- ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and depart
Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return
or onward travel. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for
a tourist stay of 90 days or less. U.S. citizens remaining
in Peru more than 90 days must pay a monthly fee to
extend their visa for up to three additional months,
for a total of six months. U.S. citizens, including
children, who remain in Peru over six months without
obtaining a residence visa will have to pay a fine in
order to depart Peru. Visitors for other than tourist
or family visit purposes must obtain a Peruvian visa
in advance. Business visitors should ascertain the tax
and exit regulations that apply to the specific visa
that they are granted. U.S. citizens whose passports
are lost or stolen in Peru must obtain a new passport
and present it, together with a police report of the
loss or theft, to the main immigration office in the
capital city of Lima to obtain permission to depart.
An airport tax of $25 per person must be paid in U.S.
currency when departing Peru. There is also a small
airport fee for domestic flights. For further information
regarding entry requirements, travelers should contact
the Peruvian Embassy at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,
Suite 605, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 462-1084
or 462-1085; Internet http://www.peruemb.org; or the
Peruvian Consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Patterson (NJ), San Francisco, or San
Juan
Peru is a varied and diverse country due to the climatic,
natural and cultural diversity of its regions. It is
1,554 miles (2,500 km) long, and has 3 natural regions:
Coast, Mountains ( sierra ) and Jungle.
The Mountains (Machu Picchu,
Cusco, Puno, Titicaca Lake)
Mid April - October. This
period is the dry season, with hot, dry days (20-25°C)
and cold, dry nights, often hovering just above freezing,
particularly in June and July. May is perhaps the best
month with the countryside exceptionally lush, yet with
superb views and fine weather. You'll find the flowers
in full bloom, the grass green and the streams full.
Peru's peak season is from June to September. You'll
find Cusco a pretty cosmopolitan city with tourists
from all over the globe converging on Machu Picchu.
The famous pageant of Inti
Raymi, the Inca festival of the winter solstice
(24 June) draws thousands of visitors to Cusco, so its
best to arrive early or make hotel reservations in advance.
November - Mid April This
is the wet season with most rain in January and February.
It's usually clear and dry most mornings with outbursts
of heavy rain in the afternoons. The daily temperatures
are typically 18°C with only a small drop at night,
15°C.The Inca Trail is much less crowded during this
period and there's a more abundant fresh water supply,
but of course be well equipped for the rain. You'll
also find some roads may become impassable particularly
when trying to visit villages off the beaten track.
Many of Peru's major festivals such as Carnival and
Easter Week take place during this period.
The Coast. ( Lima, Trujillo,
Nazca )
December - April
This
is summertime on the coast where the weather is hot
and dry and ideal for swimming and getting a tan. Temperatures
on average range from 25 - 35°C.
May - November From May
to November the temperature drops a bit and you'll find
blankets of sea mist engulfing the coast from the south
right up to about 200 km north of Lima. At this time
of year only the northern beaches near Tumbes are warm
enough to provide pleasant swimming.
The Jungle ( Puerto Maldonado
, Iquitos )
April - October This is
the 'dry' season with daily temperatures averaging 30-35°C.
However cold fronts from the South Atlantic are common
when the temperatures can drop to 15°C during the day
and 13°C at night. The dry season is the best time to
visit the jungle regions … there are fewer mosquitoes
and the rivers are low, exposing the beaches. It's also
a good time to see nesting and to view the animals at
close range, as they stay close to the rivers and are
more easily seen. November - March
This is the wet season, hot and humid, when you can
expect heavy rain at anytime. It only rains for a few
hours at a time, so it's not enough to spoil your trip.
Wellington boots are a must though, as some of the jungle
trails can become small rivers.
Assuming that you are not going into the Amazon tributaries,
the altitudes experienced in the Andes may have an adverse
effect on you if you are not used to such heights. A
visit to your physician prior to coming to Perú is recommended.
Diamox is a good medication for altitude sickness. You
may also want to discuss with your physician other medications
such as antibiotics to take along with you as well as
the following immunizations:
" Typhoid
" Polio
" Tetanus
" Hepatitis A
One recommendation for visitors is to drink bottled
water only even for things such as brushing your teeth.
One observation regarding Perú is the unavailability
of toilet paper in almost all public places. Major hotels
and most restaurants will have some, but do not be surprised
to go into a public bathroom, such as at Machu Picchu,
and find that toilet paper is either unavailable or
available only for sale. Bring an ample amount of tissues
that you can take around with you on your journeys.
If you are going into the Amazon tributaries, it is
recommended that you let your physician know beforehand.
A current yellow fever vaccination is a must ( you will
be required to show it to the Health Ministry representatives),
also anti malarial medications should be discussed.
And bring plenty of D.E.E.T. with you. It is probably
best to call your State Board of Health for recommendations
on medications for the Amazon.
On reaching heights above 3000m, heart pounding and
shortness of breath are a normal response to the lack
of oxygen in the air. However, for some visitors these
symptoms can deteriorate into a conditions known as
Soroche (or acute mountain sickness) when you can start
to experience headaches, loss of appetite, extreme tiredness,
sleeplessness and often nausea. Symptoms usually develop
within the first day at altitude, but may be delayed
by up to 2 weeks. To prevent Soroche, try to take things
easy as soon as you arrive. Once settled in your hotel
room have a lie down for a while and drink plenty of
fluids. Don't plan any strenuous treks until you've
acclimatized for a few days. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes
and heavy food. Drinking mate de coca (an infusion of
coca leaves - and perfectly legal in
Peru )
may help. If symptoms become more severe and prolonged
it is best to quickly seek medical attention and make
arrangements to descend to a lower altitude. On recovery
one can re-ascend slowly or in stages.
Before you travel make sure that you take out good
travel and medical insurance we suggest to visit
the below link
http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/alltrip/t.asp?id=1132
Simply follow the below link and fill out the form
Discount
Airfares from US to Peru
In many cases due to international flight arrivals and
departures, and connecting internal flights within Perú,
it may be necessary to spend many hours at the Lima
airport waiting for your connection. In some travel
books you will read that the Diner's Club, located on
the second floor of the airport, will allow card members
to pass the time in their lounge, and for non card holders,
a fee of $6.00 U.S. will get you in. This is only partly
true. The Diner's Club will allow members only. Non
members may not get in at all. This lounge is strictly
closed to card members. So if you are not a card member
what do you do? If you are traveling with all your luggage,
there is a luggage locker at the far left end of the
airport that will hold your luggage for about $3.00
U.S. for 24 hours. But be careful. There is a room where
many bags are held behind the counter in plain sight.
Demand a locker for your bags. Each locker needs 2 keys
to open and they are located in the concourse of the
airport away from prying eyes. The baggage room attendant
has one key and you are given the other. This is still
not 100% fail-safe but is preferable to the back room
storage. If you have time to spend waiting for your
connection and are not a Diner's Club member, there
is a pleasant little restaurant/bar located on the second
floor all the way to the left of the Diner's Club (above
the baggage holding area) with couches where you can
stay as long as you want to in relative comfort as long
as you eat or drink something there.
When you arrive in Perú it is best to do so with U.S.
dollars. While most western currency can be exchanged
for Peruvian Soles rather easily, any shop, restaurant,
or business will take U.S. dollars as payment. This
can not be said readily of all other western currency.
Be prepared however to receive your change in Soles.
It is a good idea not to use bills in excess of $10-$20.00
U.S., as you might find it difficult for the merchant
to change anything larger. There are money changing
booths almost everywhere in every major Peruvian city
in the Plaza de Armas and their hours and rates are
usually better than the local banks. But be aware, regardless
of what western currency you are carrying you will find
that when you exchange it, the money changer will look
it over with a fine toothed comb. Not so much to judge
its authenticity, but to examine the condition of the
bill. You will find it difficult if not impossible to
exchange bills, regardless of their authenticity, if
they are not in pristine condition. That means no torn
edges, no tape, no missing pieces, no writing, and/or
no stamp marks on them. Do not take bills to Perú that
do not meet these conditions or you will wind up taking
them back home with you. When you exchange your money
for Soles, tell the money changer not to give you bills
larger than 50 Soles as these are sometimes hard to
get change for. 10 Soles bills are the easiest method
of payment in Perú. If you find it necessary to carry
travelers checks, be aware that they are not as easy
to exchange and some banks may require a surcharge to
change them. Some money exchange locations may not even
take them with a surcharge. Carry only as much money
as you think you will need for the worst case scenario
of your outing. If necessary, go the Plaza de Armas
more than once a day to change money as you need it.
It is recommended that you have your hotel call a taxi
for you when you plan to leave for several reasons.
First, all reputable hotels, such as The Orquidea, have
a working relationship with at least one radio dispatched
taxi company. They know the taxi company and will set
the rate for you before you leave. This leaves little
chance of being overcharged. Secondly, it is not uncommon,
when you just hail a taxi from the street, to have one
rate agreed upon, only to find that the rate has changed
when you reach your destination, or the driver doesn't
have enough change when you get there. Some street taxis
may also try to pick up other fares during your trip
which you didn't bargain for. While this is not the
general rule, it does happen, so let your hotel arrange
for your taxi service.
One of the things that are immediately apparent upon
arrival to Cuzco and other major cities in Perú is the
plethora of cabs and mini buses. They are small by western
standards but can still hurt you if you are not careful.
There are some traffic lights and stop signs, but don't
expect everyone to use them. These little guys have
the right of way at all times and sorry will be the
traveler that doesn't recognize it at once. In fact,
horns will blow at you if you are just walking down
the street on the sidewalk for no apparent reason. When
strolling around, especially in the evening, always
be very careful at intersections. Many of the headlights
don't work and not very many drivers have figured out
what a turn signal is or how to use it. It is kind of
quirky and adds to the charm of Perú. While we have
never experienced anything even resembling a troublesome
situation, you cannot help but feel for the little children
on the street. When we go to Perú, we bring with us
pencils, writing tablets, and little toys such as bubbles,
troll dolls, and matchbox cars to give to the children.
These gifts are much appreciated and will draw a crowd
faster than anything I have ever seen. There is nothing
quite so priceless as the face of a child with a new
toy they have never seen before. This is preferable
to just handing out a few Soles, and will give you something
to remember forever.
Times have really changed in Perú regarding the ability
to communicate with folks back home. 1 year ago, you
could find a few internet places with 28.8 modems that
would work but would seem to take forever to transmit
data out of the country. Today, internet cafes are common
and they all seem to have DSL or ADSL fast connections.
Explorer, Netscape, and Hotmail are readily available
at every internet stop. Expect to pay about 2 1/2 Soles
for 1/2 hour of internet time, more than enough to keep
in touch with the folks back home on a daily basis if
you wish. First time visitors to Perú will be intoxicated
by its beauty and diversity. I have seen no other place
in the world with as many natural wonders and treasures
as I have found in Perú. From the amazing Amazon and
its countless numbers of birds and natural wildlife,
to Andean pre colonial cities like Cuzco and Arequipa,
to the ancient temples of Machu Picchu, to the pristine
waters of Lake Titicaca near Puno, to the largest canyon
in the world, I can think of no other country that contains
as much to see in so small a geographic area. Perú gets
into your blood, and once there, you will go back.
YOU SHOULD BRING -Personal sleeping bag and mattress
-Back pack, trekking shoes -Water bottle, flash light,
hat -Personal clothing for trek -Insect repellent -
Water treating tablets/liquids
Essential are walking boots (and I mean boots, no track
or basketball substitutes as the trail sometimes is
slippery and your feet and legs will be tired), warm
and weatherproof cloth (like 2 synthetic underwear/shirt,
a skiingshirt, a sweater and a Goretex-Jacket), thin
and thick socks (I always wear a thin sock and then
over it a hicking sock, both cotton and both preworn,
not fresh from the store or the washing) and a cap or
hat. You won't necessarily need lipstick, but sunprotection
and something against mosquitos you become handy. A
good, comfortable backpack with hipbelt and rainproof
cover. Good sleeping bag. Water treating tablets/liquids.
Some first aid stuff, toilet paper, a flashlight, Leatherman
or Swiss Army knife. Camera (UVA/UVB filter for lens),
spotting glasses? Films 400ASA speed. Everything you
don't need should be left behind. Many hostels and hotels
in Cuzco will let you leave stuff with them.
Climate. Temperatures range between 30 to 37o C during
the dry season (May to October) and 28 to 33 o C in
the rainy season (November to March). Cold spells called
"Friajes" come from the South Pole and are
frequent from June to August. Friajes will lower the
temperature to 9º C for 2 or 3 days.
Sickness prevention. Similar to requirements to visit
any tropical region, you must receive a Yellow-fever
vaccination before visiting the Madre de Dios region.
Keep your card available upon your arrival to the Puerto
Maldonado airport because you will be required to show
it to the Health Ministry representatives.
Personal clothing and equipment. Depending how long
you plan to stay, you will need light, drip-dry cotton
clothing (one set per day), 2 long-sleeved shirts and
pants, hiking boots, a raincoat, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit
and a sweatshirt or lightweight jacket. Bringing insect
repellent, high factor sunscreen, personal medication,
water bottle, binoculars, flashlight and spare bulbs
and batteries, pocket knife, and a camera with plenty
of film (our programs are specially dedicated to photographers)
will increase the enjoyment of your visit.
WHAT TO BRING
We recommend:
· Good binoculars
· Camera gear (ASA 50, 100 and 200 recommended)
· Two or three pairs of long cotton pants
· Four pairs of absorbent cotton socks
· Rain suit or long poncho (100% waterproof - test before
you leave home)
· Three or four long-sleeved cotton shirts
· Two or three T-shirts
· Sunscreen lotion (high factor)
· Swimsuit
· A bottle or canteen to carry water on outings
· A hat that will not come off in windy boatrides
· One pair of shorts
· Sunglasses
· Two pairs of sneakers or hiking boats (with good gripping
soles)
· Insect repellent (Skin-So-Soft for river, and 20%
or more Deet for forest)
· A photocopy of your passport
· A large, bright flashlight
· Personal toiletries and medications
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