What You Should Consider Before Going to Peru

Image Credit: Dimitry B.

Generally, it’s preferable to go between May and October, when the weather is quite dry. For hiking, choose early Spring or Autumn, i.e. April, May, September and October, assuming the weather is getting drier. This is a good time for the Amazon too, especially earlier in the dry season.

During the rainy season, i.e. November to March, you are likely to find cheaper flights. Generally, the mornings are warm and bright but the day will become gradually cloudier, with a likelihood of rain in the afternoons.

Health Considerations

Currently, for Peru, you are recommended to undergo vaccinations against the following:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

(Source: www.travelhealthpro.org.uk)

Malaria vaccinations may be required if you plan to travel to the Amazon basin – inoculations take 10-14 days to be effective, so plan in advance.

Contact your GP around 8 weeks before your trip, so that you have enough time to undergo the vaccination schedules. For the latest advice, go to travelhealthpro.org.uk, which is a very good resource for information about disease prevention, with separate sections ordered by country of destination.

With the higher altitude in Peru, your body will lose more water, due to the lower air pressure. Therefore, ensure you drink plenty of water (around 2-3 litres per day). You will be best off drinking bottled or previously boiled water. Public water may cause stomach upsets.

Wear a broad-brimmed sunhat.

Do not eat street food unless you’re sure it is freshly cooked and served hygienically.

Altitude Sickness

The advantage of the higher altitude is that it’s a little cooler, which means there are not many insects and the air is fresher. Make sure you rest for a few hours on arrival and don’t overdo things for the first day or two, even if you feel OK. Remember that the oxygen in your blood from when you were at sea level will still be helping you, though this will start to deplete.

Coca tea helps alleviate symptoms. Eat meals with high carbohydrate and low fat and protein, and eat early to allow for digestion before bed-time.

Tobacco, alcohol and sleeping pills are best avoided.

Food

Image Credit: Cathrine Lindblom Gunasekara

Peru is a vegetarian’s paradise, with an amazing variety of fruit and vegetables. Peruvians particularly love their chili and garlic. There is a wide range of specialities, with each region boasting its own specialities.

Lima and the coast is famous for its Creole style cuisine, such as shellfish marinated in lemon juice with onions and red peppers – and of course many other seafood specialities.

Andean cuisine, although less varied and sophisticated, can be delicious. Typical Andean dishes include roast guinea pig and deep fried pork.

If you’re looking for a restaurant, follow the basic rule of only using those which have plenty of customers already eating, meaning that the restaurant is trusted and likely to be serving fresh, well-cooked food.

Stay Safe

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• Leave paper valuables (e.g. passport) in the hotel safe, taking only what you need for the day
• Carry a copy of your passport, leaving the original at the hotel
• Use a money-belt concealed under clothing rather than a “bum” bag
• Beware of overly friendly locals or fake tourists, who might be confidence tricksters
• Avoid the beach areas off-season. Beware bag-snatchers
• Do not exchange money on the street. Use either a casa de cambio (bureau de change) or bank, ATM machine
• Downtown Lima is particularly hazardous. Only take a daypack if you’re in a group and carry it on your chest. Don’t go there at night, especially on your own!
• Carry your camera in a bag, replacing it immediately after use
• Take special care in markets and bus stations, where bag-slashers, watch snatchers and pickpockets operate. Beware of distraction techniques
• At night, avoid quiet streets or streets with poor lighting, especially if alone; it’s best to use taxis at night, wherever you are
• NEVER leave your bags unattended, especially in airports, bus terminals and hotel lobbies

Currency

Image Credit: Chris Protopapas

Peru’s monetary unit is the "Nuevo Sol". Travellers are advised to carry some US dollars as a back up, bringing mostly cash, in medium to high denomination bank notes. Note that dollar bills must be unmarked and undamaged, otherwise they might not be accepted.

If you wish to use an ATM cash card, ATM machines are available in most large towns in Peru, and are widely available in Lima, Lima airport, Cusco, Puno, Huaraz and Arequipa.

US dollar travellers’ cheques can be changed in most large towns, but they sometimes incur a commission.

Many shops and restaurants also accept the major international credit cards, though there may be a fee.

Use bank or casa de cambio(bureau de change). Ask for billetes chicos (small notes, ie 10 or 20 sol notes) as obtaining change outside Lima can be difficult. Count your Sols carefully before handing over your US dollars, and look out for forged notes.

Tipping

In Latin America, tipping is the norm. In a restaurant, you should expect to pay a tip of around 10%. Tour guides and expedition leaders will expect a tip in recognition of the service given. Obviously, the happier you are with that, the greater should be your tip. However, don't overdo this as it can be counter-productive if you reward bad service by being too generous. Stick to between 5-10 US dollars for the guide, per day, plus smaller tips for drivers, cooks, etc., paid in small denomination Sol.

Visa

Image Credit: François Bianco

UK nationals do not need a visa for Peru, other than the one completed on entry and which is valid for 183 days (six months).

Travel Light!

Image Credit: DiNo

Take twice as much money and half the amount of clothes you think you need. There are plenty of clothing markets. You’ll feel the benefit of a lighter backpack and have plenty of space for souvenirs!

Title Image Credit: Nicolas de Camaret (Image Cropped)