Travel Tips Peru – The stuff you need to know!
Weather in Perú
Travel Tips Peru is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of climates in the world due to its location and size. In it we can distinguish three major regions: the coast, the mountains and jungle, so the perfect climate will depend on the place you are going to visit. If you decide to travel to the mountains, the rainy season goes from October to March, February being the rainiest month. In dry season the days become sunny and with the sky totally clear, from the months of April to October is better time to do adventure activities.
In the jungle the humidity and the high temperatures govern, being the months of April to October the warmest of the year. You can reach 31 ° C for the day, although the nights are usually cooler (17 ° C).
Entry Requirements – Visas
Generally citizens from Western Europe, North America & Australasia do not need a visa to enter Peru.
However, you can receive up to 90 days on a tourist visa. If you would like to stay longer, you can either apply for a month’s extension at an Immigration office or cross the border into another country and stamp for another 90 days visa.
Language
Peru has two official languages: Spanish and Quechua. On the other hand, basic English is widely spoken in most towns & cities.
Time Zone
Peru has the same time as the Eastern Standard Time in the United States. Peru is 5 hours behind GMT. (Greenwich Mean Time). Peru does not utilise any daylight saving programs.
Vaccines
A yellow fever vaccination is NOT required anymore, though it is recommended if you are travelling to jungle areas. Our suggestion is that if you are traveling to jungle areas you should discuss malaria protection with your medical advisor.
Electricity
The electric voltage in Peru is 220 volts, 60 cycles. In most hotel bathrooms, there is an electrical outlet with 110 volts for electric shavers.
Currency
Peru’s official currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.) There are 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents coins and S/. 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 banknotes. At the time of writing the exchange rate is 3.35 soles to the US dollar, but this does flux. When changing money, try to obtain the smaller notes as larger notes can be difficult to change.
US dollars are welcome at most good shops, restaurants and service stations at the current exchange rate. The more expensive restaurants and hotels catering for travellers accept main credit cards, including Visa, Master card, Diners and American Express.
ATMs are now common in all larger cities and generally provides you with the option of making your withdrawal either in soles or dollars.
Business Hours
The opening hours of establishments in Peru.
Banks: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Restaurants: from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Stores: from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Markets: Super markets open their doors from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and central markets from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
These schedules are referential and correspond to the main cities of the country, small town and far away these schedules can vary considerably.
Info Peru
InfoPeru is a traveler assistance service to help tourists. This service has a 24 hour hot line. For assistance call in Lima 421-1227. Outside of Lima, dial 01 first.
Safety tips
While out and about, we suggest you leave your passport and the bulk of your money, credit cards etc in the safe deposit box of your hotel. Only take with you the money you intend to spend. Carry a photocopy of the picture page of your passport for ID purposes
Health and Care
Being healthy is the key to our trip, for this we must take into account the following health tips.
It is not unusual to suffer altitude sickness in the Andes or stomach problems, despite the wonderful culinary reputation of Peru. Due to the climatic variety of the country the traveler will face different risks in each zone. Many of the infections transmitted by food or mosquitoes are not fatal, but they can ruin a trip.
Travel insurance
When traveling outside our country, we expose ourselves to sudden changes that reduce the defenses of our immune system, for that reason it is recommended that all travelers carry personal insurance for their adequate coverage.
Many of the private clinics in the main cities of Peru accept international insurance, which will make it easier for any traveler to be adequately cared for. Many times hospitals and clinics ask for payment in cash, keep your receipts and then make the reimbursement.
If you plan to do adventure activities such as: hiking, mountaineering and other outdoor sports ask if the insurance covers such activities. The agencies that operate in Peru will review the validity and coverage of your insurance policy, you may be denied your policy does not meet the criteria and requirements.
Peruhuayhuash recommends you consult your doctor before any tour or walk.
First aid kit
*Antidiarrheal antibiotics (discuss this with your doctor before obtaining a prescription)
*mild analgesics, aspirin or paracetamol type.
*anti-inflammatories (eg Ibuprofen).
*antihistamine (against dizziness, allergies such as hay fever, insect bites).
*Antiseptic for cuts and wounds, elastic bandage.
*Band-aid bandages and bandages and other protectors for wounds.
*sticking plaster.
*scissors, safety pins and tweezers.
*cold or flu suppressant.
*throat lozenges
Be Careful With:
Food
You must be very careful where you go to eat, observe if you keep the proper hygienic conditions, if not, it is preferable that you abstain and consume packaged products.
Peruhuayhuash recommends you avoid consuming heavy meals, since digestion takes longer in height.
Water
It is not advisable to drink water directly from the water used by the population (the one that comes out of the taps). For health complications, to prevent mainly stomach infection or other derivatives. Boil the water for at least 3 minutes.
It can also be disinfected with purifying tablets or using a water filter or Steripen. The material stores for outdoor activities are a good source of information.
Peruhuayhuash recommends buying bottled water which is safest and available everywhere.
Rivers and lakes
Avoid washing and bathing in waters that may be contaminated, as they can be routes of transmission of infections in the eyes, ears and intestines.
Peruhuayhuash informs you that only pools with chlorinated water are safe.
The sea
In peruhuayhuash we recommend that the traveler inform himself of the place he will visit, whether or not he is allowed to bathe or poses a danger to his health.
Sun
Due to its proximity to Ecuador and altitude, some destinations in Peru have very high radiation rates. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid exposing your skin for a long time.
Peruhuayhuash recommends the use of sunscreens, as well as verifying that they are suitable for the area, because the higher the area
Internet Access
There is public internet access on every corner in virtually most towns & cities. The price is generally about 1 sol an hour or US$0.30. Many cabins now feature software to make very inexpensive international calls via the internet. (The quality of this service varies). In the smaller villages, you will struggle to find any kind of service.
Departure Tax
At all airports, passengers must pay a departure tax: $ 28, for international flights and about $ 5 for domestic flights. This tax must be paid in cash (soles or dollars) before boarding.
Tips
Tips vary and depend on the traveller’s satisfaction with the quality of the service rendered. In most tourist oriented restaurants, a 10% tip is most appreciated. Generally they earn very low rates of pay and so the tip really helps.
Deciding how much to tip the porters, the cook and guide is a difficult moment at the end of the trek. Generally speaking if all the group have been pleased with the service then try to ensure that each porter/muleteer takes home an extra US$10, the cook US$15, the guide US$20 and the assistant guide about US$15. Tipping the guide and cook should be dependent on the quality of the service that you received, and only if you’re happy.
Toilets
Public toilets are rarely available except in bus stations, restaurants, bars, cafes etc. Public restrooms are labeled WC (water closet), Damas (Ladies) and Caballeros or Hombres (Men). All over Peru, regardless of the standard of the hotel or restaurant, you should throw the paper in the wastepaper basket rather than the toilet.impressed by the central government’s attempts to control the region.