Travel to Peru

The principal international airlines are Lan (LP) (website: www.lan.com) and Taca Perú (website: www.taca.com). There are no direct flights from London; however, airlines with regular services to Peru include Air Canada, American Airlines, Avianca, Continental, Iberia and KLM.

From Lima to Madrid is 12 hours and to New York is 9 hours.

Lima (LIM) (Jorge Chávez International Airport) (website: www.lap.com.pe) is 16km (10 miles) northwest of the city centre (journey time – 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis to the city centre are available. Facilities: Duty-free and handicrafts shop, banks/bureaux de change, left luggage, pharmacy, medical centre, Internet cafe, car hire, coffee shops, bars and restaurants and tourist information.

Cusco (CUZ), located in the central south, receives flights from La Paz (Bolivia).

oneworld Visit South America Pass: valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines are American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), Iberia (IB), JAL Japan Airlines (JL), LAN (LA), Malév Hungarian Airlines (MA), Qantas (QF) and Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to 34 cities. Prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.

US$30.25 from Lima’s airport. Transit passengers and children under two years of age are exempt. Payment must be paid in cash prior to boarding.

Main ports: Callao and San Martín. Some international cruises occasionally call at Callao and Trujillo. Iquitos is the main river port and the major water route between Peru and Brazil.

The only international rail service in Peru links the towns of Tacna in southern Peru and Arica, just over the border in northern Chile. The train makes one return trip daily.

The main international highway is the Pan-American Highway running north–south through the coastal desert of Peru from Tumbes to Tacna.

Coach: Transport from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela is available through companies like Bus Tas Choapa Internacional (tel: (01) 431 1400; www.taschoapa.cl), El Rápido and Rutas de América. It is also possible to go from La Paz in Bolivia to Puno on Lake Titicaca (south Peru) by coach.