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Pre-Trip Planner
Required documents
All travelers
to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months
from
date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S.,
Canadian, Australian or New Zealand
passport holders. For other
nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or
consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at
entry and
should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks,
currency, or a bank
statement, from the bank or printed off the
internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
No
immunizations are required of travelers to Peru. Travelers may
wish to receive
hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all
other standard vaccinations. The
rainforest area of Peru (approx. 3500
ft. and below, east of the Andes) is a malarial and
yellow fever zone,
and travelers may wish to receive a yellow fever vaccination and
take
malarial prophylaxis. Please consult your physician or local health
department for
more information.
Things to bring
One
should come well prepared for outdoor activity at temperatures ranging
from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for extremes of sun and the
possibility of rain. A list of things to bring would include:
·
Passport and, if necessary, visa
·
Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
·
Airline ticket and Travel Insurance Policy
·
Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
·
Wearable pouch for documents and money
·
Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
·
Smaller, comfortable day pack
·
Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in
·
Sandals or flip-flops
·
Rain poncho or jacket
·
Waterproof pants
·
Sun hat
·
Hat for cold weather
·
Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
·
Scarf and gloves
·
T-shirts
·
Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
·
Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
·
Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
·
Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
·
Sunscreen
·
Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
·
Lip balm
·
Earplugs
·
Alarm clock or watch
·
Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
·
Camera and film/digital memory cards
·
Camera batteries
·
Playing cards, games, reading material
·
Prescription medications
·
Toiletries
Note that
common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as
toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene
items are
available in Peru.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear
and care, extra
large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera
batteries. Also note that most digital
camera memory cards can be
downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in
any large city.
Climate
Rain is
possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud
forest, and
one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will
visit is as follows:
Cuzco and
Machu Picchu:
days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in
in Cuzco.
Lima:
warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
Money guide
The unit of
currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Current currency conversion
1 U.S. dollar =
2.75 nuevos soles
1 GB pound =
6.16 nuevos soles
Automatic cash
points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and
Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler's checks
(American Express is
best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances
are also options. Do not bring Money
Grams or International Money
Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks
and exchange
houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are
recommended and most easily exchanged. Please
note that cash must be untorn. It
can be older-looking, but even the
slightest tear on an edge will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills
come out of the ATMs in country.
Expect to spend
about US$3-10 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru.
Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters,
for example, run between $5 and $30.
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