Peru received 2.53 million international tourists from January to September 2026

Mincetur report highlights the arrival of travelers from Chile and the United States

Tourists visiting Ancash lakes. ANDINA/Promotional material.

Tourists visiting Ancash lakes. ANDINA/Promotional material.

16:23 | Lima, nov. 3.

By Sonia Dominguez

Peru received 2,539,579 international tourists between January and September of this year, representing a slight contraction of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2025 (2,517,000), according to figures from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) portal.

The results through September were driven primarily by the arrival of international tourists from Chile, with 501,000 visitors—accounting for 19.7% of the total—though this represents a 7.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.

Next were the United States with 481,000 tourists (18.9% of the total, an increase of 3.3%), Ecuador with 215,000 tourists (8.4%, a decline of 3.6%), Brazil with 140,000 tourists (5.4%, an increase of 1.2%), Bolivia with 138,000 tourists (5.4%, a decline of 3.5%), and Colombia with 125,000 tourists (4.9%, a decline of 8.4%).


By regional blocs


Mincetur noted that, in terms of regional blocs, the arrival of tourists from South America accounted for 48.7% of total arrivals (1,236,450 international tourists). Additionally, North America accounted for 24.5% (621,000 tourists), Europe for 18.2% (461,000 tourists), Asia for 4.5% (113,000 tourists), and Central America for 2.8% (70,000 tourists).

Regarding the entry of international tourists into Peru through various immigration control points, Jorge Chávez International Airport (AIJC) stood out, handling 1.7 million international tourists (a 66.8% share).

It was followed by the Santa Rosa border control point in Tacna, which recorded the entry of 363,000 tourists (14.3%); the Tumbes Binational Border Service Center (CEBAF), which saw 188,000 tourists (7.4%); and the Desaguadero/Carancas/CEBAF border control point in Puno, which recorded 120,000 tourists (4.7%).




Traveler profile


Mincetur reported that, of the total number of tourists who visited the country from January to September of this year, 51.9% were men and 48.1% were women.

In terms of age groups, the primary segments consisted of tourists aged 45 to 63 (19.7%) and 35 to 44 (31.4%), followed by the 25–34 age group (19.9%) and the 35–44 age group (18.4%).

Regarding the duration of their stay, 39% stayed for 1 to 3 nights, while 30.7% stayed for between 4 and 7 nights.

As for marital status, 75.6% identified as single, 22.8% as married, and 1.2% as divorced. and 0.4% were widowed.

Regarding the mode of transport used to enter the country, air travel was the most common (69.7%), followed by land travel (29.2%); meanwhile, travel by sea accounted for 0.8%, and river travel for 0.3%.


Main attractions


According to Mincetur, nine of the 12 primary natural tourist sites recorded year-on-year increases in visitor numbers between January and August of this year. Notable examples include the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve (a 229.6% increase), the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca (81.5%), and the Paracas National Reserve (70.5%).


Departure of travelers


According to Mincetur, the number of Peruvian residents traveling abroad from January to September reached a total of 2,561,484—a year-on-year increase of 1.1%. This figure also represents a 3.3% increase over the numbers recorded during the same period (January–September) in 2019.

67% of these Peruvian residents departed via Jorge Chávez International Airport, while 20% left through the Santa Rosa border control point in Tacna.

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(END) SDD/MDV


Published: 11/3/2026