FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PERUHere you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning the tourism destination of Peru. Transportation - Currency/Money exchanging - Internet/Photos - Phone calls/Voltage - Health - Inkatrail/Trekking - Travelling in Peru - Luggage/Clothing - Climate - Language - Accommodation - Shopping Back to the page FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Peru
Rainy season in the Andes is from December to March. The Inca trail
is therefore closed in February as landslides block the path. In
these months, visiting Machu Picchu is only possible by train. In order to hike the classic route of the Inca trail (2 or 4 days) you will need permission issued by the INC, the National Institute for Culture, in the form of a ticket that must be shown with the permit holders original passport (a copy is not sufficient). The number of permissions is limited per month and so there is a first come first serve policy. It is obligatory, to have a guide as well as other requirements. It is therefore advisable to book as early as possible. Best season to hike the Inca trail is from May to October which is also peak season. Besides the classic Inca trail there are numerous alternative routes in Machu Picchu's surroundings. These are just as attractive, mostly cheaper and not as busy. Examples: For further details check this page. Generally speaking, the months of dry season from April to October
are the best for trekking in the highlands. Depending on the amount
of time you are planning to spend trekking, there are various options. For further information please refer to this page
or consult our partner Trekperu.
To enter the country, most European as well as North American citizens
need a passport that is still valid for at least 6 months. Tourists
do not need a visa. When entering, you will be asked to fill in
a tourist card ("tourist visa") which will entitle you
to a 90 day stay in Peru. Sometimes you will also be asked for
a proof for your onward journey such as a ticket for your flight
back home or continuing to another country. Like most South American countries, Peru is a very young democratic republic, facing its own major and minor problems and difficulties. For further information click here. In many South American countries, tourists like to carry little gifts for the local population. Also in Peru there are many poor people, both adults and children, that are begging or selling sweets in the streets. Especially children are of course happy if you give them little presents but you should be careful with giving them sweets. In many places this has already exceeded limits and children are suffering from bad teeth. We would recommend to rather buy some fresh fruit or bred once you are there and give it to them. If satisfied with the service and not already included in the final bill, we would recommend you to give tips. You should especially consider tipping your guides at excursions and treks. In restaurants you should always check if the final check already includes a lump sump ("incl. 10 % servicios"). If so, you are not expected to give any more tips.
We recommend you taking an extra smaller bag for short trips besides your large main suitcase with you. There are parts of your trip that you won't need to to have as much luggage e.g. hike the Inca trail or do a rainforest program, and you can usually leave in one of your hotels or with your tour operator's office. The clothes you should take with you depend on the region(s) you
are planning to visit. Find more information here.
There is no uniform climate all over Peru, it rather depends on
the region you are in. Most attractions are situated in the highlands,
so the best season to go would be from April/May to October. In
April and May it is still comparably warm and sunny in Lima. In
Northern Peru there are 360 days of warm and mostly sunny weather
a year. Due to the cold Humbold current and the Andes in the East, the Peruvian coast is one long desert strip where it hardly ever rains. More information here. There are two distinct seasons in the highlands: dry and rainy season. Find further details here. The rainforest has two distinct regions that can be distinguished: the high rainforest (above 700 m) and the lower (lower than 700 m). Click here for details.
The Spanish that is spoken in Peru is said to be the clearest and purest in South America and those who speak Spanish as a foreign language will understand it. There are various language schools; most of them are in the larger tourist centres in the South of the country. We recommend the Acupari Language School in Cusco. English is spoken in almost every tourist centre and tourism company. Guides of most excursions and treks will generally speak Spanish and English.
In Peru you will find that accommodation ranges dramatically in price and quality.
Usually you will be able to find vacant rooms without
prior reservation, even in peak season, but these hotels and hostels will be in the cheaper
price range and will often require you to share a bathroom with other guests and often do not have
hot water. We would recommend that you reserve your accommodation prior to your
arrival, at least in the higher frequented tourist places such as Lima,
Arequipa, Cusco or Puno.
In Peru you can buy good quality at rather low prices, especially silver and gold jewelry as well as knitwear (especially from llamas and alpacas) and handicrafts. Prices for groceries are generally rather low compared to Europe. What are expensive in comparison are cosmetic and hygiene products such as shampoo, shower gel or creams and lotions. It is therefore a good idea to bring these essentials from home. Back to the page FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Peru |
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