Peru Travel Guides & Practical Trip Planning Resources
Planning a trip to Peru involves more than just booking flights. From navigating the new terminal at Lima Airport to altitude preparation in Cusco, explore our comprehensive Peru travel guides, practical logistics tips, and essential checklists below.
The single biggest myth keeping older travelers from visiting Peru is the belief that you must be a seasoned hiker to reach Machu Picchu. The reality is that the vast majority of visitors (including local Peruvians) reach the sanctuary using seamless scenic trains and buses without doing any hiking whatsoever. Machu Picchu is not only … Read more
If you’re flying in or out of Lima, Peru, you’ll probably pass through the brand-new terminal at Jorge Chavez International Airport, which opened in June 2025. It’s bright, modern, and surprisingly easy to navigate – once you know where to look. Whether you’re wrapping up your Peru adventure or just starting it, a little insider … Read more
Planning a family vacation can be exciting, but it also comes with plenty of questions. Is Cusco a good destination for children? Can young travelers enjoy Machu Picchu? Are there activities that the whole family will love? The good news is that the answer is yes to all of those questions! Traveling to Peru with … Read more
Choosing the right hotel can make a major difference during your Peru travel experience. Peru offers a wide variety of hotels, from modern city properties to luxury mountain retreats near Machu Picchu. Whether you’re visiting Lima, the Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, or Cusco, selecting a hotel with a good location and reliable service helps make … Read more
Traveling through Peru as a vegetarian is much easier today than it was a few years ago. In popular destinations such as Cusco and Aguas Calientes, travelers can now find restaurants that specialize in plant-based meals and fresh ingredients. If you are wondering what to eat in Cusco or where to find reliable vegetarian food … Read more
Visiting Machu Picchu requires following strict regulations established by Peruvian authorities to protect the site and control visitor flow. These rules are officially defined by the Ministry of Culture and are also printed on entrance tickets. If you’re planning your Machu Picchu tours as part of a Peru travel itinerary, it’s important to understand these … Read more
When traveling through Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you’ll notice many creative ways to collect memories – photos, artisan souvenirs, and sometimes even passport stamps offered near attractions. In recent years, some travelers on Cusco tours have started collecting these souvenir passport stamps from Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain as fun keepsakes. They’re colorful, unique, … Read more
Many travelers ask if it’s better to start their Peru trip in the Sacred Valley of Peru before exploring Cusco and Machu Picchu. The reason? The Cusco altitude can be quite a change for those arriving from sea level, while the valley is a bit lower – and often feels easier on the body. Understanding … Read more
**This information is up to date as of May 24, 2026 but is constantly changing. We’re not responsible for subsequent changes to daily capacities, ticket availability, circuit rules, or modifications to the official government booking policies. We know that some travelers arrive in Cusco excited to visit Machu Picchu, only to find out that Machu … Read more
Traveling can be exciting but also stressful, especially when you arrive at a brand-new terminal and need to get online quickly. Many travelers wonder: “Does the Lima Airport have WiFi?” The good news is yes – it does! The new Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima offers free WiFi, making it easier to message family, … Read more
At Peru Travel With Purpose, we know that getting to your destination smoothly is key to starting your trip off right. That’s why we’ve put together this detailed guide to help you catch an Uber from Lima’s new Jorge Chávez International Airport to Miraflores, Lima’s vibrant tourist hub. If you’re wondering how to get from … Read more
Visiting Machu Picchu is one of those bucket-list experiences that truly lives up to the hype. Sitting high in the Peruvian Andes, this ancient Incan city draws travelers from all over the world. While it’s open year-round, the month you choose to visit can seriously shape your experience—especially in 2025, when travel trends, weather, and … Read more
Let Us Design a Seamless Peru Journey Around Your Purpose
Every traveler’s vision for Peru is unique. Whether you are traveling as a couple, family, or group of friends, we design 100% private, handcrafted itineraries built around your pace, travel style, and goals—handling every logistic from touchdown to departure.
Custom Pacing & Beating the Crowds: Private schedules that let you adjust comfortably to high altitudes and experience iconic sights outside the busiest peak hours.
Dedicated English-Speaking Point of Contact: Direct, speedy communication before and throughout your entire trip with a Canadian expat and dual citizen living in Peru.
Local Peruvian & Expat Leadership: A balanced approach combining deep local heritage and insider connections with North American travel standards.
Travel That Gives Back: Fulfilling your dream trip also fulfills our purpose – all profits stay in Peru, directly supporting local community youth through Jóvenes con Propósito.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR PERU TREKS & TOURS
“Travel with Purpose" is the Real Deal - I have waited 50 years to see Machu Picchu. Thanks to Jacob Diaz and Sam at Travel with Purpose Peru, the reality exceeded my expectations!
The Booking Experience:
We... read more were initially unsure about the need for a guide since we had already independently booked our own accommodation and some travel.
But we had a few questions about how to link it all together to make it flow smoothly - we didn’t have time to muck about with connections.
The team at Travel with Purpose provided so much helpful information willingly—with no expectation of us spending money—that we were convinced of their commitment to ensuring travelers have a great experience in Peru. We decided we wanted to take them on as a private guide. And I’m so glad we did. They patched our itinerary together perfectly and they respected our independent arrangements. Nothing was too much trouble and their English was amazing. They made our time in Cusco and surrounds memorable and fun while fitting lots into each day that would have been impossible on our own. To top it off we made some great friends too!
The Journey:
Day 1 was a tour of the Sacred Valley and all the sites.
Mid afternoon, Jacob then coordinated our transition onto the Vistadome train at Ollantaytambo to Agues Calientes where we stayed the night.
Our driver, Mario, was a standout. Roads in the area were severely pot-holed from the wet season, with some steep, narrow, and windy dirt sections. Mario and his vehicle were excellent—he was careful and considerate and the car was spacious and clean making long road trips feel surprisingly comfortable.
Heads up: The drive can be very slow at times due to traffic and road conditions.
Day 2 - at 5am we queued to get our tickets to enter MP the following day. The remainder of the day was relatively quiet (at our request).
Day 3 - we were up early bound for Machu Picchu.
Once we got to MP, Jacob knew where to go and how long to pause at certain points which meant we avoided the crowds. His knowledge of the Inca and Machu Picchu is extensive, delivered in a friendly conversational style that welcomes questions. His English is very good and, added bonus, he is a great photographer too! We have special memories of the whole experience.
If you want a team that brings 'extraordinary' depth and zero-stress logistics to your lifelong dream, ask for Jacob and Mario.
The added bonus of a personal guide is the friendships you can create. On his day off, Jacob chose to take on the role of driver and took us to the airport. It was such a wonderful surprise to be greeted by his smiling face at 5am in the morning and left us feeling like we had friends in Peru.
Dan P May 7, 2026
Machu Pichu Trip - We booked our Machu Picchu trip through Peru Travel with Purpose, and the entire experience was exceptional.
Several team members supported us throughout the journey, and everyone was fantastic.... read more Sam managed all of our bookings and was extremely responsive and organized. Reaching Machu Picchu involves coordinating many details—transportation to the train station, train tickets, hotels in Aguas Calientes, bus transfers, and Machu Picchu circuit tickets—and Sam and her team handled everything seamlessly.
Mario assisted with all ground transportation and was a pleasure to work with—professional, reliable, and very accommodating.
Our guide, Jamie David, was with us for three days, guiding us through Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. He was incredibly patient, never rushed us at any site, and was especially helpful and attentive with our kids during the climbs.
We highly recommend Peru Travel with Purpose for anyone planning travel in Cusco or to Machu Picchu.
Chirag M January 5, 2026
Awesome tour - Great tour with Jaime the tour guide who was very informative and friendly. Prompt collection from our hotel and excellent service well done.
Robert P October 20, 2025
Inca trail and sacred valley tour - Good experience would recommend
Anushka K May 17, 2026
Excellent trip. Well-planned out! - Travel With Purpose did a fantastic job of planning every detail of our trip in Peru! Everything from transportation and hotel accommodations to guides at Machu Picchu and lunch while... read more in remote villages was carefully thought out. No detail was left undone. Jacob and Sam did an excellent job making sure our group was well-cared for during our trip.
4foodies2016 September 17, 2026
Peru Travel with purpose is top tear for a great value - This agency was working with me sending emails back and forth months in advance to make this trip truly perfect for my elderly mother and I.
Samantha made sure... read more that this trip would be perfect for my mothers mobility by picking the perfect circuit and guide Jacob who spoke bother English and Spanish, he was so knowledgeable, kind and more than helpful with bags and tips for just about anything we needed. We are considering to go back with more family members just to because the trip was so beautiful.
manuel m September 13, 2026
Amazing people, amazing trip! - Our experience with Travel With Purpose in Cusco was truly exceptional, and it’s entirely because of the incredible people who made this trip so memorable. First, we have to talk... read more about our main tour guide, Jacob Diaz, who was absolutely AMAZING. He explained everything so clearly and thoughtfully that even my preteen and teenage kids were fully engaged and able to understand. He used pictures, made everything interactive, and brought so much energy to every tour. What stood out the most was how cooperative and considerate he was especially with early mornings and adjusting to how we were feeling day-to-day. He made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. We genuinely could not have asked for a better guide and would 100% recommend him to anyone!
We also did a 6-hour Inka Trail hike with another guide, Gran Beker, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The hike was definitely challenging, but it was completely worth it. That said, we truly couldn’t have done it without him. He was incredible with the kids, constantly uplifting and encouraging us, which made such a difference in keeping everyone motivated. We needed quite a few breaks in the first half, and he was nothing but patient and understanding. He even carried our lunches the entire way and then gave us an amazing tour of Machu Picchu at the end. He completely elevated the experience for our whole family.
Samantha also deserves a huge thank you! This was a very complicated trip to plan, but she was there for us every step of the way. Her support made the entire process so much easier, and everything was executed perfectly according to plan. That level of organization and reliability made a huge difference.
And last but definitely not least, our driver Mario was outstanding. He is genuinely one of the most skilled drivers I’ve ever seen. When we visited the salt mines, we were driving along the edge of a cliff, and he maneuvered the van with such ease and confidence it was INCREDIBLY reassuring. The car itself was very comfortable, which was perfect for longer drives since the kids could rest easily. He even had blankets for the colder mornings, which was such a thoughtful touch. And to top it all off, his playlist was amazing!
Overall, this team made our experience surreal. Every single person we interacted with went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and enjoying every moment. Travel With Purpose is an amazing company, and we would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Cusco!
Sightsee49897266172 April 4, 2026
Fun, professional tour guide! - Jacob was very knowledgeable and fun! He has been in this tour hundreds of times and his English is perfect. He has his own travel company and is truly an... read more expert. He is also an amazing photographer for the group!
Julie L March 27, 2026
Immersed in ancient wisdom and wonder - Jacob supported a group of 25 friends in exploring Peru’s ancient archaeological sites. Although we were a big group that could have easily gotten distracted, Jacob’s use of story and... read more diligence in speaking to the true history of the places we visited kept us hooked. I left feeling so much wonder, beauty and awe for the genius of the ancient Inca’s, their culture, their relationship to the sun and sky, and also big grief around colonization, and separation that Western society has in relationship with nature. It is so clear that serving as a guide is life work for Jacob, as he is actively studying the Quechua language and stitching together history for all who are curious to learn. I will always remember his signature callback: “Family!” and can’t wait to return for more learning. Thank you!
Also I am not a super active poster on social media but for those who are, he is SO good at taking photos, videos, for reels and other ways you want to share this experience!