If you’re moving to the Sacred Valley, it’s actually not that difficult to bring your furry friends with you. Here’s how.

If you’re coming from the USA, you’ll need a ‘US Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals’ certificate from your vet. He or she will also have to give your pet a health check.  

From Canada, the procedure is pretty similar, but you’ll have to have your paperwork certified by your vet according to Canada Food Inspection Agency (or CFIA) regulations.

Flights from the USA and Canada aren’t all that far, but if you’re coming from a more distant country, consider whether the stress of taking several planes is worth it for your pet – there are no direct international flights to Cusco, so you will likely have to fly into Lima, find a hotel that takes pets, then book a connecting flight.

Speaking of flights, when making your reservations, book a ticket for your pet, too. If your pet is small, it may be possible to bring them into the cabin as carry-on baggage. If not, they’ll have to travel in the cargo section, and you may have to pay an extra fee.

To be sure everything is in order, confirm several times with your airline to ensure they’ve reserved a space for your pet, and once you’re on the plane, have the stewardess confirm that your pet is on board.

Once you pass through customs in Peru, you’ll go to the baggage carousel. Animals are sometimes brought after luggage, to ensure their safety. After you get your pet, you’ll have to pay a fee of around $35 USD at customs.

For more information, check with the Peruvian Consulate closest to you. And if it’s too stressful for you to manage moving your pet, you can hire someone to do so for you, such as PetTravelCenter.Com.