Peru has a climate which varies greatly from the coastal region to the Andes and the Amazon basin. From January to March in the coastal district where Lima is situated, the weather is hot and humid During the rest of the year the weather in Lima is misty and quite cold.
In the Andean region there is a wet season from October to May, with most of the rain falling after January, and a dry season from May to September. In Cuzco, the temperature can be below freezing during the dry season.
HEALTH:
Vaccinations before going to Peru are essential health precautions, although they are not mandatory for entering the country. You should definitely have the following:
Yellow fever: if you are going to the eastern slopes of the Andes or the Amazon basin.
Typhoid: two shots are required, four weeks apart.
Diphtheria-tetanus, polio and cholera booster: should all be taken if they have run out. Typhoid shots last for three years, cholera for six months and diphtheria-tetanus and polio both last for 10 years.
It is sensible to drink only boiled or purified water and to take a basic medical kit including diarrhea tablets, antiseptic cream, aspirin, bandages, etc. If you get seriously ill, try to get to Lima for treatment where reasonably cheap medical care is available.
The climate of Peru is varied, for instance in the Andean region you will find plenty of strong sunshine, so use a sunblock and wear a hat. Altitude sickness brought on by going to altitudes which are too high for your body to cope with quickly, is a more serious problem. It is far better to travel slowly to higher altitudes and give your body time to adjust. Cuzco is still at a relatively low altitude of 10,909 feet. Most travellers at this altitude will only experience mild discomfort in the form of headaches and shortness of breath, and acclimatization is usually fairly quick. This is greatly helped by avoiding smoking, alcohol and generally relaxing for the first few days. At higher altitudes, you may experience vomiting, bad headaches, loss of appetite and insomnia. This is only permanently alleviated by descending to a lower altitude. Altitude sickness can be fatal and should not be taken lightly. The symptoms must be taken seriously and treated by descending to a lower altitude immediately.
There is a drug called Diamox which helps with acclimatization. See your doctor before leaving for advice. If you plan to visit areas which are infected with malaria (not in areas above 8,200 feet), take malaria pills before your trip. Hepatitis shots (gamma globulin against Hepatitis A) are also sensible.
PERSONAL SAFETY:
Theft is a very common problem in Peru and particularly in Lima. Be aware of your possessions at all times, stay alert and travel as light as possible, carrying your money in a belt or pouch. Beware of thieves slashing your bags with a razor while on buses or while you are on the move in the city.
The activities of the guerilla organization, the Sendero Luminoso, in central Peru have prevented travelers from visiting certain areas in the past. In the central Andean area, south of Huancayo, through Huancavelica, Ayacucho to Abancay down to Nazca, there has been guerilla activity. Check with the local tourist authorities about the situation when you arrive.
CURRENCY:
The nuevo sol is the unit of currency in Peru. Inflation has been soaring out of control for some time. The current rate of exchange is one nuevo sol to one US$.
VISAS:
Australians, New Zealanders, Chileans, Venezuelans and travelers from most African and Asian countries except Japan will need to get a visa to visit Peru. Other travelers can enter the country with just a passport which must be valid for six months. Visas can be obtained from the Peruvian embassy in your country or from a neighboring South American country.
When you arrive in Peru, you will usually get your passport stamped for 90 days, but sometimes the duty officer will give you only 60 days or less. You will be given a tourist card which you must keep as it is used to extend your stay, when you leave the country and when your passsport is checked. Renewal of your tourist card to extend your stay is not difficult and costs US$20. You can renew it twice and stay for a maximum period of 180 days. If you wish to stay longer, you have to leave the country and re-enter, where you will be given a new tourist card. You may sometimes be asked to show a return ticket before you are allowed to enter the country. There are frequent passport controls around Peru, as well as passport checks in the cities and on public transport, so carry it at all times.
WEIGHTS & MEASURES:
The metric system is used for all measurements.
ELECTRICITY:
Peru uses 220 volts, 60 cycles AC, except for the City of Arequipa which uses 50 cycles.
COMMUNICATIONS:
There are 10 daily newspapers published in Spanish in Lima and most of the larger provincial cities. `The Lima Times' (in English) is published weekly in Lima, and most of the major American and European periodicals are available at Librerias ABC in Lima.
There are nearly 300 radio stations in Peru, some of them run by the government. There is an English-language news and music program - `Night Line' at 8:30pm - 9pm Monday to Friday on Radio de Pacifico (640 AM, 102.1. FM). Television is very varied in Peru. There are nearly 30 TV channels, all in Spanish.
The Peruvian postal service is reasonably good, but not 100 percent reliable. Letters from Peru to the USA take from one to three weeks depending on which city you send them from. Mail from Lima is much faster than any other city. Incoming mail is slower. If you are receiving mail, you can use the central post office, the American Express office or the South American Explorers' Club.
You can dial through the international operator in first class hotels in Lima. Otherwise, long distance calls from Lima can be made from the telephone office on Plaza San Martin. In Cuzco, international and national calls can be made from the ENTEL office on Avenida Sol.
ETIQUETTE:
Peru is a country of contrasts. While the cities are large and over-populated, much of the countryside is sparsely populated by Indian peoples living traditional lifestyles. In the Andean region, travellers should show respect for the environment, and the conservative, quiet lifestyle which many people lead. For example, it would be polite to wear reasonably conservative clothes in Andean villages and in Cuzco.
TRANSPORT:
AIR:
Getting to Peru:
Peru's main airport is the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Flights from North America, other South American countries and elsewhere arrive here. Flights are available from Vancouver, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, New York and many destinations in Europe and Asia. You can also fly from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo in Brazil, Santiago in Chile, Buenos Aires in Argentina and Guayayil in Ecuador. Cheap deals which cover several South American countries are available from AeroPeru. There is a US$15 departure tax for international flights.
Getting to Cuzco:
Within Peru, the quickest way to get around is to fly. Cuzco has an airport and flights from Lima to Cuzco cost US$82 and depart two or three times a day. You can also fly to Cuzco from Bolivia which costs US$120. Flights are on Wednesdays and Saturdays on Lloyd Aereo Boliviano Airways. There is a US$7 departure tax for internal flights. Taxis are available from the airport to Cuzco costing US$1 and there are also local buses.
RAILWAY:
There are two railway lines in Peru. One runs from Lima to Huancavelica and Cerro de Pasco, and the other connects Arequipa with Juliaca, Puno, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. You can not travel by train from Lima to Cuzco. (SEE MAP)
In Cuzco there are two train stations. Trains depart from one to Puno and from the other to Machu Picchu.
BUS:
There are local bus services from Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador to Peru.
To Cuzco:
The bus service from Lima to Cuzco takes around 42 hours (longer during the wet season) and costs US$14.
Around the Cuzco region:
From Cuzco, there are local bus services which pass by the major Inca sites. Ask in the tourist information office on Calle Triunfo for details.
TOURS:
There are a wide range of tours available from Cuzco around the city and the ruins. Even if you decide not to take a tour, all the major sites around Cuzco demand an entry payment. A single visitor's ticket can be bought from the tourist office or at the entrance to the major sites which covers some of the major sites as well as some of the main buildings in Cuzco. This costs US$10. An additional US$10 ticket must be bought for visiting Machu Picchu. (See Fast Facts - Entrance fees, for more details). At the upper end of the market are the following tours:
EXPRINTER and DASATOUR: Hotel Cusco, Calle San Bernardo, Cuzco.
RECEPTOR and UNIVERSAL TOURS: Hotel Savoy, Avenida Sol, Cuzco.
LIMA TOURS: Avenida Sol 567, Cuzco.
Cheaper tours are available and they include hikes along the Inca trail and rafting down the Urubamba river. Check with the tourist information office on Calle Triunfo for details.
HOTELS:
Price categories (for a double room):
Moderate : US$75 - 150
Inexpensive: under US$75
In Lima:
There are hundreds of hotels in Lima in all price ranges. The following are a few recommended suggestions:
Moderate:
GRAN HOTEL BOLIVAR: Calle Colmena, Lima (276-400).
Old-fashioned and charming with beautifully decorated rooms. Double rooms cost around US$85 and single rooms cost US$65 which puts this hotel at the top end of the market.
LIMA SHERATON TOWERS: Paseo de la Republica 170, Lima (328-676).
Double rooms cost US$87.
Inexpensive:
HOTEL SAN SEBASTIAN: Calle Ica 712, Lima.
Single/double rooms cost US$3/5 in this clean, friendly hotel. Both bathrooms and hot water are plentiful.
YOUTH HOSTEL KARINA: Calle Chancay 617, Lima.
This hostel is clean and safe and costs US$2.50 per person.
In Cuzco:
There are around 100 hotels in Cuzco ranging from the US$1 a night, to the luxury ones which can cost up to US$60 a night for a double room.
HOSTEL GARCILASO II: Calle Garcilaso, Cuzco.
Comfortable single and double rooms with hot water and a bath cost US$ 6/10.
HOTEL INTERNACIONAL SAN AGUSTIN: Calle Maruri, Cuzco.
Single rooms are US$35 and doubles are US$50 in this luxury hotel.
LEONARD'S LODGINGS: Avenida Pardo 820, Cuzco.
This small friendly hostel is close to Puno station and offers rooms at around US$12 for a double and US$7 for a single.
HOTEL LIBERTADOR: Calle San Augustin, Cuzco.
The most expensive and luxurious hotel in Cuzco. Double rooms cost US$60 and singles US$45 upwards.
HOSTEL LORETO: Loreto alley, Cuzco.
Genuine Inca walls feature in some of the rooms of this popular hostel. Rooms cost around US$7 for a single and US$12 for a double.
HOTEL LOS MARQUESES: Calle Garcilaso, Cuzco.
This very popular well-furnished hotel is good value at US$7 for a single room and US$12 for a double.
GRAN HOSTAL MACHU PICCHU: Calle Quera Almagro, Cuzco.
An attractive hostel costing US$3 - 4. Some rooms have private bathrooms.
HOTEL PERU: Calle Union, Cuzco.
This hostel is very cheap, popular with Peruvians and very close to Machu Pichu station. Rooms cost US$ 1.50 - $2, and hot water is available.
HOTEL SPAPHI/CAHUIDE: Calle Saphi, Cuzco.
These two hotels have merged in one large building which has a rooftop garden and a cafe for breakfast. Single and double rooms with private baths and hot water are available for $3 and $5.
HOSTEL SUECIA: Calle Suecia, Cuzco.
A small hostel which is reputably safe and clean. Single rooms cost around US$2.50 and doubles are US$4.
RESTAURANTS:
In Lima:
There is a huge variety of restaurants in Lima, many of them located around the tourist hotel areas. You could try the following:
CEBICHERIA DON BETA: Calle Jose Galvez 667, Miraflores district, Lima.
A good seafood restaurant where you can eat well for under US$10.
LOS CONDES DE SAN ISIDRO: Paz Soldan 290, San Isidro district, Lima.
An excellent restaurant serving local and international food. Meals cost around US$20.
EL CORDANO: Calle Ancash 202, Lima.
Peruvian snacks and good coffee are served with reasonable local wines and beers. Most of the menu is around US$1.
NATURA: Calle Moquegua 132, Lima.
A family-run vegetarian restaurant which is inexpensive and popular.
In Cuzco:
There are also hundreds of restaurants and cafes in Cuzco, ranging from those costing about 50 cents for a meal to the luxury hotel restaurants serving international cuisine.
CHIFA HONG KONG: Avenida Sol, Cuzco.
A highly recommended Chinese restaurant.
EL MESON DE LOS ESPADEROS: Calle Saphi Plateros, Cuzco.
This restaurant serves steaks cooked the Peruvian way.
EL TRUCO: Plaza Regocijo, Cuzco.
Excellent food and a nightly show.
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES:
In Lima:
MUSEO NACIONAL DE ANTROPOLOGIA Y ARQUEOLOGIA: Plaza Bolivar, intersection of Avenida San Martin and Calle Vivanco, Lima.
The Museum of Anthropology and Archeology has excellent collections of carvings, textiles and ceramics from all the Peruvian cultures. It is highly recommended as a starting point for those interested in Peruvian history. It is open from 10am to 6pm every day except Monday.
MUSEO DEL ORO DEL PERU: Monterrico district, Lima.
The Gold Museum is an incredible collection of gold objects and other artifacts made of silver and precious stones. Located right above it is the Arms Museum with an equally extraordinary collection of firearms from all over the world. Both are recommended, but the Gold Museum is a must for most tourists. They are open from noon to 7pm every day.
MUSEO RAFAEL LARCO HERRERA: Paseo de Colon 125, Lima.
A wonderful collection of textiles, ceramics, gold objects and other examples of Peruvian culture through its long history. It is open from 9am to 6pm every day except Monday.
In Cuzco:
REGIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM: Calle Autud, Cuzco.
This collection of paintings and furniture from colonial times is housed in a beautiful restored colonial house. It is open from 9am to noon every day except Sunday and from 3pm to 6pm from Monday to Friday.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM: Calle Nazarenas, Cuzco.
A good collection of interesting ceramics, textiles and other artifacts. It is open from 8am to noon and 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
