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Weather
Peruvian Embassies and Consulates in the U.S.
Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals
Current Vaccination for entry into Peru
Useful Information (central theme)
Welcome We welcome you to this country of various dimensions and exciting adventures. Journey back in time as you visit the cultural centers of pre-Columbian civilization. Enjoy modern Lima, and marvel at the mysteries of futuristic Nazca. And of course, there is always the fun of bargaining or trading with the natives for alpaca wool sweaters or an exotic blowgun. To make your trip more enjoyable, we offer the following information.
Holidays in Peru January 1 New Year Good Friday May 1 Labor Day June 29 St. Peter and St. Paul July 28 and 29 Independence Day August 30 St. Rose of Lima October 8 Battle of Angamoss November 1 All Saints Day December 8 Immaculate Conception December 25 Christmas Cusco Cusco Cathedral: Sundays
Documentation: A valid passport is required to enter Peru. U.S. citizens do not need a visa. Others should contact the Consulate for entry requirements. Travelers must also have proof of return or future travel.
Objects of Value: We suggest that while you are sightseeing or shopping you leave your passport and most of your money at the hotel, and only carry the cash you want to spend or change at a particular time. It is also useful to carry a photocopy of the first page of your passport as in some cases it is necessary to cash traveler's checks. This copy may also be useful if your passport is stolen or lost.
Health: NO vaccinations are required for entry but we recommend a double medical check-up before departure. However, due to the high altitudes in some parts of Peru, travelers with heart problems or high blood pressure should be checked by their doctors. Bottles of water are necessary in all places.
Current Currency and Currency Exchange: Peru's currency is the NUEVO SOL. The bills are of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles. Coins are of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents of a Nuevo Sol. There are also coins of 1, 2 and 5 Nuevos Soles. Dollars and traveler's checks can be exchanged at banks at the official exchange rate, most hotels (the exchange rate usually varies between the official and the parallel rate) and in the streets at the parallel rate. Traveler's checks are slightly less valuable than cash.
Exchange rates fluctuate, so check with a local guide once you arrive in Peru. Most credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and stores, however, the acquisition of the credit card will be according to the official exchange rate and not the parallel exchange rate.
Gratuities and Taxes:
In Peru, restaurants, bars and hotels automatically add 10% to the bill. And a modest additional gratuity (maximum 5%) is expected only if the service was really good. The minimum large group gratuity for guides is $2.00 to $3.00 per person per day and drivers should be tipped approximately half for groups. For individuals and couples, the gratuity should be taken into consideration for personalized service and at your discretion. A tip is not required for cab drivers.
Hotels: A percentage of the service charge will be added to all room bills. This percentage varies according to the location but will be stated on the bill. Luggage handlers and housekeeping generally receive a gratuity of $1.00 per bag and $1.00 per room per night.
Restaurants: As a general rule there is a small sales tax and a percentage of gratuity added to restaurant bills. These taxes and gratuities vary from place to place, but the percentage added are listed on the bill. It is customary to leave an additional tip so the total gratuity percentage will be between 15 - 20% for excellent service.
Tour guides and drivers: In tour groups, the average tip for a tour guide with a group is $7.00 to $12.00 per day of travel. When the guide is not traveling with you we suggest a tip of $3.00 to $5.00 per person for a full day and $1.00 to $2.00 per person for a half day tour. The driver's tip is usually half of what is given to the guide. For a private car, the guide receives $5.00 to $7.00 for a full day and $3.00 for a half day.
Cabs: All cabs must have a red and white "Taxi" sign on the windshield. There is no meter so check the fare before you get in. Hotel and airport cabs have a higher fare than those you find on the street, but they are better and more reliable. The cab driver does not expect a tip.
Imported Items: Items that are not of Peruvian origin are more expensive than elsewhere and are not usually available for purchase. Some of the most commonly needed items include camera rolls and equipment, insect repellent, sunscreen, contact lens solution and binoculars. A word to the wise, if you use these items bring them from home.
Souvenirs and Related ItemsThe best buys are the gold and silver jewelry stores as well as the wide variety of handicrafts such as hand-woven shawls, alpaca and llama skins. Sweaters, rugs and blankets, wall hangings, ceramics, woodwork, straw and leather goods. Tip: an extra bag is always necessary when it is time to return home with all your purchases.
Photographs: It is customary in many indigenous areas to give a tip to the photographer. This tip can be money or a gift such as candies, pencils, pens, etc. In addition, items such as cosmetics, pens, t-shirts and hand calculators can be exchanged in Indian markets for native handicrafts.
Arid coastal areas: (Most important tourist centers - Lima, Trujillo, Ica, Nazca, Paracas) In general the climate is temperate to warm throughout the year with very little rainfall. The highest temperature in this area is around 85°F and the lowest temperatures are around 50°F. June to October are the coldest months in Lima with somewhat humid and cloudy weather.
Sierra or high valleys: (Tourist centers - Cusco, Puno, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Huancayo, Huaraz). Most days are mild and sunny (79° F the highest temperature) with cool nights (32° F). There is a dry season from May to November with rainy seasons from December to April. Machu Picchu is the warmest tourist site mentioned previously with average highs of 75° F and low temperatures of 55° F while Puno is the coldest center of all (66° F / 31° F). Puno always receives watery snow during the rainy season.
La Selva: (Tourist Centers - Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos). The climate is hot and humid (100° F / 70° F) with frequent rainfall throughout the year.
Clothing: Casual clothing for destinations outside of Lima. For most destinations you will want to wear a cape because of weather changes. The cosmopolitan city of Lima calls for a variety of attire: sportswear for daytime wear, dresses and jackets for dinner at fancy restaurants).
Useful items to include in the packing list: A light jacket for cold nights. An umbrella. Small flashlights (for excursions in the jungle). Insect repellent (jungle excursions and Machu Picchu). Walking shoes or boots (jungle trekking / Machu Picchu). An extra pair of sneakers (jungle excursions - as these may get wet). Suntan lotion, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses (Machu Picchu, jungle excursions). A warm jacket and socks (excursion to Puno). Binoculars, camera, batteries and lots of film. Windbreaker or sweatshirt style jacket (Machu Picchu). Small backpacks (Machu Picchu, jungle excursion).
Luggage: You will want a small suitcase for the Machu Picchu and Amazon excursions. We suggest a foldable, expandable type - one that can be carried inside your luggage. This is perfect for overnight stays and for carrying souvenirs when you return home.
Time difference: The time in Peru is the same as Eastern Standard Time in the United States.
Electrical voltage: The electrical voltage in Peru is 220 volts, 60 cycles and the plugs are with two round connections. Although most hotels have the option of 110 volts and others have an adapter to use, we believe it is more convenient to bring your own.
Language: Peru has two official languages, Spanish and Quechua. English, French and German are spoken in most hotels.
Population: Approximately 30 million inhabitants. There are more than 10 Indian nationalities that reach 40% of the total population of the country.
Office hours: Banks: 9:00am / 6:00pm Monday - Friday. 9:00am / 12:00pm on Saturdays. Some banks have their own hours. Stores: Monday to Friday, generally from 10:00am to 1:00pm and from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. Some stores, malls and markets may be open Saturdays and Sundays.
Restaurants and Entertainment Centers: Lima: Restaurants in Lima offer the best international cuisine and the best Peruvian cuisine. El Señorío de Sulco , known for its extraordinary Peruvian Creole food and for its wonderful view of the sea, is located at Malecón Cisneros 1470 (at the end of Pardo Avenue) Miraflores (Telephone (51-1) 441-0389 / 441-0183); Tunupa - Lima, with its spectacular novo-Andean food, located at Miguel Dasso 159, San Isidro (Telephone (51-1) 421-4383 / 421-4215). Worth trying: Pisco Sour, conchitas a la parmesana and Peruvian ceviche. To watch, we recommend the shows of the "Danzantes de Tijeras" and "Peru Negro" at the Sachún , which are impressive. These shows are part of the folklore and Creole art very popular among the Limeños. A favorite after dinner show. Just enjoy the show and a Peruvian beer or Pisco Sour. Phone (51-1) 441-4465 and (51-1) 441-0123. Most of the large international fast food chains are also located in Peru.
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Peruvian Embassies and Consulates in the United States
Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals
CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Antigua Barbuda NO YES YES
Bahamas NO YES YES
Barbados NO YES YES
Belize NO YES YES
Costa Rica YES YES YES
Cuba YES YES YES
Dominica NO YES YES
El Salvador YES YES YES
Grenada NO YES YES
Guatemala YES YES YES
Haiti YES YES YES
Honduras NO YES YES
Jamaica NO YES YES
Nicaragua YES YES YES
Panama NO NO YES Dominican Rep. YES YES YES
St. Kitts and Nevis NO YES YES
St. Lucia NO YES YES
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines NO YES YES
Trinidad and Tobago NO YES YES
NORTH AMERICA
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS (EXTENDABLE AT
(NON-EXTENDABLE) DIGEMIN)
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Canada NO YES YES
United States of America NO YES YES
Mexico NO NO YES
SOUTH AMERICA
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS (EXTENDABLE AT
(NON-EXTENDABLE) DIGEMIN)
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Argentina NO YES YES
Bolivia NO YES YES
Brazil NO NO YES
Colombia NO NO YES Chile NO NO YES
Ecuador NO YES YES
Guyana NO YES YES
Paraguay NO YES YES
Suriname NO YES YES
Uruguay NO YES YES
Venezuela NO YES YES
AFRICA
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Angola YES YES YES
Algeria YES YES YES
Benin YES YES YES
Botswana YES YES YES
Burkina Faso YES YES YES
Burundi YES YES YES
Cape Verde YES YES YES
Cameroon YES YES YES
Chad YES YES YES
Comoros YES YES YES Congo YES YES YES
Ivory Coast YES YES YES
Djibouti YES YES YES
Egypt YES YES YES
Eritrea YES YES YES
Ethiopia YES YES YES
Gabon YES YES YES
Gambia YES YES YES
Ghana YES YES YES
Guinea YES YES YES
Guinea Bissau YES YES YES
Equatorial Guinea YES YES YES
Kenya YES YES YES
Lesotho YES YES YES
Liberia YES YES YES
Libya YES YES YES
Madagascar YES YES YES
Malawi YES YES YES
Mali YES YES YES
Morocco YES YES YES Mauricio YES YES YES
Mauritania YES YES YES
Mozambique YES YES YES
Namibia YES YES YES
Niger YES YES YES
Nigeria YES YES YES
Central African Rep. YES YES YES
Rep. of South Africa NO YES YES
Rwanda YES YES YES
Western Sahara YES YES YES
Sao Tome and Principe YES YES YES
Senegal YES YES YES
Seychelles YES YES YES
Sierra Leone YES YES YES
Somalia YES YES YES
Sudan YES YES YES
Swaziland YES YES YES
Tanzania YES YES YES
Togo YES YES YES
Tunisia YES YES YES Uganda YES YES YES
Zaire YES YES YES
Zambia YES YES YES
Zimbabwe YES YES YES
ASIA
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Afghanistan YES YES YES
Saudi Arabia YES YES YES
Bangladesh YES YES YES
Bahrain YES YES YES
Bhutan YES YES YES
Brunei Darussalam NO YES YES
Cambodia YES YES YES
China People's Rep. YES YES YES
United Arab Emirates YES YES YES
Philippines NO YES YES
India YES YES YES
Indonesia NO NO YES
Iran YES YES YES Iraq YES YES YES
Israel NO YES YES
Japan NO YES YES
Jordan YES YES YES
Kazakhstan YES YES YES
Kyrgyzstan YES YES YES
Kuwait YES YES YES
Lebanon YES YES YES
Malaysia NO YES YES
Maldives YES YES YES
Mongolia YES YES YES
Myanmar YES YES YES
Nepal YES YES YES
Qatar YES YES YES
Pakistan YES YES YES
Republic of Korea NO YES YES
People's Rep. Rep. of Korea YES YES YES
Lao People's Democratic Rep. YES YES YES
Singapore NO YES YES
Sir Lanka YES YES YES Syria YES YES YES
Thailand NO YES YES
Tajikistan YES YES YES
Timor Leste YES YES YES
Turkmenistan YES YES YES
Uzbekistan YES YES YES
Vietnam YES YES YES
Yemen YES YES YES
EUROPE
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Albania YES YES YES
Germany NO YES YES
Andorra NO YES YES
Armenia YES YES YES
Austria NO YES YES
Azerbaijan YES YES YES
Belgium NO YES YES
Belarus NO YES YES
Bosnia Herzeqovina YES YES YES Bulgaria NO YES YES
Croatia NO YES YES
Denmark NO YES YES
Slovenia NO YES YES
Cyprus NO YES YES
Slovakia NO YES YES
Spain NO YES YES
Estonia NO YES YES
Russian Federation NO YES YES
Finland NO YES YES
France NO YES YES
Georgia YES YES YES
Great Britain and Northern Ireland NO YES YES
Greece NO YES YES
Hungary NO YES YES
Ireland NO YES YES
Iceland NO YES YES
Italy NO YES YES
Latvia NO YES YES
Llechtenstein NO YES YES Lithuania NO YES YES
Luxembourg NO YES YES
Macedonia NO YES YES
Malta NO YES YES
Moldova NO YES YES
Monaco NO YES YES
Norway NO YES YES
Netherlands NO YES YES
Poland NO YES YES
Czech Republic NO YES YES
Republic of Serbia and Montenegro NO YES YES
Romania NO YES YES
San Marino NO YES YES
Holy See NO YES YES
Sweden NO YES YES
Switzerland NO YES YES
Turkey NO YES YES
Ukraine NO YES YES
OCEANIA
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT
Australia NO YES YES
Fiji NO YES YES
Cook Islands NO YES YES
Marshall Islands NO YES YES
Solomon Islands NO YES YES
Kiribati NO YES YES
Micronesia NO YES YES
Nauru NO YES YES
Niue NO YES YES
New Zealand NO YES YES
Palau NO YES YES
Papua New Guinea NO YES YES
Samoa NO YES YES
Tonga NO YES YES
Tuvalu NO YES YES
Vanuatu NO YES YES
OTHER TERRITORIES
UP TO 183 DAYS UP TO 90 DAYS
COUNTRY TOURIST BUSINESS STUDENT Hong Kong NO YES YES
Taiwan NO YES YES
Vaccination for Foreign Citizens
Mandatory vaccination At present, there is no mandatory vaccine for entry into Peru.
Recommended vaccines For entry into Peru, vaccines are recommended against: Diphtheria-tetanus. Typhoid fever. Influenza (Southern Hemisphere Seasonal). Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B. Pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumonic plague (If traveling to Trujillo). Measles and Rubella. Yellow fever (If traveling to the Jungle: For city, no / For wilderness activities, yes). Malaria (Prophylaxis).
Sanitary conditions In general, they are good. Throughout the country, and mainly in the north and in the jungle, extreme protective measures against mosquito bites should be taken to avoid, among other diseases, yellow fever and malaria. Vaccination against yellow fever and malaria prophylaxis are recommended in risk areas. Above 3,000 m of altitude, altitude sickness or "soroche" may occur. In the highlands and on the coast, proper protection against the sun's rays should be provided to avoid sunburn. In general, tap water consumption should be avoided. The risk of gastrointestinal infections throughout the country makes it advisable to take special care with food and drinking water. Avoid consuming them or buying them in cheap restaurants or markets. Vaccination against typhoid fever and hepatitis A is recommended. Attention in clinics and hospitals is adequate, especially in Lima. In the case of mountaineers, it is essential to be in possession of medical assistance insurance, and the use of a certified guide is highly recommended.