Free Travel Advice and Tips >>> Travelling into Peru

Travelling into Peru

Tourists from North America, the European Union, Australia, Japan and many other must get a visa upon arrival which is usually valid for up to 90 days. When you enter the country, you must pass the immigration office. They'll stamp your passport with the number of days you are allowed to stay, but can get an extension in most major cities for about US$ 10 per month, plus a 26 soles (about US$ 8) in administration fees. Do take your time and plan ahead, administrative and bureaucratic endeavors may take time, don't expect things to be ready in an hour, nor in some cases, in the same day. The maximum extension you'll get is 180 days in total. If you plan or need to stay longer, you must exit the country and reenter it once again, in order for your allowed time to be reset. Peru has borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. Of course, you can leave the country at any time you wish.

Be careful as you'll receive an extra official paper, which you should keep with your passport, and that you shouldn't lose. When you leave the country, you'll need to visit the emigration office to get your exit stamp. Both immigration and emigration offices are always present at border crossing-points or international airports, and getting extensions there is not a problem. Also travelling to and from neighbors countries by land is not a problem.

Travelling by plane

Lima, which is the capital city, hold the Jorge Chávez International Airport with frequent flights all over the world. When you leave the country, you'll need to pay a departure tax which is NOT usually included with your air tickets. The amount changes, but it's around US$ 27-35 or it's equivalent in soles. You can only pay it in cash, and from there you may pass into the departure area. There is also an internal flight tax, which charges around US$ 6.

The city of Iquitos in the amazonian jungle has flights to Leticia, Colombia. The city of Cuzco has flights to Bolivia. They both have a $10 departure tax.

Travelling by Boat

Iquitos has connections by boat to Colombia and Brazil.

Travelling by Land

You may enter the country at border crossing points. Peru as said before, shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile.