Peru
Travel Notes
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Health & required vaccination
No vaccinations are required for passengers travelling throughout the coast
or highlands. Anti Malaria tablets are a very important consideration; 3 days
in areas such as the Tambopata, Manu or other areas of Madre de Dios, require
vaccination against yellow fever.
If you are visiting our rainforests please be sure to update Typhoid, Hepatitis
A, Cholera, and Yellow Fever. It is also important that Polio and Tetanus immunization
be up to date.
Travellers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should check with their
doctors before travelling to high altitudes. Although Peru's altitude goes from
sea level to 6,000 the majority of travellers will be visiting Cusco and Lake
Titicaca which both lie at more than 3,400 meters above the level of the sea
(11,000 feet).
We recommend that travellers drink bottled water. This is a general rule to
follow even though some major cities do have safe drinking water. Three litres
per day in the form of teas, sodas, boiled or purified water is a good rule
to follow in the highlands to avoid dehydration. During the trek and rivers
trips, filtered and/or boiled water will be provided, water purification pills
are also an option. Most hotels offer free bottled water or it is offered at
very low prices, otherwise it can be bought in stores.
Visa & Passport
When entering Peru, travellers will be asked to fill out a white embarkation
card. THIS PIECE OF PAPER IS VERY IMPORTANT, since one cannot leave the country
without it.
We recommend you either staple it into your passport and also make a copy of
your passport and embarkation card; all of this is important in case the originals
are lost.
Taxes
In most airports a security tax must be paid. This is approximately US$4.00
or S/.12.00 (Soles) and can vary. In Lima and other airports the international
departure tax is US$25.00, which must be paid at a local bank at the airport,
prior to
departure and immigration, in Soles or US Dollars.
Sales tax on goods and services in shops and restaurants is 18%, and is generally
included in the prices shown.
Official language
The main language is Spanish and Quechua is widely spoken in the Andes and
Aymara.
Electric voltage
The electricity supply is Ac 220 volts, 60 cycles.
Weather
On the Coast it is mostly sunny from November to May, our summer; and cloudy
the rest of the year. Temperatures vary from 20ºC to 30ºC, in the
summer and 10º to 20º in the winter. In the Andes the "dry season"
is between April and October (intermittent rains can be expected) and the "wet
season" is between December and March. The average temperature throughout
the year ranges from 8.5ºC / 47.3ºF between June and August, to 10.8ºC
/ 51.4ºF, between September and May. The huge contrast is between day and
night, with sharp temperature drops following the sunset. (at times as much
as 15ºC).
In the Rainforest rain is expected all year round as well as high temperatures.
From November to May the rain is heavier, and the rivers rise, whereas from
May to September the overall temperatures are cooler, but never cold!
Currency
In 1991 the Government introduced the Nuevo Sol. It is advised to have enough
dollars, in cash, at hand. The average rate is $1.00 = 3.50 Soles (although
this may vary). Changing money in the street is common but risky. It is recommended
to make use of the Money Exchange Offices Known as "Casas de Cambio",
or banks whenever possible.
Note: Dollar bills with rips or tears will generally not be accepted, or they
can be exchanged at a significantly lower rate. Often merchants don't have much
cash at hand, so it's always good to carry enough small bills and change. Credit
Cards & Travellers Checks are welcomed in most cities of Peru (Visa, MasterCard,
Diners and American Express), but bring cash for small towns or pueblos. It
is hard to change Travellers Checks to cash dollars, given that only banks will
exchange these.
You will find Automatic Teller Machines (cash points) in the bigger cities.
Most of them are located in airports, near banks or in major shopping malls.
Shopping
Lima's shops, galleries and markets offer a typical sampling of Peruvian crafts.
The markets are usually less expensive, but unlike the shops, there is no quality
guarantee. Store hours are approx. 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturdays.
Outside of Lima, vendors can be found every day of the week in designated areas,
usually around the main squares in cities like Cusco, as well as regular stores.
Always agree on prices in advance, for goods and services, e.g. taxis, guides,
handicrafts, food in the markets.
