Arrival Time at Airports in Peru
 

How far in advance should you arrive at the airport for the internal flights throughout Peru? Is 2 hours in advance of your flight enough time?

Generally yes. In fact, in the smaller airports, you can arrive 1 hour (or even less) in advance and have no problems at all.

Thanks, that's good to know. Would Cusco be considered one of the smaller airports?

The domestic airlines' websites in Peru all seem to say they recommend checking in two hours in advance for internal flights and may deny boarding to passengers who don't check in at least one hour in advance. Two hours is probably overkill at some of the really tiny airports. Cusco is physically a small airport, but receives a lot of passenger traffic, more than the facility can handle at times. I would give that one two hours just to be on the safe side.

Now when you leave Peru, they'll suggest a three-hour check-in in Lima. My experience is that you do need almost all that time.

Thanks for the info -- our flights to Arequipa from Lima and Arequipa to Cusco say 2 hours. But the flight on Taca from Cusco to Lima says three hours in advance. Given the flt leaves at 7:55, getting to the Airport at 5 am seemed at bit much.

I'm someone who gets to the airport when he's told, so I'm not about to tell you that less than three hours is okay. :)

Early morning is one of those busy times with several flights coming in and out of Cusco's airport, so TACA must have its reasons. If it's any consolation, the airport is reasonably close to the center of the city. It doesn't take long to get there.

Almost no one stays in the center city. Most people stay in Miraflores which is almost an hour from the airport.

I'd rather get to airports early then rush or miss a flight. I believe Jeff CR is referring to the Cusco airport being close to the city center. RBCal, I think you are referring to the time from Miraflores, where we are staying in Lima, to the Lima airport, yes? And you're saying it's an hour from Miraflores to the Lima Airport? Wow, we have a 6 am flight departing Lima to return to the USA. So we would need to leave our hotel in Miraflores at 2 am in order to allow 3 hours pre-flight and 1 hour to get to the airport?

Yes, I was talking about Cusco's airport being close to the center of the city. That's where most of Cusco's hotels are.

The one and only thing I dislike about going to Peru is the flight schedules between the United States and Lima. You are usually confronted with issues like these. You come and go in the overnight hours. That's when the bulk of the big flights are.

Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima is quite slow-moving for departures and with a lot of security to go through. There is a first round of security in the check-in line. Then another round takes place at the metal detector and X-ray machine as you enter the boarding area. Then there's a third round at your boarding gate itself. Come to think of it, you don't even get into the area by the check-in counters without showing your passport and ticket/e-ticket. That part is usually pretty quick. I've found if I don't get there at the check-in counter when they start processing passengers for my flight, that I get backed up, especially in those second and third rounds. Passengers certainly do arrive later than three hours before their international flights, but they spend all their time in these long lines.

There are some nice shops at the airport and a food court (even McDonald's if you're so inclined), so there are things to keep you occupied.

I've resigned myself to this being the price you pay to visit one of the world's most amazing countries. I can't think of a single other complaint about going to Peru. It will be a great trip. :)