PRACTICAL INFORMATION – PERU

• Official Languages: Spanish,Quechua and Basic English is widely spoken

• Population: approx. 30 million

• Geographic Area: 1,285,220 sq. km (twice the size of Texas or France)

• Capital: Lima - founded January 18, 1535

• Predominant Religion: Roman Catholicism

• Weights & Measures: Metric system

• Electric Voltage: 220 volts, 60 cycles

Entry Requirements – Visas

Visas: Upon entering Peru, all travelers must fill-out an entry form in duplicate. The original stays with immigration; the duplicate is given to the visitor and must be surrendered upon departure. Don't lose it - it'll cost $10 to replace. Usually tourists are given a 90-day visa. Extensions are easily obtained (check with the nearest Immigration office). It's recommended that you leave your passport* and tourist card in the hotel safe and travel locally with photocopies. Note – New Machu Picchu Park regulations state that you must carry your original passport (And ISIC card if aplicable) on the Inca Trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to travel in Peru?

The answer is yes. The international press sometimes reports (with accompanying video footage) public demonstrations, usually against new government policies. These incidents are localized (usually in Lima) and are generally non-violent. The average tourist is unaffected. The only inconvenience one may experience is the occasional one-day transit stoppage (“paro”). This phenomenon is endemic to almost all of South America. As to street crime, common sense should be exercised when traveling in large urban areas. This is true whether it be Lima, New York or London.

When to Go?

Peak travel season for tourists is largely dictated by the weather. Peru experiences two very distinct seasons, wet and dry rather than "summer" or "winter". Peru's high season for travel coincides with the driest (though coldest) months: May through September. June (the month of Inti Raymi in Cusco) and July are considered high season. May and September are particularly good months to visit much of the country with fewer tourists but little rain.

December, January and February are very wet, particularly in the mountains – however the tourists numbers are lower and trekking routes less congested.

Altitude

Lima: Sea level, 54 m / 177 ft (a.s.l) (above sea level)

Cusco: 3,360 m / 11, 028 ft (a.s.l)

Machu Picchu: 2,400 m / 7,875 ft (a.s.l)

Urubamba Valley: 2,850 m / 9,348 ft (a.s.l)

Health Issues: Before traveling to Peru, obtain adequate travelers’ health insurance and consult your physician about necessary immunizations such as polio, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A. Travelers to the Peruvian jungle regions: Manu, Tambopata, Iquitos and the Puerto Maldonado area must consider anti-malarial medication. Yellow fever shots are mandatory for visiting these areas. Cholera vaccinations are not necessary. Again, consult your personal physician or a tropical medicine clinic before traveling. Major cities in Peru have doctors who speak English and other European languages. There are also many private clinics. Before arrival,We must know about any medical restrictions and/or medications you may need. Travelers with heart conditions, respiratory problems or high blood pressure must consult their doctors before traveling to the Andes as the cities of Cusco and Puno are situated at altitudes over 3,200mt-10,500ft. We recommend that each traveler bring his or her own basic medical kit.

Currency: In 1991, the Peruvian government introduced the "Nuevo Sol". There are 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 notes in addition to of 5, 2 and 1 sol coins. There are also coins of 50, 20 and 10 cents.

As of April 2007, the exchange rate was approx. 1 US Dollar = 2.7 Nuevos Soles, and 1 Euro = 4 Nuevos Soles - check www.elcomercio.com.pe for up-to-date rates. We recommend changing money (cash or travelers' checks) in hotels or with the help of your guide. Changing money in the street is common but risky (beware of false notes). Banks or "casas de cambio" (exchange houses) are the better choice. Important note: old or damaged US bills (i.e. a very slight tear) either won't be accepted or will be exchanged at a lower rate. When exchanging cash be sure to have crisp, new notes. Always bring bills of various denominations..

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express are accepted in Peru's major cities. Many smaller towns and tourist locations also accept them. ATM cards can now be used in principle city locations: airports, bank machines and shopping centers. The main banking systems are: Visa/Plus, MasterCard/Cirrus. It's possible to obtain Nuevos Soles (and sometimes dollars) using your bank debit card. There's always a service charge when you use credit and ATM cards. In case of loss or theft, don't forget to have your bank's telephone number to cancel the card.

Water: Drinking tap water is not advisable in Peru. Bottled mineral water is available almost everywhere (hotels, small shops, etc.) at very affordable prices. 3-4 liters of water are sufficient to avoid dehydration, a real problem in high altitude locales like Cusco or the Lake Titicaca region. On treks, jungle and river trips, we boil water in addition to providing purification tablets.

What about food?

Peruvian cuisine is a real delight. The country is divided into three very distinct geographic zones (coast, mountain and jungle) with their own culinary traditions. All should be tried and enjoyed. All throughout Peru are numerous street vendors cooking various dishes; caution is the watchword here. The average “gringo” stomach probably isn’t up to this sort of adventure.

Time Zone

Peru has the same time as the Eastern Standard Time in the United States. Peru is 5 hours behind GMT. (Greenwich Mean Time). Peru does not have daylight saving.

InfoPeru

InfoPeru is a traveler assistance service to help tourists. This service has a 24 hour hot line. For assistance call in Lima 421-1227. Outside of Lima, dial 01 first.

Internet Access

There is public internet access on every corner in the major cities of Peru!!!! The price is generally about 1 sol an hour or US$0.30. Many cabins now feature software to make very inexpensive international calls via the internet. (The quality of this service varies). In smaller villages, there aren’t any phones, let alone internet!

Departure Tax

At all airports, passengers must pay a departure tax: $ 28, for international flights and about $ 5 for domestic flights. This tax must be paid in cash (soles or dollars) before boarding.

Taxis

There are plenty of taxis all over Peru in the major cities with very affordable rates. Because none use meters, we recommend you check the likely rate with the hotel and negotiate a price before (not after) accepting a ride. In Lima it is recommended that the staff of your hotel write down the licence plate of your taxi before you depart.

Tips

Tips vary and depend on the traveller's satisfaction with the quality of the service rendered. In most tourist oriented restaurants, a 10% tip is most appreciated. These people generally earn very low rates of pay and so the tip really helps. Also, if you take photos of indigenous people who are working as “photographic models” in tourist areas, either negotiate a price beforehand or tip generously afterward! When making treks, particularly remember that porters and cooks are not very well paid and that a tip will make all the difference to them!