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IN LAND TRAVEL GUIDE

View South America

In-Destination Perú Travel Guide

Welcome!
This guide, thoughtfully curated by the View South America team, is designed to accompany you throughout your stay. Inside, you’ll find essential travel info, handpicked local recommendations, and practical tips to help you make the most of your time in Lima and Cusco. We hope it enriches your experience and helps you discover the very best Peru has to offer.

Essential Travel Information

TopicDetails
Time ZoneGMT -5 (no daylight saving time (DST))
CurrencyPeruvian Sol (PEN). Carry some cash for small purchases and tips.
TippingAround 10% at restaurants; optional for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
Electricity220V – Plug types A and C 
LanguageSpanish (English spoken in tourist areas)
Emergency105 (Police), 116 (Fire Department), 911 (General Emergency)

Lima – Recommendations and Insider Tips

Lima – The Coastal Capital – Recommendations

Must-See Attractions:

  • Miraflores: Home to the Malecón (oceanfront walkway), Larcomar shopping center, and parks.
  • Historic Center of Lima: Visit the Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral, and Government Palace.
  • Barranco: A bohemian district known for art galleries, street murals, and nightlife.

Lima – Shopping & Design

  • Dédalo: A beautifully curated concept gallery featuring Peruvian crafts, home décor, jewelry, and art in a charming colonial house with a café garden.
  • Las Pallas: A hidden gem offering high-quality traditional folk art from all over Peru, curated by expert collector Mari Solari.

Food & Drink:

  • Ceviche: Try at La Mar or El Mercado.
  • Pisco Sour: The national cocktail, best enjoyed with ocean views.
  • Fine Dining: Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gastón, Mayta
    Local Tips:
    Tap water is not potable—drink bottled water.
  • Traffic can be heavy; allow extra time for transfers

Food & Drink:

Ceviche: Try at La Mar or El Mercado.

Pisco Sour: The national cocktail, best enjoyed with ocean views.

Fine Dining: Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gastón, Mayta
Local Tips:
Tap water is not potable—drink bottled water.

Traffic can be heavy; allow extra time for transfers

Concept Stores – Barranco & Miraflores

  • Puna: A stylish boutique blending Peruvian identity with global trends—find fashion, books, homewares, and quirky gifts.
  • Morphology: A sleek concept store focused on minimalist home décor and local designer pieces, celebrating modern Peruvian design.

Practical & Safety Tips

  • Arrival at the airport: Avoid hailing random taxis outside the terminal. Instead, use the Uber app or organize your stress-free pick up with your travel planner.
  • Plan Ahead for Traffic: Lima traffic can be unpredictable, especially during rush hours. Always allow extra time for travel between neighborhoods or to the airport.
  • ATMs & Banks: Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centers for added security and during business hours to avoid theft and fraud.
  • Currency Exchange: Only exchange money at official casas de cambio or banks—avoid street exchangers.
  • Carry Cash: While many places accept cards, it’s best to carry cash—especially for taxis, street vendors, and local markets.
  • Dress in Layers: Lima’s coastal weather is often humid and overcast, especially from May to November. Light layers will keep you comfortable throughout the day.

Food & Water

  • Try the Ceviche (at Lunch): It’s freshest earlier in the day. Top spots include La Mar and El Mercado.
  • Drink Bottled Water: Avoid tap water—even for brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach.
  • Street Food: It’s part of the culture, but choose vendors that are busy (a good sign of freshness and quality).

Connectivity

  • Buy a Local SIM Card: Claro and Movistar offer prepaid SIMs at low cost—ideal for longer stays.
  • Wi-Fi: Most hotels, cafés, and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, but signal strength can vary.

Safety & Etiquette

  • Stay Alert: Lima is generally safe in tourist areas, but be cautious with your phone and valuables in crowded places.
  • Don’t Flash Valuables: Keep cameras, phones, and jewelry low-profile in public.
  • Tipping: Not always expected, but appreciated—around 10% at restaurants is customary.

Safe Areas for Going Out at Night

  • Miraflores: Very popular with tourists. Well-lit, lots of restaurants, bars, and clubs. Larcomar (the cliffside mall) is a safe and scenic spot for dinner or drinks.
  • Barranco: Lima’s bohemian district, known for art, live music, and cool bars. Very walkable and a favorite for a night out.
  • San Isidro: More upscale and business-oriented, but has good restaurants and some lounges.

Areas to Avoid at Night

  • Downtown Lima (Centro Histórico): While beautiful by day, it’s best visited during daylight. Some parts become quiet and less secure at night.
  • Unfamiliar neighborhoods or poorly lit streets, especially those away from main avenues.

Safety Tips

  • Use Uber or Cabify, especially after dark—avoid flagging street taxis.
  • Stay in groups if possible, and avoid walking alone late at night in quiet areas.
  • Keep your phone and valuables out of sight in public.
  • Stick to known restaurants, bars, or venues recommended by locals or your hotel.

Cusco – Recommendations and Insider Tips

Top Attractions

  • Plaza de Armas: The heart of Cusco, surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings, the Cusco Cathedral, and La Compañía de Jesús.
  • Sacsayhuamán: Impressive Inca fortress ruins with panoramic views of Cusco—visit at sunset if possible.
  • Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): A sacred Inca temple later transformed by the Spanish into the Santo Domingo Church—a powerful symbol of Peru’s layered history.

San Blas District: A charming artsy neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, local workshops, and great coffee shops.

Where to Eat & Drink

  • Mauka Restaurant – inside Belmond Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco, offers a refined dining experience led by acclaimed chef Pía León. Showcasing rare Andean ingredients and modern Peruvian cuisine, Mauka blends sustainability with elegance in every dish.
  • El Tupay Restaurant – located in the Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, offers elegant dining in a former 17th-century seminary. Known for its gourmet Peruvian and international cuisine, extensive wine list, and romantic ambiance, El Tupay also features live opera nights three times a week—making it one of Cusco’s most refined and memorable dining experiences.
  • OQRE Restaurant – in the Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, showcases regional Peruvian cuisine curated by chef Jorge Muñoz. Highlighting seasonal ingredients from the coast, Andes, and jungle, OQRE offers elegant dining in a serene courtyard setting, with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Map Café –  set inside the Museo de Arte Precolombino in Cusco, offers a stylish dining experience in a glass-enclosed space. Known for its innovative take on traditional Peruvian cuisine, it combines regional ingredients with modern techniques in an elegant, intimate setting
  • Cicciolina Restaurant  – near Plaza de Armas, offers a warm atmosphere with a vibrant tapas bar and an intimate dining room. Its menu blends Italian, Mediterranean, and Peruvian flavors, featuring dishes like quinoa prawns and pumpkin ravioli. Reservations are recommended.

Best Places to Shop Artisan Goods

  • Kuna
    offers luxury alpaca and vicuña products like scarves, clothing, and blankets. Known for premium quality and traditional craftsmanship with a modern touch, Kuna supports ethical sourcing and local artisans. Their boutique is usually near Plaza de Armas or in upscale areas.
  • Alpaca International
    Offers original designs, including the versatile Frida cardigan and Suri cape made with baby alpaca.
  • San Blas Neighborhood
    Known for artisan workshops and galleries showcasing local artists and craftspeople. Ideal for unique jewelry, ceramics, and paintings.
  • Inka Treasure Jewelry Store
    Offers high-quality silver and gold jewelry
  •  Ilaria Jewlery, Offers fine silver 
  • Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco
    Craft center with demonstrations of local weaving traditions, plus colorful textiles for sale.
  • Art galleries and silver jewelry in San Blas (Hilario Mendivil, Hilo)
  • San Pedro Market
    offers budget-friendly handicrafts, but they are often low in quality.
  • Centro Artesanal Cuscooffers budget-friendly handicrafts, but they are often low in quality.

Practical Tips for Peru

  • Altitude:
    Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated—avoid alcohol and caffeine at first.
  • Coca tea (mate de coca) is a traditional herbal tea widely used to ease altitude sickness symptoms, Munay tea can also give relief, ginger is great either chewing or in a tea
  • Light, easy-to-digest meals like soups, broths, and steamed vegetables are gentle on your stomach.
  • Include local foods rich in iron and vitamins, such as quinoa, potatoes, and corn.
    Avoid heavy, greasy, or salty foods early on to prevent discomfort.
  • Weather: Nights can be chilly, especially in the dry season, but it rarely drops below freezing. Dressing in layers is key to staying comfortable! During the day you could experience the hot sun so use sunscreen and a hat.

Safety and Cultural Etiquette in Peru

  • Avoid displaying valuables in public, especially in busy markets.
  • Use registered taxis or transport arranged by View for safe travel.
  • Always ask permission before photographing in sacred or rural areas.
  • Show respect when visiting temples, archaeological sites, and indigenous communities.
  • Currency Exchange: Only exchange money at official casas de cambio or banks—avoid street exchangers.

Where to Use ATMs Safely in Cusco

  • Inside Banks or Malls: Opt for ATMs located within bank branches during business hours, shopping malls, or pharmacies. These locations are typically monitored by security cameras and are safer than standalone machines on the street.
  • Avoid Isolated ATMs: Refrain from using ATMs in secluded areas or at night. If you must use an outdoor ATM, ensure it’s well-lit and has a visible security presence.

ATM Fees and Withdrawal Limits

  • Fees: Expect to pay between $4 and $10 USD per withdrawal at Peruvian ATMs. Additionally, your home bank may charge its own international transaction fees.
  • Withdrawal Limits: Per transaction limits typically range from S/400 to S/700. If you need more cash, you can perform multiple transactions or use ATMs from different banks.

 Safety Tips for Using ATMs

  • Inspect the ATM: Before inserting your card, check for any unusual attachments or devices that could be skimming your information.
  • Shield Your PIN: Always cover the keypad with your hand while entering your PIN to prevent prying eyes.
  • Withdraw During Daylight: Use ATMs during daylight hours when there are more people around, reducing the risk of theft. 
  • Keep Receipts: Retain your ATM receipts and monitor your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions.

Basic Greetings

  • Hola — Hello
  • Buenos días — Good morning
  • Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
  • Buenas noches — Good evening / Good night
  • ¿Cómo está? — How are you? (formal)
  • ¿Qué tal? / ¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (informal)

Polite Expressions

  • Por favor — Please
  • Gracias — Thank you
  • Muchas gracias — Thank you very much
  • De nada — You’re welcome
  • Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry

Essential Questions

  • ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
  • ¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
  • No entiendo — I don’t understand
  • ¿Puede ayudarme? — Can you help me?

Travel & Directions

  • ¿Dónde está…? — Where is…?
  • ¿Cómo llego a…? — How do I get to…?
  • Estoy perdido/a — I’m lost
  • Una mesa para [dos], por favor — A table for [two], please

Shopping & Money

  • ¿Aceptan tarjeta? — Do you accept credit cards?
  • Solo efectivo — Cash only
  • ¿Me puede dar un descuento? — Can you give me a discount?

Health & Emergencies

  • Necesito un médico — I need a doctor
  • Estoy enfermo/a — I’m sick
  • Llama a la policía — Call the police

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