Tourism in Peru began developing in the 1990s with the stabilization of the economy and the build up of tourist infrastructure. Now tourism makes up the nation's third largest industry behind fishing and mining. Tourism is directed towards archeological monuments, ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon, cultural tourism in colonial cities, gastronomic tourism, adventure tourism, and beach tourism.

According to a Peruvian government study, the satisfaction rate for tourists after visiting Peru is 94%. Tourism is the most rapidly growing industry in Peru, growing annually at a rate of 25% over the past five years. Tourism is growing in Peru faster than any other country in South America. The most popular countries of origin for tourists are the United States, Chile, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Canada, and Italy.

Peru does not have one clear national airline, but rather various different airlines offering service to Peru from North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Some of the most popular airlines are LAN Perú, TACA Peru, and Star Peru. The country's airports are also served by many international airlines from various different nations. The Jorge Chavez International Airport, located in Lima is the nation's leading international airport and received 7,507,811 passengers in 2007. Domestic air travel also serves as a major method for tourists to traverse the country with multiple airlines offering service between many of Peru's cities.

Additionally, Peru has land borders with five countries and has highway connections with all but Colombia. International bus routes are operated on each of these highways providing service from Peruvian cities to various other South American cities. Domestically, the highway system is extensive and covers nearly the entire country excluding the department of Loreto which can only be accessed by boat or airplane. There are frequent buses belonging to a variety of bus companies traveling throughout the country. These buses range in size and comfort but usually contain cushioned reclining seats and a form of onboard entertainment such as a movie or music. Many of these buses offer bus-camas or sleeper buses which allow seats to recline to become beds.

Another major form of transport in Peru is rail. There are two major railway systems in Peru, one located in the central part of the country and the other in the south. The central railway starts at sea level in Lima and transverses the Andes crossing through the Junin and Huancavelica Departments. The southern railway is the one most commonly utilized by tourists as a segment of its route goes from the city of Cusco to the citadel of Machu Picchu, a major tourist attraction. This route offers a variety of seating options ranging from economy class to first class. This railway originates in the city of Mollendo in the Arequipa Department and goes through the Puno and Cusco departments, passing through the cities of Arequipa, Puno, Juliaca, the citadel of Machu Picchu, and ends at Cusco. The railway is operated by PeruRail, the largest railway manager in Peru.

Another important mode of transportation in Peru, particularly in the Amazonian area is river transport. Various river transportation companies operate routes between the cities of the Peruvian Amazon. The main hubs of this network, are the cities of Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas. Because of the lack of roads in this region, river transport, along with air travel, form the most important methods of transport.

The tourism industry makes up 7% of the Peruvian gross domestic product and is the fastest growing industry in the country. It is regulated by the Commission for the Promotion of Peru (PromPeru) belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Commerce and Tourism. Tourism employs 10.8% of the labor force in Peru (484,000 direct and 340,000 indirect jobs) the majority of them belonging to the hotel and transportation industries.