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Peru Travel Tips |
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Peru Travel
Tips |
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GETTING
AROUND PERU |
Peru is a big country, so many travelers take internal
flights if they have limited time. There are four bigger
companies operating flights (Aero Continente, LanPeru
(co-owned by LanChile), Taca and Tans). There are also a
handful of small airlines flying to remote destinations in
light aircraft. There's an 18% tax on domestic flights and
there's also a US$4 departure tax on domestic flights.
Public buses are the usual mode of transport over long
distances. They are cheap, frequent and relatively
comfortable, at least on major routes. When traveling
between towns, have your passport with you, as it will
need to be shown at police checkpoints. Armed robberies on
night buses are not unheard of in Peru, so travel on a day
bus (or fly) if you have the option. Trucks often double
as buses in remote areas. Local buses are slow, cheap and
crowded; when you want to get off just yell out. Taxi
fares need to be haggled over; there are no metered cabs.
Agree on the fare in advance.
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WHEN TO VISIT PERU |
Peru's peak tourist season is from June to August, which
is the dry season in the highlands, and this is the best
time to go if you're interested in hiking. Travelers do
visit the highlands year-round, though the wettest months,
January to April, make trekking muddy. Many of the major
fiestas occur in the wettest months and continue
undiminished in spite of heavy rain. Basically, there is
tourism in the highlands throughout the year.
On the coast, Peruvians visit the beaches during the sunny
months from late December through March, although few
beaches are particularly enticing. The rest of the year,
the coast is clothed in mist. In the eastern rainforests,
it naturally rains a lot. The wettest months are December
through April, though travelers visit year-round since it
rarely rains for more than a few hours and there's still
plenty of sunshine to enjoy.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO
BRING |
Because Peru is a country of such diversity, what you
bring depends on your travel plans. Bring warm clothes for
the mountains, light clothes for the jungle and a
combination for the coastal deserts, which are warm by day
and cool at night. Items that are difficult to obtain in
the country include: personal medical supplies, a money
belt, sunscreen, good books in your native language and
any electrical equipment you use.
Some other suggestions include: something small and
typical from your home country (for your guest family).
Dictionary; Spanish grammar book in your own language
(there are no Spanish Grammar books or Dictionaries
available in Cusco); email addresses; a guidebook, English
novel books (no good bookstores around). If you plan to do
the Inca Trail or another camping trip we suggest bringing
a warm jumper/sweater; raincoat; walking shoes/hiking
boots; sleeping bag (for Inca Trail, although these can be
rented as well); water purification tablets (can be bought
in Cusco as well); pocket knife; torch/flashlight and
equipment because there is a shortage of trekking supplies
in the country. For the jungle excursions malaria tablets,
mosquito net and a raincoat (all can be bought in Cusco as
well).
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CURRENCY (MONEY) IN
PERU |
The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. There are 100
centavos to each sol. At the time of writing USD $1.00 was
equal to S/.3.45. There are a number of automatic teller
machines that take credit cards and there are numerous "Casas
de Cambio" where Travelers Checks may be cashed or US Cash
may be changed. There are also ATM that excepts Eurocards,
which are Banco Latino and Banco del Sur. It is useful to
arrive with American dollars. When changing money, be
careful that you are not distracted with anything to make
you lose count of what you have been given.
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EXPENSES IN PERU |
The following list gives you some indication of what you
may wish to plan for during your stay in Cusco. Taxis
$0.75; local transport $0.20; a set meal/menu in
restaurant $2.50; a beer in a nightclub $1.75; a coffee in
a trendy café/bar $1.50; a pizza in a nice restaurant $
5.00; international phone call $0.50 per minute; laundry
service $1.00 per kilo; long distance local transport
$13.00 for about 15 hours; email service $0.50/hr.
If you are planning a trip in Peru after the Spanish
Course, you have to consider a $ 15-20 for a tiny budget
including low-budget accommodations, all your meals and
travel expenses. However, there are a couple of expensive
tours you might want to take (e.g. Machu Picchu, river
rafting, etc.). \
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CLIMATE IN PERU |
The rainy season in Cusco occurs from December through
April Students may still walk the Inca Trail, however, it
may be wet at times. During the dry season, temperatures
are hot during the day and very cold at night. It is
recommended that students bring a wet weather coat and a
warm coat for the nights and inside buildings, as they
don't have heating. During the dry season it gets hot
during the day in the sun, but it is always chilly during
the nights, inside the buildings and in the shade. In May,
June and July temperature really drops and it gets pretty
cold. However, it is (almost) always sunny during the day.
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COMMUNICATIONS |
Generally, it'll be no problem to contact home, either by
phone, mail, fax or internet. Long distance phone calls
are about $ 3.00 per minute but there are cheaper
possibilities with Net2Phone etc. There are lots of cyber
cafes in Cusco, the price for an hour of internet is about
$ 1.00. AMAUTA students have internet free included in
their programs.
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VISAS |
No visa is necessary for most western countries (but
please check with the Peruvian Embassy in your home
country). The tourist visa you will get upon arrival at
Lima Airport, will allow you 90 days in Peru. You are
allowed a maximum of three 30-day extensions for up 180
days (6 months) in Peru. Each extension will cost you
about $ 25.00. You might want to consider just crossing
the (Bolivian or Chilean) border, if you need more time in
Peru. It'll take you about two days and you'll be
guaranteed another 90 days.
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TRAVELING |
Generally, it is pretty safe and relatively easy to travel
around by yourself in Peru. There are buses, planes, taxis
etc. all over the country as well as hotels of all
categories. There are all kinds of travelers and tourists
around and it will be easy to meet other people and have a
great trip full of adventure, culture and new friends.
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LAUNDRY |
There are several laundry services in town that charge
about $ 1.00 per kilo to wash and fold, your clothes
normally in 24 hours.
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TAXIS |
Are innumerable. They can be flagged down by shouting
“taxi” or by waving. Upon arrival at Lima airport an
official cap might charge you $ 20 or even $ 25. From any
point of the city to the airport is less expensive, about
$ 8.00 (an unofficial taxi). Within the city (Lima), the
rate will vary from $ 3.00 till $ 8.00. Out of Lima, fares
are cheaper. In Cusco, for example, taxi´s charge S/2.00
during the day and S/3.00 after 22:00 within the city. A
taxi ride from or to the airport is more expensive. We
recommend only official taxis especially during the
nights. The cost is the same and they can be recognized
because they have a phone number on the roof.
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BATHROOMS |
Peruvian toilets rarely have toilet paper, even in the
restaurants. It is best to take your own mini–roll around
with you. Don´t put paper down the toilet as it will block
it. Receptacles are provided, even in the houses, and
these are regularly emptied.
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SHOPPING |
Items purchased in shops and restaurants have fixed prices
and cannot be bargained for. However, items on the street
or in the market are bargainable. Peruvians have learnt
that the tourists have more money than themselves so will
sometimes put up their prices when they see you coming. If
you think you are being conned then start to walk away. If
they don`t call you back with a lower price then you have
probably reached as low as they will go.
The best quality and value lies in handcrafted products.
This particularly applies to gold, silver and copper
works, as well as Peru's rich textile goods. These include
alpaca garments and woven tapestries. Alpaca products are
well worth buying, as long as you are prepared to
hand-wash them with great care. Vendors will often tell
you their goods are made from alpaca “bebé”. This does not
mean baby alpacas, but refers to the wool taken from the
throat of the animal, where it is at its finest and
softest. Most woolen jumpers sold as alpaca are actually
usually a more hardwearing mix of llama wool and synthetic
fibers. Many tourists also take home reproductions of
pre-Columbian ceramics, with gourds being the favorite.
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BUSINESS HOURS
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Most stores are open from 10:00am to 21:00 pm with a long
lunch break between 13:00 pm and 16:00 pm. Banks are open
only in the morning from 9 am to 13:00 and from 4:30 till
18:00 in the afternoon.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE |
Travel Plan:
Plan properly. Find out the details of your flight:
Weight and number of baggage allowed, number of hubs
(break journey), connecting flights, and transit
information (in case you need to change the terminal
during your break of journey).
Give a copy of your travel program with flight details and
the address of stay, to your family and friends.
Inform the person who is coming to receive you about your
flight details well in advance.
Medical Insurance:
If you fall sick or are seriously injured during your stay
abroad, then getting medical care can be extremely
expensive. Make sure to get a medical insurance from any
local health insurance company, or State Insurance
Association, before leaving India. Such insurance covers
all your medical expenses, and also few other things like
loss of luggage etc. But discuss and understand all the
terms and coverage questions before signing it.
** Remember, without medical insurance it could be
extremely expensive to travel abroad, in case of any
health problem.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
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Health Care
It is recommended that prior to arrival, students
undertake a thorough medical examination, purchase health
insurance and consult your physician about the necessary
injections. There is no malaria in the Cusco area!
Sunburn
Don`t forget that the sun is much stronger at tropical
latitudes. It is easy to get sunburnt even when it is
overcast. Take extra precautions to avoid being sunburnt:
wear a hat and use sunscreen. Try not too spend too much
time in the direct sun, especially between 11:00 and
14:00. Be especially careful when going on boat trips as
the wind and reflection of sun from the water will
increase the risk of sunburn. Drinks lots of water.
Stomach Upsets
Symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The best
precaution against this is to avoid uncooked vegetables,
salads and tap water. Eat only fruit that requires
peeling. If living with a host family all your food and
drinks will have been properly prepared, so indulge.
Despite precautions, many visitors are affected by an
upset stomach. If you are affected get plenty of rest and
drink lots of liquids. Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS)
are available from pharmacists and can help you to replace
the fluids lost. If you are affected for more than three
days and/or you have a fever, you should visit a doctor.
Altitude Sickness
Some people experience some discomfort at this
altitude. We recommend at least a day of rest prior to the
commencement of classes. The symptoms are headaches,
dizziness, stomach upset and tiredness. These symptoms can
be managed by reducing the alcohol intake; drinking lots
of fluids; eating light meals and getting plenty of rest.
Safety Issues
Cusco is a relatively safe city but as the urban center
have swollen, so has petty crime. Unfortunately,
pickpockets and thieves have become more and more common
in Lima and Cusco and one should take precautions such as
not taking a taxi alone at night nor walking around on the
street alone after 22:00. Objects such as money and
passports should not be left openly in your room. |
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