| Start | End | |||
| Royal Inca : 7D | 09/13/2018 | 09/19/2018 | Book now | |
| 09/22/2018 | 09/28/2018 | Book now | ||
| 12/01/2018 | 12/07/2018 | Book now | ||
| The Best Of Southern Peru : 20D | 09/06/2018 | 09/25/2018 | Book now | |
| 09/13/2018 | 10/02/2018 | Book now | ||
| Salkantay & Inca Trail To Machu Picchu : 8D | 09/12/2018 | 09/19/2018 | Book now | |
| 09/25/2018 | 10/02/2018 | Book now |
The official currency is the Nuevo Sol (1 US$ = 3.90 S/.). 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.
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 ATMs 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).
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.
Passengers must present a QR code confirming they have submitted a Sworn Declaration of Health and Geolocation Authorisation (Declaración Jurada de Salud y Autorización de Geolocalización) at least 72 prior to departure, or complete a Sworn Declaration of Traveller’s Health (Declaración Jurada de Salud del Viajero) prior to arrival. https://djsaludviajero.minsa.gob.pe/dj-salud/
We recommend you make 2 sets of colored 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.
The general sales tax in Peru is 18%. This amount is normally included in the product cost already. Some services like hotels or restaurants may charge this tax additional though. For international flights Airport taxes $ 28.00
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 heartbeat). 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 and sunglasses and use a high-factor (50 + factor) sunscreen.
To keep in mind: It is extremely important that you inform us about any health problems, allergies, and prescribed medicines before the trip.
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.
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.
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 bringing 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.
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 jewelry or other valuable objects unless they are absolutely necessary. We also advise changing money in official exchange houses or banks rather than in the street.
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 colors. 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, chili, 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 coffee is good, but the best is exported. Mate de coca is frequently served in the highlands to stave off the discomforts of altitude sickness.
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 |
Peru uses 220 volts. The major hotels provide 110-volt outlets in bathrooms for the use of shavers only.
Most stores are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday with a long lunch break between 1-4 p.m.
Two of the major festival dates are Carnival, 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, the 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, Labor Day, July 28-29th, Independence (Fiestas Patrias) and December 24-25th, Christmas.
You can find internet access everywhere. Centers with high tourism have internet cafes on every corner and they are incredibly cheap to use (usually less than USD 1.—per hour). Most hotels include free WI-FI.
With its many different ecological areas, one of the driest deserts, an incredible altitudinal range (up to 6800 mt/21’900 ft.) and the dense rainforest region, Peru offers an infinity of outdoor activities.
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 South America (Llanganuco-Santa Cruz, Huayhuash and Alpamayo).
The most important sites for bird watching 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 birdwatcher's paradise where you can find a wide range of birds from tiny hummingbirds to flamingoes and the Andean condor. Birding trips are possible during any month as birds breed all year round.
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.
Peru is a rich country in the world, but the inequality way how the wealth is being distributed is a disaster, therefore is a country of need, while coming to Peru, bring clothes for rain and cold, the Andean communities will thank you for this. Please contact us if you want to bring stuff, so we can assist and direct you .
We are trying to replant with native trees. In order to protect the ecosystems were the native communities dwelt, ensuring the water sources for the future.
Bosques para el futuro.com
33 million, with around 10 million living in the greater Lima area. The highest population density is in coastal areas (55% of the total population). Approximately 45% of Peru’s population are Native Americans, some of whom are descendants of the Incas and Quechuas who established a great civilization in the 15th century. Practically 37% of the population are of mixed Spanish and Andean heritage, 15% are direct descendants of the Spanish and the rest are Japanese, Chinese, and Afro-American. 75% of the population lives in urban areas and 25 % in rural areas.
Before your Trip:
During your trip:
Respect local cultures
Try to be a discrete observer:
The best compliment you can make to nature is not to leave any traces of your visit
After your trip:
Use your experiences and your newly acquired knowledge – become active
