How long is the flight from London to Lima?

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.

Which airport do I fly into for Machu Picchu?

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.

Do I need a visa for Peru?

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.

When are fares to Peru lowest?

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.

Should I book flights separately or as a package?

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.

Do you sell flight-only to Peru?

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

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

Flights to Peru from the UK

Q: How much does a flight to Peru cost?

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.

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.

Peru holidays with flights included

Every trip includes flights from London and is ATOL protected.

Panoramic view of the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu mountain rising behind, surrounded by lush green Andean peaks

Peru

The Long Way to Machu Picchu: Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca

11 days / 10 nightsModerateSmall group, maximum 15

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

14 daysChallenging4-12 persons

From£6,099

ATOL protected

View Details

Peru and the Galapagos in one trip: Galapagos, Machu Picchu and the Andes, from £5,399 per person, or the Galapagos and Machu Picchu honeymoon, from £6,499 per person. For what to see and when to go, read our Peru guide, or tell us your dates and we will build it.

Travel Insurance for Peru

Peru trips include altitude, trekking and often the Amazon. Check that any policy you buy covers walking above 2,500 m and the adventure activities you plan, alongside medical costs and repatriation. Arranging cover as soon as your trip is confirmed also means you are covered if you have to cancel.

Visit Just Travel Cover

We are not insurance advisers and we do not recommend a particular policy or provider. The link above is to an independent company and we may be paid a commission if you buy through it.

eSIM for Peru

An eSIM gets your phone online as soon as you land. You buy it online and install it at home on wifi. All three work in Peru:

Airalo: the widest choice of plan sizes, usually the cheapest for a set amount of data.
Saily: priced close to Airalo, with no limit on hotspot use.
Holafly: unlimited data priced by the day. Code TRAVELFAB takes 5 percent off.

Visit Airalo

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It never adds to your price, and it does not change which one we suggest.

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.

Plan your Peru holiday

We typically respond within 24 hours

Flights to Peru from the UK

Flights to Peru at a glance

Distance

Flight time

Direct flights

Time difference

Airports

Cheapest months

How to fly to Peru from the UK

Via Madrid with Iberia or LATAM

Via Amsterdam with KLM

Via Paris with Air France

Via Bogota with Avianca

Via the US

On to Cusco