Peru - Info & Facts

Suggested length of stay

As many of the key Inca highlights sit at altitude, it is important to allow extra time to acclimatise; the longer the you stay, the better you will feel and more you will discover. For a snapshot of the Inca capital Peru and Machu Picchu, you will need a minimum of 6 days while 2 weeks + will give you a more comprehensive overview and also enable you to visit the Nasca Lines, Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon and the Amazon.

Lima 1- 2 nights, Cusco and Machu Picchu 4-5 nights, the Amazon 2-4 nights, Colca Canyon 2-3 nights, Lake Titicaca 2 nights

Modes of transport

Road

To explore the traditional villages of the highlands, many of them located deep within valleys, travelling by road is the only option. However, though journeys are often long and bumpy, the sheer scenery as you zig-zag your way up into the mountains or drop through countless micro-climates to reach the sub-tropical lowlands is truly breathtaking and a highlight in itself. In fact, all trips to Peru will involve at some point a long road journey though the key to enjoying rather than enduring the trip, especially at altitude is to allow plenty of rest days in between.

Air

Peru has a comprehensive network dominated by the Latin American giant Latam (result of the recent merger between Lan and Tam) which has regular flights to the key destinations. All itineraries will involve a number of flights especially if you are travelling into the Amazon and these are best purchased before you travel as part of an airpass. Please do contact Oasis Travel for more information.

Rail

Train networks in Peru are patchy to say the least yet the country boasts three of the classic train journeys in all of South America. The most famous cuts through the mountains of the Vilcabamba range skirting the Urubamba river to link Cusco and the outside world with Machu Picchu, the highlight of any visit. The second, the Andean Explorer, which recreates the classic style of the Pullman carriages of the 1920’s, takes visitors high into the altiplano on a day-long journey from Cusco to reach Puno on the banks of the Lake Titicaca. Finally, the highest railway in the Americas, the Tren de Sierra cuts a dizzying trail through some 69 tunnels and over 58 bridges through the barren mountains to link Lima with Huancayo and reaches an altitude of over 4700m. Do note that at the time of writing, the train is not in operation.

Bicycle

Peru offers excellent mountain biking especially around Cusco and the Sacred Valley and various tours catering to both serious and non-serious riders can easily be arranged to get off the beaten track and explore lesser-visited Inca ruins. Highly recommended!

Boat

All visits to Lake Titicaca will include boat trips out into the lake to visit the key attractions of the floating reed islands of Uros and picturesque island community of Taquile. Similarly, visits to the Nasca lines, more often than not, will involve a short boat trip to the spectacular wildlife haven of the Ballestas Islands. However, for a traditional river cruise, an excellent alternative to staying in a jungle lodge, look no further than Peru’s rainforest accessed from Iquitos in the north. Iquitos sits on the banks of the mighty Amazon river and offers a 3, 4 or 7 day cruises into the Pacaya Samiria National Park on boats such as the MV Aqua, MV Aria, MV Delfin I and II to name but a few.

Climate

Peru’s weather is as diverse as the country’s landscapes. On the coast, the country enjoys a Mediterranean climate with little rain and average temperatures in their mid 20’s between the summer months of December to April. During winter, temperatures drop to the low 20’s with the rainy season developing from late May best characterised by the “garua” a blanket of fog and daily drizzle. In the highlands, things are quite different with late December to March coinciding with the rains and it is best to avoid the Inca highlights during this period – the Inca Trail is closed in February. Best time to travel, the dry season runs from April to November with bright sunny days and an average temperature of around 20° though dropping to just above zero at night due to the altitude. The Amazon is hot and sticky all year round though marginally more oppressive and wet between the months December and March. This tropical climate has little impact on jungle lodges though water levels on the rivers do vary greatly during the year, something that might affect your choice of river cruise.

Geography

South of the equator, Peru is a huge country of around 1,285,216 km², third largest in South America with incredibly diverse scenery and landscapes. Bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and Chile to the south, Peru encapsulates desert, mountains, cloudforest and quite literally everything in between. Over 40% of the country is covered by Amazonian rainforest which rises up through the lush Yungas foothills to reach the heights of the snow-capped Andes at just under 7000m before dropping down to the desolate, windswept coastal plain.

Food

Though synonymous with Guinea pig, Peruvian cuisine is the envy of the Americas and is increasingly being lauded on the international stage with the emergence of “novo andino” movement. Novo Andino takes the abundant produce from the surrounding ocean, coast and highlands and fuses traditional staples such as corn, potatoes quinoa, kaniwa with a multitude of influences brought in by the settlers. The result, a fresh outlook on Peruvian cuisine with new, vibrant restaurants opening throughout the country and cooking classes now firmly part of the tourist experience. On the coast, try “ceviche”, fish marinated in lemon juice, and the various “chupes”, fish soups while in the highlands, the trout, introduced by the Spanish, and fresh water “pejerreyes” are delicious. You will find the traditional “choclo” corn throughout the Andes together with the “Olluco” tubers while local dishes include “Ají de Gallina” poorly translated as chicken casserole and humitas, a mix of choclo and fresh cheeses wrapped in corn husks. For drinks, the local “Cusqueña” beer is legendary among travellers while it is impossible not to try the potent pisco sours, made from Peruvian grappa, and “mate de coca”, coca tea served in practically all hotels, wonderful for alleviating altitude sickness.

Drinking water

It is not advisable to drink tap water in Peru. Bottled water is very cheap and widely available in all areas of the country.

Visas

Visas are currently not required for travel to Peru for Australian citizens.

Money

The local currency is the “Nuevo Sol” though US dollars are widely accepted in the majority of hotels and tourist shops and restaurants. ATM’s are common throughout the towns and credit cards are also widely accepted though often discounts will be offered for payments made in cash. However, once you leave the main hubs and head into the local villages and markets, it is important to have small denominations of local currency. Traveller’s Cheques are still accepted though commissions vary between one agency to another and are often more of a burden.

Tipping is common throughout Peru and as a guideline, you should allow US10 for a half day guided tour (US20 for the full day) while for the driver US5 (US8 full day). Of course, only pay for good service. For general transfers, there is no need to tip unless of course they have gone out of their way to help you (ie stopped at a local pharmacy en route).

Inoculations & health precautions

Please consult with your doctor at least 6 week before travel to Peru. For visits to the Amazon, both ant-malarials and a yellow fever jab are required.

The standard of medical facilities and care in Peru is generally good in the key towns and cities. There are foreign private medical clinics and hospitals throughout the country with facilities and services comparable to Australian standards. Medical facilities and care at most public hospitals, however, are questionable and medical evacuation to a major centre may be required for even relatively minor operations. Most hotels work with a private doctor who will visit you at your room. However, both doctors and hospitals will expect cash payment prior to providing medical services, including for emergency care.

It is vital to have good medical insurance before you travel.

Australian Embassy and Consulate-General contacts in Peru

Australian Embassy
10th Floor, la Paz 1049,
Miraflores 18,
Lima
Peru ‎

Telephone +51 1 6300500
Facsimile +51 1 6300520

Website http://www.peru.embassy.gov.au/

Australian Consulate-General
Av. Victor Andres Belaunde 147,
Via Principal 155
Torre Real Tres, Of. 1301,
San Isidro
Lima
Peru

Telephone: +51 1 222.8281
Facsimile: +51 1 2214996

Electricity

Peruvian electrical current is 220 volts at 60 cycles though some bathrooms work off 110V. Plugs are either 2 flat pins or round-prong style. In the Amazon rainforest, many of the lodges run off generators and it is recommended you bring along a small torch.

Getting there

Peru is best accessed via Santiago, capital of Chile. Qantas offers a direct service from Sydney to Santiago three times a week while Latam (Lan) offers daily flights which touch down in Auckland en route. There are other routes available via the US or even on via Dubai and then Brazil but only one-world partners Qantas and Lan entitle you to discounted fares for the Lan dominated internal flights within South America.

Non-stop flight time Sydney – Santiago approximately 14 hours
Non-stop flight time Santiago – Lima approximately 4 hours

Time difference GMT – 5 hours