Travel Information

About Peru

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Currency
  Peru's official currency is the Nuevo Sol, divided into 100 centavos. The US dollar is the second currency and many hotels, plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars across Peru accept US dollars for payment. Partly, the Euro is also accepted. Banks are no longer the place of choice in Peru for exchanging money: Lines are too long and rates are often lower than at 'casas de cambio' (exchange houses) or by using credit or debit card ATMs or 'cambistas' (money-changers), which are legal in Peru. Money-changers, often wearing colored jackets with "$" insignias and photo checks, can be found on the street. They offer current rates of exchange, but count your money carefully and make sure you have not received any counterfeit bills. We recommend bringing USD cash for the first days.

• ATMs, travelers' checks and credit cards
  Peru is still very much a cash society. In small towns, it could be impossible to cash traveler's checks or use credit cards. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are the best way of getting cash in Peru; they are found in most towns and cities. ATMs with the Maestro sign allow customers to withdraw money with a credit or debit card. Visa and MasterCard ATM cards are the most widely accepted. American Express and Diners Club are less common. You can easily pay with credit card in most of the stores in tourist cities. Note that many banks assess a 1% to 3% 'transaction fee' on all charges you incur abroad. Traveler's checks can be changed in the largest banks. Generally speaking you'll pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%. Most stores don't accept traveler's checks.
   
• Travel visa requirements
  For more information about visa requirements, click in this link
   
• Tipping
  A tip in Peru, like in most of the countries in South America, is given to reward good service. Porters in hotels and airports expect US dollar 2 for 2 luggage pieces. A 5-10% tip is sufficient in most restaurants unless the service has been exceptional. There is no need to tip taxi drivers. Fares are negotiated before departure. It is customary to offer your tour guides and driver a token of appreciation at the tour's end (of course of you feel pleased with the service).
   
• Taxis
  There are numerous taxi providers in Lima and other cities who offer reservations by telephone or hotel. These taxis are safer and drivers may understand some English. Street taxis are cheaper but not that safe. In any case, due to the fact there are no taximeters you should negotiate the price in advance.
   
• Bargaining
  At stores and in open markets, bargaining -gentle, good-natured haggling over prices- is accepted and even expected. However, be careful of getting the haggling fever and trying to bargain beyond reason. Consider how important the one or two extra dollars are to you compared to how important they might be to the vendor. Bargaining is not common in restaurants.
   
• Phone calls and internet access
  It is relatively simple to make local and long-distance domestic and international calls from pay phones, which accept coins and phone cards 'tarjetas telefónicas'. Many of these cards can be purchased at newspaper kiosks and street vendors. Most phone booths display country and city codes and contain instructions in English and Spanish. Peru's country code is +51. Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Mobile phones can be rented in Lima and the main cities.
   
• Internet access
  Internet access in Peru is very cheap. The rates vary between USD 0.50 and USD 1.00 per tour. Also, you will be able to find Internet Cafes, where most of the times you will be able to access for free via wireless Internet.
   
• Electricity
  All outlets are 220 volts, 60 cycles (except in Arequipa, which operates on 50 cycles) with two-prong outlets that accept both flat and round prongs. Some large hotels also have 110-volt outlets.
   
• Airport Taxes
  At the beginning of 2011 the aviation authority of Peru determined that the airport taxes for flights starting in Lima, Cuzco, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Piura, Cajamarca or Tumbes, must be included in the ticket fare. The amount varies from destination to destination. The approximate costs are about USD 5 for domestic flights and USD 31 for international flights.
   
• Time zone
  GMT- 5 hours

 

CLIMATE

Peru's climate can be divided into two seasons - wet and dry - though this can vary depending on the region. Temperature is mostly influenced by elevation: the higher you climb, the cooler it becomes.

• Coast and close areas - Lima, Ica, Nasca, Arequipa
   The coastal region of Peru is cool for its latitude and quite dry year-round. Temperatures are warmest during the summer months (December to March), with hot and humid days of around 29°C (84°F) and cool nights of just below 20°C (68°F). Winters (from April to November) are not too cold but extremely humid.
   
• Highlands (Andes) - Cusco, Puno
  The highlands have a rainy season (November to April) and a dry season (May to October), when the days are clear and sunny but very cold at night especially at altitude. Dry season is therefore ideal for trekking and for mountaineering. Daytime temperatures will generally be between 16°C - 21°C (60°F and 70°F), although in the intense sunlight of midday it can feel warmer. Night time temperatures will fall as low as -7°C (20°F).
   
• Rainforest (Selva) - Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado
  Although the Amazon jungle is consistently humid and tropical, with significant rainfall year-round, it, too, experiences two clearly different seasons. During the dry season (May to October), temperatures reach 30°C – 38°C (86°F and 100°F) during the day. From November to April, there are frequent rain showers (which last only a few hours at a time), causing the rivers to swell; temperatures are similarly steamy.

HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

• Immunizations
  You should visit your personal physician for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Peru. The following are the recommended vaccinations for Peru: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhus, hepatitis A/B, rabies. P A yellow-fever vaccine is strongly recommended for trips to the Amazon (Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos). The vaccine is required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or Latin America. The yellow-fever certificate is valid 10 days after vaccination and for a subsequent period of 10 years.
  Malaria is prevalent in northern parts of Peru and in Iquitos (Amazon). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommends taking anti-malarial drugs. Please refer to your doctor for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication.
   
• Protection against insects
   You will find  "mosquitoes" and other stinging insects especially in the rainforest. A good protection not only prevents from itching eczemas but also from transmission of diseases such as Malaria or yellow fever. The main messages are: wear light-colored clothing; wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts; use mosquito repellents containing the compound DEET on exposed areas; avoid perfumes and aftershave. Use a mosquito net impregnated with mosquito repellent (permethrin). In case you have a very sensitive skin you could use an anti-allergic cream, for example 'After bite' or 'Bite away' that reduces the itchiness. Double-check that your lodge provides a mosquito net in your room.
   
• Food & Drink
   The standards for health and hygiene in the larger cities and touristy regions are relatively high. Nevertheless, travelers should drink only bottled water, which is widely available. Do not drink tap water, even in major hotels, and try to avoid drinks with ice. If you're trekking in the mountains or visiting remote rural areas where bottled water is not available, boil water to purify it or use water-purification tablets. You are safer eating fruits that you can peel or salads and fruits washed with purified water, as well as foods that have been thoroughly cooked. Your best bet is to eat at clean restaurants and to avoid food vendors.
   
• Altitude sickness
   When your trip into the Andes is rationally organized, there is just a minimal risk to suffer on altitude sickness for a healthy person. Even a good recovery is possible. You should take enough time to acclimatize especially in Andean cities like Cusco 3,360m (11,023ft) or Puno 3,827m (12,556ft). We recommend avoiding physical efforts during the first few hours as well as alcohol. Try to eat light food and drink a lot of water, especially the local coca tea is recommended in case of altitude sickness. People with cardiovascular disease should not stay in an altitude over 2,000m.

Since rational acting still helps when altitude disease already started, the following hints should be considered:

Most important is to recognize the disease as soon as possible. Early warnings are:
Headache, nausea, absence of appetite, insomnia, shortly breathlessness during night, loss of power, water edema underneath the skin, impared vision, accelerated headertbeat of over 20% while resting.

Late warnings are:

Rapid loss of power, constant, heavy headache, insomnia by effort, fast breathing while sleeping, tachycardia, heavy nausea, regurgitation, dry cough, disturbance of equilibrium, dizziness, obnubilation, photosensitivity, less than ½ l expulsion of urine per 24 hours; patient allowed to descend on his own! 

The reason why people suffer on altitude-sickness is that air-pressure is falling with increasing altitude. That leads to descent oxygen content in the air. Less oxygen content means less oxygen absorbtion in the lunges. This causes an undersupply of oxygen. The altitude-sickness can be counteracted by inhaling pure oxygen. We recommend to carry an oxygen-bottle with you. You can buy one for 13 Dollars. You should order as soon as possible, so oxygen bottles will be available for you in time.
 

SAFETY

Staying safe
Peru has not earned a great reputation for safety among travelers, although the situation is no longer as dangerous as during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Peru recognizes that tourism plays an important part in its developing economy and has taken great steps in the last few years to change its security record. The possibility of having a bad experience can be greatly reduced by taking a few simple precautions:

• Copy all important documents (passport, air tickets) and carry only copies with you
• Leave your valuables and important documents such as passport, international flight tickets, jewelery at the hotel, if possible in the safe. In case there is only one safe in the reception obtain a receipt with each item listed
• If necessary carry important documents and cash in a belt under your clothes
• Keep an eye and a hand on your things at all times. Be especially cautious in crowded places, especially at touristy places as in Lima and Cusco; rural areas are widely safe
• Remember that you are subject to the laws of Peru, and it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with these laws before leaving. Drug trafficking is a serious crime. The export of cultural or artistic items from the country is not permitted
• Avoid walking alone in quiet areas or at night. Travel in a group if possible and tell somebody where you go if you are alone
• In case you get into trouble with authorities insist on seeing their identification
• Check your change and check the banknotes and coins. If necessary, ask for other change
   

PACKING CHECK LIST

Clothing

• Sweatshirts
• Fleece jacket
• Rain jacket
• Trousers or convertible pants
• Cargo shorts
• T-shirts
• Socks
• Underwear
• Hat or cap
• Hiking shoes
• Sandals
• Swimsuit 
   

Toiletries

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Nail scissors and nail file
• Shaving kit
• Cosmetics
• First-aid-kit 
• Insect repellent
• Ointment
• Aspirin or light pain killer
• Sunblock
• Sun glasses

 

Others

• Passport
• Air tickets
• Cash
• Credit or debit card
• Copies of all personal documents
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Daypack for short stays (e.g. Machu Picchu, jungle trip or Suasi Island)
• Adapter for flat connection 110V
• Pocket knife
• Pocket lamp
• Vaccination record
• Small presents (pens, booklets, small toys etc.)