Peru Driving Guide for Travelers

Content

Car rental in Peru
Road conditions and safety
Speed Limit

There are several interesting places to visit in Peru, and a rental car will make visiting them much easier. Some of the places you might want to see include Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Larco Museum, the Cusco Historic District, and the Mira Flores Promenade in Lima.

Car rental in Peru

If you want to rent a car, you need to have a driver's license and an International Driving Permit. The minimum age to drive in Peru is 18, but you must have at least a year of driving experience before you can rent a car. Most car rental companies in the country require drivers to be at least 21 years of age.

By renting a car, you can get to many of the most interesting places in Peru that you might want to visit, and you can do it on your own schedule. Just make sure you understand the basic driving rules in the country. When you're ready to rent a car, make sure you have the rental agency's phone number and contact information, just in case you run into problems.

Road conditions and safety

Several main, major roads run through Peru, running from north to south. These are toll roads, and depending on where you enter and exit the road, the toll may vary. You should plan your trip and itinerary in order to have a better idea of the actual toll cost. The main roads are as follows.

South/Northern Panamericana (PE-1S/1N) - Completely paved and runs through the entire country.
South / North Longitudinal Sierra (PE-3S / 3N) - Partially paved.
Interoceanica Sur (PE-26) and Interoceanica (PE-5N) - also partially paved.

Only the main roads in the country are paved and in good condition. The rest of the roads are unpaved and can be very uneven. This will affect your speed, so you need to prepare for this when creating your route. Also, you'll want 4WD to be able to traverse many of these areas.

From November to April there are heavy rains, and this can further worsen the condition of the roads. Coastal and mountain roads are often covered in fog, especially at night and in the early morning. Because the roads are in poor condition, it is not recommended to drive alone in the countryside. You must also have some way of communicating with the outside world.

Traffic is on the right side of the road. Other drivers may not pay attention to the rules of the road and behave impolitely. You need to drive carefully and try to anticipate the actions of other drivers. You should have a GPS and maps with you so you don't get lost.