Transportation

The main gateway is Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). To reach the city, use a ride-hailing app such as Uber, Cabify or Beat, an official airport taxi, or the Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores. Cusco Airport (CUZ) is the key hub for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with taxis and ride-hailing into the city centre.

In Lima the backbone of public transport is the Metropolitano bus rapid transit (BRT) and the Metro de Lima urban rail, plus a dense web of city buses and small vans called combis. Combis are cheap but confusing for visitors, with informal stops and unclear routes, so ride-hailing is often easier for tourists.

Peru has no nationwide transit smart card. In Lima the Metropolitano BRT and the Metro de Lima each use their own rechargeable cards, bought and topped up at stations; these are city-specific and do not work elsewhere. City buses and combis are usually paid in cash to the driver or fare collector, so carry small notes and coins.

Ride-hailing is widespread in cities like Lima and Cusco, with Uber, Cabify, Beat and inDrive all popular. Using an app is recommended because the fare and route are shown up front. For street taxis, which are not metered, agree the price before you get in and prefer clearly marked, licensed vehicles.

Long-distance buses are well developed and comfortable, with operators like Cruz del Sur offering reclining cama and bus-cama seats on overnight routes. Peru's most famous trains are the tourist services to Machu Picchu, run by PeruRail and Inca Rail, connecting Ollantaytambo and Cusco with Aguas Calientes; seats are limited so book well ahead. Distances are huge and crossing the Andes is slow, so many travellers combine buses with domestic flights.

Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover Peru's vast distances, and airlines such as LATAM and Sky connect cities across the country. Most routes hub through Lima's Jorge Chávez (LIM), while Cusco (CUZ) is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. To reach Machu Picchu you typically fly into Cusco, then continue by train.