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Peru is a traveler´s paradise with its incredible diversity of terrain including the snow-capped mountains of the Andes, the vast stretches of primary rainforest in the Amazon jungle, and the arid coastal desert. It is most famous for the well-preserved archeological and cultural remains of one of the world´s great civilizations - the Incas.
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Surface
Area: 1,285,215 square km Population:
27 million inhabitants Language:
Spanish 80,3%, Quechua 16,2%, Other languages 3,5% Currency:
Nuevo Sol (S/.) Electricity: 220V, 60Hz Weights & measures: Metric Time: GMT/UTX minus 5 hours Dialing code: 0051 |
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Visas: Most travelers do not need a visa; people from Europe and the United States for example are granted a 90 day Tourist Visa. All nationalities need a tourist or embarkation card (tarjeta de embarque) to enter Peru though, issued at the frontiers or on the plane before landing in Lima. Health risks: Altitude sickness is common in the highlands but can easily be treated by taking it slow, staying hydrated, and with altitude sickness pills available at any pharmacy. Recommended, but not compulsory, vaccinations are Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus-diphteria, Measles, and Rabies for people spending a lot of time outdoors with risk for animal bites. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for areas east of the Andes Mountains, but not needed for Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu or other places along the coast or in the mountains. See: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/samerica/peru.php for more information and contact your local doctor. Traveler safety: In general Peru is a safe country with a far better reputation than for example Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. As far as violence goes, you are probably safer in Peru than in New York, Sydney or London. Nevertheless, muggings do happen in certain parts if Lima such as the main shopping areas so it is important to be cautious. It is also very important to be careful when crossing the streets in Lima because the traffic is rather hectic and dangerous. Book the Inca Trail with anticipation: There are only 500 permits per day to do the Inca Trail and these are for tourists, guides, cocks and porters. The permits usually sell out around 4-5 months in advance during high season, so if you want to do the Inca Trail in July for example you need to book it in February or March at the latest. Only certified Tour Operators can get permits so you need to book the Inca Trail with a Tour Operator or Travel Agency. We offer the Inca Trail both separately and as part of a bigger package. See our Inca Trail tours for more info. Travel Insurance: If you need to cancel anything during your tour, change something, delay something or rearrange anything due to weather, health, or personal decisions, you will need travel insurance to cover the investment of the original plan. Therefore we recommend all travelers to have travel insurance. Climate: In Peru the weather conditions vary with altitude and geographical location: - On the coast (Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo, etc) the summer runs from December to April when it is sunny and hot (up to 30oC). At other times of the year the temperature is lower, usually around 20oC and it might be cloudy or misty. It never really rains along the coast. - In the highlands (Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno, Huaraz, etc) the dry and sunny season runs from April to November, when it can be cold at night. From December to March it can be cloudy and wet, especially in the afternoons, but the temperature is slightly higher than during the dry season. - In the jungle (Amazon, Tambopata, Manu) the climate is generally hot and humid (about 30oC) with rainfall at any time of the year, but especially between the months of November and April. In the Amazon jungle in the north the water level is significantly higher in December and January which offers distinct advantages for spotting wildlife. When to go: Thanks to its geographical diversity Peru is a good destination at any time of the year. However, it is better to do trekking in the mountains during the dry season (April-November) and the Nazca Lines and the coastal areas are better visited during summer (December-April). The Inca Trail is closed for maintenance in February, the rainiest month in that area. Tipping and bargaining: Tipping is not expected in budget restaurants (but is of course gratefully received). In upscale restaurants a tip of 10-15% is fine, unless a service charge has already been added to the bill. Taxi drivers are not tipped; and make sure you know how much the taxi should cost to be able to bargain a good price. For shorter taxi rides 5-6 soles (US$2) is normal. Bargaining prices in markets is normal in Peru, but normally the prices are quite correct so don´t expect to get a significant reduction. For example, if you want to buy an alpaca sweater and you get the price 40 soles, you can probably get it down to 35 but not much further. Keep in mind that often the margins are very small for the sellers so it might be nice to pay a few soles extra. Getting
around: Bus: The buses in Peru are very comfortable and extremely good value. They are very modern, you get food served, and the seats are inclinable so there is no problem going overnight and sleeping on the bus. Usually the bus companies have their own terminals so check carefully from where the bus departs. Train: PeruRail links most of the tourist highlights of the Andes in Peru; the most famous trains are the ones from Cuzco and Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and the train between Cuzco and Puno. Boat: On Lake Titicaca you will be transported by boat to the different islands, in the jungle it is common to take a boat to reach the jungle lodge and the Palomino Island and Ballestas Islands are also visited by boat. Getting
there and away: Lima´s international airport,
Jorge Chavez, is the main hub for flights to the Andean
countries from North America and Europe, and has plenty
of connections to neighbouring countries. There is an
airport departure tax of around US$30 for international
flights and around US$5 for domestic flights.
Festive calendar: February – Carnival: Especially celebrated in the highlands. In Lima the tradition is to throw water balloons at others, something that the authorities have been trying to prevent in recent years with harsh penalties. This is not common in the touristy areas though. March/April – Semana Santa (Easter week): Superb processions all over Peru (the best are in Lambayeque, Arequipa, Cuzco and Ayacucho). June 24th – Inti Raymi: The most celebrated Inca festival in the Andes, held in Cuzco. The population triples and hotel availability is very hard to find. Costumes, parades and native dancing fill the streets. There is a wonderful procession held in Sacsayhuaman that celebrates the winter solstice. July 28th – Independence Day: Public holiday with military and school processions. August 13-19th – Arequipa Week: Processions, firework displays, plenty of folklore, dancing and craft markets. October 18-28 – El Señor de los Milagros (Lord of the Miracles): Festival featuring large and solemn processions (the main ones take place on October 18, 19, and 28). November 2nd – Día de los Muertos (All Soul’s Day): Celebrated with lots of food and drink commemorating the passing of the country’s forefathers.
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Tailor Made Peru
Address: Malecon Cisneros 980:401 - Miraflores
- Lima - Peru
info@tailormadeperu.com