Lima first
Most trips start in Lima, and Miraflores or Barranco are where you want to base yourself. Both have solid restaurants, walkable streets, and easy access to everything else. The city is huge and sprawling, but you don’t need most of it.
Getting around
Use app-based transport only. Uber works well in Lima and a few other cities. InDriver is a cheaper alternative in some regions. Street taxis, even those with official branding, are not reliable from a safety standpoint, particularly at night.
Safety habits
Keep your phone out of sight in public areas, including touristy ones. Pickpocketing is common and it happens fast. Not every district is equally safe, so before heading somewhere new, look it up. Some areas that look fine on a map are worth skipping.
Cusco and altitude
Cusco sits at 3’400 m. Altitude sickness hits most visitors to some degree, even if you feel fine the first hour. Take it easy the first day, drink a lot of water, and hold off on alcohol until you’ve adjusted. Coca tea is everywhere and genuinely helps.
Food
Peruvian food is worth the trip on its own. Ceviche at a proper cevichería, lomo saltado, ají de gallina — none of it requires spending much. Lima has a serious restaurant scene at every price point. Outside the capital, look out for rocoto relleno in Arequipa and regional dishes around Cusco.
Machu Picchu
Book entry tickets online well in advance. They sell out weeks ahead in high season. The train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes is the standard route. Arriving early gives you better light and smaller crowds before tour groups fill in.