Peru Travel Restrictions

The ultimate traveler's guide for your Peru trip in 2022

Updated on March 8, 2022.

Peru Entry Restrictions

What you need to show upon arriving at Lima’s Jorge Chavez Airport.

Proof of vaccination. Every person entering Peruvian territory must show proof of vaccination taken at least 14 days before boarding their plane, regardless of their point of origin.
If you have not been vaccinated, then you must present a Molecular test (PCR) with a negative result taken within 72 hours before boarding a flight. Children under 12 years only need to present a medical certificate of good health when they travel to Peru.
Complete the online health affidavit. Print it out, or take a screenshot of it and have it handy upon arrival at the airport. Sometimes wifi access might not be accessible at .
You must wear a KN95 mask or two surgical masks upon arriving. Double masking is mandatory at all enclosed public and private places. Wearing one mask is mandatory at all times, so please wear face masks. do not risk getting a ticket.
Passport with six months validity at the time of entry. Migraciones Peru (Immigration) may also require evidence of return travel.
Check whether Migraciones Peru documented the official date and place of entry whether you arrived at an airport, port, or land border. Take note that Migraciones Peru suspended the stamping of passports upon arrival to and departure from Jorge Chávez International Airport to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. But in place of a physical stamp, an internal digital record of your travel dates is still created as proof.

According to Peru travel restrictions, minors who travel with both of their birth parents are required to present a valid passport and necessary visa or citizenship. If entering as a tourist, minors do not need to present additional documents if they plan to travel in Peru for less than 183 days. However, if staying for more than 183 days, minors should have a Permiso Notarial de Viaje (Notarized Travel Authorization).

For U.S. citizen minors who are traveling alone, with one parent, or a dual national Peruvian, a Permiso Notarial de Viaje is required. If a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen minor is traveling with a step-parent or guardian, a Permiso Notarial de Viaje should be provided by the minor’s non-traveling parents who are listed on the birth certificate.

A Permiso Notarial de Viaje is valid for 30 days and one trip only and can be obtained through:

Peruvian Consulate in the U.S.
Most Peruvian notaries in Peru

Before you travel to this beautiful country, be sure to comply with all of Peru Travel restrictions and their entry requirements as the US embassy will not be able to assist you if you have been denied entry to Peru. If denied, Migraciones Peru will require airlines to return you to your point of origin.

Don’t travel If….

U.S. citizens are advised not to travel to Peru if they meet the following conditions:

Unvaccinated travelers. Only fully vaccinated travelers can travel to Peru for tourism due to COVID-19. While vaccinated travelers still have a risk of getting the virus, unvaccinated travelers are more susceptible to having a severe illness.
Experiencing COVID symptoms. If you have manifested symptoms before your flight, you should not push through with your traveling plans. You might spread the virus to others if you have it.
Tested positive for COVID-19. If you have tested positive, you have to finish your isolation first before you can travel.

Still waiting for the COVID test results. Until you have a negative result, you cannot travel to Peru in any condition. Please check the us embassy travel state gov site for more information and remember that a negative pcr test will open you the gates of Peru.

Traveling To Peru For Tourism

With many countries opening up their borders and traveling restrictions being lifted, many people are looking forward to traveling to other countries once again. The pandemic has forced everyone to stay in their homes for safety and, for months, they have been stuck in a very limited environment. However, due to continuous improvements in COVID conditions, it’s already possible to travel, provided that visitors come prepared.

Before you travel to any country, you need to know the rules or laws of the place. Not all countries have the same protocols for tourists so it is better to research the guidelines regarding traveling into their country.

Here are some of the things you should know first before going to Peru:

Know the Rules
Before you travel, you need to know the rules or laws of the place, especially Peru travel restrictions. Not all countries have the same protocols and measures for travelers, so it is better to research the guidelines regarding traveling and restrictions into their country.

Here are some of the things you should know first before going to Peru and Machu Picchu:

Proof of vaccination is required to enter all public places. You must show an electronic card, QR code or paper card.
Double masking is mandatory at all enclosed public and private places. Wearing one mask is mandatory at all times.
You don’t need to wear a mask outdoors, especially on the Inca Trail but you do have to wear it at Machu Picchu.
The Peruvian Government has declared a mandatory curfew between 2:00 a.m to 4:00 a.m During these hours, no transiting by foot or car is allowed unless people have authorization.
All public and private gatherings have been prohibited. The curfew will take place from 11:00 pm till 4:00 am.

Commercial activities in Peru are almost back to normal, businesses, markets, drugstores open daily as in pre covid times. Some restaurants stores shops open with some restrictions and limited hours. They ban people who don’t have vaccination cards. Peruvian laws punish those who attempt to fake vaccine cards. Tourist transportation is more flexible, traveling within Peru by air or overland requires the presentation of such cards.

Can I Travel To Peru Right Now From the USA?

Yes, U.S. citizens can now travel to Peru from the USA. No visa is required. Direct flights to Peru have resumed from certain locations in the US. The Jorge Chávez International Airport is already open and allows international travelers to come into the country.
However, while travel to the country is already allowed, travelers are expected to follow guidelines imposed by the Peruvian government.

Non-resident passengers traveling from South Africa or have been transiting there in the last 14 days should hold off traveling to Peru as of the moment as the government has suspended entrance for these passengers until October 31, 2021. Please wait for further announcements regarding this protocol. Peru does not require travelers to obtain a visa before arrival.

However, land borders are still closed in Peru, meaning traveling by land is still prohibited.

When Will Peru Open its Borders?
Peru has already opened and allowed international flights to enter the country with protocols in place. For more information regarding the country’s latest public health measures, kindly check for updates on the united states embassy website at Embassy’s Alerts and Messages.

Return Travel To The US From Peru

The Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is open for international flights to the U.S. Travelers are still expected to follow minimum health protocols and comply with requirements before departing from Peru. This includes wearing your mask at all times upon arrival at the airport.

If you are suddenly experiencing COVID symptoms, you should not go to the airport and contact your airline immediately to reschedule your flight.

Exit Requirements

Returning passengers to the U.S. should make sure that Migraciones has properly recorded their entry to the country. An entry record is the most important thing when you are leaving Peru. If there is no entry record under your name, you are not allowed to exit the country until the Migraciones can confirm the time and date of your entry. This can be a time-consuming process so it is better to verify your entry record when you arrive in Peru.

If your passport was lost or stolen during your stay in Peru, you need to report it immediately to the local police and keep the report. You can apply for a new passport at the US embassy and you can also get a replacement of your entry record from Migraciones by presenting the police report before you depart from Peru.

Always Check the Travel state gov site for more Information

COVID 19 Information in Peru

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has placed Peru in Level 2 or Moderate level for COVID-19. U.S. citizens traveling to Peru have a lower risk of getting infected and developing severe illness when fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine which is why it is highly encouraged for everyone to get vaccinated before doing any international travels.

On the other hand, the Peruvian Government also re-evaluates and adjusts their regional alert levels and movement restrictions every two weeks. These measures are categorized as Moderate, High, Very High, or Extreme depending on the situation on the ground. Everyone, including U.S. citizens, are expected to follow these guidelines.

Minimum health measures and protocols such as double masking and staying 6 feet apart should be observed all the time and are required when entering establishments and other crowded places.

Are you required to get a COVID-19 test to travel back to the U.S.?

All fully-vaccinated travelers including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals are still required to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result taken within three days before flying back to the U.S. Children ages 2-17 are also required to take a pre-departure test, while children under 2 years are exempted.

Travelers who are not fully vaccinated are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before traveling to Peru.

According to the U.S. embassy in Peru, PCR and antigen tests are available for U.S. citizens and you can already get the results within 72 hours. The Peruvian Health Ministry (MINSA) has provided a list of hospitals and laboratories that administer COVID-19 tests and can be accessed here. All testing costs are shouldered by the tourist.

In case you have contracted the virus and have already recovered, you only need to present documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (positive test result taken within 90 days) instead of getting tested again before your trip.

Quarantine Information When You Travel to Peru

Every country has its measures and protocols regarding quarantine upon arrival. Some may require travelers to undergo quarantine for a couple of days while some do not require it anymore. Read on to find out whether Peru or the U.S. are requiring its travelers to quarantine

Traveling to Peru

U.S. citizens traveling to Peru are not required to undergo quarantine and may proceed to their destination upon arrival. However, Peruvian citizens including U.S. dual nationals and permanent Peruvian citizens who have transited through or from South Africa are required to quarantine for 14 days in their home or any isolated place. Failure to do so would ban tourist immediately from entering Peru.
Traveling to Cusco region and Cusco province by land is possible. Every region in Peru, every department (state) and every province have different restrictions that one must know before embarking on an overland journey. Cusco region is one of the safest of Peru. Traveling from Arequipa, Lima and the Titicaca region are the main ways to get to Cusco.

Traveling to the U.S.

You can never be sure if you have been exposed to a COVID positive person during the trip back to the U.S. Whether you may or may not manifest any symptoms, the CDC recommends you to do the following:

Look for the nearest testing center and have yourself tested for COVID-19 3-5 days upon your arrival.
Self-monitor for any symptoms. Isolate and get tested if you develop them.
Follow any local or state requirements regarding arrival from international traveling.

Aside from the recommendations above, the CDC also recommends US citizens and other unvaccinated travelers to stay at home and quarantine for 7 days upon arrival even if they test negative earlier. If they do not want to get tested, they need to quarantine for 10 days after travel. always check the US embassy site for more info.

Peru Travel restrictions for Your Machu Picchu Visit

The Peruvian government has established some rules and health protocols to facilitate the flow of tourists around Machu Picchu. We recommend that people know these rules and protocols before their trip to Machu Picchu. For instance,

Train and bus companies require that all passengers wear two face masks or one KN95 mask when traveling.
The Machu Picchu park administration requires that this rule applies to all Machu Picchu visitors. Park rangers are required to expel people who do not comply with these rules.
The number of participants in a group tour is limited to 10 people plus one tour guide.
People must abide by the social distance rules to keep a distance of 1.5 meters away from each other at the bus stations, entry and exit points, bathrooms, and during the areas of heavy traffic at Machu Picchu.

Are there any restrictions when hiking the Inca Trail?

Yes, some of the restrictions above also applied to the Inca trail. For instance;

The Peruvian Health ministry, Sernanp, and the Ministry of culture require that all passengers wear two face masks or one KN95 mask at all checkpoints and areas of heavy traffic on the Inca Trail, such as bathrooms and some crowded campsites.
People need to wear a mask at every attraction where participants of different groups merge.
The number of participants in a group tour is limited to 10 people plus two tour guides.
Tourists are not required to wear masks while hiking but it is recommended that they put them on whenever they encounter a crowded area.

At Evolution Treks Peru, we play safe and require that our staff members, whether porters, tour guides, or cooks, are fully vaccinated. Also, we perform random testing of our staff members before and after our treks using PCR or antigen tests.

Should you book an Inca Trail tour during covid?

If you plan to book for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tour in 2022, you should consider the following.

Inca Trail and Huayna Picchu permits must be secured and paid in advance to have a guaranteed spot in them.
All licensed Inca Trail tour operators require that you make a non-refundable deposit to secure your permits.
Inca Trail permits are non-refundable, non-changeable, and non-transferable.
In times of Covid, we recommend that people insure their trips; doing so will help you recover your investment if, by any chance, you need to cancel your trips.

Can You help me Get A Covid Test in the Cusco region, Peru, before i take my flight back to the US?

Yes! Of course, all you need to do is let our Evolution Treks Peru know in advance so we can make an appointment with our partners from Integra Partners Peru, one of the best laboratories in the Cusco region, the Peruvian gov also licenses. They will meet you at your hotel or any locations you choose to take a PCR or antigen test before departure from Peruvian soil.

In general, you can take a PCR test at any general hospital or health center in Peru; some private businesses require that you book in advance, at least 12 hours before you board your plane. So, play it safe, make your reservations ahead of time, and go about your business.

Finally, every country has its own laws and restrictions for foreign individuals and their own citizens. North American and United States citizens have to show only an antigen test before returning home.