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.

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.

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.

South america
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Peru

From the iconic Machu Picchu to the delicious local cuisine like ceviche, Peru is the ultimate travel destination in South America and the one that I adore the most in the region.

Places to Visit Huaraz Machu Picchu Santa Cruz Trek