Peru is a cultural hub filled with unique sights to see, amazing cuisine, a plethora of activities, and is definitely somewhere worth putting on your travel bucket list, but there are a few things to know before planning your trip.
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season from May to October when it is warm and dry during the day and cold and dry at night. The daytime will be a pleasant temperature in the 60s and the evening will hover just about freezing. This time of the year is the best for visibility of the Inca Trail as well as visiting the jungle regions. If you are going to Peru for the coast, the beaches are much warmer in the summertime from December to April.
Lima, Peru's capital, is often skipped over in the race to get to Machu Picchu, but this is a mistake because Lima has a lot to offer such as beaches, excellent museums, and amazing food. Lima is considered to be one of the best cuisine cities in the world. They are known for their delicious ceviche as well as their beverage of choice, Pisco, a brandy made from grapes.
While Peru is relatively safe compared to a few of the other South American countries, it is important to be vigilant of possible dangers while traveling through Peru. Follow the obvious precautions by not walking alone at night, being wary of locals attempting to scam tourists, and being careful about forms of transportation that may be unsafe.
Obviously one cannot go to Peru and miss the famous Machu Picchu. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty, history, and culture. In order to go to Machu Picchu you will most likely travel to Cusco from Lima. There are two options for this: bus or plane. The bus ride will be about twenty hours and the plane ride only one hour. The plane is definitely recommended because round-trip flights are about $200, while bus fares vary depending on how comfortable of a bus and how nice of a seat, but they range from about $40-$120 round-trip.
Another thing to keep in mind is the vast difference in altitude from Lima to Cusco. You will probably notice a difference as soon as you get off the plane. In order to prepare for this, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and go easy on the alcohol. Altitude sickness is incredibly uncomfortable and unfortunate, so do your best to avoid this! Also, it will be nearly impossible to climb the Inca Trail while having altitude sickness because the trail is steep and difficult even for those who are not sick.
Lastly, there are several festivals that take place in Peru at different times of the year such as their Sun Festival in late June and Carnaval before lent. See if you can plan your trip around the time of one of their festivals because they are known to be a truly unique and entertaining experience!
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
