Rules for overlanding in Peru

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 5 March 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An Italian licence covers a stay of up to 6 months, and an International Driving Permit on the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna Convention model is recognised. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Third-party liability cover is compulsory. Short-term cover can be bought on arrival at the border, at Tacna or at Tumbes; the premium depends on the vehicle's value, the risks covered and how long you need it.
Temporary import — A carnet de passages en douane is required, and temporary import of a vehicle lasts a maximum of 12 months.
Alcohol — The limit is 0.05%. Above it you are treated as drunk and face a fine of 3,700 PEN, a 12-month licence suspension and seizure of the vehicle. Drivers involved in a crash are tested, and a positive breath test is followed by a blood sample.
Helmet and hi-vis — A protective helmet and a reflective jacket are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers, and both must carry the motorcycle's registration number.
Seatbelts and lights — Seatbelts are compulsory on every seat fitted with one; there are no rules on child restraints. Lights must be on at all times outside built-up areas, and at night inside them.
Equipment on board — A warning triangle must be carried and used in a crash or breakdown. A first-aid kit is compulsory on all trucks and buses, and a fire extinguisher on all tourist coaches, whether registered in Peru or abroad.
Roads — Using the road network can be risky: it is in a precarious state and badly maintained. The ministry strongly recommends driving in daylight only, avoiding secondary rural roads at night, and checking road conditions before setting off — in the rainy season (January to March) and in the Andean and Amazon regions they are often cut by landslides.
Priority and horns — Drive on the right and overtake on the left. Give way to vehicles coming from the right, and traffic entering a roundabout gives way to traffic already in it. Horns are banned in built-up areas except in an emergency.

What catches travellers out

Drugs — Tourists get no special treatment. Even personal-use quantities are an offence, and someone recognised as a user is normally placed in a rehabilitation centre for some months. A quantity that amounts to "presumed trafficking" brings 6 years and 8 months to 18 years in prison. Never carry parcels or gifts for anyone without checking the contents.
Drones — Importing drones and radio-controlled devices needs a special permit from the Peruvian Ministry of Communications. Contact the authorities first or the equipment can be seized on arrival.
Crossing into Ecuador — Ecuadorian border authorities may still require every foreigner entering overland from Peru or Colombia to show an apostilled Spanish-language criminal record certificate covering the last 5 years, or else submit to a check against the national SIMIEC database. The ministry advises maximum caution at these crossings.
Cash — There are no currency restrictions on entry. Euros are changed only at some bank branches and at a poor rate, while the US dollar is accepted almost everywhere. Change money only at banks or exchange bureaux to avoid counterfeit notes from street changers.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 5 March 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Peru before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 5 March 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.