Peru trips for senior travellers
Many senior travellers are still a bit cautious about planning a trip to Peru. Most of them worry about safety, high altitude and long travel distances. But with the right tour itinerary, good travel planning and helpful local support, traveling in Peru can be enjoyable for all ages!
Peru Trips for senior travellers: A Complete Guide for a Safe and Enjoyable Travel Experience
Peru is one of South America’s most enchanting destinations, famous for its many ancient civilizations, dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. Each year, thousands of elderly travellers explore Peru—and many report it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. With thoughtful planning and the right pace, Peru can be both accessible and comfortable for seniors.
Why Peru is a Great Destination for senior Travelers
Peru offers an exceptional blend of ancient history, nature, culinary and cultural immersion. From world class food in the coastal capital of Lima to magnificent views of snowcapped mountains in the Andes. From the Nasca Lines and Moche culture on the coast, to Machu Picchu and Kuelap in the mountains. And don’t forget their easy accessible Amazon Rainforest nature reserves! Visitors in Peru can choose from many activities to match their comfort and mobility levels. In recent years, the tourism industry has also invested in accessible routes, senior-friendly tours, and improved transportation options. There is still a lot that can be done, but at least accessibility for tourism in Peru is improving and this also helps its own citizen.
Traveling at higher altitude in Peru
Many iconic destinations—like Cusco, Lake Titicaca, the Rainbow Mountain, Huaraz and the Sacred Valley—are located at high altitude.
Cusco: ~3,400 m (11,150 ft)
Lake Titicaca: ~3,812 m (12,507 ft)
Rainbow Maintain: ~5,036 m (16,522 ft)
Huaraz (Laguna 69): 4,600 m (15,092 ft)
Sacred Valley: ~2,800 m (9,200 ft)
Machu Picchu: ~2,430 m (7,970 ft)
Senior travellers can successfully visit these places in Peru, but might have to plan more carefully.
How high altitude affects seniors and younger people
It is often said that elderly people suffer sooner from high altitude sickness than younger people. But in my 11 years as tour leader in mainly Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, I found out that age doesn’t have to be a problem on higher altitude. Yes, I had elderly clients who ended up in hospital, because of altitude sickness, but this also happened to some younger clients. I even had a group of 18 clients, where the younger half of the group suffered more of altitude sickness on their first night in Bolivia, than the elderly half. The worst affected was a 28 year old woman who used to play professional basketball, so was in very good shape. On the other hand, one of the least affected clients was a 60+ man who still continued to smoke one or two cigars a day… In this group it might be possible to explain why the younger generation was more affected by the higher altitude than the older generation. They had been more(too) active. Most of the younger travellers went to sleep late the night before in San Pedro de Atacama and were more active during the day, taking many, many pictures. While most of the seniors had gone to bed early and took it easier during the day.
Tips for better high altitude acclimatization
I think that it is not to say that all seniors are sooner affected by high altitude, but that a lot depends on behaviour and general health conditions. The tips below will therefore apply to every traveller in Peru who travels to an higher altitude:
– Plan enough time for you vacation in Peru. More time to travel in Peru will not only improve your travel experience, it will also give you more time to acclimatize to the higher altitude. This in return reduces your changes for getting altitude sickness.
– Try to avoid flying from sea level (Lima) into Cusco at 3,400 m (11,150 ft) altitude. If you do have to fly from Lima to Cusco, because you don’t have enough time to first travel to lower areas, like Arequipa 2,335 m (7661 ft.), then it might be an idea to travel directly into the Sacred Valley 2,800 m (9,200 ft). Sleep in a hotel in the Sacred Valley, visit Machu Picchu and travel then to Cusco.
– Please read our article about traveling at high altitude and reducing the chances to get altitude sickness. It includes recommendations from a doctor, specialized in High Altitude Sickness.
Is Machu Picchu accessible for senior travellers?
Yes, the archaeological site of Machu Picchu is also accessible for seniors visiting Peru. BUT, this accessibility is limited, depending on your physical conditions. Machu Picchu is located on a rugged mountain and surrounded by mountains, therefore there are a lot of elevation differences. These are accessible through steep stone steps, which can be very slippery when it rains. Therefore we recommend bringing comfortable walking sticks, with rubber dops and ask for permission to use them on the site. Also, don’t be shy to ask your guide for an additional hand when it is slippery. They have years of experience walking over Machu Picchu and stand a lot stronger than us. Of all the walking circuits you can choose to explore Machu Picchu, Circuit 3B offers by far the best combination of accessibility and quality (enough interesting sites to explore).
Long travel distances in Peru
Peru is a big country (37x the size of the Netherlands) and to travel from one touristic destination to another often takes a long time. Most Peruvians use the efficient interprovincial (overnight) bus network to travel over long distances. Young backpackers in Peru happily use the long distance overnight buses, to save money on a hotel night. But when we get older, our bladder tends to get smaller, or at least most of us will need to urinate more frequently. It is good to know that all the overnight buses have toilets on board. And if you travel with the more luxury overnight buses, Like Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, ExcluCiva, etc. then these toilets are reasonably comfortable and clean, at least when the journey starts. However, these cubicles aren’t very big, so if you are big, then you might have to squeeze a bit to fit in. In my tour groups I’ve also had elderly female travellers who used a diaper on long bus journeys. If you don’t fancy long bus journeys, it is also good to know that most bigger cities in Peru are accessible by comfortable domestic flight services.
Peru trips for senior travellers with mobility restrictions?
If you have difficulty walking, or even (partly) need a wheelchair to move around, is it still worth to visit Peru? The answer to this question will be very personal. Most important is your own motivation. Why would you like to travel to Peru? What would you like to see/ do? If it has always been a dream of you to fly over the Nasca Lines, explore Machu Picchu and visit the Amazon Rainforest, then you should try to fulfil this dream. I won’t lie to you, the infrastructure in Peru isn’t great for elderly people who have difficulties walking and/ or travel (partly) in a wheelchair. Or for any person who needs a wheelchair. It starts already with most of the sidewalks, outside of Lima and Arequipa. They are either too narrow, (heavily) damaged, or simply don’t exists. Therefore (elderly) people with mobility restrictions will need additional assistance while traveling through Peru. This can be a partner, family member or friend who travels with them, or a (specialized) local tour guide, arranged by the (local) travel agent. With the right planning, preparations and assistance, elderly people will also be able to fulfil their dream of visiting Peru.
When I asked our oldest travellers (80 and 70 years old) of this year for recommendations they would give to other elderly people who want to travel to Peru, they gave the following tips:
1. Take medical advice well before the trip and show the doctor your planned itinerary.
2. Pace your journey according to your known energy levels. Build in rest days if needed – there’s plenty to occupy travellers in the bigger cities and towns.
Is Peru accessible for travellers in a wheelchair?
Main archaeological sites and museums have limited wheelchair accessibility and most popular hotels and restaurants are wheelchair accessible. When you pick a hotel, it is important to check if their entrance is flat, if they have an elevator, and if the bedroom and bathroom are big enough to move around. The more modern hotels in popular tourist destinations in Peru often already have additional support bars in their bathrooms. But, as I wrote above, the Peruvian infrastructure in general isn’t adapted to (elderly) people in a wheelchair. The same can be said for Peru’s public transport system. However, with travel assistance and depending on your personal experience and strength, it is still possible to explore Peru in a wheelchair.
Health care on Peru trips for senior travellers
Elderly people tend to use more medication for a variation of old age ailments. Because of this it is important to consult a doctor before traveling to Peru, especially regarding altitude in combination with heart or lung conditions. It is also important to check if the medication you (might) need is available in Peru? Bring necessary prescriptions and carry copies of all your medical information. When bringing important medication on your vacation in Peru we also recommend that you don’t pack everything in the same luggage. Your main luggage might arrive late from your plane, your hand luggage might get stolen, you just never know. On top, we highly recommend that you never travel without a travel insurance with medical coverage.
If you would like to receive more information about Peru trips for senior travellers, for yourself, and/ or any other elderly person who likes to travel to Peru, please let us know. With the right tour itinerary and preparations, Peru can be a wonderful destination for seniors! Whether wandering through ancient ruins, savouring world-class cuisine, or simply enjoying the Andes’ breathtaking scenery, Peru offers unforgettable experiences for travellers of all ages!
