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Peru Travel
Tips |
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Peru
Travel Tips |
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GETTING AROUND PERU
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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