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Peru Practical information Peru

Area : 496224  sq.mi - Population 29180900 hab.
Peru

Our expert Peru

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map Peru

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Practical information Peru

superficie

Area

496224  sq.mi
vol

Flights

16 hours. Lima is 5,939 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

29180900 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Jorge Chavez airport is located 11 miles out of the centre of Lima. Due to rather frequent traffic jams, allow a good half-hour by taxi and an hour roughly by (very slow) bus. The bus fare costs roughly 1 sol. Allow 15 soles for the taxi fare.
securite

Security


General recommendations:
Thefts and attacks are fairly common in tourist places such as Cuzco or Puno. The usual precautions should be observed in Peru: in the day time, walk with a discreet-looking bag, do not carry a camera on show against your chest for example, same thing for shoulder bags. Avoid deserted alleyways, day and night. Be careful in very cheap hotels - the rooms, even locked, aren't always safe. No need however to become paranoid.
langue

Languages

Spanish is the official language. Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire, is spoken by millions of Indians and Aymara, another Amazonian dialect, is spoken along the shores of Lake Titicaca. Basic English is taught in most of the country's schools and widely used by tourist service providers.
formalites

Requirements

European Union citizens do not require a visa. Your passport just needs to be valid at least six months after the return date. Upon arrival, travellers are allowed six months in the country. On entering Peru, you will need to fill in a form and keep it with you before giving it back when you leave the country. Look after it carefully, because if you lose it you will be charged about US$15.
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Religion

Catholicism is now practised by 80% of the population, although it is very much interwoven with the Quechua and Aymara Indian religious practises. Pachamama, the Earth Mother goddess, is still eoked at special occasions.
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Currency

The currency is the Nuevo Sol (PEN), which comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 PEN coins and 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 PEN notes. The Euro and US dollar are accepted in most restaurants and some shops. Visa is accepted in nearly all the automatic cash machines in the big cities. Eurocard/Mastercard cash machines are less widespread. If possible, travel to Peru with US dollars in small denominations (new and preferably undamaged). Watch out for fake US dollar notes; it is preferable to accept new notes as change during transactions. Bank opening hours are variable, but they are all open from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The website www.editoraperu.com provides more information on exchange rates.
transports

Local transportation

Flying is a cheap way of saving time on long distances. A one-way ticket from Cuzco to Lima will set you back about US$40. You should definitely experience a train journey in Peru, especially from Puno, on lake Titicaca, to Cuzco, or from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. The easiest way to travel anywhere in the country is by bus: there are many cheap services, although the journey times are often unpredictable. For example, Arequipa-Cuzco is a 12-hour, 320 mi journey costing US$10.
Travellers intending to drive must first obtain an international driving licence. There are plenty of car rental agencies in cities, but the very bad condition of the roads makes driving the hardest way to get around Peru. 4 x 4's are the only vehicles recommended for exploring Peru independently. Watch out for car robbers; it is absolutely necessary to leave your vehicle in a secure garage in the big cities.
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Health

Vaccinations against yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A and B are strongly recommended. For travellers going to the Amazonian rainforest, a course of anti-malarial treatment is recommended, although there is no risk of malaria at altitudes above 6,561 ft. Only drink bottled water (including when you brush you teeth!). Many visitors to Peru suffer from "soroche" or altitude sickness when they first arrive. The symptoms are strong headaches and a feeling of nausea that can develop into pulmonary oedema. Make sure that you take it easy and drink plenty of water the first few days, and chew on coca leaves like the locals: it is the only effective remedy.
electricite

Electricity

220 V. You will need an adaptor.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

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Taxes and tips

Goods and services are taxed at 18%. Service is included in restaurants, but as a tourist, leaving a couple of extra coins (about 10% of the bill) is much appreciated. On your way out of the country, the airport tax for international flights is US$25, payable in local currency, while national flights are taxed at US$4.
telephone

Telephone

To call Peru from the UK, dial 00 + 51 + city code (01 for Lima, 084 for Cuzco, 054 for Arequipa) + number you are trying to reach.
From Peru to the UK: 00 + 44 + n# excluding the initial 0.