Who Can Travel to Peru & Chile Now?

Updated January 27th, 2021

The last quarter of 2020 marked the re-opening of borders in Peru and Chile.

Who can travel to Peru Now?

International flights have been resumed in Chile since November. Currently, six US cities (Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston), as well as additional destinations in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, are being operated from Lima.

Flights from Europe and South Africa remain suspended. This ban has extended to flights from Brazil after reports of a new strain originating in this country. This measure will be applied until February 28th. Other international arrivals will be allowed without any restrictions.

Effective January 4th, residents, foreign residents and foreign travelers must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Perú. The quarantine can be lifted with a negative PCR result based on a test taken from the sixth day of quarantine onwards.

  • To enter the country, all travelers must present a COVID test result issued no later than 72 hours prior to the arrival time in the country.
  • International travelers must submit their information on the app at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
  • The wearing of a mask in public is still compulsory.
  • The last announcement of the President of Peru, Mr Francisco Sagasti, on January 26th has included new measures and restrictions to be applied from January 31st until February 14th such as:
    – In Lima, Ica and other eight regions, the total lockdown, all non-essential shops or venues (restaurants, gym, casinos, museums, archaeological sites, etc) will be closed, while supermarkets and banks will remain open at reduced capacity.
    – In Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and other six regions, the museums and archaeological sites will be closed, the new curfew will be from 8:00pm to 4:00am, private vehicles are banned from transiting on Saturday and Sundays and restaurants, shopping centers, supermarkets and other public venues have reduced more their capacity.

New Rules for Machu Picchu Tours

PeruRail and IncaRail have resumed operations on November 1st. Both companies have implemented safety protocols.

We have summarized all of the information for Machu Picchu tours in this article.

map of Cusco region showing points of interest
Three passengers aboard PeruRail train to Machu Picchu wearing masks

Who Can Travel To Chile Now?

The reopening of the borders for tourists came into effect on November 23rd 2020.

However, due to the discovery of a new COVID-19 variation, flights from/to the UK have been suspended as of December 22nd.

Effective December 31st, all travelers, Chileans, foreign residents and foreign travelers must undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine upon their arrival in Chile. The quarantine can be lifted with a negative PCR result based on a test taken from the seventh day of quarantine onwards.

The release from the Health Ministry (only available in Spanish).

Travel regulations released by the Chilean Health Department before the appearance of the new COVID-19 variation were as follows:

  • It is only permitted to travel between destinations that are under Step 3 (Preparation) or 4 (Initial Opening). Please check the status of each neighborhood (‘comuna’) in the Step-by-Step plan (only available in Spanish).
  • Travelers will need to complete an online health declaration
  • The form can be filled in up to 48 hours prior to the estimated time of arrival in Chile (local time).
  • In addition, it will be necessary to submit a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours prior to boarding.
  • Upon arrival, travelers must show international insurance covering COVID-19 treatment, emergency medical expenses, and evacuation/repatriation.
  • A minimum coverage of USD 30,000 is required.
  • Travelers have to report their locations and eventual symptoms via an app during 14 days of surveillance
  • The app is available for Android and IOS
  • There is no official date for the reopening of Easter Island as of yet, however, it is expected for April 2021.

Where to Stay in Peru

The following hotels are already open and have implemented hygiene protocols. All are offering promotional rates for the coming months:

Where To Stay in Chile

The following hotels are already open or will resume operations in December:

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