Peru - Facts

Aug 15, 2025

Peru FAQs

Pre-Arrival Boat:  Use of an Agent is mandatory and all documents must be sent to your Agent one week prior to arrival. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew:   Most travelers do not need a visa to enter Peru if the purpose of the visit is tourism. See Immigration for more details.
Where can I enter? The majority of ports of entry in Peru are commercial ports, and yachts are treated just like commercial vessels. For details on cruiser-friendly ports of entry see Clearance.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? Costs are very high to clear-in [see Fees] so it's important you pick the right port to clear in.
What security and safety concerns should I know about? Theft, pickpocketing, and bag snatching are generally the crimes to be aware of. See Security for more info.

Peru Facts for Sailors

  • Peru is located in western South America and shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. Its vast territory, which spans over 1.2 million square kilometers, is divided into three regions: the coast, the Highlands, and the Jungle. Peru is home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 84 of the planet’s 117 life zones.
  • With its Inca ruins, old Spanish colonial cities, and the magnificent Andes mountain range dominating the center of the country, Peru has always been one of the most fascinating countries to visit in South America.
  • Peru currently has a population of over 34 million people. Peru's official language is Spanish, although the country also has 47 indigenous languages, including Quechua and Aymara.
  • The sol (S/) is the official currency of Peru.
  • Peru is in the GMT -5h time zone.
  • Peru has a diverse climate due to the presence of the Andes Mountain Range and its rugged geography. See Weather for more details.
  • In the last few years the activity of guerrilla groups, whose attacks in various parts of the country have affected foreign tourists as well as Peruvians, has made Peru much less of an attractive destination.
  • Even before this, Peru was a difficult cruising destination, as there were few ports along its arid coast on the Pacific Ocean and clearance costs are high. The few yachts that call normally make their base at Callao, where the yacht club has good facilities and is a secure place to leave the boat while touring the interior of this intriguing country.

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).

Next Section: Profile: Security
Related to following destinations: Peru

Search the site

Log in to your account

Become a Noonsite Member

As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.

Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.

Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.