Traveling to PERU

We’re so excited you’re coming!

For many of you, it’ll be your first time in Peru—so here’s a quick guide to help you have the best time!

WELCOME TO PERU!

One of our favorite places on Earth and our other home!
It’s a country full of wonder: Machu Picchu, amazing food, rich history, vibrant cities, and yes... so many adorable alpacas. From the cliffs of Lima to the peaks of the Andes to the wild Amazon jungle, it’s breathtakingly diverse.
Over 31 million people live here — and more than 11 million live in Lima, where we’ll be during the wedding week. It’s a city full of contrasts: colonial streets and modern rooftop bars, jungle fruits and Nikkei cuisine, ocean breezes and mountain views.
We truly can’t wait to share this special place with the people we love most!

Quick Info:

Language: Spanish
Currency: Soles (PEN)
Time Zone: Central Time
Outlets: Type A/B (same as US)
Water: Stick to bottled
Lima Weather: 65°–75°F — we love December weather in Lima. Warm, breezy, and just perfect.
Tipping: Only expected at nicer restaurants…and becoming more commonly expected of travelers, 10% is appreciated.
Water: Stick to bottled water
Safety Tip: Use Uber or Cabify, and keep valuables secure — Miraflores is safe but don’t forget Lima is a big city!

Getting to Lima

You’ll fly into Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). From there, it’s about 30–45 minutes to Miraflores, where most guests are staying (and where all the action is!). All international flights arrive here, and it's also your hub for domestic travel to destinations like Cusco, Arequipa and other Peruvian cities.

Uber/taxi rides usually costs around $25 from the airport to Miraflores. Cabify, is also a safe and reliable ride share option.

✈️ Delta, American Airlines, Copa, and LATAM are good airline options.

Check your Flight

Pro Airport Tips from Us:

No visa needed for U.S. citizens — just make sure your passport is valid for 6+ months
Free WiFi inside the airport so great if you need to book an Uber
You can exchange currency at the airport, but you’ll get better rates in the city.
Airport food is good if you’re hungry. Our personal favorite: Tanta and La Lucha.

Things to Do in Lima

Our Favorites Places:

MIRAFLORES: Your home base!

Kennedy Park: Cats. Everywhere. Grab a picarón (Peruvian doughnut), watch street performers, and hang with the friendliest felines ever.

Larcomar: A mall built into a cliff (yes, really) with views of the Pacific and plenty of food/shopping options. Please, go to one of our favorite restaurants (Mangos) during sunset hours, you’ll love it!
Malecón: Danny’s favorite running path in the world. It’s a cliffside boardwalk that stretches for miles. Go for a sunset walk, stop at Parque del Amor, and get coffee at Buena Vista Café — one of our must-dos.

You’ll be based in Miraflores, our favorite part of Lima — and the heart of the celebration! Here’s where we love to go (and what we think you’ll love too).

BARRANCO: The artsy, boho neighbor next door

Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) – Romantic and charming. Legend says if you hold your breath while crossing, your wish comes true…
MAC & street art – We spent whole afternoons just wandering and immersing ourselves in the colorful, creative, and full of energy streets.
Nightlife – If you’re looking for cocktails and music, this is the place to go out. Try all kinds of Piscos in Ayahuasca- 100% recommended.

HISTORIC LIMA: A quick taxi or Uber ride away, and it feels like stepping into another time.

Plaza Mayor: The heart of the city — full of beautiful colonial buildings, colorful balconies, and a whole lot of history.
San Francisco Monastery & Catacombs: Creepy but fascinating.
Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores: Don’t feel like braving downtown traffic? Stay local and visit this pre-Incan pyramid right here in Miraflores. Even better — book a table at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant and have dinner with the ruins glowing in the background. Pure magic.

Visiting Machu Picchu

Cusco: This is arguably the best city in Peru to visit. It is the ancient Incan capital and is located in the Andes mountains. It has beautiful architecture, sites, history, and culture. Cusco is the heart of Peru and also the city you need to start from if going to Machu Picchu. Cusco sits 11,152 feet above sea level (almost 2x Denver,CO). It is recommended to have a full day to climatize and rest when arriving. Bringing diamox (talk to your doc) as a backup plan for altitude sickness may be a good idea.

Machu Picchu: One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. It is ancient ruins sometimes referred to as the lost Inca city and by far the most popular tourist attraction in the country and one of the most popular in all Latino America.

Getting to Machu Picchu is no easy feat as it is tucked away in the Andes mountain and for this reason was only "discovered" about 100 years ago.

To get to Machu Pichu you will need to fly 1.5 hours from Lima to the Mountain city of Cusco (our favorite Peruvian city). There it is recommended to climatize for one day. From Cusco you will take a bus to Ollantaytambo (also a cool place) and then take a train to the town of Aguas Calientes at the bottom of Machu Picchu. From there you can take a shuttle up or hike if you are up to it. Machu Picchu can be done from Cusco in two days or one day of about 15 hours.

You need to buy tickets to get into Machu Picchu in advance. Recommended ~2 months in advance.

What to Book in Advance for Machu Picchu

There are multiple ways to experience Machu Picchu — whether you're up for a multi-day hike or just want to do a full-day visit. Regardless of how you go, there are three key tickets you’ll want to book before flying to Cusco to make your journey smooth and stress-free:

Train Tickets to Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes (also known as “Machu Picchu Pueblo”) is the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
There are two official train companies: Peru Rail and Inca Rail

We recommend booking your train in advance, ideally at the same time as your entrance ticket.

2. Entrance Tickets to Machu Picchu

Buy your tickets directly from the official government website: Tu Boleto

The site is only in Spanish, so it helps to use a browser with auto-translate.
Tickets are date- and time-specific and often sell out, especially for popular time slots and hiking routes.
Booking early ensures you get your preferred time and access route (e.g., Machu Picchu Circuit 1, Huayna Picchu, etc.).

3. Bus Tickets (Aguas Calientes ↔ Machu Picchu)

Shuttle buses take you from Aguas Calientes up to the Machu Picchu entrance (about a 25-minute ride).

You can buy tickets online or in person in Aguas Calientes (recommended 1–2 days in advance).
Buses run every 5–10 minutes starting around 5:30 AM.

Official site: Consettur

More tips and recommendation to come!

Peru’s Star Products

Potatoes

Peru invented potatoes! 4,000+ varieties in rainbow colors. Try the french fries made with papa canchán or smash potatoes with papa amarilla - The Best!
Coffee

Peru grows amazing coffee at 4,000+ feet elevation! Smooth, chocolatey flavor with fruity notes.
We used to go to Puku Puku - try their cortado or ask for Villa Rica beans!
Alpaca

Luxury wool warmer than cashmere from adorable animals from the Andes. Check out Alpaca 111 in Larco for great prices and quality!
Ceviche

Peru's iconic "cooked" fish dish - fresh, zesty, and just perfect! There are tones of good ceviches in Lima but our favorites are La Mar, Mangos, and Canta Rana.
Pisco Sour

Our national cocktail - the perfect welcome drink to watch a sunset. Joselyn’s favorite are in Cala and Ayahuasca.
Nikkei and Chifa

Peru's incredible fusion cuisines you must try!
Nikkei = Japanese-Peruvian (try Osaka for amazing sushi with Peruvian twists)
Chifa = Chinese-Peruvian (try Madam Tusan or any neighborhood chifa for the best fried rice!)