Useful information and relevant tips to make of your Peru trip the most pleasant one.
Peruvian Currency and Exchange
The Peruvian currency is the Sol (S/). Exchange rate for one American Dollar is approximately S/. 3.50.
Most hotels have exchange rates facilities. For other currencies, you may check with local banks. Credit cards are frequently accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops.
Peruvian Local Time
Peruvian local time coincides with Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. and is five hours behind G.M.T.
Electricity
220 volts, 60 cycles. Major hotels have special 110 volts outlets in bathrooms.
Water
Although tap water is potable, we suggest you to drink only bottled water. You may easily find carbonated and spring water everywhere.
Altitude Sickness
When traveling to altitude we suggest you to relax at least 3 hours for your body to get adjusted. Coca tea may help you to get accustomed to altitude, it is usually offered upon arrival at hotels (it is an innocuous infusion).
Hotel Taxes
Tourists are exempted of paying of 18 percent Peeruvian Sales Tax on accommodation throughout Peru. In order to grant this excemption, hotels request a copy of passport (data and date of entrance) upon arrival of pasengers.
Tips
10% service charge is usually included on hotel or restaurant bills. Additional tipping is optional.
Taxis
Taxis are quite inexpensive in Peru. Since they do not have taximeters, agree rates prior to the trip. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Shopping
Peru is a paradise for shopping. It is the land of jewelry, ceramics and alpaca goods.
Shops in Lima are usually opened from 10 am to 8 pm.; outside Lima from 10 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. We suggest you to carry along all your buys and avoid shop’s delivery.
Remember that exportation of pieces of art, antiques and pottery is forbidden.
Safety Measures
Leave your Passport at hotel together with values. Most hotels have safe boxes free of charge or at a very small fee. It is advisable to carry a copy of your passport.
Avoid touring around alone.
Do not wear jewelry of any kind when out in the street. If you wear a watch, be sure it is hidden by your shirt sleeve.
As far as drugs are concerned, Peruvian law is clear and concise as well as very strict, forbidding all possessions of, use and dealing in narcotics including marijuana and cocaine.
When touring by your own, do not surpass the beaten track. Keep and eye on your wallet, camera, video, etc. Street pickpockets are frequent as in any big city in the world nowadays.
General Information
Surface Area
With an area of 1,285,215 square km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it amongst the world’s 20 largest nations.
Peru also holds sway over the sea up to 200 miles from the Peruvian coast and has territorial rights to an area of 60 million hectares in the Antarctic. Peru is divided into regions. Lima is the capital of Peru.
Population:
32.162.184 inhabitants.
- Urban: 78 %
- Rural: 22 %
Peru is a nation of mixed ethnic origins. Throughout its history, Peru has been the meeting ground for different nations and cultures. The indigenous population was joined 500 years ago by the Spaniards.
As a result of this encounter, and later enriched by the migration of African blacks, Asians and Europeans, Peruvian man emerged as the representative of a nation whose rich ethnic mix is one of its leading characteristics.
Language
- Spanish: 80,3%
- Quechua: 16,2%
- Other languages: 3,0%
- Foreign languages: 0,2%
As part of its rich cultural tradition, Peru features many different languages. Although Spanish is commonly spoken across the country, Quechua is a major legacy of the Inca empire, and is still spoken with regional dialects in many parts of Peru.
In addition, other languages are spoken such as Aymara (in Puno) and a startling variety of dialects in the Amazon jungle, which are divided up into 15 linguistic families and 43 different languages.
Currency
The official currency in Peru is the Sol (S/), which is divided into 100 centimos. The currency 10, 20 and 50 centimos and 1, 2 and 5 sol coins. There are bills in the denomination of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles.
Government
Peru is a democratic republic. The president and members of Congress are elected every five years by universal suffrage. The current constitutional president of Peru is Martin Vizcarra.
Religion
Roman Catholic: 81%
Evangelical: 12%
Other religions: 4%
Any Religion: 3%
Peru is a naturally religious country: a diversity of beliefs and freedom of worship can be seen from the wide range of festivals and rituals that feature both Catholic fervor and the mysticism of age-old pre-Hispanic cultures.
Vacunas
If you plan to travel to the Amazon region, it is recommended to get a Yellow vaccine ten days before traveling.
How to arrive Peru
Peru lies on the central-western coast of South America, with an area of 1’285,215 square km and a population of 26 million.
International airlines operate scheduled flights to Peru’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, located in Lima – Peru.
From New York – Newark, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and Toronto exist direct flights to Lima. From Europe exist direct flights to Lima from Madrid and Amsterdam.
Peru has direct flights from the main cities in Latin America as Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janiero, Caracas, Bogota, Quito, Guayaquil, La Paz, Panama, Mexico, San Jose de Costa Rica. Flights from Asia or Oceania to Peru, connection by USA or Europe.
Jorge Chávez Airport in Lima is the main gate for international flights and it’s the main hub to local flights connections.
Peru is a big country with long distance between the main tourist attractions. From Lima to Cuzco there are 1,165 Km (724 miles) and need 20 hours for a trip by road, and 01 hour by air.
