TRAVEL TIPS

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 fluctuate daily) was 2.85 sols to the US dollar.

Tipping
Most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill, but some do not. The total tip should be about 15 percent.

Health For the big altitudes of the tourist attractiveness (Cusco and Fist above 3300 m / 12000 ft) they can happen problems of height in the passenger''s health (soroche = it tires, decrease of the pressure, stomach uneasiness, headache, dehydration, upset heart).
We recommend to have 2 days of acclimatization before physical effort, to take a lot of water, to eat light and to control the consumption of alcoholic drinks the first 2 days.
People with problems of pressure or to the heart to consult with their doctor. For our tours that include walks: The whole team is loaded by our carriers or load horses. Even so it is important that you get ready physically for this adventure (especially legs, lungs and heart) and in case that buy new team makes sure walk a good time with these shoes before coming to you walk them. It is extremely important that it communicates us if have some problem of health, allergies, medical prescriptions, etc.
We recommend to bring their own first aids

Peru Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. Visitors should follow normal social courtesies and the atmosphere is generally informal. A small gift from a company or home country is sufficient. Dress is usually informal, although for some business meetings and social occasions men wear 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:

NoteStreet crime is a problem, particularly in Lima and Cusco. Street demonstrations, sometimes violent, are a common form of protest in Peru. Visitors should avoid all protests and demonstrations. Domestic terrorism in Peru has largely ended but has not been wholly eradicated. At the end of 2004 and early 2005, a number of rabies cases were reported following bites from vampire bats in the province of Amozonas near the border with Ecuador. It is advised that visitors to the Huaraz / Huayhuash trekking circuit area 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 Peru 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 Peru soon. Many other airlines have representatives in Peru.

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

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 Peru).

Duty Free

The following items may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age into Peru without incurring 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 Peru Rail in Lima (tel: (01) 444 5020/5; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 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), making for 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 a 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. Taxi: 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 main cities.

Documentation: Foreign driving permits are valid for 30 days starting the date of arrival. An International Driving Permit is required in case of longer stays. International driving permits in Peru 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. Air Road

Arequipa 1.25 14.00

Ayacucho 0.35 9.00

Cajamarca 1.00 15.00

Chachapoyas 1.30* 21.00

Chiclayo 1.00 10.00

Cusco 1.00 19.00/26.00

Huancayo - 6.00

Huánuco 0.50 8.00

Huaraz 0.35* 6.00

Ica - 4.00

Iquitos 1.30 -

Nazca 6.00

Piura 1.30 16.00

Pucallpa 1.00 20.00

Puerto Maldonado 2.20** 49.00/51.00

Puno (Juliaca) 1.30** 24.00

Tacna 1.30 18.00

Tarapoto 1.00 20.00/24.00

Trujillo 0.45 8.00

Tumbes 1.30 18.00

Note: (a) Approximate travel times are given for travel by bus. (b)* Only charter flights available. (c)** Includes one stopover