Peru travel : What you need to reach Peru!

Visa...

To reach Peru first factor is Visa, but good thing is that you don't need visa if you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below. Look at the list below. It is a big list, I hope you are within  this list.

EU countries, Australia, Canada, USA and Japan and Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (FS), Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City and Venezuela citizens do not require tourist visa and stay up to 90 days.

If you are not in this list you have to apply to the embassy to get the visa. You need to provide the following documents to get a valid visa.

Valid passport
Evidence of departure arrangements from Peru
2 color passport-size photos
Proof of financial solvency
2 completed application forms

Usually you may get visa in 24 hours. (Click here for the list of Embassy of Peru in different countries.) I have tried to provide website address and email address of the embassies.

Travel arrangement ...

By air..

If you come from outside Peru you will certainly land at Jorge Chavez International Airport at Lima. This airport is very close to the busy city area. You may reach center of the city within half an hour from there. Also you can reach most of the cheap hotels in half an hour from the airport. There is a US$28 airfare departure tax from Jorge Chavez International Airport and a US$5 airport ticket fee for domestic flights within Peru.

By road..

If you are reaching Peru by road, you will enter Peru  via Tumbes in Ecuador, Puno in Bolivia or Tacna in Chile. If you decide to travel by car and you want to drive yourself, then you should know that traffic jam is very common in Lima and also driving is very tough there..

Living Cost..

Staying Peru is cheap. With $ 25.00 a day you can easily pass your days in Peru and still you may get good food and comfortable hotels. Taxi is cheap here and taxi drivers do not expect tips. But you have to know the fair beforehand, otherwise they may take as much as they can( not always though). 

Attractions in Lima..

Lima is the starting point of Peru if you want to explore this country. If you are interested to go to Machu Picchu, you may have to stay a night in Lime or may be few hours. Anyway I will suggest you to stay around Plaza de Armas or Main Square. From this place you can travel any where.

Lima's grand Plaza de Armas  or Main Square, is  the original center of the city. The is the place where Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535. You can also visit some other places like  the Puente de Piedra - a 17th century stone bridge, Barrio Chino, the largest Chinese community in South America (200,000 plus) ,Colonial Church Roundup ,Casa Riva-Agüero. All these places are close to Main square.

Hotels at Lima...

You will find all sorts of hotels in Lima. It has lots of 5 star and luxury hotels, at the same time you may find very cheap hotels.

Five Star Hotels in Lima..

Melia Lima,  Av Salaberry 2599, Lima 65017

Miraflores Park Hotel,  Ave Malecon de la Reserva 1035, Lima 18

Plaza Del Bosque Apartahotel,  Av Paz Soldan 190, San Isidro, Lima 27

Country Club Lima Hotel, Los Eucaliptos 590, San Isidro, Lima 27

Cheap hotels at Lima...

Nomade Backpackers Hostel, Marquez de Torre Tagle 107 Lima   ( Starting at $10.00)

The Point Backpackers Hostel, Malecon Junin 300, Lima  ( Starting at $10.00)

The Inka Lounge Hostel, Calle Ramon Zavala 341 Miraflores, Lima ( Starting at $11.00)