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OFFICIAL LANGUAGES:
Spanish, Quechua & Aymara
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POPULATION: Approx. 25
million
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GEOGRAPHICAL AREA : 1,
285,216 sq. Km. ( twice the size of Texas or France)
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CAPITAL: Lima founded 18
January 1535
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PREDOMINANT RELIGION:
Catholicism
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WEIGHTS & MEASURES:
Metric System
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ELECTRIC VOLTAGE: 220
Volts, 60 cycles
VISAS: Passport holders from the
following areas will be issued a visa (30-90 days usually 90) on arrival to Peru: Western
Europe, North & South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji &
India. In case of doubt, check with the nearest Peruvian consulate.
On entering
Peru, travellers will fill-out an entry form in duplicate. The original stays with
immigration. The duplicate is given to the visitor and must be surrendered upon leaving.
Don't lose it. It'll cost $10 to replace it.
It's highly recommended that you leave
your passport & tourist cards in the hotel safe and travel locally with photocopies
of the same.
HEATH AND VACCINATION: Before travelling to
Peru, obtain adequate health insurance, consult your doctor about the necessary
immunizations such as polio, typhoid, tetanus & hepatitus A. These are the only one
required for visiting the coastal & mountainous region. Travellers to the Peruvian
jungle regions: Manu, Tambopata, Iquitos & the Puerto Maldonado area must consider
anti-malarials & yellow fever shots. Again, consult your personal physician. Colera
vaccination are not necessary.
Major cities have doctors who speak English & other
European languages. These are also private clinics.
Before arrival.-
We must know about any medical restriction and/or medications you may need .
Travellers
with heart conditions, respiratory problems or high blood pressure must consult their
doctors before travelling as the cities of Cusco oo Puno are situated of altitudes over
11,000 ft -3,400 m/
Recommends that each traveller bring his or her own basic medical
kit.
WEATHER: Peru has 3 distinct geographical
zones: coastal, mountain & jungle. Each with its own distinct weather system, for
example, summer on coast (Dec- Apr) is hot and dry. Temps range from 68º -95º F (20º-35ºC).
In
Winter (May-Nov) temps are 50º-68ºF (10º-20ºC) and it´s generally cloudy.
I the
mountains regions, Apr-Oct is the dry season. Daytime temps range from 68º-77ºF (20º-25ºC).
Caution: at this altitude the sun is fierce (be prepared with sunscreen). Nights are cold
and dry with an occasional frost. Dec,-Mar is the wet season with clear, dry morning and
rain in the afternoon and evenings. Daytime temps average 65ºF (18ºC) and 59º F (15ºC)
at night.
The "dry" season in the jungle is from Apr through Nov with temps
above 95º F (35ºC ). In the Manu and Tambopata zones, an occasional cold front may pass
through. Dec-Mar is the wet season: hot and humid with torrential rains at any given
moment.
WATER: Drinking tap water is not
advisable en Peru. Bottled water is available almost everywhere (hotels, small shops,
etc) at very affordable prices. 3-4 liters of water is sufficient to avoid dehydration (a
real problem en high altitude locales like Cusco or the lake Titicaca region.
On trek
jungle and river trips it boils and filters water and in addition will provide water
purification tablets.
CURRENCY: In 1991, the Peruvian
government introduced the "Nuevo Sol" with notes of: 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10
in addition to coins of 5, 2 and 1. These are also coins of 50, 20 10 and 5 centimos.
At
the time of this writing (Jan 2000) the exchange rate was $1= 3.45 soles- check for
up-to- date rates.
We recommend changing money (cash or travellers checks) in hotels
or with the help of your guide either in Lima or Cusco, changing $ in the street is
common but risky-banks or "Casas de cambio" are the better choice.
Important
note: Old or damages notes (i.e a very slight tear) either won`t be accepted or will be
accepted or will be exchanged at lower rate . When exchanging cash be sure to have crisp,
new notes.
Always bring bills of various denominations.
CREDIT CARDS: Visa , Mastercard, Dinners
and American Express (and, of course travellers checks) are accepted in Peru`s major
cities. Some smaller town and tourist locations also accept them. You have to check
beforehand.
ATM cards can now be used in principle city/locations: airports, bank
machines and shopping centers. The main banking systems are: Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus.
It`s possible to obtain soles (sometimes dollars) with your card.
Don´t forget there´s
always a service charge when you use credit and ATM cards.
In case of loss or theft-
don`t forget to have your bank`s telephone number to cancel your card.
TAXES: The prices of all goods and
services include an 18% national tax (airline tickets, also). In almost all restaurants
there is a 10% service charge. However, when in doubt, consult your guide about this.
Tax
for international flights is $25 and $4 for internal flights.
Taxes can be paid (in
soles or dollars) at airport banks.
Entry requirements: You need a valid
passport and a return ticket. Visas are not required except for some countries
of Asia, Africa and the Middle Est. Check with your travel agent
Electricity: 200 volts AC, 60
Hz. Appliance plugs are compatible with both US and European type.
Climate: Varies according to
the area. Winter on the coast lasts from June to September. During this period
the mountain areas are often sunny. December to April brings heavy rains in the
mountains and jungle areas.
Communications
Telephone: International Direct
Dialing
Country code: 51
City codes:
Lima: 1
Aerquipa 54
Puno 54
Cusco 84
Chiclayo 74
Iquitos 94
Outgoing international code: 00
Fax: Telefonica del Peru offers a
fax service throughout the country. Main hotels also have facilities and in the
country, small public booths and services are found in commercial areas.
Telex/Telegram: Facilities are
available in Lima and main hotels. Telefonica del Peru provides these services
and they are open from 7:00a to 22 pm. with offices at Av. Bolivia 347, Jr.
Cusco 303 in Lima and at the airport. These offices are open every day of the
year.
Mail: Postal facilities are limited
outside of Lima. airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week. First-class
airmail from Europe or North America and addressed to PO boxes in Peru usually
takes four days or longer. The main post office (Correo Central de Lima) is near
the Plaza de Armas and is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm and
Sundays 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Newspapers : Newspapers are in
Spanish. Morning dailies include El comercio, Ojo, Expreso, La Republica, El
Peruano, El Mundo, Gestion and Sintesis.
The Lima Times is published once a month in English and may be obtained from
main hotels or bookstores.
International radio:
BBC
MHz 17.84 15.26 15.22 9.915
Voice of America
Mhz
15.21 11.58 9.775 5.995
TV-Cable: There are nine TV channels
in Lima which broadcast in Spanish. Major hotels also have international cable
TV.
The following items may be
imported into Peru without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250
grs of tobacco, 3 liters of spirits or 3 liters of wine, a reasonable amount of
perfume for personal use.
Public Holidays:
Jan 1: New YearÕs Day. March or
April: Holy Week. May 1: Labor Day. June 29: St. Peter and Paul. July 28 - 29:
Independence Day. Aug. 30: St. Rosa of Lima. Oct. 8: Battle of Angamos. Nov. 1:
All SaintÕs Day. Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception. Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Health
Drinking bottled water is
recommended. Public water is chlorinated and relatively safe but may cause mild
stomach upset. Eat well-cooked meats and fish, preferably served hot. Avoid
pork, raw salads and mayonnaise as well as uncooked vegetables and unpeeled
fruit. Avoid the food served by street vendors.
Medical insurance is recommended.
Health regulations and requirements are subject to change and the traveler is
advised to contact their doctor well in advance of the intended departure date.
If traveling in the Highlands, we such to check your blood pressure.
Yellow Fever: a vaccination
certificate is required for travelers over six months of age arriving from an
infected area. For travelers arriving from non-endemic zones, vaccinations are
recommended for travel outside urban areas.
Malaria almost exclusively exists in
the benign vivax form, and can be found throughout the year in rural areas below
4,922 ft. Falciparum malaria occurs sporadically in areas bordering Bolivia
(Madre de Dios), Brazil (Yaravi and Acre River) and in Zarumilla Province (Tumbes
Dep.) and in areas where petroleum deposits are being exploited.
Tourist Protection Service
The purpose of The Tourist Bureau of
Complaints is to protect visitors consumer rights by helping them solve any
problems that may arise regarding the services they hire. There is a 24 hour hot
line: 224-7888.
The Inca City of Cusco
The legendary Huatanay Valley was populated by
human settlements since early times and later housed the pre-Hispanic urban
population of Q'osqo. It was the capital of the Andean state of Tawantinsuyo, an
important urban, administrative, religious and military center. In later
Colonial times, it was a great urban indigenous and Hispanic center and the
economic and military capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. This is the reason why
it was given the name of "Very Noble, Very Loyal Head of the Kingdoms of
Peru, Santiago de Cusco". In Republican times, it was the seat of the oath
of independence. In the 20th century it was honored as the Archaeological
Capital of South America and Cultural Treasure of Humanity. This city gave birth
to the most important socio-political movements of Colonial and Republican
America.
A critical historic occurrence, the royal oath of
independence, took place on January 9, 1825, in the main square of the city of
Cusco. The first Prefect of Peru, Agustin Gatnarra, publicly declared it before
the "Senor de los Temblores" (Lord of the Earthquakes), with General
Simon Bolivar and the heads of the patriot army in attendance.
Location
The city of Cusco is located in the Valley of the
Huatanay River in Peru's southeastern Andes, in the province and department of
Cusco. It is located 3,360 meters above sea level.
Climate
The climate is generally mild, cold and dry, with
an average annual temperature of 11 C. The rain season runs from November to
March, with light ralns at the start of the season and heavier rains from
January to March. The dry season runs from April to October. Visitors are
advised to bring along warm clothing and raincoats during the rainy season.
The Machupiccu Archeological Complex
Location The Machupicchu archaeological
complex is located in the department of Cusco, in the Urubamba province and
district of Machupicchu. It is perched on the eastern slopes of the Vilcanota
mountain range, a chain of mountains curtailed by the Apurimac and Urubamba
Rivers. At latitude 13 degrees 7' south and longitude 72 degrees 35' West,
Machupichu is situated at a height of 2,350 meters above sea level.
Climate and Environment This is a
subtropical zone with dense woods, and the climate is mild, warm and damp with
an average year-round temperature of 13c during the day. The heaviest rains fall
from November to March and April through October brings drier, higher
temperatures.
Flora and Fauna Both are abundant and
varied. Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machupicchu includes
plaonayes, qientas, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of
orchids.
The fauna in the reserve includes the spectacled
bear, cock-of-the-rocks or '"tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an
impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique to the region.
The natural surroundings and the strategic
location of Machupicchu give this monument a fusion of beauty, harmony and
balance between the work of the ancient Peruvians and the whims of nature unlike
any other in the world.
History Historians do not know exactly who
was the first to discover this area, but we do know that some of the first
explorers included Antonio Raymondi, the Count of Sartiges and Chartes Wiener.
Other visits included one in July 1909 by the Sartander brothers, whose
inscription can be found carved into the base of the Temple of the Sun. At the
same time, Peruvian explorers Enrique Palms, Augustin Lizarraga and Gavino
Sanchez arrived at the citadel via San Miguel.
On July 14,1911, Hiram Bingham arrived with a
team of Yale University specialists in topography, biographies, geology,
engineering and osteology. They were guided to the area by local inhabitant
Meichor Arteaga. When he was asked about the city, he toid them it was located
on top of an old peak ("Machupicchu" In Quechus).
In 1914, Hiram Bingham retuned to Machupicchu
with economic and logistic backing from Yale University and the U.S. Geographic
Society and subsequently published the report which became known around the
world as "The Lost City of the Inca".
In his original map, Bingham carved Machupicchu
into sectors according to the four cardinal points. Studies subsequent to the
discovery of Machupicchu 82 years ago have provided valuable insight about the
functions of the bulidings. These were based on archaeological excavations and
the architectonic relations between the bulidings with similar constructions
across the vast Inca empire.
The periods of occupation have been broken down
into 4 categories and are based on historical accounts, construction style and
ceramics:
1. Initial (up to 1,300 AD.)
2. Classic (up to 1,400 A.D.)
3. Imperial (up to I533A.D.)
4. Contact or Transition (1533 to 1572)
Description of the Route to Machupicchu :
Cusco and the station of Puente Ruinas or Machupicchu are connected by 112 km of
railway line. The trip starts in the station of San Pedro in Cusco and zig-zaggs
up the Picchu mountain until it reaches the highest point, a spot called
"El Arco" (the arch), in the northwest part of the city.
The route then descends to the villages of Poroy,
Cachimayo and Izcuchaca until it reaches the Anta plains, an extensive cattle
area. It climbs down the gulley of Pomatales before descending to the Sacred
Valley of the Incas and arriving at the station of Pachar. The route then
crosses the Urubamba River to the right bank and arrives at the station of
Ollantaytmbo. For those who arrived here by road via the Sacred Valley, one can
board the train here to continue to Machupicchu.
The railway line runs parallel to the river in
winding loops that follow the riverbed. From here one can see the typical
vegetation of the upper jungle, which climbs up to the top of the steep mountain
range that forms the Urubamba Canyon. The train passes through the Chilca train
station with views of the snow-capped peak called "Veronica". At a
height of 5,750 meters above sea level, it is the highest peak in the Urubamba
range. The train stops at Kilometer 88, where the Inca Trail begins and then
continues on its way, passing through the station of Pampacahus and the town of
Aguas Calientes, located at Kilometer 110. The visitor passes through a hugh
granite mountain through two tunnels before arriving at the station of Puente
Ruinas. From here, minibuses take the travelers up 8 kilometers of roads up to
the Tourist Hotel. The entry control to Machupicchu is at the hotel.
Prices
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