CULTURAS PERU S.R.L.
Tandapata 354-A
Cusco - Perú
Phone & Fax:
+51 84 243629
info@culturasperu.com
www.culturasperu.com
|
| TRAVEL TIPS |
CURRENCY
|
The official currency is the
Nuevo Sol (1 US$ = 2.90 NS/.). American dollars
are accepted in the whole country but it is recommended
to have small bills $10.--, $20.--, and $50. --.
Changing dollars at a bank always gives a lower
rate than at casas de cambio (exchange houses).
In Lima and many other cities, euros are as acceptable
as US dollars for changing into soles. Other currencies
carry high commission fees.
To keep
in mind: No one, not even banks, will
accept dollar bills that look “old”,
or are in any way damaged or torn. |
| CREDIT
CARDS & TRAVELERS’ CHEQUES
|
Visa (by far the most widely-accepted
card in Peru), MasterCard, American Express and
Dinners Club are all valid and you can withdraw
cash at most ATM’s all over the country. There
is often an 8-12% commission for credit card charges.
Credit cards are not commonly accepted in smaller
towns so go prepared with cash.
Some banks and most exchange places accept traveler’s
Cheques (American Express, Visa and Citicorp) and
the exchange is in soles (lower rate than cash)
or if required in dollars (1-4% commission). |
| VISAS,
PASSPORT & DOCUMENTS
|
No visa is necessary for citizens
of Western Europe, Asia, North or South America,
the Caribbean, or citizens of Australia, New Zealand
or South Africa. You must have a valid passport
(valid for at least 3 months after the visit). On
your entry into the country you must fill in an
immigration form. This is a very important form
that you will need in order to leave the country
after your trip (staple it to your passport!!!).
We recommend you make 2 sets of photocopies of your
documents before traveling, one left at home and
the other one separate from the originals in your
luggage (in case of loss). A travel insurance policy
is indispensable. Ask your travel agent for information. |
| TAXES
|
| The general sales tax in Peru
is 19%. This amount is normally included in the
product cost already. Some services like hotels
or restaurants may charge this tax additional though.
Airport taxes are US$5.00 to US$8.00 for national
and US$28.00 for international flights. |
| HEALTH
QUESTIONS
|
Due to the high altitude of
many of our tourist sites (Cusco, Puno are above
3300m/12000 ft) some passengers experience altitude
problems (soroche/altitude sickness = tiredness,
low blood pressure, upset stomach, headache, dehydration
and agitated heart beat). We recommend that you
take two days to acclimatize before any physical
effort, drink a lot of water, eat light and control
your alcohol intake. People with heart problems
should consult their doctor.
For our tours that include hikes: all our equipment
is carried by porters and pack mules. Despite this
it is important that YOU physically prepare yourself
for the trip (especially legs, lungs and heart)
and if you buy new equipment be sure to test it
out before beginning the tour. We recommend bringing
your own first aid kit.
The tropical sun might feel very gentle but it can
burn you easily. Ultra-violet rays are particularly
powerful at high altitudes: wear a brimmed hat as
well as sunglasses and use a high-factor (35 - 45
factor) sun screen.
To keep in mind:
It is extremely important that you inform us
before the trip about any health problems, allergies,
and prescribed medicines. |
| VACCINES
|
| Vaccines are not required to
enter Latin America but for rainforest visits it
is necessary to carry a yellow fever certificate
of vaccination. Malaria can also be a problem in
this region (consult your tropical specialist about
the best prevention according to your personal needs),
consult your doctor about Malarone. Bites can be
minimized by using long sleeved clothes and an effective
repellent. |
| PRECAUTIONS
& DIETS
|
| The best way to enjoy a trip
is to begin it rested and in good health. The most
common health disorders are upset stomachs caused
by unwashed or uncooked food. For this reason be
careful buying food from street vendors and stay
away from unpeeled fruits/vegetables and drinks
that contain ice. In case you have an upset stomach
it is important to drink a lot of water (coffee,
tea and alcohol do not help) and wash your hands
regularly with soap and water before every meal.
Tap water should not be drunk anywhere unless it
has been boiled or treated with iodine. Bottled
water is available throughout Peru. Further to the
general advice about altitude sickness, note that
when walking in high altitude, the body needs sugar,
which can be carried conveniently in the form of
a block of crystallized pure cane sugar, called
chancaca. High humidity dehydrates the body: drink
plenty of liquid and add salt to your food. |
| TIPS
& GIFTS
|
The salaries in Peru are generally
very basic and it has become customary to give tips
for good service. In some restaurants and hotels
a 10% Service Tax is already included (not in all
of them). We recommend tipping bell boys and waiters
directly.
Unfortunately it is also very common to see children
asking for money. We ask you not to give them money
or candies (children do not enjoy very good dental
hygiene), but we recommend to bring small gifts
such as, toothbrushes, pens, notebooks or other
things that can be used for their studies. On some
of our hikes we visit rural schools where these
kinds of gifts are very much appreciated. There
are social projects that we organize in order to
benefit local communities and if you want to cooperate,
please, do not hesitate to contact us. |
| THEFT
|
| As in every other tourist place,
theft is a problem. It is much more common in big
cities than in the countryside. We recommend you
check with your local guide about unsafe places
and avoid them. Carry around only the quantity of
money you need and don’t use jewellery or
other valuable objects unless they are absolutely
necessary. We also advise that you change money
in official exchange houses or banks rather than
in the street. |
| TYPICAL
FOOD
|
Coastal cuisine:
The best coastal dishes are seafood based, the most
popular being ceviche. This is a dish of white fish
marinated in lemon juice, onion and hot peppers.
Traditionally, ceviche is served with corn on the
cob, cancha (toasted corn) and sweet potatoes. A
big variety of delicious fresh oven baked, fried
or grilled fish dishes can be enjoyed all along
the coast: Make sure you try the excellent corvina,
or white sea bass. You should also try chupe de
camarones, which is a shrimp stew .
Highland cuisine is rich and varied: Corn
and potatoes date back to Inca times and are found
in a remarkable variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
Meat dishes are many and varied: A dish almost guaranteed
to appear on every restaurant menu is lomo saltado,
a kind of stir-fried beef with onions, vinegar,
ginger, chilli, tomatoes and fried potatoes, served
with rice. Rocoto relleno is spicy bell peppers
stuffed with beef and vegetables, Others include
fried pork, usually eaten in the morning, chicharrones,
deep fried chunks of pork ribs and chicken or fish,
and lechon, suckling pig. A delicacy in the highlands
is cuy, guinea pig. Very filling and good value
are the many soups on offer.
Tropical
cuisine: The main ingredient in much jungle
cuisine is fish, especially the succulent, dolphin-sized
paiche, which comes with the delicious palmito,
or palm-hearts, and the ever-present yucca and fried
bananas. Juanes are a jungle version of tamales,
stuffed with chicken and rice.
Drink:
The most famous local drink is pisco, a clear brandy
which, with egg whites and lime juice, makes the
famous pisco sour. The best wines are from Ica,
Tacama and Ocucaje, which come in red, white and
rose, sweet and dry varieties. There is a variety
of Peruvian beer and the typical Andean Chicha de
jora is a maize beer, usually homemade and not easy
to come by, refreshing but strong, and chicha morada
is a soft drink made with purple maize.
Peruvian coffe is good, but the best is exported.
Mate de coca is frequently served in the highlands
to stave off the discomforts of altitude sickness. |
| WEIGHTS
& MEASURES
|
| Peru uses the metric system
for all weights and measures. Here’s a table
to help you convert to the imperial system. |
| To Convert |
Multiply by |
| Centimeters to inches |
0,4 |
| Meters to feet |
3,3 |
| Kilometers to miles |
0,6 |
| Kilograms to pounds |
2,2 |
|
| ELECTRICITY
|
| Peru uses 220 volts. The major
hotels provide 110 volt outlets in bathrooms for
the use of shavers only. |
| BUSINESS
HOURS
|
| Most stores are open from 10
a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday with a long lunch break
between 1-4 p.m. |
| FESTIVALS
& EVENTS
|
Two of the major festival dates
are Carnaval, which is held over the weekend before
Ash Wednesday, and Semana Santa (Holy Week), which
ends on Easter Sunday. Carnival is celebrated in
most of the Andes and Semana Santa throughout Peru.
Another important festival is Fiesta de la Cruz,
held on the first of May in much of the central
and southern highlands and on the coast. In Cusco,
entire month of June is one huge fiesta, culminating
in Inti Raymi, on June 24th, one of Peru’s
prime tourist attractions. Another national festival
is Todos los Santos (All Saints) on November 1st,
and on December 8th is Festividad de la Inmaculada
Concepcion.
Apart from the festivals listed above, the main
holidays are: January 1st, New Year, January 6th,
Bajada de Reyes, May 1st, Labout Day, July 28-29th,
Independence (Fiestas Patrias) and December 24-25th,
Christmas. Festivity
Calendar: More dates... |
| INTERNET
|
| You can find internet access
everywhere. Centres with high tourism have internet
cafes on every corner and they are incredibly cheap
to use (usually less than USD 1.—per hour). |
| SPORT
& ACTIVITIES
|
| With its many different ecological
areas, one of the driest deserts, an incredible
altitudinal range (up to 6800 mts/21’900 ft)
and the dense rainforest region, Peru offers an
infinity of outdoor activities. |
| TREKKING
AND CLIMBING
|
| The most famous hike in Peru
is definitely the Classic Inca Trail to Machupicchu
but there are many other beautiful hikes following
the over 30’000 miles of street system the
Incas have built all over their empire like Choquequirao
and Vilcabamba in southern Peru. There is some nice
trekking and climbing around Mt. Ausangate in the
Cusco department. In Huaraz -the Peruvian Switzerland–
there are also some outstanding circuits around
the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca with some of
the highest mountains in Southamerica (Llanganuco-Stanta
Cruz, Huayhuash and Alpamayo). |
| BIRDWATCHING
|
| The most important sites for
birdwatching in Peru are: The Tambopata National
Reserve, the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Iquitos and
Paracas. With nearly 20% of all the bird species
in the world and 45% of all neotropical birds, Peru
is a birdwatchers paradise where you can find a
wide range of birds from the tiny hummingbirds to
flamingoes and the Andean condor. Birding trips
are possible during any month as birds breed all
year round. |
| RIVER
RAFTING AND BIKING
|
Some of the best white water
rafting in the world is found in the Apurimac and
Cotahuasi rivers in southern Peru (class III to
V rapids).
There are countless mountain bike routes, some of
them off the beaten paths. Mountain bike equipment
may be rented, but check well quality of the bikes
and if you can bring your own equipment. |
| DEEP
SEA FISHING AND SURFING
|
The cold and warm tropical
currents create in the Peruvian cost a wonderful
opportunity for deep-sea fishing and you may catch
yellow fin tuna, Black Marlin, Sea Bass and Grouper,
among others.
Some of the biggest waves for surfing are available
to the north (Mancora-Tumbes area) bring your own
equipment.
The northern beaches near Tumbes offer good bathing
throughout the year. |
| GUIDELINES FOR NATURE AND CULTURE
TRAVELERS |
| BEFORE
YOUR TRIP:
|
• Inform yourself before
your trip about your destination.
• Let
your travel agent inform you about their concrete
actions concerning ecological principles and what
conditions await you at your destination. |
| DURING
YOUR TRIP:
|
Respect local cultures
• Contract local people as guides whenever
possible and consume locally produced products,
with the exception of products that are scarce for
the locals themselves.
• Learn a few sentences
of the local language.
• Learn about
local behavior in greeting, dining and hospitality.
Ask your local guide about customs and how you can
thank those who offer you hospitality.
•
Be diplomatic about demands for presents. Just give
away presents after having established a connection
with the person. Children will always ask you for
little presents. We recommend not giving away any
sweets but bringing school utensils with you, e.g.:
notebooks, color pencils, toothbrushes etc. Clothes
you don’t use anymore are very appreciated
by the locals too.
• Try to give an objective
view of the more materialistic western culture.
Encourage locals to appreciate their own culture
and surroundings.
• Only take pictures
of people with their agreement. Respect their privacy.
Accept if payment is asked for in exchange for photos.
• Don’t make promises you may not be
able to hold, e.g. sending pictures.
•
Buy souvenirs if possible from the producers themselves.
• Modesty is adequate in all cultures. Avoid
a loud, extravagant and superior impression through
your behavior, clothes and equipment.
•
Do not wear local clothes or jewellery if you are
not totally familiar with their cultural and religious
meaning. Dress conservatively according to your
own culture.
• Visit local cultural shows
at your destination.
• Listen and learn.
Don’t criticize cultural practices.
Try to be a discrete observer:
• Move carefully and quietly in nature
areas so you won’t disturb animals or destroy
plants.
• Do not collect natural souvenirs:
Respect the integrity of the ecosystem you move
in.
• Avoid recordings, food or noises
to attract birds or other wild animals for better
views. Do not try to touch or feed wild animals.
Keep your distance and use binoculars and telephoto
lenses for observation and to take pictures.
• Consider local rules in protected areas
and follow the instructions and recommendations
of your local guide.
The best compliment
you can make to nature is not to leave any traces
of your visit.
• Don’t leave any garbage (especially
plastic). Pick up left behind garbage of other travelers
and locals.
• Use existing toilet facilities.
If there are no toilet facilities available, bury
your necessities and burn toilet paper. Do your
necessities away from water sources.
•
Use only biodegradable soaps and detergents or avoid
their use at all.
• Don’t give away
presents made out of non-biodegradable or breakable
materials and objects with non-biodegradable wrappings.
Leave extra packaging of film rolls, clothes, toiletries,
food etc. back home.
• Avoid the use
or acquisition of any animal or plant products that
come from wild or not controlled areas. In many
countries this is illegal anyway.
• Accept
that campfires are not convenient in areas where
there is little firewood.
• Avoid direct
contact with indigenous people if you have a contagious
illness (e.g. the flu). |
| AFTER
YOUR TRIP:
|
Use your experiences
and your newly acquired knowledge – become
active
• Give your travel agent ideas about
changes that would have a positive impact on the
preservation of nature and culture.
•
Become active or sponsor organizations that protect
the environment nationally or internationally.
• Spread personal information about negative
trends you have observed in ecological tourism but
also about positive examples of development. |
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