1. Travel planning

Proper planning will help you for any activity you do on a daily basis. For this, the essential thing is to obtain correct information and from reliable sources. That is why we now want to offer you condensed information and at the same time accompany you, so that you can make a safe trip to Peru.

The safest trips are made by hiring a travel agency, the main transportation services from the airport to the hotel are essential because they provide security to the client. However, not all the time of your stay in Peru you will be doing the itinerary that the agency designed for you. Therefore, you will need to plan some other details in case you want to visit places that the day tour does not include. The same, in case you simply want to walk on your own, shop or have a drink in a bar to meet more people.

If you are a visitor from another continent, you should take into account the time change to avoid the popular jet-lag. It will be important that you take this into account to avoid feeling tired, since adapting in the short time you are in Peru will be almost impossible. The consequences of jet-lag are disastrous and can ruin your trip. A reaction is produced that is to be expected, since the body schedule changes where the functions of the organism do not adapt to changes in exposure to sunlight, meals and more. This discomfort is expressed in fatigue, sleepiness during the day, headache, irritability and the worst, difficulty resting or sleeping.

Some tips to avoid jet-lag are to anticipate the time change, depending on the difference between the time zone of your country and that of Peru. You can do this easily on any smartphone, be it Android or IOS, setting two hours, one normal that will be from your country and the other with the time of Peru. Another piece of advice is that before making the trip, rest before the trip and during the trip, drink plenty of fluids and avoid tobacco, coffee and alcohol. Something important that you should do when you arrive is acclimatize. Remember that Peru has cities on different altitudinal floors. Remember that good planning beyond the itinerary you have can help you have a better experience in Peru.

2. Currency exchanges

Peru’s monetary unit is the Nuevo Sol, which has been used since 1991. The Peruvian currency is regulated by the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, an institution that is also in charge of issuing tickets managing international reserves to avoid economic inflation. This institution is in charge of regulating the currency exchange rate. On their website, you will find more detailed information.

The ISO 4217 code of the Nuevo Sol is: PEN, remember that ISO 4217 is a code to denominate all the currencies in the world, with the intention of generating a better overview of the changes currency and the error between them for the same denomination. For this reason, this encoding is widely used in virtual commerce and other businesses.

The Nuevo Sol or PEN in physical form presents coins and bills. The coins can be classified from 1 cent, 5 cents that are not widely used. The coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents if they are used regularly. 100 cents, has its equivalent to a 1 nuevo sol, which also presents its own currency, the following coins are 2 and 5 soles. The bills start at 10 soles, followed by those of 20, 50, 100 and 200 soles.

Currently there are web pages that allow you to exchange currency with total security. You can also do it conventionally at the airport, in banks and also with money changers in some exchange houses that are usually located in the historic center of most cities. The business hours of these physical entities are generally from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, while on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; approximately.

In Peruvian territory you can use your credit card without any problem, but you will have to check the exchange rate applied by your financial institution or the Peruvian store where you used your credit card. Keep the same detail in mind to withdraw money from ATMs. In Peru you can find ATMs with cards for use in VISA, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DINERS CLUB and MASTECARD.

One ​​of the recommendations that is always made among travelers is that they have cash, when you arrive in Lima, you can make a change at the airport, another option is to exchange digital currencies and just go to an ATM and withdraw the desired amount in soles. An option that can also help you greatly is that you can sign up for simpler payments through an application such as Yape, Tunki, Plin and others.

3. Transport safety

Transportation in Peru is a detail to take into account due to the variations of services you will find. The most popular service are the buses or combis, the former are usually called for larger and interprovincial transport, while the combis are for interdistrict transport. The means of transport that you will choose will depend a lot on the knowledge you have about the city in which you want to move. In case of interprovincial trips they are safe.

In case you arrive in Lima and want to travel to other regions, the best option is to take a plane. Air transportation, if you buy it in advance, often has the same price as a bus trip. For this reason, it is good to plan your trip well and if you do not hire a tourism agency, you will have to take into account some details such as the service hours in which you can find public transport or if it is already too late and you must take a taxi. If it is your first time in Peru, find out the approximate price of the trips you will make, remember that you can also quote interprovincial trips by application.

You can also purchase the train transportation service for some specific destinations, such as the case to go to Machu Picchu or hire exclusive services for several days of travel on first-class trains that are another form of tourism to know the south of Peru. In both cases, there is not much to worry about, they are quite safe forms of travel.

In case you have not been able to book a plane ticket, the option is to travel at night. Region to region trips have a minimum of 6 to 10 hours of travel by bus. There are many companies with different types of services and prices. However, this can cause some problems such as arrival time and not sleeping properly. In this sense, one option is to travel by day and by stopovers, although for this you will have to be well informed about the route and transport that must be taken and in the case of night trips, find out the arrival time and if you will find any transport service at your hotel.

Here comes another type of services that are offered, to transport you from one place to another, one of these options is to rent a car, although this is applicable only in some cities in Peru. Prices range from PEN 100 per day on average, depending on the car model you choose. In case you decide to hire a car and drive through the Peruvian streets, you must take into account that in some avenues of the cities the traffic is quite congested. In these places different misunderstandings often occur and many prefer to break the rules to get out of the congestion. Remember to be careful and look both ways before crossing a street.

Another means of transportation in Peru is the taxi, in some cities you will find this service from applications that provide more security and also allow payments through other applications. Other taxis can be found inside the bus terminals or at the airport, which often offer very high costs, but are the best option to avoid theft or mishap. If you decide to take a taxi service on the street, check the cost of the service and the delay time. Remember that some tourist agencies offer pick up and transfer to the airport.

4. Connectivity

Currently something essential to communicate is the internet, so it is already a necessity for all travelers. In Peru you can opt for different services to access this service, one of these options is to change the SIM card, but this option has a limited capacity of gigabytes, so at the end of the day you can be left without service and at a high price.

The best option is to contract the service of a portable wifi or pocket wifi. This small device has the capacity to provide high-speed internet to all the computers you have and to all your companions or group of friends. The price of this service will depend on the company you decide to hire. This option will be more expensive, but it will guarantee you an excellent service. However, before you have to verify the coverage of the areas where it works.

Regarding the voltage in Peru, it is important to mention that it runs 220 volts. Knowing this is very important to avoid damaging any electronic equipment that has less volts of capacity. To avoid these inconveniences, you have to have a voltage adapter, most of which come with a universal input to facilitate the type of plug. Another important fact is that most of the Peruvian or foreign equipment admits currents of 220 or 110 volts (IMPUT 110 V / 220 V).

Most of the premises have voltage adapters and electrical outlets that are accessible to the public. You may need an adapter to connect your equipment to the power outlet. You can find this in hardware stores or request it at your hotel. The conventional plugs that are used in Peru are of 3 types. The first of them is of Type A, which are two rectangular, parallel and flat slits; those of Type B that are two parallel slits together with a third one in a circular shape, between them they form a triangle. Finally, Type C plugs are handled, which are two parallel circular plugs.

In an emergency and you only have the contact of a friend from your country of origin, the way to make international calls from Peru is as follows: You have to dial the “+” sign or, failing that, dial “00” (if you don’t know how to dial the “+” sign, on some computers it is possible to generate it by pressing the number zero without releasing it). Next, dial the prefix or country code you want to call and add the phone number with which your friend or with which you want to communicate. The cost of the call will be according to the provisions of the telephone company from which you receive the service, the charge for the call is equivalent to the time of the call.

5. Other important tips for your visit to Peru

• a) Embassies in Peru

  In the Peruvian capital, we can find 58 embassies and throughout the country there are a total of 81 consulates and two other representations. Embassies and consulates are institutions for issuing passports or safe-conduct in case it has expired or been lost. It is necessary to take into account the opening hours, which are office hours, closing at 5:00 p.m. in most cases. Peru is located in South America, the Pacific Ocean is located in its western fringe while the other nearby countries are Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Bolivia. It has a population density of 34 million inhabitants. It is a democratic and republican country. For more information you can visit the following page: https://www.embassypages.com/peru_es

• b) Details for traveling with children

  In case you decide to travel with the whole family to Peru, you need to take some details into consideration. Like a passport, you will have to process a special permit from the consulate of your country, where both parents sign the authorization. The minor child can do it alone or accompanied by one of them. This document can only be used once per trip, the Peruvian migration office must receive this document for the free transit of the minor.

  Exceptions can be filed and only one of the minor’s parents sign the document. This is done only in cases where one of the parents has died or when the minor is recognized by one of them, for which only her signature will suffice.

  The requirements are simple, a certified copy of the minor’s birth certificate, identity documents of both parents will be requested. The most relevant activities that the minor will carry out must also be detailed, such as place of departure, city of arrival, dates, lodgings or other activities.

• c) On the language spoken in Peru

  The official language of Peru is Spanish and it is spoken throughout Peruvian territory. But that is not all, within Peruvian territory you can find other official languages ​​such as Quechua, Aymara and the Amazonian languages, all of them reaching 47 languages. With the exception of Spanish all other languages ​​are of indigenous origin so they harbor ancient knowledge and cultural tradition.

  According to studies carried out, only 4% of Peruvians have a perfect command of the English language. This will not be a problem, in each place you go you will be able to communicate without any problem, most restaurants or basic services have workers trained in serving foreign customers. Despite this, we believe that it is important to leave you some phrases and questions that can be useful anywhere.

  English	Spanish
  ¡Hi!	Hola
  Good morning	Buenos días
  Good afternoon	Buenas tardes
  Good night	Buenas noches
  Good bye	Adiós
  Nice to meet you	Gusto de conocerte
  Thanks you	Gracias
  You’re welcome	De nada
  How are you?	¿Cómo estás?
  Sorry, I didn’t understand that	Disculpa, no entendí eso
  My passport and booking reference	Mi pasaporte y número de reserva
  I think I’m lost	Creo que estoy perdido
  Can you help me?	¿Puedes ayudarme?
  I’m so sorry	Lo siento mucho
  Not	No
  Where is…?	¿Dónde está …?
  How much does …?	¿Cuánto cuesta …?
  My name is …	Mi nombre es …

• d) How is the water service in Peru?

  Unfortunately, in almost all South American cities, the management of water and pipes is deplorable. This is because the care of rivers, the main sources of water, is not efficient and in many cases the contamination of these waters makes treatment more complicated, thus generating a lot of waste. In this sense, it is not advisable to drink water directly from the pipe or tap. To drink the water, it is recommended to boil it to purify it, you can also use chlorine tablets, tablets or drops.

  For some, this problem is really complicated, since they don’t even feel safe to brush their teeth because of the residue that can be left in their mouths, so they use bottled water. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll get an infection from just brushing your teeth. The problem lies in drinking the water directly from the tap or pipe. To wash food, it is also recommended to use a few drops of chlorine.

  Another factor related to the water service is the food that you can find in Peru. As in any other country, you will find different types of restaurants, from markets and street food to premium restaurants. In this sense, we do not recommend leaving aside the first options but taking a good look at the establishment, there are establishments in markets and on the street that are cleaner than many restaurants. The same applies to conventional restaurants.

  If you have a stomach infection, it is most likely treated from ingesting contaminated food or water. This will start with stomach pains and the inevitable repeated visits to the bathroom. You will have to be careful not to confuse the symptom of altitude sickness with this. However, in either case, remember to drink plenty of fluids. If it is altitude sickness, pain or stomach cramps, they usually dissipate with rest.

• e) Altitude sickness in Peru

  This discomfort is a normal reaction of all human bodies or organisms, when experiencing a change in the proportion of oxygen that enters the body. At higher altitude there is less oxygen. For this reason, the body that is not adapted suffers a decompensation that later turns into discomforts, which if you do not treat them can ruin your vacation. This phenomenon can be felt from more than 2,500 meters above sea level. In Peru, the entire Andean region is located above this altitude, so it will be very likely to suffer the following symptoms:

  • Headache.
  • Fatigue.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Tiring
  • In some cases you may feel short of breath.

  For some Andean locals, altitude sickness is also known as “soroche”. They use an infallible method to treat these ailments and that will also restore your spirits lost due to the downturn in discomfort, they will recommend the consumption of coca leaf. There are different ways to do it, the easiest is to chew it directly. Another option is to consume it as an infusion, in hotels and tourist restaurants they usually offer them, it is also possible to find them in candies or pills. The coca leaf has many properties and is widely used. Other recommendations to avoid altitude sickness are:

  • Getting acclimatized will always be one of the first recommendations heard by any traveler arriving in Cusco or the center of Peru. This means that the body needs a period of time to adapt to the lack of oxygen, especially during the first days. During this period of time, try to walk smoothly without making much physical effort and avoiding getting agitated.
  • Avoid excess food , this is important. Although it may not seem like oxygen, it plays an important role in digestion. The low amount of oxygen inside your body will slow down the digestion process, which you may be getting used to. If you eat a lot of food, it can cause indigestion. In this sense, if you want to try Peruvian gastronomy in Peru, try to do it discreetly and in the right amount.
  • Avoid alcohol, cigarettes or tobacco, this is related to what we just mentioned above. During the first days of arrival in Cusco, for example, it is to avoid consuming alcohol in excess, drunkenness can be confused with altitude sickness, leading to not treating said discomfort adequately, complicating, in this way, all your vacations even putting in risk your life.
  • Hydration, consuming plenty of water will help you acclimatize faster and avoid some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. Keeping your body hydrated will help the body to function properly and in addition to providing energy, it also prevents dry mouth or throat.
  • Take care of your companion, one of the best tips is to take care of each other during the trip, especially if you decided to visit high altitude destinations. Altitude sickness can happen to anyone, for this reason it is recommended to rest if the body requests it. Normally travel agencies provide for these periods of time in their itineraries, you can rest without problems, you don’t have to run.

• f) Some habits and behaviors of the Peruvian population

  Many travelers attribute friendliness to Peruvians as one of the main characteristics, especially when referring to the people who live in the towns of the Peruvian Andes. Also within the cities you will find cordial people doing their job. Something that should not scare or worry you is that, in some remote towns, you will find people who are usually very grateful, they always leave you good vibes with a hug, blessings and good fortune.

  In Peru it is not an obligation to leave tips in case you feel you have to do it because the attention you received was good and other factors add up. The recommended thing is to leave 10% of the total you consumed, but if you want to leave something else, you can do it without any problem. In some cases, some other tipping options are enabled, such as piggy banks or pitchers in the box with the name “Tips”. Actually, the customer is the only one in charge of deciding whether or not to tip.

  Callers are people who are in charge of attracting customers for different reasons. It is common to find these people in historic centers or near restaurants. This interaction for many can be annoying and even offensive because these people tend to be very incisive when offering the services they represent. Most of them are not completely reliable and you can get a bad surprise. To avoid them, it is best to thank them for the proposal and continue on the path.

  To avoid bad times, it is best to follow recommendations for restaurants or places to visit. The most recommended option to visit any destination will be through a tourism agency and follow the recommendations and warnings that the agency and our friends who have already had the opportunity to visit this country in advance give us.

  Regarding security in Peru, it is difficult to generalize the behavior of all people in Peru, but it is well known that, everywhere and in every corner of the world, there are those who prefer to take the belongings of others. Therefore, it will be important that you take care of your belongings, especially if you feel that there are not many people around you. You will also have to be especially careful when arriving at the terminal airports since you will be with all your belongings. Try to take taxis recommended or by application for greater security.

6. National security telephone numbers

Emergency phone numbers vary from country to country. The numbers that you will have to call in case of any unforeseen event or unexpected event in Peru are: