The Incas once ruled the mystical land of Peru and each year thousands of visitors book their Peru flights to experience the magic for themselves. Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley are among the most visited sites, but beyond these illustrious landmarks is a country blessed with the most spectacular scenery in the region: a stunning 2000-mile coastline and thousands of miles of lush Amazon rainforest that spills into the Atlantic.
Peru flights land in the capital, Lima. The vibrant city provides a good introduction to the country and a base to explore other towns, but a few days is more than enough. On the way to Machu Picchu is the colonial city of Cuzco which is well worth a stop. Incan descendants still live here and examples of colonial art are scattered throughout the stone-walled streets. The town of Aguas Calientes, west of Cuzco, is where tourists catch buses up to legendary Machu Picchu. After exploring the ruins, those in search of even more adventure could head back to Cuzco and take the train to Puno and explore the sacred Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water.
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Peru’s coast rarely sees rain and is usually sunny. The exception is from April to November, when you will probably encounter a heavy sea mist. The highlands’ wet season lasts from October to April, and the dry season from May to September. During the dry season, you’ll have clear and sunny days, but very cold nights, especially in the higher altitudes.
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The Andes divides Peru in two and the Amazon jungle is in the east of the country. It enjoys great variation in temperatures. On the coast, there is a hot and cold season. The hot season extends from the middle of November to the end of March. The cold season runs from the end of April until mid-November. Humidity is high.
Peak Season:
The best time to visit Peru really depends on where you intend to go. The coast, including Lima, is best seen during the summer months (December to March).
For Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, visit between May and September. This is the dry season.
For jungle treks, visit between May and September.
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Several airlines fly domestically including Aerocondor Peru, the country’s oldest airline, which connects 11 cities including Lima, Arequipa and Iquitos.
Star Peru links nine cities including Lima, Trujillo and Chiclayo.
LC Busre flies between Lima and Huanuco, Huaraz, Jauja, Andahuaylas, Atalaya, Ayacucho and Cajamarca.
Peru Rail offers travel to Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and Colca Canyon. There are luxury trains such as the Hiram Bingham, which travels between Cuzco and Machu Picchu, while the Vistadome runs between Cuzco-Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu. Backpacker carriages are for no-frills travellers and are available on the following routes: Cuzco-Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu and Cuzco-Lake Titicaca.
There are several private bus companies offering low-fare service throughout Peru including Ormeno and Cruz del Sur.
Renting a car is easy. Budget and Avis are just two of the most-recognisable companies operating in Peru.
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- Visit the world’s third highest waterfall - Gocta Falls - which is a staggering 771 metres (2,532 feet) high. Located in the in the upper Amazon basin, the waterfall was “discovered” only in the past couple of years.
- Most travellers to Peru book their trip with two places in mind to visit: The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. But the lesser-known jewel is Choquequirao, one of South America’s best-preserved Inca cities, near Cusco. Inca royalty fled to Choquequirao following the Spanish Conquest. Only a third of the site has been excavated so far.
- The San Francisco Monastery and Church (Iglesia de San Francisco) in Lima is an interesting place to visit. Famous for its catacombs, which house the bones of tens of thousands of bodies, the well preserved building was built by the Spanish and dates from the late 1600s.
- Head to Puno, the city on the edge of Lake Titicaca. Inca legend has it that Manco Capac, the first Inca, rose from the lake to establish the Inca Empire. The “folkloric capital of Peru”, Puno, is known for its rich artistic and cultural traditions. It has more than 300 ethnic dances. The most famous dance is the Diablada, which is performed during the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria in February. During this time, the women dance to petition and thank the Virgin Mary. According to 17th-century legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to workers at a local silver mine and later rescued the city from enemies.
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The main airports for travellers taking flights to Peru are:
Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) ten miles northwest of the city centre (travel time – 25 minutes)
Cuzco Airport (CUZ), located in the south, receives flights from La Paz (Bolivia).
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Most visitors from the Americas and Western Europe don’t need a visa to visit the country for up to 90 days, but need a passport valid for six months and proof of a return ticket.
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