PERU TRAVEL TIPS & INFORMATION

CLIMATE

The rainy season in Cusco occurs 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 generally sunny. Temperatures are hot during the day and cold at night. It is recommended that students 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/. 3.25. There are a number of automatic contador machines that take credit cards and there are numerous "Casas de Cambio" where Travelers Checks may be cashed. There are ATM machines, which are Banco Latino and Banco del Sur. Banco BCP. Scotia bank. It is useful to arrive with American dollars, euros, or pounds

TAXEX

In Peru, all goods and services are taxed a 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 $2.75; a cappuccino in a trendy café/bar $1.75; international phone call $0.50 per minute; laundry service $1.50 per kilo; email service $0.50/hr. you can easy move around Peru by bus or fly.

HEALTH CARE HOSPITALS, CLINICS, DRUGSTORES ALL ARE AT YOUR SERVICE 24 HOURS

It is recommended that prior to arrival; students undertake a thorough medical examination, purchase health insurance and consult their physician about the necessary injections. You should be protected against typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis. A yellow fever vaccination is only required if you are going to the jungle. Check malaria prophylactics for all lowland 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 PLANNIN 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 cream. Rain poncho/raincoat

ALTITUDE SICKNESS LIKE (SOROCHE)

Some people experience some discomfort at this altitude. We recommend at least half day

Before start to walk into the city but if you are doing inka trail salkantay trek or any mountain trip you must have at least 2 day to get acclimatized

(Or any other activity). The symptoms of altitude sickness or soroche are 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 of the Andes.

In the highland plains, called altiplano, in the department of Puno, Aymara is also spoken, although it is not held to be an official language.

Same as the jungle they they speak over 80 different dialects

LODGING 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; 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.

TRAVEL 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 MANAGERS EDWARD JHON MONTALVO LATORRE, NESTOR SULLCA TTITO.