DSCN0586 by Turner via Flickr Creative Commons

Jorge Chávez International Airport

The main international gateway to Peru is in the capital city of Lima. There are direct flights to the US through Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York (JFK), and San Francisco on American Airlines, Delta, LAN, and United. There is also a direct route to Toronto via Air Canada. From Europe, there is a direct flight to Paris on Air France, Madrid with Iberia, and Amsterdam via KLM. There are several domestic flights to other destinations in Peru including Cusco (the base for Machu Picchu), Iquitos, Juliaca, and Arequipa, mostly operated by LAN.

The airport serves nearly 12 million passengers a year. In 2010, it was named the “Best Airport in South America” as a result of it’s outstanding passenger services. There is a modern shopping inside called Peru Plaza which houses big name brands, as well as souvenir shops, a four star hotel and restaurants. To get to and from the airport, there are regular taxis, shuttle mini-buses, or larger, slower shuttles. It is possible to book transportation before you arrive, so be sure to only go with companies that are registered with the airport. Taxis should offer a flat fee to your destination.

Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport

Peru’s second airport is used mainly for it’s close proximity to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It handles around 1.2 million passengers a year which means plenty of places to eat and shop. If flying internationally, you will be able to purchase duty-free although the only international route currently is to neighboring Bolivia. Mainly flights are domestic, with the highest volume going to Lima, followed by Arequipa, Juliaca, and Puerto Maldonado. Taxis are available for the short ride into town.

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport

This airport serves Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa, which is close to the popular destination of Colca Canyon. It is a fairly small airport although it still sees about one million passengers a year. Flights operate to Lima, Cusco, Juliaca, and Tacna, among other Peruvian cities, as well as Santiago, Chile. Services are adequate and the airport is easy to access since it is located only five miles from the city, a 10-minute taxi ride away.

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