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PERU TRAVEL TIPS & INFORMATION
WEATHER
The rainy season in Cusco is from November through March. Students may still
walk the Inca Trail; however, it may be wet at times. During the dry season,
from April to October, the weather is usually sunny. Temperatures are hot during
the day and cold at night. It is recommended that participants bring a wet
weather coat and a warm coat for the nights and inside buildings, as they don't
have heating.
CURRENCY & MONEY EXCHANGE IN PERU
The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. At the time of writing USD
$1.00 was equal to S/. 2.81 There are a number of automatic cash machines that
take most credit cards and there are numerous "Casas de Cambio" Exchange Stores
where Travelers Checks may be cashed. There are ATM machines, which are in the
Banco Latino and Banco del Sur, Banco BCP and Scotia bank. It is useful to
arrive in Peru with some American dollars, Euros, or sterlin pounds.
TAXES
In Peru, all goods and services are taxed with 19% (IGV). Restaurants
and hotels add a 10% service fee.
By law, all traders have the obligation to show the client the final price,
including taxes.
On the other hand, tour packages contracted outside the country are tax exempted.
OTHER EXPENSES
The following list gives you some indication of what you may wish to
plan for during your stay in Cusco. Taxis $1.50; local transport $0.50; a set
meal/menu in restaurant $ 4.50 or more; a beer in a nightclub $3.00; a
cappuccino in a trendy café/bar $2.00; international phone calls $0.50 per
minute; laundry service $1.50 per kilo; email service $0.50/hr. you can easy
move around Peru by bus or flights.
HEALTH CARE HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND DRUGSTORES ALL ARE
AT YOUR SERVICE 24 HOURS
It is recommended that prior to arrival; participants undertake a thorough
medical examination, purchase health insurance and consult their physician about
the necessary injections or shots. You should be protected against typhoid,
polio, tetanus and hepatitis. A yellow fever vaccination is only required if you
are going to the deep jungle. Check malaria prophylactics for all low land rural
areas to be visited (there is no malaria in the Cusco area!). Vaccination
against cholera is not necessary. Further information on health risks abroad,
vaccinations etc. may be available from your local travel clinic.
THINGS YOU NEED TO BRING WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING TO HIKE
THE MOUNTAINS
Dictionary; Spanish grammar book in your own language (there are no
Spanish grammar books or dictionaries available in Cusco); email addresses; a
guidebook; novels; a small gift for the guest family only if you are staying
with quechuan community or local family a warm jumper/sweater; a raincoat;
walking shoes/hiking boots; sleeping bag (For Inca Trail, although these can be
rented as well); water purification tablets (can be bought in Cusco as well);
pocket knife; torch/flashlight. Good sun screen. Rain poncho/raincoat
ALTITUDE SICKNESS (SOROCHE)
Few people experience some discomfort at this altitude. We recommend at least
half day rest before starting to walk into the city but if you are doing inka
trail salkantay trek or any mountain trip you must have at least 2 days to get
acclimatized.
The symptoms of altitude sickness or soroche are usually headaches, dizziness,
stomach upset and tiredness. These symptoms can be managed by reducing the
alcohol intake; drinking lots of fluids (coca tea!); eating light meals and
getting plenty of rest.
PERU LANGUAGE
Peru's official languages are Spanish and Quechua.
Spanish is spoken in practically every city and town in the country, while
Quechua is mainly spoken in a few places in the Andes.
In the highland plains, called altiplano, in the region of Puno, Aymara is also
spoken, although it is not held to be an official language.
Same as the jungle they speak over 80 different dialects
LODGING IN PERU
Lima and the main cities in Peru offer different choices in
accommodations. The visitor can choose between youth hostels and hostels for
about US$ 10.00 to US$40.00 or apart-hotels and hotels for about US$40.00 to
US$250.00 or more; the last one means five-star hotels.
It is preferable to arrive with previous hotel reservations because in some
seasons there are increases in the rates and it could even be hard to find a
room at a reasonable price.
TRAVELLING BETWEEN LIMA AND CUSCO
The fastest and easiest way to travel between Lima and Cusco is
undoubtedly by plane. Flights are between $ 90.00 and $ 125.00 for a one way
ticket and run between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. only. Most
travelers arriving from Lima do so by air.
If you want to go overland, there are two options. The first route will lead you
to Cusco via Ayacucho, Andahuaylas and Abancay and is really beautiful. However,
most part of the road is unpaved (and the buses and the hotels bad) and it might
be a little too much for the traveler who has just arrived to Peru. All together,
it will take you about 48 hours to get to Cusco. There are several bus companies
that offer this service throughout the year; however, the route is too dangerous
to consider in rainy season.
The second option will go to Arequipa first, and then to Cusco. The Lima -
Arequipa part is fast: the majority of the trip is via the Panamerican highway,
along the coast. Buses are fine and depart about every half an hour from Lima.
Arequipa is a beautiful, colonial city, where the traveler might want to
consider staying a day or so before continuing the trip. But if you prefer,
there is a direct connection to Cusco that departs between the hours of 4:00 and
8:00 p.m. The road is not too good, it might be freezing cold at night and the
bus crowded. Now you will start traversing the Andes, this is the real side of
Peru! You will arrive in Cusco in the early morning, between 4:00 and 8:00
.
IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION CONTACT US BY SKYPE OR EMAIL TO OUR MANAGERS:
EDWARD JHON MONTALVO LATORRE OR NESTOR SULLCA TTITO.
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