Recommendations for traveling through Peru

By: David Miranda

01/10/2022

Peru is one of the most sought after and diverse destinations in South America, it offers you not only incredible landscapes, but also unforgettable experiences, without forgetting its famous and acclaimed cuisine, recognized worldwide. As in any trip, it is necessary that before visiting Peru, you take into account some factors and recommendations to avoid any situation that may make you uncomfortable.

For these and many more reasons, here we will help you with the main recommendations, tips and suggestions to make your visit to Peru, in addition to an informed and safe trip, a comforting and unforgettable experience.

If you are thinking about the type of documentation necessary to enter Peru, we tell you that you do not have to worry, because to travel to Peru you only need a lot of energy, interest and of course, your passport. To enter the country, most American and European citizens do NOT need to apply for a tourist visa, since it is granted to them immediately upon entering the country and allows you to travel freely for approximately a maximum of 90 days. However, to avoid inconvenience, it is good to have a backup of your return ticket home.

For a longer stay and for other reasons (business, work, study, etc.) it is necessary to previously request a visa from the Peruvian consulates. If you come from countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay, you can enter with your citizenship card, without the need to present your passport. Remember that it is recommended that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after your return date from Peru.

Important note: Keep your documents safe. While you enjoy your trip through Peru, have with you a copy of your passport or identification and make sure to leave your original documents very well protected in your hotel or place of accommodation.

In Peru there are 47 original or indigenous languages and they are spoken by around 4 million people, and of all the native languages, Quechua is the most popular native language and the second most used is Aymara, although in the past there were around 100 indigenous languages These have been disappearing over the years. The vast majority of native languages are found in the Amazon.

Peru's main language is Spanish, which is spread and schooled at the national level and is known as Castilian. This came to the Andean country with the arrival of the Spanish and remained the main language within the territory at the national level.

Most spoken languages in Peru

To enjoy your trip through Peru without setbacks, we recommend you change your money, the official currency and that is handled in this country is the "Nuevo Sol". It is true that in some establishments they accept US dollars or euros, but the best advice we give you is that when you arrive at the airport in Peru, change part of your money to the local currency, since it is easier to change dollars in exchange houses. , than to change euros. Especially if you go to untouristed areas, it is complicated.

Regarding credit/debit cards, some places (currently most) in Peru accept international credit and debit cards (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, among others). However, a very important piece of advice is that if you want to buy handicrafts, souvenirs in a local market, buy in small shops, take a taxi or eat in a small typical restaurant, we recommend you always have soles in cash on hand, this way you will avoid a bad time.

Bills of one hundred soles

What about vaccinations to enter Peru?

A very important point is vaccinations. We tell you that to enter Peru they are not mandatory, some are recommended. You need some vaccines in some cases, for example, if you are going to enter the country from Angola, Brazil, Congo or Uganda, it is advisable to present your yellow fever vaccination certificate. Now, if your trip includes visiting the Peruvian Amazon, our recommendation is that you receive this vaccine at least 10 days before your trip so that it can be effective.

If none of the situations that we mentioned is your case, you do not have to worry since, as we already told you, there is no type of compulsory vaccine to enter Peru.

How safe is Peru?

Although there are some neighborhoods more popular than others where there is no lack, as in any part of the world, of unreliable people. In order to fully enjoy your visit to Peru, in reality, you must have and take exactly the same precautions that you would take when visiting any other place. Peru is no exception, try not to walk alone in remote places, take care of your belongings and keep them safe, do not neglect your surroundings at all times. Peruvians are reliable people, known for their hospitality and attention, don't worry and stay calm by following our recommendations.

What is the climate in Peru?

Here we give you an idea of the climate in each region of Peru as basic data:

• Climate on the Peruvian Coast: North Coast: Summer temperatures range between 29°C (84°F) and 35°C (95°F). This season, includes the months of November to April, and is known to be rainy. Between the months of May to October, the temperature drops a bit and the rains end. The climate ranges from 19°C (66°F) to 28°C (82°F).
• South and Central Coast: The summer months in this region extend from October to March and have temperatures between 19°C (66°F) and 28°C (82°F), slightly cooler than in the northern region. During the winter, the temperature can reach a minimum of 14°C (57°F) and a maximum of 18°C (64°F) with constant fog.
• The climate in the Peruvian Sierra: In the Andean region, the sunny days occur during the months of October to March, as well as the rain. The temperature in this area is influenced by height and geography, for this reason, the weather during this time can range between 19°C (66°F) and 28°C (82°F). Winter, which runs from April to September, has temperatures from 14°C (57°F) to 18°C (64°F).
  And something to keep in mind is that, during the night, the temperature in this region can drop as low as 2°C (35°F).
• Weather in the Peruvian Jungle (Amazon): If you visit this region, you will find a humid climate that ranges between 17°C (62°F) and 35°C (95°F). The rains are also present in this area, however, during the months of May to August they decrease considerably.

What is the best time to travel to Peru?

Actually, this question can vary a lot, because it will depend entirely on the area of ​​Peru that you are going to visit, so you can find the best season. For example, if you want to visit the coast and the Peruvian beaches, generally the weather throughout the year is quite good, since it is balanced without reaching extremes, that is, it is not too hot or too cold.

But we suggest that the ideal months to visit these areas are between December, January, February and March. The temperature is more moderate, it is even high.

But for example if you go inland, the mountains, like Cusco or Machu Picchu, the rainy season is not the most advisable, it runs from November to March approximately. It is much more advisable to go in the dry season from April to mid-November.

But to clarify that, in the rainy season, it's not exactly raining all the time, but there are quite strong downpours that last a few minutes or last a little longer. In these situations, the best thing we can recommend is that you shelter from the rain, and wait for it to stop before continuing your activities. We advise you to bring a rain poncho with you, which will be very useful to cope with the weather.

Peru offers quite a variety of walks throughout its territory, the vast majority of them are at high altitude, which causes many people to suffer from altitude sickness, this is caused by lack of oxygen at high altitudes since the amount of Oxygen decreases as we go higher. To give you an idea, Cuzco is 3,400 meters above sea level and it is common to see symptoms of altitude sickness from this point.

Symptoms:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Respiratory distress.
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• In severe cases confusion and coma.

These symptoms may appear 6 to 12 hours after reaching high altitudes.

Risk factors for altitude sickness

Suffering from altitude sickness is different in different people, but there are factors that increase the risk of suffering from it, such as:

• Having had a previous altitude sickness.
• Climb to a very high altitude very quickly.
• Sleeping at excessive altitude.
• People who live near the sea
• Angina pectoris
• Uncontrolled asthma
• Uncontrolled epilepsy
• Alcohol interferes with acclimatization.
• Heart, lung, or nervous system problems.

What to do against altitude sickness?

If it is in your plans to take one of the many walks that the Peruvian Andes offer you, it is highly recommended:

• Acclimatize Gradually
• Idle
• Drink plenty of water, stay hydrated.
• Drink coca tea
• Oxygen administration
• Pharmacological treatment
• Descend to a lower height if the case does not improve