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TRAVEL TIPS
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Entry Requirements
Passport needed. Visas are required only from the following countries: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Russia,
Pakistan, India, and China. Vaccines are necessary only if travelers are visiting areas where there is an epidemic such
as yellow fever and hepatitis B.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Peru.
Currency
The local currency is the Nuevo Sol. At the time of this writing, the exchange rate (which can fluctuates daily) was 2.85
soles to the US dollar.
Tipping
Most of the restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill, but some do not. The total tip should be about 15 percent.
Health
Because of the big altitudes on
which the attractive sites are
located (Cusco 3300 m / 12000 ft) it
may occur problems concerning the
atmospheric height in the passenger's health (soroche =
extreme exhaustation, decrease of the pressure, stomach uneasiness, headache, dehydration,
upset heart).
We recommend to spend 2 days of
cclimatization before physical efforts, to take
big amounts of water, to eat lightly and to control
the consumption of alcoholic drinks the first 2 days.
People with pressure or heart
problems must consult to their
doctors. For our tours that include walks: The whole
equipment is loaded by our carriers or
by our mules and horses. It is important that you get ready physically for this adventure
(especially legs, lungs and heart) and in case
of buying a new equipment make sure
on walking a considerable time in
your acquired shoes before using
them in your trek. It is extremely important that
you let us know if you have
any problem concerning your health
like by instead: allergies, medical
prescriptions, etc.
We advise to bring with you your own first aids.
Peru Travel Tips & Advices
Social conventions and shaking hands
are the customary form of greeting. Visitors should follow normal social courtesies.
The
atmosphere is generally informal. A small gift
to a local companion or home country is sufficient. Dress is usually informal,
although for some business meetings and social occasions men wears a jacket and tie. Life is conducted at a leisurely pace.
Tipping
Service charges of 10 per cent are added to all bills. Additional tips of 5 per cent are expected. Taxi drivers do not
generally expect tips.
International Travel:
Note: Street crime is a problem, particularly in Lima and Cusco. Street demonstrations, sometimes violent, are a common form
of protest in Perù.. Visitors should avoid all protests and
violent demonstrations. Domestic terrorism in
Perù has long ago ended but
has not been wholly eradicated. By the end of 2004 and early 2005, a number of rabies cases were reported
followed by vampire bats bites in the
department of Amozonas near the border with Ecuador. It is advised that visitors to the Huaraz /
Huayhuash trekking circuit contact the tourist police prior to travel.
Air
Peru’s national airlines are NuevoContinente (N6) (website: www.nuevocontinente.com), Lan Perú (LP) (website: www.lan.com)
and Taca Perú (TA) (website: www.taca.com).Other airlines with regular services to
Perù include Aerolíneas Argentinas,
Aeroméxico, AeroPostal, Air Madrid,
ALITALIA, American Airlines, Avianca, Continental, Copa, Delta Airlines, Iberia, KLM,
Lacsa, LAN Chile, Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, Lufthansa, Servivensa, Transportes Aéreos Militares Ecuatorianos (TAME), United
Airlines and Varig. Air Canada, Air Plus and Cubana plan to launch services to
Perù soon. Many other airlines have
representatives in Perù.
Approximate flight times
From Lima to London is 15 hours (including stopover in Madrid), to Los Angeles is six hours, to Miami is five hours and to
New York is nine hours. Direct flights from Europe take between 12 hours (from Madrid) and 14 hours (from Frankfurt).
International airports
Lima (LIM) (Jorge Chávez International; website: www.lap.com.pe) airport is 16km (10 miles) northwest of the city's center
(travel time – 25 minutes). Taxis to the city center are available. Airport facilities include a duty free and handicrafts
shop, banks/bureaux de change, left luggage facility,
drugstore, medical center, Internet
cafè, car hire (Avis, Budget,
Hertz, National and Thrifty), coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Cusco (CUZ), located in the south, receives flights from
La Paz (Bolivia).
Departure tax
US$28 from Lima’s airport. Transit passengers and children under two years of age are exempt. Payment must be paid in cash
prior to boarding.
Sea
Some international cruises occasionally call at Callao, the main seaport.
Road
The main international highway is the Pan-American Highway running north–south through the coastal desert of Peru from
Tumbes to Tacna. Transport from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela is available
through companies like Bus Tas Choapa Internacional, Empresa Paraguaya de Transporte, Ormeño, El Rápido and Rutas de
América. It is also possible to go from La Paz in Bolivia to Puno, on Lake Titicaca (south
Perù).
Duty Free
The following items may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age into
Perù without incurring in customs duty: 400
cigarettes or 50 cigars; alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5l; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; gifts or
new articles for personal use up to a value of US$300; 2kg of processed food.
Restricted items
If importing sausages, salami, ham or cheese, a sanitary certificate from the manufacturer is required. The export of
artistic or cultural articles is prohibited.
Internal Travel:
Air
Aerocóndor, Aero Continente, Aviandina, LAN Perú, Star Up, Taca Perú and TANS handle virtually all domestic air traffic
linking Lima to Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Iquitos, Juliaca-Puno, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado,
Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes and other cities. For information on internal flights contact the Peruvian Corporation
of Airports (Corpac) (website: www.corpac.gob.pe).
Departure tax
US$5. Children under two years of age are exempt. Payment must be paid in cash prior to boarding.
River
Transportation is available between Pucallpa and Iquitos (approximately five days) and from Iquitos to the border with
Brazil and Colombia (two to three days). However, river travel can be long and uncomfortable.
Rail
A tourist train operates services between Puno and Cusco and from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. There is a
daytime connection from Puno and Juliaca to Cusco. From Cusco there is a daily train to Machu Picchu, which takes
approximately four hours. Always check for revised schedules. For more information contact
Perù Rail in Lima (tel: (01)
444 5020/5; e-mail: reservas@perurail.com; website: www.perurail.com). Fast and comfortable electric autovagons operate
on some routes. There are no connections between Lima and Cusco.
Road
The Central Highway connects Lima with La Oroya and Huancayo. From La Oroya there is a road connecting Cerro de Pasco,
Huánuco, Tingo María and Pucallpa on the Ucayali River. Landslides are frequent in the rainy season (December to March),
causing a slow travel. The Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional sell maps. Travel
guides like Guía Toyota and Guía Inca del Perú include good road maps. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Operated
extensively, providing very cheap means of travel. Greyhound-type buses are operated by Cruz del Sur, Enlaces, Ittsa,
Oltursa, Ormeño, Perú Bus and many others. Quality of service varies according to prices.
: There are taxis at the
main hotels and airports.
Taxis
Do not have meters and fares should be agreed before departure (they are relatively inexpensive). There is an extensive and
safe taxi service available by telephone in the main cities. Car hire: American, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Mitsui, National,
Rentandina and others have offices in Lima and provide service to all
the main cities.
Documentation
Foreign driving license are valid for 30 days starting the date of arrival. An International Driving
License is required in
case of longer stays. International driving permits in
Perù can be obtained through the Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú.
All foreign vehicles must obtain the appropriate documentation from the National Automobile Association in their own country
or on the Peruvian border before entering the country (in this case a 90-day permission will be obtained). You should always
carry your driver's license, a copy of your passport and, if the vehicle is rented, a copy of the rental contract.
Urban
Public transport in Lima is provided by conventional buses and by minibuses (combis). The minimum rate is US$0.30. Wherever
possible try to avoid using bus travel late at night.
Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Lima to other major cities/towns in Peru.
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CYTY
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AIR
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ROAD
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Arequipa
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01.25
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14.00
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Ayacucho
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00.35
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09.00
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Cajamarca
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01.00
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15.00
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Chachapoyas
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1.30*
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21.00
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Chiclayo
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01.30
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10.00
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Cusco
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01.00
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19.00/26.00
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Huancayo
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-
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06.00
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Huánuco
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00.50
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08.00
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Huaraz
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0.35*
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06.00
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Ica
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04.00
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-
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Iquitos
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01.30
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-
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Nazca
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-
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06.00
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Piura
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01.30
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16.00
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Pucallpa
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01.00
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20.00
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Puerto Maldonado
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2.20**
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49.00/51.00
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Puno (Juliaca)
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1.30**
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24.00
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Tacna
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01.30
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18.00
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Tarapoto
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01.00
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20.00/24.00
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Trujillo
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00.45
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08.00
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Tumbes
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01.30
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18.00
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Note:
(a) Approximate travel times are given for travel by bus.
(b)* Only charter flights available.
(c)** Includes one stopover.
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