Peru is Open For Business, From 5-Star Dining to Machu Picchu Treks

As the world slowly reopens to travel in a post-pandemic era, Peru beckons with increased safety protocols for visitors to one of the world’s ultimate travel destinations. The U.S. State Department last week removed the South American nation from its ‘do not travel’ lists of countries, while Peru had lifted quarantine restrictions for nearly all international travelers in March.

Visitors will still have to provide proof of negative results from an approved test before boarding a plane to the country. Passengers must have a negative molecular (PCR), an antigen test, or a medical certificate of epidemiological discharge performed not greater than 72 hours prior to arrival.

Only passengers from Brazil, India, and/or South Africa, or those who made a layover in one of those countries, must still quarantine in their home, accommodation, or isolation center for two weeks after arriving in Peru.

Masks are still required in nearly all areas of public life in Peru. A mask or face shield must be worn to board planes or other forms of transportation in the country. Mask use is mandatory in public, and double masks are sometimes required to enter highly populated establishments such as shopping centers. Safety protocols are strictly enforced in the country.

Peru is a bucket list destination for a broad range of travelers, from the foodie in search of world class dining in Lima, to the history buff looking for the intersection of Incan civilization and Spanish colonialism in Cusco, to the adventure traveler seeking the challenge of trekking across the Andes or floating through an Amazonian rainforest. And, of course, Machu Picchu is near the top of everyone’s travel list. Peru is also the ultimate in environmental diversity, possessing 84 of the Earth’s known 103 ecosystems in three climate zones—the coastal plateau, Andes mountains, and Amazon jungle.

There are some caveats for the LGBTQ traveler, though. Peru is still making strides when it comes to issues of tolerance and basic rights. The machismo aura prevalent within many Latin cultures is also strong here, and this becomes more prevalent the further one travels from Lima. Same-sex couples should have no problem renting a room with one bed in the more deluxe hotels in Lima, but should exercise caution when roughing it or in isolated areas. Couples should also refrain from PDAs except in more affirming districts of Lima such as Miraflores or Barranco in the nation's capital. A reputable tour organizer with experience planning for LGBTQ+ travelers can ensure you make the right choices for each locale.

A leading provider of travel to Peru is Mountain Lodges of Peru. MLP arranges a wide arrange of pre-designed or more personalized travel packages to the famed mountain citadel, from a hiking adventure along ancient Indigenous Andean and rain forest trails to more traditional tours using their string of remote yet exclusive luxury lodges. Their 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay Pass and Sacred Valley was just voted by Travel & Leisure to their list of incredible adventure vacations. MLP tells Out Traveler they’ve been safely welcoming back guests since April using an updated set of protocols.