Current time in Peru (Lima):

For the more adventurous holiday-maker who enjoys hiking, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a must. Beginning in Cusco you will take a 3 night walking journey through the mountains above the Urubamba river, following the route of an old Inca road leading to the city of Machu Picchu. This journey will take you through some of the most spectacular sceneries of natural beauty, surrounded by mystery and filled with a rich history, all ending in one of the new wonders of the world – Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail routes range between easy 2 day hikes and some more challenging 7 day treks.

Contact us today for a personalised itinerary and quote

When to go

The best time to do the Inca Trail is when the weather is mostly dry and sunny – from May to September. The winter months of June, July and August are particuarly cold at night (dropping to -1°C), so bring that extra-warm sleeping bag with you!

Notable events in Peru for 2009

Visa and Health Requirements for Peru

Visa – none required for South African passport holders on holiday for up to 90 days. However, visitors must have a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds to support themselves while in Peru.

Vaccination – Yellow Fever compulsory; Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Malaria Prophylaxis are recommended

Lima’s physical atmosphere is slightly dreamlike, mostly because of the garua–a mist that settles over the city between May and October. Under its blanket, Lima’s inhabitants meet at the penas (bars offering folk and Creole music), shop at the open marketplaces, and dine at Lima’s celebrated restaurants. Several museums display and preserve Peru’s golden past, including most notably the internationally famed Museo Nacional de Antropologia y Arqueologia.

South of Lima, long white beaches washed by the cold waters of the southern Pacific stretch away in an uninterrupted string, backed by row upon row of huge, brilliant white sand dunes. In contrast to the tourist beaches of warmer climes, these shores have few amenities other than small restaurants and cafes. One of the best of these remote beaches, as if to confirm its tranquillity, is known as El Silencio. Like Lima itself, these beaches seem to exist in an eddy of time, pleasantly removed from the relentless pace of more frequented destinations.