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. Hints - And How To Get There
... what you should know before departure
Planning your travel to / in Peru Reservations and prepayments
We would recommend not making (too many) reservations (and prepayments), e.g. for your Colca Canyon Tour, your visit to Puno/Lake Titicaca and to the Cuzco region (incl. Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley). You can make the corresponding reservations for accommodations, transport, tours, trekking etc. on the spot, i.e. when you are here in Arequipa, and later in Puno, Cuzco, etc. – Why is this more recommendable?
1. Most likely you will find, once here in Peru, less expensive options, and we can also provide pertinent advice.
2. Our experience says that travellers of all age groups and origins, once in Peru, tend to change their plans or would like to do so, i.e. changing the route/itinerary, or staying more time in one place and less in another. But having booked and prepaid services (accommodations, tours, flights, bus transports, car rentals) from home, it would be a difficult undertaking to cancel or change something and get a refund for something already paid. One of the exceptions in this respect is the EDEAQ: no pre-payment is required, and you can change, in principle, your arrival and/or departure dates, also at short notice. – Important: Should you plan to attend an event that normally attracts thousands of visitors (for example the Inti Raymi celebration in Cuzco/Sacsayhuamán, every year between 21 and 24 June), or to visit Machu Picchu with or without Inca Trail (in particular during high season (i.e. July to October and December/January), then we recommend to make reservations (accommodations, tours, flights, bus tickets, car rentals, etc.) well in advance. The same applies to the “Semana Santa” (Easter Week), in particular Holy/Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday.
From Lima to Arequipa by plane
There are four airlines operating scheduled flights between Lima and Arequipa: Peruvian Airlines, TACA, Star Peru and LAN. – Passengers from Europe arriving not later than approx. two and a half hours prior to the departures of the last flights to Arequipa (which leave between 19:00 h and 20:00 h). e.g. with Air France (arr 15:55 h), IBERIA (arr 18:05 h) or KLM (arr 18:10 h), can thus continue their journey to Arequipa on the same day.
From Lima to Arequipa by bus
We recommend the bus company Cruz del Sur [www.cruzdelsur.com.pe]. There is one day-time connection (departing Lima at 06:30 h, travel time between 15 and 17 hours). There are six afternoon/evening departures from 14:30 h to 21:00 h (travel time between 15 and 16 hours), arriving in Arequipa on the following day. – Fares: between USD 22.00 and USD 53.00, to be paid in Soles. – If you interrupt your bus journey in Parácas/Ica or Nazca, the staff of your hotel/hostel can advise you how to continue your journey to Arequipa.
Colca Canyon Tour and then directly to Puno
Do not book your Colca Tour in advance: do it when you are here in Arequipa. On the last day of your Colca Canyon Tour, you do not have to return to Arequipa (of course you can, if you wish so) - you can travel directly to Puno. There is a daily bus connection from Chivay (dep 13:30 h/arr 19:30 h) (refer to www.4m-express.com). The Puno arrival time allows you to still make pertinent arrangements for the coming day (Lake Titicaca excursion), since the agencies/tour operators are open until about 21:00 h/21:30 h.
From Puno to Cuzco (or vice versa)
A good alternative to the (fairly expensive) train [www.perurail.com/en] and to overcrowded public buses is the “Inka Express” [www.inkaexpress.com.pe].
How to get to Peru (Lima) and Arequipa?
Quite a number of European, Latin-American and North American airlines offer regular flights to Peru’s capital city of Lima (Jorge Chávez International Airport [LIM]). In principle, you will always get a flight to and from Lima at short notice - the question is at what price? Please be aware that intercontinental flights to and from Lima tend to be extremely well or often fully booked between July and October as well as in December/January. In the event that your travel plans fall into months other than those mentioned above, it is nevertheless highly advisable to make flight reservations as early as possible.
In particular, during the peak seasons (as mentioned above July to October and December/January), low cost airlines operate between European hubs (in particular Madrid and Paris) and Lima. Your travel agent and pertinent Internet brokers will be able to provide an overview on these options. From Europe. For students from Europe, the best options are Air France [www.airfrance.com] (arr. 15:55 h), IBERIA [www.iberia.com] (arr 05:30 h and 18:05 h), KLM [www.klm.com] (arr 18:10 h) or LAN [www.lan.com] (arr 06:10 h). Another option is Lufthansa [www.lufthansa.com] from Frankfurt through Bogotá (Colombia) with good LAN or TACA connections, or through São Paulo (Brazil). Your travel agent and the pertinent Internet sites will be able to provide information on other options (American, Continental, Delta, Swiss, etc.), in particular those via the United States (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, New York, etc.).
From the United States, Canada or the Caribbean. You can count on a series of direct flights or good connections through Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Newark, Toronto, Bogotá (Colombia), Caracas (Venezuela), Mexico City, Quito (Ecuador), Panamá or San José de Costa Rica, operated by carriers such as American, Air Canada, Avianca, Continental, COPA, Delta, LAN, TACA, etc.
From Japan and the Far East. The best option are the services provided by Aerolíneas Argentinas, American, Continental, Delta, AeroMexico or LAN (possibly in connection with Japanese or other carriers based in the region) through Los Angeles, Houston, Sidney, Auckland or Mexico City.
From Australia and New Zealand. The best option is LAN from Sydney and Auckland to Santiago de Chile, with good connecting flights to Lima. From South Africa. The best/only option is South African Airways from Johannesburg through São Paulo (Brazil) or Buenos Aires (Argentina), with good connecting flights to Lima. Flights Lima (LIM) - Arequipa (AQP). There are four airlines operating scheduled flights between Lima and Arequipa (flying time one hour and twenty minutes), LAN [www.lan.com], Peruvian Airlines [www.peruvianairlines.pe], TACA [www.taca.com], and Star Peru [www.starperu.com]. LAN is the largest and most reliable Peruvian airline (but also the most expensive one) and offers up to nine flights per day between Lima and Arequipa. In addition, it also operates internationally to and from the United States as well as to and from neighbouring Latin-American countries and Europe. – Passengers from Europe arriving approx. two and a half hours prior to the departures of the last flights to Arequipa (which leave between 19:00 h and 20:00 h). e.g. with Air France (arr 15:55 h), IBERIA (arr 17:35 h) or KLM (arr 18:10 h), can thus continue their journey to Arequipa on the same day. – Please note that for departing passengers on domestic flights, the Lima airport tax is approximately USD 6.00. Flights Arequipa (AQP) - Lima (LIM). There are four airlines operating scheduled flights between Arequipa and Lima (flying time one hour and ten minutes), LAN [www.lan.com]. Peruvian Airlines [www.peruvianairlines.pe], TACA [www.taca.com], and Star Peru [www.starperu.com]. LAN is the largest and most reliable Peruvian airline (but also the most expensive one) and offers up to nine flights per day between Lima and Arequipa. In addition, it also operates internationally to and from the United States as well as to and from neighbouring Latin-American countries and Europe. – Please note that for departing passengers on domestic flights, the Lima airport tax is approximately USD 6.00.
Change of timetables (domestic flights). Be aware that departure and arrival times of domestic flights in Peru can change at short or without notice, especially in the end of March and in the end of October, when most European countries change from winter to summer time and vice versa. Please check all details with your travel agent or verify them on the corresponding Internet sites.
Your (airline) ticket(s)
Note the address, telephone, and fax numbers as well as e-mail addresses of the travel agency where you bought your ticket, and if possible the name of your travel agent. When you purchase your ticket, be it through a travel agent or online, make sure that you will receive full information concerning reservation changes and applicable penalties, in case you would like to extend or shorten your stay, i.e. change the dates and/or your flight.
Overnight in Lima
In the event that your incoming flight does not allow you to catch a connecting flight to Arequipa on the same day, or you prefer to rest in Lima after a long journey from Europe or Asia, we are more than happy to arrange a reservation for you in a Lima middle class hotel. We suggest two options: .
Travel documents / Visa Passport validity. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months when you start your trip.
Entry permit regulations. Travellers from the United States, Canada, and most European countries (EU Member States plus Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and others), as well as from Israel, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, do not need a visa to enter Peru. Upon arrival you will receive a stamp in your passport which entitles you to a stay of up to 180 days. – EDEAQ’s recommendation: request explicitly 180 days [ciento ochenta días]). The so called tourist card (“Tarjeta de Embarque”) is a form you complete in the plane before arrival (if not, it will be made available at Immigrations), and it must be surrendered when leaving the country. Check that the length of your stay (180 days) is indicated correctly. Be informed that you cannot extend your stay, i.e. after 180 days you have to leave the country and re-enter. Overdrafting your 180 days will cost you, when you leave the country, USD 1.00 per day (to be paid in Soles at the exchange rate of the day).
Second document. In addition to your passport, it is highly recommended that you carry a second document of identification, e.g. an ID card as well as photocopies of the most important pages of your passport, which you should keep separate from of your passport. We also recommend that you bring along two recent passport photos. . Should you believe that you need a visa (which is highly unlikely) and before getting in touch with a Peruvian diplomatic representation (embassy, consulate), please contact the EDEAQ by e-mail (contact@edeaq.com). . . Money / Change / Credit Card(s)
The Peruvian currency is the "Nuevo Sol," abbreviated "S/.” or officially PEN (caution: the S/. or PEN are also often indicated by the dollar character [$]). Instead of talking about a “Nuevo Sol”, most Peruvians still use the term “Sol” (plural “Soles”). The denominations of the banknotes/bills are 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 Soles. There are coins of 5, 2 and 1 Soles as well as of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 céntimos in current circulation (beware that 2- and 5-Sol coins look very much alike, the only difference being the size (5-Sol coins are slightly bigger). – The current rate of exchange of the US-Dollar (USD) and of other currencies against the PEN can be made with www.xe.com/ucc – Important: The 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 New Sol banknotes/bills have been redesigned, and are circulating along with the old currency. See the new banknotes/bills here (click). Never change money with unlicensed money changers in the street, who will sometimes have rigged calculators. When you change money, check each banknote/bill carefully to see that it is not counterfeit. Hand back all banknotes/bills that have slight rips, have been repaired with tape, or have other imperfections. Insist on cash in 10-, 20- and 50-Soles banknotes/bills. Unless you are at a supermarket or a restaurant, the 100-Soles banknotes/bills are hard to change and you will end up waiting as someone runs across the street to find change for you.
You should carry a sufficient amount of USD in cash, in small denominations, i.e. banknotes/bills of USD 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 (no EUR, CHF, CAD, GBP etc., only USD). In the event that you do not have an ATM-card, bring enough USD, either in cash or in traveller’s cheques (but please be informed that changing traveller's cheques into USD cash and/or Soles is a time consuming procedure, and the banks in Peru usually charge hefty commissions for cashing traveller's cheques, and that they require you to have the receipt of the purchase of your traveller’s cheques). – Important: Do not bring damaged, stained, worn-out, torn, crinkled, etc. USD banknotes/bills, as they will not be accepted in Peru, and particularly not in Arequipa. – Be aware that changing currencies other than the USD (e.g. EUR, CHF, CAD, GBP, etc.) will result in exchange rate losses of approximately 10%.
Do not fully rely on your credit card(s) as your primary means of payment (except for car rentals). It is of course possible to pay with credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and - to a lesser extent - Diners Club and American Express) at many places in Peru (in cities and larger towns, but not in the countryside). However, you will often be charged somewhat higher prices than if you had paid cash. It is also quite likely that the discounted or special sales prices advertised are granted only to those who pay cash. In other words, do not be surprised to be told - for instance, in a hotel - that the promotion rate applies to cash payments only, or that the front desk manager has added a five percent "commission" on your bill because you paid by credit card instead of cash, etc. .
Please note that the EDEAQ will not accept credit cards. Payments must be made in cash (USD or Soles).
Driving licence / Car rental
Do not forget to bring your driving licence (in case you would like to rent a car), and your credit card(s) for possible rental deposits. It is not necessary to have a so called “International Driving Licence”, your national (or EU) licence will do it.
Before you rent a car through a travel agency at home or online, we recommend that you contact the EDEAQ in order to get pertinent advice.
Your mobile/cell phone / Internet
Most likely, there is a roaming agreement between your mobile phone company at home and at least one of the providers in Peru such as Claro (Telmex) or Moviestar (Telefónica). This means that you will be able to use your mobile phone in Peru. Outgoing and incoming long distance calls will be quite expensive. When using your mobile phone for domestic calls, topped-up local rates will be applied, meaning that you can call from Arequipa to Lima or any other place in Peru (or vice versa) or within Arequipa at topped-up local rates, regardless whether you communicate with a landline or an other mobile number.
The country code for Peru is 51; the area code for Arequipa is 054 (calling from abroad, dial +5154). Other relevant area codes are: Ayacucho 066, Cajamarca 044, Callao 01, Chiclayo 074, Cuzco and Machu Picchu 084, Huaraz 043, Ica 056, Juliaca 051, Lambayeque 074, Lima 01, Iquitos 065, Piura 073, Pucalpa 065, Puno 051, Tacna 052, Trujillo 044. In the event that you call a mobile phone, the area codes read as follows: Arequipa 05495, Ayacucho 0669, Cajamarca 0449, Callao 019, Chiclayo 0749, Cuzco und Machu Picchu 0849, Huaraz 0439, Ica 0569, Iquitos 0659, Juliaca 0519, Lambayeque 07497, Lima 019, Piura 07396, Pucalpa 0659, Puno 0519, Tacna 0529, Trujillo 04494. Mobile/cell phones are available for purchasing (in conjunction with the purchase of a prepaid SIM card) at the Lima International Airport and in all larger towns. Internet/e-mail. Two desktop computers (with cameras and microphones) plus one laser printer are available. You may also bring your personal laptop/notebook and use our wireless network (WiFi). Please note, however, that (possible) (re)configuration of the settings of your laptop/notebook to be compatible with our network will be at your expense. – Internet cafes are plentiful in Arequipa and are very inexpensive (less than USD 0.40/€ 0.30 per hour). Hours of operation are usually from 09:00 h to 21:00 h. – Be also aware that EDEAQ’s host families and the hostels/hotels co-operating with the EDEAQ (refer to “Accommodations Plans”) provide internet access (desktop coputer and WiFi)..
Electricity
Peru uses 220 volts, 60 cycles AC, except Arequipa, which is on 50 cycles. The major hotels provide 110/220 volt outlets in bathrooms for the use of shavers or hairdryers.
Climate / Weather
As a result of its immense geographic diversity and significant differences in altitude, each region in Peru has more or less its own climate pattern, without mentioning a myriad of different microclimates. – The pattern for Arequipa (2330 m / 7,644 ft.) above sea level) reads as follows:
April to October: Winter. Cloudless sky and intensive solar insolation. Day-time temperatures at 14.00 h between 20 °C (68 F) and 25 °C (77 F). Night-time temperatures around 15 °C (59 F), between July and August occasionally lower, i.e. around 10 °C (50 F) or even lower.
November and December: beginning of Summer (“veranillo arequipeño”). The first occasional light rainfalls usually occur in the afternoon (less than 10% probability). In general cloudless sky and intensive solar insolation. Day-time temperatures at 14.00 h between 21 °C (69.8 F) and 26 °C (78.8 F). Night-time temperatures around 15 °C (59.0 F) or slightly lower.
January to March: Summer, characterised by some precipitation in the afternoons (less than 20% probability), although it is surprising how fast the skies clear up after some rainfall and the sun comes out again. Day-time temperatures at 14.00 h between 20 °C (68.0 F) and 24 °C (75.2 F). Night-time temperatures around 15 °C (59.0 F) or lower.
Clothing / Equipment
Throughout any season one will need both warm and light clothing as well as good sturdy shoes and lighter, more urban footwear. Light head cover and rain gear are advisable, and do not forget your swimming suit. For more rustic excursions, e.g. hiking and trekking in the Andes, warm and solid clothing is indispensable, as are hiking boots, and a sleeping bag together with an isolating/sleeping mat (which is normally made available by the operators/outfitters). – Ascent of El Misti and Chachani: warm clothes (that includes thermo underwear with long sleeves, gloves, ski mask), plus a knapsack/backpack (min. 60 l), headlamp, electric torch/pocket lamp, binoculars, water bottle, Swiss Army Knife, your personal medical supplies, suntan lotion (with a high protection factor, and lip protection), sunglasses, possibly hiking sticks (hiking poles) (Chachani: the standard route requires crampons and ice axe).
Being a visitor to Arequipa, dressing like Arequipa middle class people is advisable, applying the “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” principle. At all costs, avoid at multi-coloured flashy clothes or typical (beach or backpacker) tourist outfits during your stay in Arequipa. It is recommended that you dress discreetly and inconspicuously. In any case, please bring at least one elegant, formal dress with appropriate shoes, i.e. suitable for more formal events and surroundings.
Health / Vaccinations
No vaccinations required. For those arriving directly from Europe, the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and most Latin-American countries, there are no vaccination requirements; although in general, vaccinations against tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A are recommended. If you are considering travelling to the Peruvian lowlands, you may consider being vaccinated against yellow fever and taking malaria tablets. – Your medical doctor or a clinic specialising in tropical medicine can advise which (additional) vaccinations and precautions might be required.
Altitude. Travellers who suffer heart or circulation problems are advised to consult their doctor regarding the high altitude, even though Arequipa’s location at 2330 m (7644 ft.) is not considered a critical zone. Usually the human body needs two or three days to get acclimatised to the altitude, meaning to the lower oxygen content in the air. For possible trouble such as “soroche”/altitude sickness (headache and nausea) which are common symptoms during the adjustment phase, there is effective, time-tested and well tolerated medication available at local pharmaceutical chemists. Especially good help is the so-called "mate de coca" (tea from coca leaves).
Jet lag. Students coming from Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the Far East will certainly suffer under the jet lag, i.e. they will feel a bit exhausted and sleepy during their first days in Arequipa until the “inner clock” will have made the necessary adjustments.
Digestive troubles. Please carry sufficient medicine with which you are familiar to cope with stomach/intestinal irritation or digestive trouble in general. However, risks have, in this respect, decreased considerably within the last twenty years thanks to improved hygienic standards and practices.
Insurance
Most private health insurance plans cover the expenses made overseas. If you do not have a private health insurance you should get an additional travel insurance. Insurance for your luggage is strongly recommended as well.
What to bring
Arequipa offers quite well stocked supermarkets (food and non-food), department stores of respectable dimensions displaying a fair choice of quality (also international) goods, and small, but rather modern shopping centres, including a large number of specialised shops. In other words: there is actually a lot available (but the variety is less impressive than in Lima), with the exception of tricky, quite special little items, e.g. your particular contact lens solution, any peculiar battery you may need for your camera, etc. Some of these items can eventually be found in Arequipa, but to do so can be very difficult and a time-consuming process, and very often, you hear the phrase “in Lima yes, but not here.” In other words: it is very easy to buy a house or a car in Arequipa (not talking about clothes, shoes, home electronics, etc.), but trying to find the special battery charger for your digital camera that you forgot at home might be a difficult undertaking.
What you should bring along without question: your personal medical supplies (amongst others, diarrhoea tablets you are familiar with), suntan lotion (with a high protection factor, and lip protection), sunglasses, a small alarm clock, a sufficient supply of batteries for your battery-operated electrical devices, and possibly a plug adapter (in Peru, electric outlets correspond to US-American norms, but the voltage is “European”, i.e. 220 V). And do not forget your sports equipment (tennis racket, swimsuit, jogging shoes, etc.).
If you decide to travel with your own laptop/notebook, put it into your carry on luggage or a special computer bag, which will be your “second carry on piece” (airlines allow this). Carry all necessary accessories (external drive, memory stick, battery charger, etc.) together with your laptop/notebook, i.e. in the same piece of luggage. – Please note that (possible) configuration of your laptop/notebook to be compatible with the network (WiFi) of your host family or your hotel/hostel will be at your expense.
Travel Guide
All the pertinent publishing houses offer travel guides about Peru. We would mention (in alphabetic order) the following: Adventure Guides (Hunter Publishing), Footprint Travel Guides (South American Handbook), Frommer’s Travel Guides, Let’s Go Travel Guides, Lonely Planet, Insight Guides, Rough Guides. – The leading travel guide in German/in Germany is the Reise Know-How.
Didactic material for your language course
You will receive all necessary didactic material (except a dictionary) for your Spanish classes here in Arequipa, but it goes without saying that you need to supply your own notebooks, pencils, etc.
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