Easier to Get to (and Around)

Because Peru was one of LAN's home areas, the airline has operated flight connections from various US cities to its Lima base for many years. However, as a result of its recent merger with TAM, the airline now connects passengers to many more locations around South America. LATAM now flies from Lima to Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD), and is member of the Oneworld alliance, so you may use your AAdvantage miles to fly there. To fly from the continental US to Peru in economy or business class, you'll need 20,000 or 30,000 miles each way. Within Peru, you can book awards for 10,000 miles each way in economy or 20,000 miles in business class.

American also flies to Lima from Miami (MIA) and Dallas (DFW) – award fares for economy and business class are the same. AA, on the other hand, offers off-peak economy rewards on its own flights to the South America 1 zone from January 16 to June 14 and September 7 to November 14, with awards starting at just 17,500 miles each way during those times. You can also fly Delta via Atlanta (ATL) and United via Houston (IAH) or Newark (EWR).

Once in Peru, flights between major cities such as Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Puerto Maldonado are relatively cheap and frequent on a variety of airlines such as LATAM, Star Alliance carrier Avianca (though some planes are still labeled TACA), and upstarts such as Peruvian Airlines.