South American travelers are choosing southern Peru in record numbers. Brazilian and Chilean tourists in Cusco continue to explore the historic citadel of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and surrounding archaeological parks. Daily passenger arrivals at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport reflect this surging regional demand. Travelers land daily on direct flights from Santiago de Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia, as well as connections via Lima, Arequipa, and Puerto Maldonado.
New Direct Flights to Brazil Open Global Connections
Latam Airlines manager Manuel Van Oordt confirmed that over 200,000 Brazilian travelers visited Cusco during 2025. This momentum will grow significantly starting March 26, 2027. Latam will launch four weekly direct flights connecting Cusco with São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. Van Oordt highlighted that this non-stop route creates a direct gateway for visitors from Brazil, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Paola Marín Ugarte, Director General of Civil Aeronautics at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), described the direct route as a major aviation milestone. Officials expect the initial phase to transport at least 48,000 passengers. Government agencies anticipate steady volume growth as international awareness expands across South American markets.
Expanded Santiago Routes and Hub Integration
The connection between Santiago de Chile and Cusco also shows remarkable performance. Latam currently operates seven weekly flights on this route. The airline will increase operations to 10 weekly frequencies next year. In addition, Sky Airline obtained permits to operate seven weekly flights, bringing the corridor to 17 total weekly services.
The Cusco-Santiago route moved over 104,000 passengers in 2025. Projections indicate traffic will surpass 115,000 passengers in 2026. This connection serves Chilean holidaymakers as well as travelers arriving from southern Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
The MTC is also strengthening domestic routes, including connections with Chiclayo to capture traffic arriving on international flights from Panama. By improving regional flight frequencies, officials aim to establish Cusco as a premier aviation hub for southern Peru, directly benefiting local hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and artisan communities.
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