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Tips
Best Time to Visit Peru
The best time to visit Peru is anytime of year. However the dry season in Peru is from May to September, This is good if going to on jungle treks. The rainy season is from the middle of November to March and can make activities such as jungle treks difficult. Some of these activities can be suspended if the weather gets to bad. This however is extremely rare.
Documents & Visas
Travelers coming to Peru usually only need a valid passport and a return ticket (anywhere outside Peru). Please check with the Peruvian government before coming. If you wish to stay more than 90 days, you need to renew your Tourist Card (given to you when you enter the country) and visa (stamped into your passport) in the Direction General de Migrations in Lima (Av. España block 7, Breña, Lima; ph. 330-4111) or the main cities. One thing you have to take in account is to ask for at the moment your tourist card is given to put it for 60 or 90 days, because it is usually given for 30 days. Always carry your passport and tourist card (or a photocopy) when walking by the street or using a public transport in a city. It is advisable to bring a student card (i.e. ISIC) to save money in places and services like museums, archaeological sites, buses, hotels and hostels. There is no need to have an international vaccination certificate, but if you travel to some areas where a disease is present (i.e. malaria, yellow fever). You will need to be vaccinated before going. You can have this done in most of the major cities. All the foreign embassies and consulates are located in Lima. Peruvian embassies and consulates are found in all the neighboring countries and other countries in the world.
- Austria: Urb. Magisterio 2da etapa K-1, phone: (084)25-2196.
- Bélgium: Av. El Sol 954 (Basement of Hotel Savoy), phone: (084)22-4322 / 22-3031.
- England: Av. Pardo 895, (Paseo de los Héroes), phone: (084)23-9974 / 22-6671.
- French: Av. Micaela Bastidas 101, phone: (084)23-3610.
- Germany: San Agustín street 307, phone: (084)23-5459 / 24-2970.
- Irland: Santa Catalina Ancha 360, phone: (084)243514.
- Italy: Av. Garcilaso 704, phone: (084)22-8295.
- Nederlands: Av. Pardo 854, phone: (084)224322 / 264103.
- Spain: Av. Pardo 1041 (Paseo de los Héroes), phone: 984650106.
- U.S.A: Av. Tullumayo 127, phone: (084)224112 / 222183.
Health
It is advisable NOT to drink tap water in Peru. The Peruvians boil their own water from the fountains or only drink bottled water. City water can, nevertheless, be used in showers and for brushing your teeth without any problems whatsoever. The ‘Soroche’ or altitude sickness is another point to keep in mind when you travel to countries with high altitude such as Peru. In General, altitudes higher than 3,000 meters, with people who are not accustomed to such heights, can produce a sensation of queasiness and general weakness, accompanied by headaches, as a consequence of a lower concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere. You just need to take it easy for the first few days and drink lots of water or COCA tea, always consult you a doctor before coming to countries with high altitude.
Restaurants
There are many restaurants in all places; these can range from just a few soles to few hundred dollars. Generally a good meal will cost about 15 soles. Generally, you should pay 10% for service at the hotel and restaurants, which is usually included with VAT (IGV), 18%, on the price list of the menu. These prices are fixed. Although, at restaurants and hotels of higher quality, the staff do expect to receive additional tips. Local Guides also expect tips.
Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever: A vaccine certificate is needed for some jungle regions, such as Puerto Maldonado (Manu). All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure. This is to insure that they are up to date with all necessary vaccinations and that there is no health risk in traveling. Recommended for all travelers, except those visiting only Lima and the coastal areas. Required for travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas.
- Malaria: Prophylaxis with Lariam, Malarone, or doxycycline is recommended for all areas except Lima and its vicinity, the coastal areas south of Lima, the highland tourist areas (Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca), and the departments of Arequipa, Moquegua, Puno, and Tacna.
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelers.
- Typhoid: Recommended for all travelers.
- Hepatitis B: For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months.
- Rabies: For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care.
- Routine immunizations: All travelers should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella immunization.
- Travelers' diarrhea: Is the most common travel-related ailment. The cornerstone of prevention is food and water precautions, as outlined below. All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, especially if associated with nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool.
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