Travel Documents l Currency Exchange l Credit Cards l Traveler Checks l How Much Money to Take l Shopping l Airport departure taxes l Tips l Electricity l Keeping in Touch l Language l Keeping healthy l Health, Medical, Inoculations l Medical Insurance l Personal First Aid Kit l Altitude l Safety l Weather l Bibliography

Dear Traveler,

We have worked to produce a list of travel information so you can better plan your upcoming trip to Peru. Please call us directly if you have any more questions or with suggestions on more relevant travel information.

A valid passport is required to enter Peru. No visa is necessary for US and Canadian citizens. Please bring color photocopies of your passport (photo page) since you will need these to cash traveler checks, possibly for credit card transactions, and so you can leave your passport in the safe of your hotel.

Upon entrance to Peru you will receive a white piece of paper (the bottom part of the form you filled out on the plane), which has the same stamp on it that you have in your passport. This small piece of paper may seem insignificant but it is VERY IMPORTANT. If you lose this you will have to pay a fine when leaving the country. On top of that, if you do not have this document when checking into hotels in Peru, BY LAW you are not exempt from the 19% tax and will have to pay that quantity on top of your hotel costs.

For more questions regarding travel documents, please visit.
http://www.go2peru.com/webapp


The New Sol is divided into 100 cents. The notes in circulation are S/. 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10. There are coins of S/. 5, 2, 1, 0.50, 0.20, 0.10, 0.05. The exchange rate to the US dollar fluctuates daily. As of June 1st 2007 the exchange rate is S/.3.16 per $1.00 U.S.
For daily updated rates, please visit http://www.xe.com/ucc/



Visa (the most common), MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club are widely accepted. There is the possibility of withdrawing funds at ATMs, but it is recommended that you check with your bank before leaving to determine the fees involved.


Are accepted but not everywhere (established businesses tend to accept them more readily). They will also fetch a lesser exchange rate, but are safe since you will not lose your money if they are lost or stolen. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most common. I have had very good luck with American Express traveler checks since their customer service is better than Visa and MasterCard (you may find yourself waiting a long time at some bank to recover them).


This is a subjective issue since we all spend our money differently. I suggest you take a combination of cash, traveler checks and credit cards. Utilize your cash first, then your credit cards, and last your traveler checks (as backup), or whatever combination you may feel comfortable with. Your cash should be in newer crisper bills since the exchange offices will not accept old or torn bills. When exchanging money make sure to ask for smaller bills and coins, since you will soon find out that very few people have adequate change, if any at all.


You will find lots of bargains in Lima and Cusco (more so in Cusco). From sweaters to jewelry to tapestries to ceramics, you will find great deals and great products. Beware of the sales ladies that roam the main square in Cusco. They are relentless and will learn your name and follow you and do not take no for an answer. They are the ultimate entrepreneurs!


Domestic trips (Lima to Cusco and back to Lima) are about $6.00 U.S. International (your return trip home) is about $32.00 U.S. They must be paid in cash, and both soles and US dollars are accepted.


If you feel that you have received a good service we would like to encourage you to tip your guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurant waiters, etc. This will show your appreciation and recognition for their work and will further enhance the experience of future travelers.


Electricity in Peru is 220 volts A.C. at 60 hertz. Electricity in the U.S. is 110 volts A.C. at 60 hertz. Please take a travel transformer to power your electric razor. If you are planning to take a hair dryer please make sure that it is designed for 220 volts (a travel transformer is too weak to power it). Try to find accessories that run on both voltages. Many newer electronics (digital camera chargers, iPods, laptops) can run without problem at 220 volts, but make sure to read everything carefully before plugging it in.


Before your departure it is a good idea to leave a list of contact telephone numbers with your family and friends so they can use it should they need to get ahold of you. As for making phone calls from Peru back home I suggest you purchase a calling card from AT&T, Sprint, or MCI. Please make sure you investigate the cost since it could be very expensive. I have had very good luck with an AT&T prepaid calling card I bought at Sams Club. It is also possible to buy prepaid calling cards in Peru as well (from the local telephone company -Telefonica) that let you talk from a landline telephone (not a public phone) for about 4 minutes/1 sol.
We offer direct-dial international calls from Boutique Hotel Casa San Blas, so if you don´t get a chance to get a calling card before leaving home you´ll still be able to get ahold of your friends and family with no hassle at all.


The official language of Peru is Spanish. The highland people also speak Quechua, their ancestors' language, and in Southern Peru (near the Bolivian border) you will find groups that also speak Aimara, another pre-Spanish language. You will find many people who also speak English.


Peru is known for its food, so make sure you are able to enjoy it all in the healthiest, cleanest way possible. Two things to remember are that vegetables will probably agree better with you if they´ve been peeled (tomatoes, cucumbers) or washed in treated water, and that you need to trust your initial feeling of a restaurant. If you walk into a place that doesn´t strike you as having a clean back room, stick with that feeling and look somewhere else.

Have Imodium (or your preferred diarrhea medicine) at the ready if you are planning to take chances with street food or les-touristy restaurants. If you do come down with a case of a rumbly stomach, there are many pharmacies here that know just what to prescribe the ill traveler, and the medicines are generally not too expensive.

Bottled water is readily available in Lima and Cusco, and more restaurants (and the South American Explorers clubhouses in Lima and Cusco) are starting to offer bottle-refill services to prevent more plastic waste. Please use treated water even to brush your teeth, do not drink tap water, and be aware that sometimes the ice in some restaurants is made with untreated water, so ask before you order your coctail.


It is a good idea to consult with your doctor about your physical condition and about any vaccines you may need for this trip. He or She will be best suited to give you these recommendations taking into account your medical history. Common vaccinations include Hepatitis, Typhoid, Tetanus, Yellow Fever (if you plan to visit the jungle) and Measles.

A couple of good web sites to visit on this topic are:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm
https://www.tripprep.com/scripts/main/default.asp


Consult with your medical insurance about your coverage in Peru. If you are not covered it is a good idea to purchase some from companies like www.wallach.com or www.travelguard.com. Make sure that emergency evacuation back home is included and that they are readily available to answer your questions and assist you.


A must for everybody. Do not forget any required medication (if you are taking any), plus a good insect repellent and your favorite sun block. A suggested list is included in this pre-trip information package. You may also want to add any medicine your doctor has recommended for this trip. A good website to visit to shop for first aid kits is
hhtp://www.rei.com/online/store/

We recommend that you bring your own supply of medicine and first aid items for personal use. Such items may not be available abroad. Consult with your physician on what medications you should take for your individual needs. Here is a list of recommended medicines for various problems that might occur while traveling

More Info...

High Altitude Medicine Guide

http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/AMS-medical.html

Cusco is 11,150 feet above sea level. People react differently to altitude; some aren´t affected at all while others suffer tremendously. It is a good idea to take it easy the first few days, drink lots of water, and rest as much as you need. You will feel better as you get adjusted to the altitude.


You will be traveling in a third world country and there is the possibility of encountering pickpockets and other thieves. The best recommendation I can make is for you to avoid making yourself a target to them. Please do not wear expensive and showy jewelry, do not dangle your camera or backpack from your shoulder while walking, and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Common sense will get you a long way! Try to stay with your fellow travelers.


Be prepared for a little bit of everything. During the summer months in the US (April to October) we experience the winter in South America. Since Peru is so close to the Equator, "winter" means blue skies with little rain, warm days up to 80ºF (depending on the altitude), and cold nights (possibly down to freezing). Pack accordingly, with many layers, a warm jacket, and perhaps a scarf and hat (unless you prefer to buy them here!). Rain is not usually expected during this time, but please be prepared for it just in case. This is the "HIGH" season for travel in Peru. Between October and April we experience the "wet" season in Cusco. We will have frequent rain showers with sunny spells in between.

For up to date weather information, visit

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel or
http://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?cboDepa=08&u=index

We hope this travel information helps you feel better prepared for your trip to Peru. If you have any other questions or comments, or would like to inform us of your experiences while traveling, please feel free to email us with “Travel Information” as the subject of your email.

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