Peru is opening up a period of expanded accessibility from the U.S., with new direct flights adding options for travelers heading to Lima. Beginning this month, LATAM Airlines has introduced a nonstop route from Orlando (MCO) to Lima (LIM). Delta Air Lines followed with seasonal service between Salt Lake City (SLC) and Lima, operating through Jan. 25, 2026.
Holiday Escapes in Peru
For those planning seasonal stays, the Sacred Valley outside Cusco provides a different rhythm during the holidays. While rain is common at Machu Picchu and throughout the valley in December, sites remain open daily, including Christmas Day. The landscape of terraced farmland and stone-built towns remains a draw. Holiday meals often feature pork, tamales, trout and quinoa, served with traditional corn-based beverages such as chicha.
Along the coast, December marks the start of summer, with Lima and Paracas offering warmer weather and extended daylight. Lima’s plazas and public spaces feature nativity scenes and lights, and restaurants deliver holiday menus built around Peruvian seafood and seasonal dishes. New Year’s Eve brings a highlight with fireworks displays lighting the city’s shoreline. South of Lima, Paracas offers coastal resorts and protected marine reserves. Visitors often tour the Ballestas Islands to observe sea lions and Humboldt penguins, followed by time at the beach or a seafood lunch in view of the desert-meets-ocean horizon.
Of note is the introduction of a hands-on archaeology program in northern Peru for 2026. Ancient Odysseys, a U.S.-based tour operator, will offer limited departures for travelers to assist in real excavation work at Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the largest adobe city in the world. The program, led by National Geographic Explorer Dr. Gabriel Prieto, brings participants into fieldwork alongside archaeologists studying and protecting the remains of pre-Inca civilizations along the northern cultural corridor.
For more information, visit peruagent.com and ancientodysseys.com.
