FAQ`S Perú

The best time to visit the highlands is April to October. Clients do also enjoy Peru travel packages during fringe seasons such as November, December, and March, and also have a great experience. The coast will be colder during the peak Highland season, so Peru vacations may have sunny and warm weather December to March. The Amazon is rainy December through March, and dry June through October. Peru adventure travellers to the Amazon should expect sporadic showers all year round as well as hot and humid tropical weather.A

Info Peru is a traveler assistance service to help tourists. This service has a 24 hour hot line. For assistance call in Lima 421-1227. Outside of Lima, dial 01 first.

Yes, during your Peru holiday you will experience high altitudes in Cuzco, Arequipa, and Lake Titicaca. We encourage our clients to check with a doctor before travel. Upon arrival, please rest the first day, drink “mate de coca” (coca tea) and suck on lemon sweets. It is also important when arriving at high altitude to drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. Altitude sickness pills are available at the pharmacy in Cuzco by the name of “soroche” pills, but if you think you need this it is better to get them from your doctor at home, because those are more effective. Your expert Travel Consultant can also help you plan your Peru custom tours to ascend slowly to higher altitudes, like visiting Arequipa first located at 7500 feet, then Cuzco situated at 10,000 feet, then finally Lake Titicaca which is 12,000 feet.

American citizens do not need a visa. Upon arrival they will receive a permit to remain in Peru up to 90 days. Other nationalities may need a visa, please write to us.

For Peru tour packages, no inoculations are legally required to enter Peru’s main cities such as Lima and Cuzco from the United States or Europe. However, yellow fever vaccination is recommended if traveling with a Peru Amazon tour to Tambopata, Manu and Puerto Maldonado. We also recommend taking yellow fever vaccination and malaria pills if traveling to Iquitos. Please beware that some countries like Brazil and Costa Rica, may require you to have a yellow fever certificate if you have traveled to Peru before visiting them.

Peru uses both 220V and 110V. Some hotels have 110V electrical plugs, some have 220V, and some have both… Therefore, we recommend for your Peru trips buying a voltage converter just in case. We also recommend asking at the front desk in the hotels what the voltage of the electrical plugs is, and which electrical plugs in the room have an 110V. This will help to avoid any damage to electronics.

Some years ago the Peruvian Government took some steps that limit the access to these tourist destinations, is detailed below. To ensure a Machu Picchu guided tour, Peru Mountain Treks, encourages clients to book in advance. In no uncertain terms does, PERU MOUNTAIN, Tours advise anyone to take trips to Machu Picchu without booking tickets to the ruins in advance.

The expert, MINKA PERU, Travel Consultant will request tickets for a second entrance or a Peru trekking tour up Huayna Picchu at booking if indicated by the client. These tickets are also subject to availability.

• Machu Picchu Ticket: 2500 spaces per day.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu: 400 spaces per day, divided into two groups of 200 people each.
• First group: Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu 07:00 – 08:00 hours.
• Second group: Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu 10:00 – 11:00 hours.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain: 400 spaces per day.

The major hub for your Peru travel packages is the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

Inti Raymi, celebrated on June 24th, is the Festival of the Sun, and the second largest in South America and attracting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Occurring annually in Cusco, Inti Raymi is a weeklong celebration marking the summer solstice and the beginning of the year. Easter is also a huge time for festivals, one of the best can be seen in Ayacucho.

The official language in Peru is Spanish although several indigenous languages are still widely spoken including Quechua and Aymara.

Nuevo Sol. (PEN)

There is a mini bus service from the village to the entrance of Machu Picchu in Peru that runs daily every 15 minutes from 5:30 AM. The sunrise is usually around 6:30AM, but often there can be a mist in the mountains instead of a typical sunrise. The mountains behind Machu Picchu can also make the sunrise seem to occur later. In any case, early morning is a lovely time to enjoy a quieter and possibly more private Machu Picchu tour.

The Machu Picchu sanctuary is open from 6am and stays open until 5pm daily.

When you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), you will be met by a representative of the hotel where you will be staying. That person will take your luggage to the hotel while you take the bus for your Machu Picchu guided tour. When you return, your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel. Please remember to lock your luggage in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

While “out and about” we suggest you leave your passport and the bulk of your money, credit cards etc in the safe deposit box of your hotel. Only take with you the money you intend to spend. Carry a photocopy of the picture page of your passport for ID purposes.

There is public internet access on every corner in the major cities of Peru!!!! The price is generally about 1 sol an hour or US$0.30. Many cabins now feature software to make very inexpensive international calls via the internet. (The quality of this service varies). In smaller villages, there aren’t any phones, let alone internet!

At all airports, passengers must pay a departure tax: $ 28, for international flights and about $ 5 for domestic flights. This tax must be paid in cash (soles or dollars) before boarding.

There are plenty of taxis all over Peru in the major cities with very affordable rates. Because none use meters, we recommend you check the likely rate with the hotel and negotiate a price before (not after) accepting a ride. In Lima it is recommended that the staff of your hotel write down the licence plate of your taxi before you depart.

Public toilets are rarely available except in bus stations, restaurants, bars, cafes etc. Public restrooms are labeled WC (water closet), Damas (Ladies) and Caballeros or Hombres (Men). As toilet paper is not always provided so you should bring your own! All over Peru, regardless of the standard of the hotel or restaurant, you should throw the paper in the wastepaper basket rather than the toilet – or you will create a nasty clogging problem.