are in a group then it is a good idea to pool your money so that you can give the guide what you feel he deserves.

You never need to tip taxi drivers, or at cheap restaurants. Tipping is only really commonplace in higher end eateries. If you go to a mid-tier restaurant then it is normal to give one or two soles, but nothing more.

All in all, when it comes to tipping in Peru, tip what you feel the person deserves.

Quick Tip: The best way for backpackers to travel in Peru is with Peru Hop’s flexible hop on hop off service. Visit all of Peru’s main attractions and catch some incredible hidden gems along the way like like the incredible desert oasis of Huacachina and the Nazca Lines viewing tower.

Changing Money in Peru

It is 100% guaranteed that while you are backpacking Peru, you will need some Peruvian currency. The Peruvian currency is Soles. In the main districts of Lima and Cusco then you may use dollars in most hotels and restaurants, but you may also struggle in smaller areas and out of the big cities. As always, it is a great idea to have some of the native currency when you’re traveling. Once you’re in Peru, there are a couple of ways that you can change your money into soles.

Street Money Changers (Cambistas)

They may seem intimidating but you will see a lot of these people in the streets of Miraflores, Lima and wear official vests. They give you some of the best rates when exchanging money from dollars to soles and usually wait around near the ATM. However, as with anyone carrying huge sums of money they can be a target for robbery, so for your own safety try not to change too much money at once here.

Banks

Banks will provide currency exchange in Lima. The process is straightforward and stress-free in Lima. In the area of Miraflores banks will always have the correct exchange rates along with English-speaking workers. If you want to exchange a less-popular global currency, then banks are most likely your best option. ATMs in banks usually give reasonable exchange rates when you use a card. Sometimes you may be charged a fixed amount of soles for this transaction.

Exchange House (Casa de Cambio)

The exchange houses, or casas de cambio are very similar to almost all exchange houses that you will find around the world. They operate identically as their sole purpose is to exchange money. The exchange houses do this at the correct rate. They can be found throughout the city and they are often some of the safest options for changing large amounts of money. This is the best place for you to change large sums of money while backpacking Peru… However we recommend that you only change small amounts at a time. Slightly more annoying, but much more secure!

Airports

Airports generally have the most expensive exchange rates around. In general it is better to wait to exchange your money, but if you need it immediately, try to do it in small amounts so that you don’t waste too much. This is the least attractive option for those who want to stick to a tight budget while backpacking Peru.