The Land
Covering 496,222 square miles, Peru is twice the size of either France or Texas and has some of the most varied geography in South America. It has a long, arid coastline on the Pacific and is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia on the north, Brazil and Bolivia on the east and by Chile on the south.

The central portion of Peru includes the great mountain and plateau region of the Andes, where a number of peaks rise to more than 20,000 feet. The major cities are: Lima, the capital, (pop 6.5m), Arequipa (pop 1.3m) and Chiclayo (pop 1m).

The People
Among almost 25 million people is a mixture of European and Indoamerican stock, as well as African and Asian groups along the coast.

Local Time
U.S. Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5). Remember people have a more relaxed sense of time as we are close to the tropics!

Food & Water
The tap water in most of Peru is potable, but the chemical content varies from place to place. To avoid problems, we recommend that you always drink bottled water. Peruvian cuisine is highly varied and spicy. Some of our typical dishes are:"cebiche" (raw fish marinated in lemon juice), "aji de gallina" (de-boned chicken cooked in a milk and aji sauce), and "anticuchos" (shish kebabs of beef heart and meat), but there are many other options. Be sure to try a "Pisco Sour", Peru's typical mixed drink prepared with pisco, lemon, egg white and syrup (jarabe de goma). Although we recommend that you take advantage of your visit to enjoy the local and international cuisine prepared in Peru and recognized around the world as one of the best, you will also find that the main international fast food chains have franchises in Lima as well.

Climate & Clothing
Note that in Lima there are only light mists from June to October, and blue sky for most of the rest of the time. Rain is no problem here - it's lack is! 

In the Andes, the weather can vary considerably in one day. It can be very cold in the early morning and at night, and quite warm at midday. Therefore, we suggest you dress in layers of clothing that can be easily put on or taken off. For example, if you visit Cusco (3,400 m/ 1,300 ft) and follow on to Machu Picchu (2,400 m/7,850 ft), you will leave Cusco while it is still quite cold, and find warm temperatures on reaching Machu Picchu. Apart from the different time of day, Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude. 

In the jungle, if you visit Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, be sure to take along light-weight cotton, long-sleeve shirts and long pants for protection against insects. Also be sure to take water-resistant shoes or boots, a raincoat or rain poncho, flashlight, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion and insect repellent.

In the highlands, the driest months are June through October. Day temperatures range from the high 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, and in the 40s - 50s at night. Sweaters, jackets and long slacks are necessary. Rainwear is needed from December to March.

In the lowlands, the average temperature is 82F. Rainfall is most intense from June to November. Clothing requirements are the same all year: light, tropical clothes for jungle walks

Language
Spanish is spoken by most Peruvians, Quechua and Aymara also are official languages. Native tongues are spoken in some highland and jungle areas. English is spoken throughout the travel industry.

Entry Documents
U.S. citizens need only a valid passport. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for visits to the Amazon rainforest area.

Departure Tax
International airport tax is US$$28.34 and for domestic flights is US$4. Airport tax in Ica is US$5.04

Tipping
It is customary to leave a tip of approximately 10% of your bill in bars, restaurants, for guides, and drivers. 

Currency
Peru's currency is the Sol (S/.). Like most others, it is based on a decimal system (100 centimos = 1 Nuevo Sol). We have coins of 10, 20 and 50 centimos, as well as coins of 1, 2 and 5 Nuevos Soles. There are bills for 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles. The exchange rate with the U.S Dollar varies. We suggest that you ask the rate of the day at your hotel or in any bank. Try to carry low denomination bills with you to facilitate the transaction. 

Most stores and restaurants accept U.S. dollars and credit cards, but if you want to change your dollars into local currency, we recommend that you do it in a bank or ask the receptionist at your hotel to do it for you; never change dollars with the money changers working on the streets. There are automatic teller machines situated in strategic places for withdrawing cash with the principal international credit cards, either in local currency or in dollars. If you are going to withdraw money from machines, be sure to take security precautions suggested worldwide.

Public Transportation
There are many taxis in Lima and Cusco, with very affordable rates. Because none use taximeters, we recommend you check the likely rate with the hotel and agree with the taxi driver before setting off. In Lima, if you are going to get a taxi on the street, try to use the yellow taxicabs in which the driver's and car's credentials are visibly displayed inside the car. Remember to take low denomination coins with you to pay for this service.

Electricity
In all Peru the current is 220 volts AC. In most hotel bathrooms there is an electrical outlet with 110 volts for electric shavers, but not to be used for travel irons or hair dryers.

Security
As in all the world's large cities, there is a high incidence of purse-snatching. Therefore, we recommend carrying money or credit cards in money belts and don't carry a purse unless it is absolutely essential. The main hotels have safety deposit box services and we suggest keeping your valuables, jewelry, passport and airline tickets in them. Handbags and photograph and video cameras con be carried if you act prudently, taking extreme care in places with large crowds, such as markets, train stations, public plazas, etc.

Health
If your trip in Peru includes visiting Andean areas, don't forget to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness if you are prone to it. Be sure to try a hot tea or infusion of coca leaves on arrival in the altitude; during your first day move slowly and eat lightly. If you are going to visit areas of the jungle, do not forget that a yellow fever immunization is a prerequisite and must be received at least 10 days before beginning your trip to this area. Please note that this vaccination is good for 10 years around the world.

 Internet access
In the main cities of Peru there are public facilities for worldwide internet access at affordable rates. In Lima, there are facilities at the International Airport, the National library, the Jockey Plaza Shopping Center, Larcomar, the main hotels, among other places. New internet access facilities are opening every day to offer this service.