How to Get to Peru: Flights, Borders & Entry Tips

If you're planning a trip to South America, you're probably wondering how to get to Peru. Whether you're dreaming of visiting Machu Picchu, exploring the Amazon, or wandering through the streets of Cusco and Lima, the first step is figuring out the best way to arrive. With so many options depending on where you're coming from, it can feel a little overwhelming at first.

Peru is a popular destination for travelers from around the world, and getting there isn't as complicated as it may seem. There are several ways to reach the country depending on your budget, travel style, and starting point. Whether you're coming from another country in South America or flying in from across the globe, there are options for every kind of traveler.

Before you book your trip, it's important to understand your choices and what to expect when entering the country. From international airports to overland border crossings, this guide will help you feel more prepared and confident about making your way to Peru.

How to Get to Peru: a Brief Intro

Are you ready to visit Peru? Well, before diving into the different ways to get there from the various destinations around the world, let's go over some basic information that will help you get started.

 Where is Peru Located?

Peru is located in the central part of South America, along the western coast of the continent. It is bordered by Ecuador to its north, Colombia to its north east, Brazil to its east, Bolivia to its south east, and Chile directly at its southern border.

Is Peru a Hard Country to Visit?

Peru is an easy country to visit! It does not require a ton of paperwork, and is one of the most well-connected countries in the Americas. If you plan it right, Peru can actually be extremely affordable to visit, even if it looks far!

What is the Easiest Way to Get to Peru?

The easiest way to get to Peru is to fly. However, you can also visit Peru by crossing various land borders (we did this on our first visit), and you can visit by sea. In this guide we're going to compare all options for getting to Peru, so you can choose which one is right for you.

How to Get to Peru: Comparing the Different Options

So are you ready to learn about how to get to Peru? This part of the guide will go into details about where you can fly from, and how to get there by land and sea from nearby countries.

 How to Get to Peru by Plane

Peru is one of the most well-connected countries in the Americas, with Lima as a major hub for South America. Many flights have stopovers in Lima, and it's often one of the most affordable destinations in the Americas to fly to.

Can You Fly Straight to Peru?

You can fly straight to Peru from a ton of different cities! There are direct flights to Lima from many cities in South America, North America, and Central America, as well as a few in Europe.

What Cities Fly Direct to Peru?

South American cities that fly direct to Peru include Asuncion, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Cali, Cartagena, Cordoba, Curitiba, Guayaquil, Huanuco, Iquitos, La Paz, Medellin, Mendoza, Montevideo, Montreal, Oranjestad, Porto Alegre, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Rosario, Salta, Santa Cruz, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.

Direct flights from North America to Peru include Atlanta, Cancun, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Newark, and Toronto. Cities in the Caribbean and Central America include Havana, Punta Cana, Panama City, San Jose (Costa Rica), San Salvador, 

European cities that fly direct to Peru include Amsterdam, Madrid, and Paris.

Which Airlines Fly to Peru?

Some of the airlines that fly to Peru include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa, Delta, Etihad, Iberia, Jet Airways, KLM, Latam, Spirit Air,  Sky Airline, Turkish Airlines, United, and Wingo.

Latam is the most popular airline servicing Peru, as their headquarters are in Lima, and they have the largest number of flights going in and out of Peru.

Spirit Airlines is the most budget-friendly airline visiting Peru from the US, and you can find flights as low as $150 each way!

Search for a flight to Peru:

How to Get to Peru Without Flying

If you don't want to take a plane, then how do you get to Peru exactly? Well, there are a few different ways! You can either visit by land, or by sea.

Peru is bordered by Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, and you can easily avoid flying by traveling from one of these countries (with the exception of Brazil). Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador have access to Peru via their land borders, and Colombia has access to Peru by sea.

 How to Get to Peru from Bolivia

Peru and Bolivia share one of the most iconic lakes in the world, Lake Titicaca, and if you're looking for how to get to Peru from Bolivia, then stopping at Lake Titicaca is a must!

The most traditional way to get from Bolivia to Peru is by taking a bus from La Paz, Bolivia to Puno, Peru. However, you can also go on a bus from Copacabana, Bolivia to Puno, which will allow you to see both sides of Titicaca, and break up the trip. 

Puno is where you'll find the majority of Lake Titicaca Tours from, and it is a city that is well-connected with other popular destinations in Peru like Cusco and Arequipa.

How to Get to Peru from Chile

Getting from Chile to Peru is one of the most straight-forward options, as there is only one city to travel from in order to cross the border. First you'll need to get to Arica, a city all the way in the north of Chile, and then take a bus/colectivo to Tacna, a city in the south of Peru. 

There is also an international train, which runs twice daily! We didn't know about this when we were doing the crossing, but apparently it is a way more ideal option, despite most foreigners not knowing about it.

How to Get to Peru from Colombia

Due to the Amazon separating Peru and Colombia, Peru is unable to be reached by Colombia via land. However, if you're up for an adventure, you can get to Peru from Colombia by taking a boat.

There are two boats you can take, the slow boat, which takes 2-3 days, or the fast boat which takes about 8-10 hours. The slow boat is the cheaper option, but is a crowded cargo boat, while the fast option is a bit pricier and more comfortable.

Boats leave from the city of Leticia, and arrive into Iquitos, Peru, which is a small port city that is the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon.

How to Get to Peru from Ecuador

Peru and Ecuador also share a large border along the Amazon, so the only way via land is actually in the south of Ecuador into the north of Peru.

Here are the three border crossings from Ecuador to Peru:

• La Tina (Macará, Ecuador – Sullana, Peru) 
• La Balsa (Zumba, Ecuador – San Ignacio, Peru) 

When we were traveling between Ecuador and Peru we took the overnight bus from Chiclayo to Cuenca, which passed through La Tina. Another popular bus route can be Guayaquil to Mancora which another popular route between the two countries.

 How to Get to Peru by Sea

Did you know that you can also visit Peru by sea? There are a few different Peruvian coastal cities that are becoming popular cruise ports, and are visited on various cruise lines.

While we think the best parts of Peru are certainly to be experienced on a dedicated trip, you can experience a taste of Peru by going on South American cruise itineraries, which stop in the following ports:

• Callao (Lima): This is the country's primary international cruise port. It is a modern terminal, and allows visitors to experience a taste of Peru's capital.
• Bahía Miraflores (Lima): This is a new, high-end terminal in the Miraflores district that serves medium-sized ships .
• Pisco (Paracas / Puerto General San Martín): This is the gateway to Paracas National Reserve and Ballestas Islands. 
• Salaverry (Trujillo): This port is located near Trujillo and Chan Chan ruins, and handles large cruise ships.
• Matarani (Arequipa): This south-coast port serves Arequipa and nearby sites

How to Get to Peru: Entry Requirements

Now that you know how to get to Peru, let's look at what you'll need in order to actually enter the country.

How Do I Get Into Peru?

In order to get into Peru, you'll need to have the proper documents. First, you'll need a passport with validity for 6 months beyond your entry date. Second, you'll need to make sure you have a visa if you need one, and third, you'll need to make sure you have the proper vaccinations.

Do You Need a Visa to Go to Peru?

There are a lot of countries that can visit Peru visa-free for up to 90 days! All countries in North and South America can visit without a visa, with the exception of Venezuela. All nationalities from Central America are visa-exempt, and most Caribbean countries as well (with the exception of Cuba, Haiti, and smaller Caribbean territories).

Most European countries can visit visa-free, with the exception of Russia and Belarus. The only country in Africa that doesn't need a visa is South Africa, and the countries that are exempt from Asia include Brunei, Darussalam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Finally, in the Pacific the following nationalities can visit Peru without a visa: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

 What Vaccines are Needed for Peru?

In order to enter Peru, you won't need to show any proof of vaccination. However, the surrounding countries do require proof of the yellow fever vaccine, which you'd also need if visiting the Amazon in Peru.

If you plan on going to the Amazon or other areas with a lot of wildlife or mosquitos, we'd recommend having a rabies vaccine, Tetanus vaccine, and to have plenty of insect repellent with you.

It's important to mention that if you are traveling via land to Bolivia, you'll need physical proof of your yellow fever vaccine!

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

How to Get to Peru: Final Tips & Recap

Now you have all of the options for how to get to Peru and information for visiting for the first time. But before you go, here is a quick recap, as well as some helpful tips for booking your trip.

• You can take overnight buses from surrounding countries to save time and money.
• Don't forget to check for visas, a yellow fever vaccine, and to invest in travel insurance.
• Check availability of bucket list hotels before creating your itinerary.

 What's Next?

Now that you know how to get to Peru, you'll probably want to learn more about visiting this incredible country! Here are some of our other guides that we recommend reading to better help you getting acquainted with this beautiful destination:

 Preventing Altitude Sickness in Peru: Tips for a Healthy Adventure

 The Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Peru

 12 Unbelievably Unique Experiences in Peru

 How to Get Around Peru

 Is it Worth Renting a Car in Peru? A Complete Guide to Driving in Peru

 Must-Try Peruvian Dishes for Travelers: A Complete Food Guide for Peru

 Celebrating New Year's Eve in Cusco: Traditions, Events, & Tips

 A Guide to Machu Picchu's New Ticketing System

35 Essential Peru Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

...and more coming each week!

So are you ready to experience an amazing trip to Peru? We hope our essential Peru travel tips have helped you to organize yourself in the best way possible. Being prepared definitely can be a game-changer when traveling here, and if you do your homework correctly, you'l absolutely love this country!  

Want to learn more about different destinations in Peru? We have a ton of other Peru travel guides, as well as new ones coming up each week. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates on new articles, as well as exclusive content we send out for our readers.

Ready to start planning the most epic trip around Peru? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers customized travel planning services, organizing you affordable flights, unique hotels, and comfortable transportation for the most incredible getaway. Want to learn more? Simply send us an email for a free consultation!

Here are some other articles you'll find helpful: