Preparation

We highly recommend look at our guide to Peru on the main menu (Peru Information) to get some background on the different areas you wish to visit in Peru. Because it is such a diverse country your preparation will depend on whether you intend to go to the Andes, the Coast or the Jungle. A little preparation can go a long way to making a once life time trip that much more comfortable - and in the case of extra film that much easier to remember. As always we are only an e-mail away if you have any questions.

The Andes

When going to high altitude, the best advice is to rest so that the body becomes accustomed to the environment and you avoid altitude sickness. In almost all destinations in the Peruvian Andes coca leaves are available and should be drunk as a tea. Most hotels will have ths on hand, usually in your room. Take it from us - it works, it is natural and there are no side effects.

Checklist: Fleece or warm coat preferably light weight, good walking shoes, sun cream protection (minimum 20, and 25 in a lip balm). High altitude destinations carry an increased risk of sun burn. Canteen and day pack. Camera and extra film. Small items to interchange with the natives and river people. Sweets/candy not recommended - dentists cost a lot in the Andes!

Amazon And Manu

Checklist: Lightweight cotton clothes/ long sleeved, lightweight Cotton Pants/Trousers, lightweight jacket, tennis shoes, raincoat, hat, and sunscreen, swimming suit, insect repellent, flashlight/ torch, camera and extra film, binoculars, full canteen and day pack. At certain times of the year rubber boots are recommended. We also recommend bringing some small items to interchange with the locals and river people.

DOCUMENTS YOU WILL REQUIRE:

A valid Passport. No vaccinations are required.

TRAVELLING IN PERU:

PERU is not like home. Among the many differences are the different pace and sense of time. Commercial transport schedules are often subject to change, and this can be either interesting or frustrating, depending upon your attitude. When travelling in Peru, screw-ups do occur. Count on it. Your patience and good humour are prerequisites. Standards of cleanliness are a little different to what you may be used to.

PERUVIAN AIRLINES:

You will be flying over the mountains, as it is quite a bargain and a time saver. However travelling by air inside Peru can be maddening, as often the time schedules are approximate. Your plane can depart early just as often as late. At many airports, the plane arrives, passengers disembark, they load the new passengers, and immediately takeoff. This is especially true at airports in the mountains, especially Cusco, where the weather often worsens in the afternoon, and so they want to fly in and out as quickly as possible. It will not be unusual for you to be asked for your passport when you are flying even within Peru if you are not a Peruvian national. Even when you check into hotels you will be asked for your passport number. It is a good idea to make a copy of your passport before arriving in Peru just in case. Carry your passport at all times.

THE PERUVIANS:

They are very friendly and hospitable. There is no Machismo. There is no anti-gringos. In the Andes, Quechua or Aymara is the first language of most of the people, but almost everyone speaks Spanish. You should bring with you: pencils, writing tablets, and little toys such as bubbles, troll dolls, and matchbox cars to give to the children. These gifts are much appreciated and will draw a crowd faster than anything you have ever seen. There is nothing quite as priceless as the face of a child.

STREET SAFETY:

One of the things that are immediately apparent upon arrival to Cusco and other major cities in Peru is the abundance of cabs and mini buses. They are small by western standards but can still hurt you if you are not careful. There are some traffic lights and stop signs, but don't expect everyone to use them. These little guys have the right of way at all times and sorry will be the traveller that doesn't recognize it at once.

In fact, horns will blow at you if you are just walking down the street on the sidewalk for no apparent reason. When strolling around, especially in the evening, always be very careful at intersections. Many of the headlights don't work and not very many drivers have figured out what a turn signal is or how to use it. It is kind of quirky and adds to the charm of Peru.

BEGGING AND TIPPING:

You are guests in another culture. Tipping is not natural to Peru. It is being introduced by foreign travellers. You have an obligation to the future. In obvious tourist establishments, tipping is optional. In local establishments tipping is not expected and perhaps not even desirable. If you encourage kids to beg they will grow up seeing tourists as objects to beg from or otherwise prey off of and it severely limits their abilities to make a productive life for themselves. If you reward begging you are encouraging and training that generation. It really changes the relationship between local and visitor, and future travellers will probably curse you for spoiling this place.

MONEY:

There are money changing booths almost everywhere in every major Peruvian city. US currency: The cash dollars you bring should be crisp, clean & new-no tears. It is a good idea not to use bills in excess of $10-$20.00 U.S., as you might find it difficult for the merchant to change anything larger When you exchange your money for Soles, tell the money changer not to give you bills larger than 50 Soles as these are sometimes hard to get change for. 10 Soles bills are the easiest method of payment in Peru. It is up to you if you prefer traveller's checks. They are a bit more awkward to cash and you do get a slightly lower rate of exchange Be aware that they are not as easy to exchange and some banks may require a surcharge to change them. Some money exchange locations may not even take them with a surcharge.

MAKING CHANGE:

The concept of business people having change diminishes as you go into smaller towns. It is nearly absent when you arrive at Lake Titicaca and vanishes entirely on the islands. Solution: Have coins with you at all times. Finding change for even the smallest bill (10 sols) can consume an hour or more. The game is: when you are in the larger cities, purchase items with bills and stash smaller bills and coins for future use.

TELEPHONE AND MONEY TRANSFER/CASH ADVANCE WHILE IN PERU:

If you think you might need your phone cards or bank cards, check with your card company to make sure they can be used in Peru and ask for any special instructions. Calls back to the States can be made and paid for at any major Post office, but a phone credit card makes it much easier, and can be done from more places, as several of our over night stops have no major Post Offices. Phone cards can be used at many hotels.

FOOD:

Peruvian Food, is one of the best in the world, however eat at the right place. Avoid eating from street vendors. Only drink bottled water- even for things such as brushing your teeth. Eat no fruits or vegetables that have not been peeled. Food depends on the geography of the country, its climate and the customs of their people. You can eat any kind of food, but you might want to bring along some of your favourite treats, or power bars, or other emergency food supplements for the days when "you've had it" with whatever.

Cheap local lunch (what has been prepared for the day) is called "menu". You will get soup, meat, grain, vegetable and tea for about $3.00

The fish is excellent, try Ceviche, Fish or mixed shrimp with lemon.

The seafood is cut into small pieces and then mixed with lemon juice and left to sit for 1hr. Next, it is mixed with onions, celery, cilantro, salt and black pepper. The dish is served cold. Don't forget the beers, you can choose, in lima try Cristal or Pilsen Callao (from Callao, the biggest Port in Peru) and Cusqueña from Cusco.

HEALTH:

The best medicine is to begin the trip in the best health possible. Get in shape, especially legs, cardiovascular, and lungs. Our tours do not go into any areas that require inoculations or malaria medicines.

MEDICINES TO BRING:

Take any special medications you require. Lomotil is excellent for diarrhea and available at most pharmacies throughout Latin America. No prescriptions are necessary. Latin America is not ruled by the AMA or the American pharmaceutical industry, so the rule in any pharmacy is: if you can pronounce it and pay for it, you can buy it.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS:

The altitudes experienced in the Andes may have an adverse effect on you if you are not used to such heights. On reaching heights above 4000 feet, heart pounding and shortness of breath are a normal response to the lack of oxygen in the air. However, for some visitors these symptoms can deteriorate into a condition known as Soroche (or acute mountain sickness) when one experiences headaches, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, insomnia and often nausea. Symptoms usually develop during the first 24 hours at altitude. To prevent Soroche, on arrival don't over exert yourself. Be sure to rest. 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. Diamox (acetazolamide) is a good medication for altitude sickness.

TOILET PAPER:

One observation regarding Peru is the unavailability of toilet paper in almost all public places. The third world has an incredible product they call toilet paper. Looks like crepe paper, feels like sand paper, tears like butcher paper. Bring your own. At home wait till a roll is down to its last 1/4 and then set it aside, and break out a fresh roll. Major hotels and most restaurants will have some, but do not be surprised to go into a public bathroom, such as at Machu Picchu, and find that toilet paper is either unavailable or available only for sale. YOUR SACRED OBJECTS: You may wish to bring along small favorite objects, to purify and energize in the Andean sacred sites or Lake Titicaca. You may also wish to leave pebbles, crystals or small objects from home at these sites, to serve as antenna when in future you wish to tune in on your favourite sites. It is a means of later reconnecting with the energies of a particular place.

DRESS IN LAYERS:

Temperatures change rapidly and dramatically at high altitudes. You will want layers of clothing in your daypacks, "just in case". Alpaca is a hollow fiber, hence considerably warmer than similar weight in sheep's' wool. Alpaca garments are incredibly cheap in the Cusco markets. The mountains can be hot or cold, wet or dry. Our tour sites range from 6000-14,000 ft. High altitude sun is very intense.

WHAT TO BRING:

• A lightweight daypack

• Raincoat or waterproof poncho

• Warm sweater

• Whatever shoes you bring, make sure to thoroughly break them in before the trip.

• Good sun block

• Good insect repellent (100% DEET, or all natural if you prefer, but make sure it works really need only in Machu Picchu with the no-see-ums)

• sun glasses

• sun hat or head scarf

• Bathing suit, sandals

• alarm if you need one

• Small powerful Torch

• Prescriptions, oils, essences etc. Skin moisturizing cream.

• Lomotil or other anti diarrhea stuff.

• High Altitude medicine

• camera and film

• compass (if you want to check alignments of power places, sun rise and set, etc.)

• journal

• water and snacks

• little gifts