Does Peru have COVID-19 travel restrictions?
COVID-19 travel advice
Valentin's Pachamama Journeys is taking every precaution so you can travel safely with us in Peru. Almost all attractions are open, albeit some with restrictions.
All staff members have received two COVID-19 vaccines, and we follow current government guidelines at all times.
For your safety, you'll find we:
• Have antiseptic hand gel and spare face masks available at all times.
• Staff members wear face masks at all times and disinfect hands regularly.
• Take staff and client temperatures daily.
• Disinfect our vehicles' interiors.
• Respect social distancing measures with travelers.
• Run private tours only, reducing contact with other travelers.
Before traveling to Peru
Peru is welcoming double-vaccinated travelers who must fill in a travel affidavit before arrival. We recommend:
• Following up-to-date travel information on the Prom Peru website.
• Consulting your home country's government travel advice before departure (e.g., for United States residents.)
• Checking your travel insurance coverage before travel.
• Completing the Peru travel affidavit.
Please note that all travel advice is subject to change without notice and out of our control.
Will I be affected by high altitude?
How to avoid altitude sickness
Cusco and the Sacred Valley are high altitude regions, with Cusco at an elevation of around 3,400m/11,150ft. Travelers need to acclimatize to high altitudes to avoid acute mountain sickness (AMS) or altitude sickness.
It usually takes two to three days to acclimatize fully to high altitude for people arriving from sea level. Altitude sickness is typically caused by people moving around and behaving as they would at sea level immediately after arriving at high elevations.
If you have any medical conditions, it is recommended that you discuss the effects of altitude with your physician before you come. This is especially true for heart, lung, liver, and blood pressure issues.
Please read our guide on how to avoid altitude sickness and enjoy your Cusco and Sacred Valley vacation to the maximum.
Remember: On our tours, oxygen will be available for you in case of an emergency.
What are altitude sickness symptoms?
The higher the elevation, the lower the air pressure and the less oxygen there is to breathe. Altitude sickness symptoms include:
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or nausea
• Fatigue
• Interrupted sleep
• Accelerated heart rate
Many of these elevation sickness symptoms can be avoided by following some guidelines on arrival.
What are some tips for altitude sickness prevention?
You can take several steps to help avoid the side effects of altitude sickness (AMS). These include:
• Drink lots of liquid on arrival in Cusco, including Coca tea
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat early in the evening and don’t consume large meals
• Take things easy and don’t take part in strenuous activities
• Keep out of the strong Andean sun
If possible, stage your acclimatization by starting at as low an elevation as possible and working to higher heights. Urubamba in the Sacred Valley lies at 2,871m/9,420ft. You will need to acclimatize, but the stresses on your body are not as significant as starting in Cusco at 3,400m/11,150ft.
Remember: You lose your acclimatization after a few days. Even if you have experienced high altitude previously, your body will have to reacclimatize every time you travel to elevation.
Should I take altitude sickness medication?
The best medication for mild AMS is rest. People also take non-aspirin painkillers for any headache. Keep drinking water and coca tea, and symptoms should ease after 24-48 hours.
Some people take altitude sickness medication before arriving at high elevations. The most popular brands are Acetazolamide or Diamox.
These pills may cover some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. Still, they do not prevent the possibility of you getting ill from AMS. Anyone considering taking altitude sickness medication should consult their physician before traveling and ask them for a prescription if they feel medication is appropriate.
People should only take oxygen in emergencies.
Elevation of popular destinations in Cusco and Sacred Valley
Here are the altitudes of some of the Cusco area’s prime attractions:
Sacred Valley: 2,050m-3,000m/6,725ft-9,843ft
Machu Picchu: 2,430m/7,972ft
Cusco: 3,400m/11,150ft
Sacsayhuaman ruins: 3,700m/12,140ft
Dead Woman’s Pass (Inca Trail): 4,215m/13,828ft
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
Best time to visit Cusco
Weather-wise, there are many 'best times to visit Cusco.'
Every season adds something different to Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu’s appeal. You'll have a warm welcome whenever you visit — with good clothes planning you'll be comfortable at all times.
And if you ever do feel a slight chill in the Andes, you can buy yourself some cozy, high-quality alpaca jumpers, hats, and gloves.
June-September: However, most people travel to the region between June and mid-September, Cusco's winter and its driest season. You’ll enjoy many clear days and nights, offering spectacular mountain views and stargazing.
Average daytime temperatures hover around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 degrees Celsius) and nighttime around freezing. Rainfall is less than half an inch for the entire month.
Make sure you plan well ahead for these months to ensure hotel and tour reservations. Festivals like the Festival of the Sun (June) and Pachamama Raymi (August 1) swell numbers.
April, May, and October: ‘Shoulder’ months of May and October help you avoid the busiest season and enjoy great weather.
It hardly rains in May, and April and October each receive around 1.5 inches of rain in the whole month. Daytime temperatures can touch 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) with average night times around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
This is a great time to see a bit of every weather type Cusco has to offer!
November-April: Spring turns into summer, bringing warmer daytime temperatures but a greater risk of rain. There are far fewer tourists so that you can enjoy the attractions away from any crowds. The Inca Trail is closed in February.
There are many colorful festivals in these months, including the Fiesta da Ollantaytambo (January 6), Fiesta da San Sebastian (January 20), and Carnaval and La Virgin de la Candelaria in February.
Afternoon showers are much more frequent from December to March, which receive 4-5 inches of rain monthly.
Note: Mountain areas can experience inclement weather at any time. On treks, nights in remote Andean valleys often experience freezing temperatures.
Are your tours suitable for children?
Absolutely!
Valentin's Pachamama Journeys staff and guides love children.
There are hidden spots that we know that kids love that can be added to any trip.
For example, we can visit a llama and alpaca farm on the way to the Sacred Valley and there are secret stone slides hidden behind the ruins of Sacsayhuaman.
We can vary the pace to suit your children's age, needs, and interests.
What about money?
What about money in and around Cusco?
Peru's official currency is the Peruvian Sol, and it is the most convenient currency to carry with you.
Most hotels and higher-end restaurants accept credit cards, predominantly Visa and Mastercard, although some accept AMEX. Make sure your bank knows you are away and authorizes transactions in Peru.
Ensure any USD bills you bring into Peru are good, clean, new notes, and ideally in denominations of 50 or less.
You will need cash for taxis, markets, and day-to-day purchases. Cusco is full of ATMs, some of which offer both Soles and USD withdrawals. Smaller towns like Ollantaytambo have a limited number of ATMs, but some have none, so cash rules, especially in markets.
It's best to carry any cash you need (souvenirs, meals, tips) for visits to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, and other treks.
In Cusco and some smaller towns, money exchanges called Cambios will change USD, sterling, and Euros for Soles, too. Generally, it is easier to exchange money in one of these shops than going to a bank. Your guide can take you to the Avenida del Sol in Cusco and help you find a safe and reputable place to exchange your money.
You'll see lots of shops and restaurants advertising USD prices as well as in Peruvian Soles. Some establishments and market traders will accept USD cash, but you'll have to check in advance, and you may pay a little more overall.
Any staff or restaurant tips should be in cash.
Before traveling to Peru, remember to check your bank's fees for ATM withdrawals and payments by credit card.
Note: Traveler's cheques are now almost impossible to change.
Will I have access to WiFi?
Most hotels and many restaurants offer free WiFi, although sometimes service can be slow.
If you have an international plan on US carriers such as Verizon or ATT, you can use this to text and access the internet in Cusco. Reception in the Sacred Valley can be spotty and is more reliable closer to towns and cities.
You can buy a local Peruvian SIM if you want to make lots of local calls, or prepaid internet access.
There is no cell reception, no matter which SIM you have, on treks such as Rainbow Mountain or the Inca Trail.
Are Cusco and the Sacred Valley LGBTIQ+ friendly?
Valentin's Pachamama Journeys is committed to treating all customers with the utmost kindness and respect. We welcome LGBTIQ+ travelers.
Peru, especially in remote areas, is changing yet still a reasonably conservative country. Foreign travelers are given more leeway than locals but note that public displays of affection are uncommon.
Tinder and Grindr can help people connect with the local scene.
The Andean rainbow flag is frequently seen in the Cusco region. However, it's not a gay pride flag but the flag of the Inca Empire.
What is your cancellation policy?
We have different cancellation policies depending on which tour you have booked with us.
For day tours in Cusco and the Sacred Valley where we have not booked your hotel, we will refund your deposit 100% (minus the 5.5% fee that Paypal charges us) if you cancel within 7 days.
If we have booked your hotel, we will make every effort to get back your money. Still, we cannot promise to return your money 100% as the cancellation policies of individual hotels may vary.
For tours that involve trips or trekking to Machu Picchu, your deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. We have used your deposit to purchase train tickets, entrance fees, and permits for the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail authorities and train company conditions state all permits, tickets, and entrance fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
We would love to be able to return your money but, unfortunately, it would be a 100% loss for us.
What are the entrance rules for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu?
Inca Trail and Machu Picchu: Permits and entrance fees
The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu ruins are back open and welcoming guests.
Entrance rules are similar to before. One significant change is a reduction in entrance tickets to every aspect of Machu Picchu and the treks.
You can still enjoy a wonderful trip — but you need to plan well in advance.
Inca Trail Permits
Inca Trail permits are back on sale — once again, you can trek Peru's most famous hike and enjoy a tour of Machu Picchu.
The rules are similar to before:
• You must buy your permit from an authorized Cusco tour operator like Valentin’s Pachamama Journeys.
• Trekkers still need to show their permit and original passport with which the permit was bought.
• Spaces are limited and sell out on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Advance planning and purchase are vital.
• The Inca Trail is closed in February, as previously, for cleaning and maintenance.
Forward plan your trip
There are now just 250 daily permits available for the 4 or 5-day Inca Trail, half the previous amount. This lower number makes social distancing easier at campsites, on the trail, and at Machu Picchu.
Scarcity means we will most likely need to buy permits for peak travel months (May to September) some 6-9 months in advance and 4-6 months at all other times.
The shorter, 2-day Inca Trail has a reduced 150-permit limit. Demand is not as great for this trek, but we still expect it to sell out many weeks and even months in advance.
The 2022 permits should be available for sale from October 2021 onwards.
Entry to Machu Picchu Ruins
Machu Picchu National Park is open daily from 06.00 am to 5.30 pm.
Visitors must have an entry ticket booked in advance. There are nine entry times every hour, with the first at 06.00 am and the last between 2 pm and 3 pm.
Your first visit must with an official guide, and there are three circuits to follow. You cannot reenter the ruins on the same ticket.
People wishing to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain must buy the relevant — and also limited — permit in advance. You don’t have to hike either peak with a guide.
These treks have three specific entry times: 06.00 am, 07.00 am, and 08.00 am.
Get in touch
Valentin’s Pachamama Journeys can help with all these arrangements, Inca Trail permits, Machu Picchu entry fees, trains, hotels, and so on. Contact us, and we ensure you only need to worry about enjoying your visit to Peru.
Important: Please note that all information is subject to change without notice because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
