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Hikers approaching the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu along a mountain trail in Peru

Flights to Peru from the UK

Routes, airlines, flight times and the best months to fly in 2026, with tailor-made Peru holidays built around you.

There is no direct flight from the UK to Peru, so every trip to Lima is a one-stop journey. The good routes are short and reliable: Iberia and LATAM via Madrid, KLM via Amsterdam, Air France via Paris, Avianca via Bogota, or American, United and Delta through a US hub. With one change in Europe or Bogota you are looking at 16 to 18 hours, and the Madrid connection is usually the quickest.

Lima is only the start. Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco sit at altitude and need an internal flight and a couple of days to acclimatise, and permits for the Inca Trail sell out months ahead. We book the international and internal flights together, time the arrival so you rest before you climb, and hold the permits and hotels early. Flights are included in every Peru holiday we sell, so the whole trip is ATOL protected.

Flights to Peru at a glance

  • Distance

    About 6,300 miles

    London Heathrow to Lima is 6,307 miles (10,150 km) in a straight line. Cusco is a little closer, but every flight from the UK goes through Lima.

  • Flight time

    16 to 18 hours with one change

    About 12 hours of it is the long flight from Madrid, Amsterdam or Paris. Via the US it is more like 18 to 22 hours.

  • Direct flights

    None from the UK

    As of 2026 there is no non-stop flight between the UK and Peru, so every route changes planes once.

  • Time difference

    5 hours behind the UK

    Peru is on UTC minus 5 all year: 5 hours behind in the UK winter and 6 in summer.

  • Airports

    Lima (LIM), then Cusco (CUZ)

    Every flight from Europe lands in Lima. Cusco, at 3,399 m, is the airport for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, about 80 minutes on.

  • Cheapest months

    Late January to March, and November

    Easter, July, August and Christmas are the busiest and dearest. There is a fare guide below.

How to fly to Peru from the UK

As of 2026 there are five ways to fly from the UK to Lima, each with one change. The times include the connection.

  • Via Madrid with Iberia or LATAM

    16 to 17 hours in total

    About two and a half hours from London to Madrid, then about 12 hours to Lima. Air Europa flies the same route. Usually the quickest, every day.

  • Via Amsterdam with KLM

    17 to 18 hours in total

    Just over an hour to Amsterdam, then about 12 and a half hours to Lima, with connections from Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK airports.

  • Via Paris with Air France

    17 to 18 hours in total

    About an hour and a quarter from London to Paris Charles de Gaulle, then about 12 and a half hours to Lima.

  • Via Bogota with Avianca

    16 to 18 hours in total

    Non-stop from London Heathrow to Bogota in about 11 hours, then just over 3 hours to Lima.

  • Via the US

    18 to 22 hours in total

    American Airlines through Miami, United through Houston or Delta through Atlanta. You need a US ESTA even to change planes.

  • On to Cusco

    About 80 minutes from Lima

    LATAM, Sky and JetSMART fly from Lima to Cusco many times a day. We book it with your flight from the UK. Cusco sits at 3,399 m, so plan an easy first day.

How much do flights to Peru cost

As a 2026 guide, return economy fares from London to Lima run roughly £650 to £850 in quieter months, £850 to £1,050 for most of the year and £1,000 to £1,400 or more over Easter, July and August and Christmas. Add around £100 to £200 for the Lima to Cusco return. Our Peru holidays are priced with the flights in, so you see one figure.

When to fly to Peru

The dry season in the Andes runs May to September, which is the best walking weather and the busiest time for Machu Picchu. April, May, September and October give the best mix of weather and fares. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Fares are lowest in the UK from late January to March and in November.

Before you go: UK passport holders can currently visit Peru for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days, but always check the UK government travel advice for Peru before you book.

Vaccinations: TravelHealthPro, the UK travel health service, lists what it recommends for Peru, and our Peru guide sums it up. Peru asks for no yellow fever certificate on arrival. See your GP or a travel nurse 4 to 6 weeks before you go.

Frequently asked questions: flights to Peru

No. As of 2026 there is no non-stop flight between the UK and Peru. The fastest routes connect once, usually in Madrid with Iberia or LATAM, or in Amsterdam or Paris with KLM or Air France.

Around 16 to 18 hours in total via a European hub, including the connection. Via a US hub it is more like 18 to 22 hours. The Madrid to Lima leg itself is about 12 hours.

You arrive in Lima (LIM) and take a domestic flight of about 80 minutes to Cusco (CUZ). From Cusco, Machu Picchu is reached by train from the Sacred Valley or Ollantaytambo. We book the domestic flight with your international one.

UK passport holders can currently enter Peru for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. If you connect through the US you need an ESTA even to transit. Always check the latest UK government travel advice before you travel.

As a 2026 guide, a return economy fare from London to Lima is roughly £650 to £850 in quieter months, £850 to £1,050 for most of the year and £1,000 to £1,400 or more at peak. We include flights in our Peru holidays, so you see one price.

Fares from the UK are usually lowest from late January to March and in November. April, May, September and October balance good weather in the Andes with fair prices. Easter, July, August and Christmas are the most expensive.

A tailor-made package gives you ATOL protection on the whole trip, the internal Lima to Cusco flight timed to your international arrival, Inca Trail permits and hotels held early, and one contact if anything changes. That is why our Peru holidays always include the flights.

No. We are a tailor-made holiday specialist. We build complete, ATOL-protected Peru holidays with flights, hotels, transfers and experiences in one package.

Peru holidays with flights included

Every trip includes flights from London and is ATOL protected.

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Let us plan your Peru holiday

Our specialists sort the flights and connections, secure the Machu Picchu permits, pace the trip for the altitude and choose the hotels, so your ATOL-protected Peru holiday comes together as one trip.

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