How to Get to Peru
Getting to Peru from the United States, of course, requires a ride on a plane. There is only one airport that is currently accommodating international traffic and that is the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, the capital city. (Flights from Miami used to land at Iquitos also, but that is no longer the case.)
To get to Lima, most Americans will have to go through one of about five different cities that offer direct flights to this Peruvian destination. The most flights originate in Miami, but you can also find direct travel from New York, Newark, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. Major airlines that fly to Lima daily include Continental, American, Delta/Northwest, and LAN. The latter is the principal airline of Chile and it flies to Lima from New York and Miami. Continental offers the most daily non-stops, with service commencing in both Newark and Houston.
Travel guides note that all passengers flying from Peru back to the U.S. should always re-confirm their flights at least 3 days in advance of their departure. Jorge Chavez Airport can get quite crowded as well, so arriving at least 2-3 hours in advance for international flights is a necessity. Be prepared to pay airport taxes in cash before boarding the airplane to return home.
If you wish to fly to or from Lima, Peru to/from another part of South America, you should also plan your travel well in advance. Flights aren’t as plentiful there as they are in the United States and you’ll often find that there’s just one flight per day from Lima to another destination on the continent, making last minute air travel quite difficult.
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