Coast, Andean highlands, and Jungle: Peru is a diverse travel destination. Rich in cultural treasures, breathtaking landscapes and a multi-ethnic population, Peru has something for everyone.
Entering Peru is easy, especially if you arrive by plane. Some countries do not need a Visa.
These travel notes correspond to the current situation assessment in Peru. They are continually checked and adjusted as needed. Please also note the following country-independent travel information and the focus topics; they are part of this travel advice.
Yes, the Peruvian government has reopened all tourist attractions for relaunching the economy in the tourism industry which was highly affected because of social unrest with a lot of strikes which finally stopped. Now all tour companies are promoting traveling to Peru by following all safety measures. All tourist attractions are open at 100% capacity.
At the moment, Peru is open to visitors and you can continue to plan your trip to Peru. If you are not safe to come to Peru. We recommend you postpone your trip for the next month or year. Contact your travel agency and don´t wait until the last minute.
If you want to cancel your trip, you will be lost your deposit, since the Ministry of Culture (Tickets to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail), flight tickets, hotels, train tickets, and others are not refunded or Maybe they will be reimbursed you without a percentage
In the regions of Cusco and Puno (Lake Titicaca), trade unions, associations, and local organizations have called for stopped to strikes.
The temporarily suspended train service to and from Machu Picchu was resumed at the beginning of February, and the trains are currently running according to the regular timetable. However, travelers should think twice before making a trip. If the train service was stopped again at any time, they would be stuck in Machu Picchu. Apart from the three-day trekking tour of the Inca Trail, the train connection is the only way to reach the Inca site.
The railway company PeruRail is offering travelers a free rebooking of train tickets in view of the circumstances. Complete cancellations are possible against a retention of ten percent of the ticket price.
Train services on the Cusco – Juliaca – Puno (Lake Titicaca) railway line, which is almost 400 kilometers long, have also been resumed. There is also a well-developed road connection here, but this has also been the target of blockades time and again in the past. For this reason, disruptions to long-distance bus services are possible at any time.
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On February 5, 2023, the Peruvian government declared a 60-day state of emergency for Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurímac, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. A 30-day state of emergency has been declared for the Lima region and the greater Callao area, starting February 14, 2023.
Since the beginning of December 2022, there have been repeated demonstrations and unrest in various regions of the country.
An indefinite strike is in effect in the Cusco and Puno regions. In several regions of the country, especially in the south in the regions around Cusco, Arequipa, and Puno, routes are impassable due to road blockades. Demonstrations, some of them violent, have already claimed numerous lives.
The violence of the demonstrators is mainly directed against the emergency services on site, the courthouse, buses, and toll stations were set on fire, and police officers were injured. Many hotels in the Cusco area are closed for security reasons. A quick abatement of the protests cannot be expected.
In air traffic, significant restrictions must be expected at any time due to the short-term closure of airports for safety reasons.
Train traffic is also affected by restrictions. The train service to Machu Picchu can be stopped at any time for safety reasons.
The state of emergency and all COVID-19-related restrictions have been lifted.
We know that recent news and uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and recent travel restrictions may cause you to take a closer look at your current travel plans or future travel options.
Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Salkantay, Nazca Line, Peruvian Amazon, Mancora Beaches, Huacachina, Chachapoyas, Lima capital museums, and other important tourist attractions were closed for many months.
The Peruvian government actively closed the country’s borders by declaring a state of emergency that came into force on 16 March and lasted until 30 September 2020. However, all borders were reopened on 5 October 2020 and they remain open! International flights have been allowed again!
On March 15, 2021, all tourists attractions in Peru reopened with new safety protocols. All visitors must comply with all these safety measures.
Yes, the Peruvian government has reopened all tourist attractions for relaunching the economy in the tourism industry which was highly affected because of Covid restrictions. Now all tour companies are promoting traveling to Peru by following all COVID safety measures. All tourist atracctions are open with 40% capacity.
The Peruvian Government has taken these measures to fight against COVID-19:
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When is Machu Picchu reopen? Machu Picchu Closing Again! |
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Mincetur has been working on a tourist seal, which seeks to certify Peru as a safe area - Machu Picchu Protocols & Biosafety measures 2021 |
Recent political developments have provoked ongoing social unrest in many parts of the country, with demonstrations, road blockades and confrontations with the security forces, often escalating into violent riots, which has already resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. In particular, regions in which Peru's main tourist attractions are located are affected. The feasibility of tourist activities in, around and between Arequipa, Puno (Lake Titicaca), Puerto Maldonado, Cusco (including the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu), Ayacucho as well as Tarapoto and Cajamarca is not guaranteed. It is also to be expected that shops and service providers will remain closed on a daily basis and public transport will be temporarily suspended in the locations currently affected. Travel in these areas can be associated with lengthy delays, severe restrictions and significant risks to health and life. Over a period of several days, it is difficult to foresee at which exact locations and routes such acute hindrances and hazards will occur. Airports in the interior of Peru can also be temporarily closed, so that a quick exit cannot always be guaranteed.
For absolutely necessary trips to Peru, it is highly advisable to keep a close eye on local developments in the respective travel area, which can prove to be very difficult without sufficient knowledge of the local language (Spanish).
The country is characterized by different zones with sometimes extreme geological and climatic conditions: desert, jungle, high mountains, volcanoes (in the south). In the Andes, the symptoms of altitude sickness should not be underestimated.
Peru is in an earthquake zone. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can cause tsunamis in addition to devastation on land.
Tsunamis triggered by volcanic eruptions or earthquakes in the Pacific Rim can also reach Peru.
From November to April regional, heavy rainfall must be expected. They can cause floods, landslides and infrastructure damage. Travel may also be temporarily affected.
Let local, qualified guides accompany you on hikes, mountain tours and when practicing high-risk sports. Heed weather forecasts as well as warnings and instructions from local authorities (e.g. cordons around active volcanoes, evacuation orders).
Should a natural disaster occur during your stay, follow the instructions of the authorities and report to your relatives as soon as possible. Are the connections abroad
Peruvian associations of tour operators - Canatur, AATC and APTAE as well as professional tour guide associations - Colitur, Progatur and Agotur were talking with the Peruvian government to find a solution to open tourism of the country.
Please note the following precautionary measures, among others:
The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu were the most popular destinations of Peru. There were 3,000 travellers daily. During the Coronavirus, these sights were affected by the tourist decrease. The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu were closed until 15 July for Peruvian tourists and until 1 October for foreign travelers. But there were travellers who had booked the Inca Trail in advance. All was canceled! The Peruvian government was looking for a solution to avoid losing tourism. It decided that tourists could change or postpone the Inca Trail until to 31st December 2021 depending on the spots available.
The Ministry of Culture closed all their offices and websites until further notice from the Peruvian government. Then, only their accounting department worked.
Every affected traveler had to wait until the quarantine was over. Once the Ministry of Culture reopened the office, affected passengers could present their claims to receive Machu Picchu ticket refunds
In this case, the Ministry of Culture has offered to postpone the tickets until December 2021. You could return Machu Picchu tickets, but you must inform them by e-mail about their cancellation. You can postpone your Machu Picchu ticket for a future trip or receive a refund. Then you have to wait until their confirmation of your ticket refund.
A travel agency or tour operator needs to send a letter requesting the refund of Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tickets. The ministry decides if this is possible. If so, their condition is that the travel agency/tour operator finds a replacement for the traveler so that the name and date are changed on the ticket.
Due to the state of the global coronavirus pandemic, the company Inca Trail Machu has announced updates to its policies that provide for the cancellation and modification of each reservation date in specific areas.
PeruRail and Inca Rail are train companies that operate trips to Machu Picchu. During the quarantine, they canceled all operations. If you had booked train tickets in advance, you were able to postpone your trip until 2021. If you want to refund train tickets, you need to contact the train companies directly.
There Were four travel advisory levels:
Peru is currently at Level 2 - exercise increased precautions.
The Peruvian Government by means of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that regularly scheduled repatriation flights must end by Tuesday, April 21. The Government reviewed requests after this date on a case-by-case basis and approvals were reserved only for exceptional circumstances.
Travellers in Peru were urged to return to the United States, Europe, and other countries to take advantage of all viable travel options as soon as possible. When they chose not to depart at that time, they had to be prepared to remain in Peru until the government ended the nationwide travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Inca Trail:
a) Cancellation made months or a month prior to the departure date: If you have paid a 50% deposit or a 100% payment: Inca Trail Machu will refund reduce for the Inca Trail permits, Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets already paid. This refund does not include a bank transfer fee.
b) Cancellation made a month or less prior to the departure date will be considered as a "No Show" and no refund will be given.
c) If the due balance of the Inca Trail is not paid at least 2 days before the trek departure date, Inca Trail Machu will assume that the client wants to cancel the trek and the deposit will not be refunded.
Alternative Treks, Machu Picchu Tours, or Travel Packages (Excluding tailor-made itineraries and mountain climbing programs):
a) Cancellation made at least 1 month prior to the departure date: Inca Trail Machu will refund reduced for entrance fee to Machu Picchu and train tickets already paid.
b) Cancellation made less than 2 days prior to the departure date will be considered as a "No Show" and no refund will be given.
The Ministry of Culture has announced that the entrance tickets to the Inca city of Machu Picchu and to the Inca Trail network that are not going to be used on the date of the visit may be changed for another date and/or a visitor name during the year 2020 without any penalty, as long as there is availability. However, a refund is not possible!
If passengers decide to change the date of the trip as a precaution:
Our standard policy applies. However, we offer a 10% net payment as a credit for bookings 61 or more days before the departure date; or 20% of the net amount paid as credit for bookings 60 days or less before the departure date. This credit can be used for future bookings valid until 2021!
A change can be made as long as there is availability on another date, otherwise, there is no refund
If Peru imposes restrictions on specific citizens or countries, or if the country of passengers imposes travel advice against Peru:
We will give you full credit for rescheduling the reservation, valid until 2021! However, we cannot cover other expenses booked elsewhere, such as flights, land travel arrangements, etc. We cannot provide any financial compensation in these cases.
Seasonal surcharges and/or fees will apply to rescheduling to 2021.
