What is the time difference in Peru?

Peru is on GMT-5 all year round. It does not observe daylight saving time, so the clocks never change. In winter, Peru is on the same time as New York. In summer, it is one hour behind New York.

Because the US, Canada and the UK change their clocks twice a year, the time difference with Peru changes too.

Time difference from home

The whole country is in a single time zone: Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon all share the same time.

Calling home from Peru

From North America, calling home is easy: the difference is three hours at most. From the UK, the best window is the morning in Peru. Between 7 and 10 am in Lima, it is between noon and 3 pm in London in winter.

When does it get dark in Peru?

Peru is close to the equator, so day length barely changes during the year. The sun rises around 5:30 or 6 am and sets around 6 pm. Plan your visits with this in mind: in the mountains, the light fades quickly in the late afternoon and temperatures drop as soon as the sun goes down.

Jet lag

For North American travelers, jet lag is minimal. The real challenge is altitude. If you fly to Cusco the day after you arrive, read our article on altitude sickness first.

From Europe, flights usually land in Lima in the evening. Go to bed at local time, even if your body thinks it is the middle of the night.

Time and punctuality in Peru

Peruvians have a more relaxed relationship with time than most North Americans or Europeans. Schedules are often approximate, and a meeting set for 10 am may start at 10:20. As everywhere in Latin America, patience and a sense of humor go a long way. Your Antipode guides and drivers, however, will be on time. That is our commitment.