Delta’s Salt Lake City-Lima nonstop returns for winter travel to Peru

Delta will bring back its daily Salt Lake City to Lima route on Dec. 1 for a second winter season, giving Mountain West travelers a one-stop path to Peru and Machu Picchu. Inca Trek by Destination Peru says the service changes the logistics, timing and planning for trips to the Andes.

Why it matters: - Delta’s only nonstop from Utah to South America gives Mountain West travelers a faster way to reach Peru. - The route makes Machu Picchu more practical for travelers who previously faced multiple connections and a lost travel day. - The winter schedule lines up with peak planning for Peru trips, even as travelers need to account for rainy season and limited trail access.

What happened: - Delta’s daily nonstop between Salt Lake City and Lima, Peru, returns Dec. 1 for a second winter season. - The route will run through Jan. 31, 2027. - Utah’s only nonstop to South America launched last December and opened with a sold-out inaugural flight. - The inaugural flight carried a World Trade Center Utah trade delegation of state business and civic leaders. - Jared Snow, founder of Inca Trek by Destination Peru, joined that delegation and later led the Cusco and Machu Picchu portion of the mission. - The University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute reported Snow’s role on the trip.

The details: - Snow said the new route has changed who can realistically make the Machu Picchu trip from the Mountain West. - Snow said Peru travel used to require two or three flights and a lost day for travelers in the West. - Snow said the nonstop lets travelers leave Salt Lake City at night and wake up in Lima. - Inca Trek by Destination Peru says it is the only U.S. and Peruvian-owned company licensed to operate the Inca Trail. - Destination Peru has planned private trips across Peru for 14 years. - Snow holds a Master of Business Creation from the University of Utah. - Snow’s travel guidance for the winter route includes booking Machu Picchu and Inca Trail access early because permits and entry tickets sell out. - Snow said the Inca Trail closes every February. - Snow said December and January bring rainy season in the Andes, with afternoon showers more likely than cancellations. - Snow advises buying travel insurance the day of booking because strikes, protests and weather are only covered if the policy is in place before those events become public. - Snow recommends spending the first nights in the Sacred Valley instead of Cusco because the lower altitude can make the first days easier. - Inca Trek by Destination Peru is licensed by Peru’s SERNANP under credential 11-2022-SERNANP-DGANP. - Destination Peru is based in Woods Cross, Utah. - The company says it has planned private trips across Peru for 14 years. - The company lists more information on LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - The route’s return suggests Delta sees enough demand to keep the winter service going beyond an inaugural launch year. - Snow’s advice points to a trip that is easier to reach but still tightly constrained by permits, weather and altitude. - The nonstop may shorten the travel barrier, but it does not remove the need for early booking and careful planning.

What’s next: - Travelers planning winter 2026-27 trips will need to book flights, permits and insurance well ahead of departure. - Demand for Machu Picchu access is likely to remain the main bottleneck, not the flight itself. - The route will operate through the end of January 2027, giving travelers a limited seasonal window.

The bottom line: - Delta’s returning Salt Lake City-Lima nonstop makes Peru easier to reach from the Mountain West, but successful trips still depend on early reservations and smart timing.