Flights to Peru and Travelling to and From Lima Airport
The best-priced flights to Peru usually get you to Lima, which becomes the main starting hub for the majority of travellers. The company behind Peru Hop also operates the Airport Express Lima bus that has multiple stops in the city centre. You can book online or simply show up and hope for space. This is a cheaper option than the taxi pick-ups organised by many hostels, although I much preferred the organised taxi option late at night.
Travelling in the North of Peru
Peru Hop currently doesn’t offer any bus service in the north of the country, which is a shame and is a service I hope comes in time. Many travellers I met making their way to northern Peru for grand treks such as Laguna 69 used local buses (with many citing there were enough gringos riding them not to feel too sketchy and isolated).
Flights in Peru – Travelling from Lima to Cusco / Cusco to Lima
If you are wanting to travel from Lima to Cusco (or vice versa), without any stops in between, the easiest way is via an internal flight. Many use Lima as a cheap flight route from their home city to then fly to Machu Picchu making it a more popular direction.
While you might find a good deal with Peruvian Airlines, I recommend Latam which has a good safety record, is more of an established pan South American airline, has regular routes between both cities and isn’t too expensive. You can land a flight for around $60 if you get lucky.
Where to Visit in Peru – Historical and Scenic Highlights
Typically on the first visit to Peru, travellers will visit the ‘southern loop’ between Lima and Cusco, with Cusco often the only or main stopping point because of getting to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Which is a shame, as there are plenty of places to visit in Peru on this loop with great historical interest or with famed natural landscapes.
Those with more time typically tent to venture north for the famed Laguna 69 trekking route or do so on a second visit.
Paracas
Coastal Paracas may not have much going on apart from its super chill vibes, but people come here to head out on a speedboat to visit the protected Ballestas Islands. Dubbed the “Poor Man´s Galapagos”, this is a chance to spend two hours spotting wildlife including, pelicans, penguins, birds and sleepy sea lions.
Speed boat tour around the Ballestas Islands, Paracas
The contrasting sweeping desert plains of Paracas National Park, marked by cliff drops and jagged rock formations is also another highlight although there’s plenty of things to check out if you decide to stay for a few lazy days.
Paracas National Park, Peru
The Cathedral Rock in Paracas National Park