Atentions Hours 9 - 11 & 18 - 24 (GMT - 5)

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Location and Geography Peru is located in the western central coast of South America. It shares borders with Ecuador (N), Colombia (NE), Brazil (E), Bolivia (SE) and Chile (S). The West side, shared with the Pacific Ocean, is the main border that has a length of 3,079.5 km. There are four major natural regions: the 200 miles Peruvian Sea, a narrow coastal strip, the high Andes Mountains and the vast and plain Amazon basin. Peru is the third largest country in South America with an area of 1'285,216 km2.

Population and People With a population of nearly 25 million, Peru has a wide ethnic mixture composed mainly by a 54% Indian, 32% Mestizo, 12% White and Spanish descendants and 2% Black and Asian. The minorities, who live basically in the city of Lima and the coast, are immigrants from Asia (China, Japan), Africa (west coast), Europe (Spain, Italy, England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Israel, Poland, Belgium and Yugoslavia), North America (United States) and Middle East (Arabia).

Languages Spanish and Quechua (Inca’s languages) are the two official languages in Peru. Although Spanish is the main one, Quechua is widely spoken in the Andes as well as Aymara in the southern Andes in the area of Lake Titicaca. In the Amazon territory there are more than 70 native languages, belonging each one to an ethnic group. Some of the Andean people are bilingual (Quechua or Aymara and Spanish). English is spoken in the main touristy destinations and places.

Capital City Lima is located in the central coast of Peru. It has a population of over 7 million inhabitants.

Government Peru a democratic country. The constitutional President, Dr. Alejandro Toledo Manrique, the chief of Executive Power, is elected every five years and can be re-elected one more term. The Legislative Power is based on a Congress of 120 members. The Judicial Power is composed by two Courts. Voting is compulsory for every citizen between 18 and 60 years old (militaries and police are not allowed). The country is divided in 24 departments and a Constitutional Province, Callao.

Money The US dollar is well accepted all over South America. The denominations of $10s, $20s, and some of $50 are most convenient. Ask your bank for new unmarked bills as they are less hustled to exchange. All the major towns we visit have ATM machines that accept Cirrus (MasterCard) or Plus (VISA) cards, but not always both. It is recommended to have both types of cards. Traveler’s checks are exchangeable too and fine restaurants will accept them as payment.

Time GMT - 5. Five hours less than Greenwich Mean Time.

Geopolitical Division Peru is divided in 24 departments and 1 constitutional province. Each department is divided in provinces, 189 counties exist in the national territory. Each province is divided in districts, 1800 districts exist in the national territory (modernized in 1994)
The capital of the Republic of Peru is Lima
The Historical capital of Peru is Cusco

Main cities of Peru:

Wheather

The Mountain Range (Cusco, Puno, etc)
Mid April – October. This period is the dry season, with hot, dry days (20-25°C) and cold, dry nights, often below zero, particularly in June and July. May is perhaps the best month with the countryside exceptionally lush, yet with superb views and excellent weather. You’ll find the flowers in fully bloomed, green grass and the streams full. Peru’s peak season is from June to September. You’ll find Cusco as a pretty cosmopolitan city with gringos from all over the globe converging inMachu Picchu. The famous pageant of Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the winter solstice (24 June) draws thousands of visitors to Cusco, so it’s best to arrive early or make hotel reservations in advance.

November – Mid April. This is the wet season with most rainfall in January and February. Most mornings are usually clear and dry with outbursts of heavy rain in the afternoons. The daily temperatures are usually18°C with only a small drop at night, 15°C. The locals say the best weather for trekking is around full moon (and I tend to believe them) so if it is possible make your plans then. The Inca Trail is much less crowded during this period and there’s an abundant fresh water supply, but of course be well equipped for the rain. You’ll also find some roads may become impassable particularly when trying to visit villages off the beaten track. Many of Peru’s major festivals such as the February Carnival and Easter Week take place during this period.

The Coast.
December – April. This is summertime on the coast where the weather is hot and dry and ideal for swimming and getting a tan. Temperatures on average range from 25 -35°C.

May – November. From May to November the temperature drops a bit and you’ll find blankets of sea mist engulfing the coast from the south right up to about 200 km north of Lima. At this time of year only the northern beaches near Tumbes are warm enough to provide pleasant swimming

The Jungle
April – October. This is the ‘dry’ season with daily temperatures fluctuating among 30–35°C. However cold fronts from the South Atlantic are common when the temperatures can drop to 15°C during the day and 13°C at night. The dry season is the best time to visit the jungle … there are fewer mosquitoes and the rivers are low, exposing the river shores. It’s also a good time to see nesting and to view the animals at close range, as they stay close to the rivers and offer a better opportunity to be appreciated.

November – March. This is the wet season, hot and humid, when you can expect heavy rain at anytime. It only rains for a few hours at a time, so it’s not bad enough to spoil your trip. Wellington boots are a “must”, as some of the jungle trails can become muddy and wet.

Health - Preparations before you travel

If thorough precautions are taken by the visitor ofPeru, there is no reason why you shouldn't remain as healthy as at home.

1. Before you travel make sure that you own a good medical insurance. If you plan to undertake 'adventurous activities' such as rafting, horse riding or paragliding, make sure that your policy covers all of the above. You may have to pay a small amount for this.

2. For advice on which immunizations you require we recommend that you try contacting a specialist travel clinic (at least 6 weeks prior yourtravel).

Although not strictly necessary, you should consider the following vaccinations:

Yellow Fever (if going to the jungle)

Typhoid

Hepatitis A

Malaria prophylaxis are also recommended for the jungle, although nearly all of the jungle lodges in the Madre de Dios/Tambopata areas and Manu National Park state that there have been no reported cases of malaria, and that taking anti-malaria tablets are optional.

Health - Tips on staying healthy while traveling

The most common problem encountered by the traveler in Peru is diarrhea (between 30 to 50% of the travelers in a 2 week stay experience this) but the majority of these upsets will be relatively minor. Don't become paranoid; trying the local food is part of the experience of travel.

Tab water in Peru is not safe to drink. Always purify the water first by boiling it or adding purification tablets such as Micropure which can be easily bought in most pharmacies throughout Peru (make sure that you understand the instructions before using them). Bottled mineral water is easily availableanywhere.

In most good restaurants, purified water is used to wash fruit, vegetables and salads. If in doubt, ask.

Fruit in Peru is plentiful and delicious, but ensure that you wash it or peel it yourself.

Avoid undercooked and reheated foods.

Shellfish are a particularly high risk and so is Ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime). They are all delicious, and safe in well-run hygienic establishments.

There are good doctors and reasonable hospitals in the major cities, however you will find only basic facilities in small towns along the way of your trip.

Altitude Sickness
Reaching heights above 3000m brings heart raising and shortness of breath, this is a normal response to the lack of oxygen in the air. However, for some visitors these symptoms can deteriorate into a conditions known as Soroche (or acute mountain sickness) presenting a chart of headaches, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia and often nausea. Symptoms usually develop during the first 24 hours at high altitude, but may be delayed up to 3 weeks. To prevent Soroche, on arrival do not over exert yourself. Once you arrive to your hotel rest for a while. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and heavy food. Drinking mate de coca (an infusion of coca leaves - and perfectly legal in Peru) may help. If symptoms become more severe and prolonged it is best to quickly seek medical attention and make arrangements to descend to a lower altitude. On recovery the person will be able to come back up slowly or in stages.

Health - When you return home
Report symptoms to your doctor and say exactly where you've been. If taking anti-malarial tablets, remember to keep taking them for 6 weeks after leaving the malarial areas.

Note. The above information and advice on HEALTH is given in good faith. Peruexplorers Tour Operator cannot accept responsibility for accuracy of information provided. In issues regarding your health it is always best to consult a specialist.