Last update: 30 April 2023
Table of Contents
Planning Your Travelling In Peru
Travel Guides
All the pertinent publishing houses offer travel guides related to 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 is the Reise Know-How.
Reservations and Prepayments
We 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 (Machu Picchu, “Sacred Valley“, etc.). You can make the corresponding reservations and payments on the spot, i.e. when you are here in Arequipa, and later in Puno, Cuzco, etc. The same applies to your onward journey, i.e. when leaving Arequipa. – Why do we recommend to be cautious about reservations / prepayments?
1.
Most likely you will find, once here in Peru, less expensive options, and we can also provide pertinent advice.
2.
In addition: our experience says that travellers of all age groups and nationalities, 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 (pre)paid services (accommodation, tours, flights, bus tickets, car rentals) from home/in advance, 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 prepayment from home is required, and once in Arequipa, you can change (in principle) the dates/the duration of your Spanish course, also at relatively 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 from 21 to 24 June – or the “Festividad de la Virgen de la Candelaria” in Puno, every year from 02 to 17 February), or should you plan to visit Machu Picchu (with or without Inca Trail) during peak season (June/July to September/October), then we recommend to take into consideration making pertinent reservations (entrance tickets, accommodation, tours, flights, bus tickets, car rentals, etc.) well in advance. The same goes for the “Semana Santa” (Easter Week – in particular from Holy/Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday), as well as for the Independence Days (28 and 29 July), and the Christmas/ New Year holiday period.
From Lima to Arequipa by Plane
There are four airlines operating scheduled flights between Lima and Arequipa: LATAM, Peruvian Airlines, SkyAirline, and Viva Air Peru. – Passengers arriving in Lima not later than approx. two and a half hours prior to the departure of the last flight to Arequipa (which leaves between approx. 19:00 h and approx. 22:00 h) can thus continue their journey to Arequipa on the same day. – Very important. Do not plan a (too) tight connection at Lima Airport. Between the scheduled time of arrival in Lima and the scheduled time of departure of your connecting flight to Arequipa you must plan enough time, i.e. at least three hours.
From Lima to Arequipa by Bus
The students of our School recommend the bus company Cruz del Sur [ www.cruzdelsur.com.pe ]. There is one day-time connection (departing Lima at 06:40 h, travel time approx. 17 hours), plus seven or eight afternoon/evening departures between 14:30 h to 21:00 h (travel time between 15½ and 17 hours), arriving in Arequipa on the following day (morning/forenoon). – Fares: between USD 34.00 and USD 48.00, to be paid in Soles. – If you interrupt your bus journey in Parácas, Ica, Nazca, etc.: the staff of your hotel/hostel can advise you how to continue your journey to Arequipa.
Colca Canyon Tour and Then to Puno (or in the opposite direction)
Do not book your Colca Canyon Tour in advance, do it when you are here in Arequipa. – The are, in principle, four options (A + B plus C + D):
A. “Conventional Tourism One Day”: departure at approx. 03:00 h, return/arrival in Arequipa at approx. 17:00 h.
B. “Conventional Tourism Two Days”: departure Day 01 at approx. 08:00 h, return/arrival in Arequipa Day 02 at approx. 17:00 h.
C. “Trekking Two Days”: departure Day 01 at approx. 03:00 h, return/arrival in Arequipa Day 02 at approx. 17:00 h.
D. “Trekking Three Days”: departure Day 01 at approx. 03:00 h, return/arrival in Arequipa Day 03 at approx. 17:00 h.
On the last day of your Colca Canyon Tour (B, C, or D) 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 to Puno (dep 13:30 h) [ www.4m-express.com ]. The Puno arrival time (19:30 h) allows you to still make pertinent arrangements for the following day (Lake Titicaca excursion), since the agencies/tour operators are open until about 21:00 h/21:30 h. – From Puno to Arequipa (via Colca Canyon): dep. Puno 06:30 h.
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From Puno to Cuzco (or in the opposite direction)
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 ].
Travelling in South America/Peru With Your Own Vehicle
If you plan to drive your own vehicle (camper, motor home, etc.) in South America, please be aware that you (the driver) must be the legal owner of the vehicle, according to the vehicle/registration documents. This means: do not travel to/in South America with a vehicle registered in anyone else’s name (including relatives) – the vehicle must be registered in your (i.e. the driver’s/user’s) name. Be aware that even a notarised statement from the owner will not satisfy Peruvian authorities. The name(s) on the car documents and the name(s) in the user’s/driver’s passport must be identical.
According to Peru’s Ministerio de Transportaciones y Comunicaciones (“Decreto Supremo Nº 040-2008-MTC”): driving licenses from other countries may be used for a maximum period of six months from the date of entry into the country.
If you happen to stay in Arequipa, one of the few appropriate places to park your car overnight is the
Hostal Las Mercedes
Avenida La Marina 1001
Arequipa (Peru)
+51 54 21 36 01
reservas@hostal-lasmercedes.com
www.lasmercedeshostal.com
which comes with all the necessary facilities (shower, WC, electric outlets, WiFi, etc.). The Hostal Las Mecedes is a co-operation partner of the EDEAQ, and is located approx. ten minutes walking from the Plaza de Armas (Main Square)/our School. Tariffs (per day/night): one person S/. 40.00, two persons S/. 60.00, three S/. 90, four S/. 120.00.
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? But be aware that intercontinental flights to and from Lima tend to be extremely well or often fully booked, in particular between April and October. 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.
During the peak season (as mentioned above April to October) low cost carriers as well operate between European hubs (in particular Madrid and Paris) and Lima. Your travel agent and pertinent Internet sites will be able to provide an overview on these options.
From Europe. Direct flights to Lima: Air Europe (from Madrid), Air France (from Paris), British Airways (from London), IBERIA (from Madrid), KLM (from Amsterdam), and LATAM (from Madrid), – Your travel agency and/or and the pertinent Internet sites will be in a position to provide information on other options, such as American Airlines, Condor, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss or United Airlines, in particular those serving transfer airports/hubs with direct flights to Lima (the pertinent carriers are AeroMexico, Air Canada, American Airlines, Avianca, COPA, Delta Airlines, LATAM, TACA, United Airlines): in the US/Canada from Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Toronto / in Central/South America from Bogotá, Cancun (Mexico), Caracas, Guayaquil, Mexico City, Panama City, Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), Quito, Rio de Janeiro, San José de Costa Rica, São Paulo.
From the United States/Canada, Central/South America, and the Caribbean. There are quite a good number of non-stop/direct flights to Lima (the pertinent carriers are AeroMexico, Air Canada, American Airlines, Avianca, Chilejet, COPA, Delta Airlines, Interjet, LATAM, Sky Airlines, TACA, TAME, United Airlines, Viva Colombia): United States/Canada from Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Toronto / Central/South America from Asunción, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cali (Colombia), Caracas, Cordoba (Argentina), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Iguazu (Brazil), La Paz, Medellin (Colombia), Mexico City, Montevideo, Panama City, Porto Alegre (Brazil), Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Rosario (Argentina), San José de Costa Rica, San Salvador, Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Santiago de Chile, São Paulo / Caribbean: from Cancun (Mexico), La Habana, and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).
From Japan and the Far East. Your travel agency and/or and the pertinent Internet sites will be in a position to provide information.
From Australia and New Zealand. With Quantas or LATAM from Sydney and Auckland to Santiago de Chile, and from there with good connecting flights to Lima.
From South Africa. South African Airways or LATAM from Johannesburg to São Paulo (Brazil) or Buenos Aires (Argentina), and from there with good connecting flights to Lima.
Flights Lima (LIM) – Arequipa (AQP). Currently there are four airlines operating scheduled flights (approx. 20 per day) between Lima and Arequipa (flight time one hour and twenty minutes):
LATAM [ www.latam.com/en_us ]
Peruvian Airlines [ www.peruvian.pe/en ]
SkyAirline [ www.skyairline.com/english ]
Viva Air Peru [ www.vivaair.com/pe ]
Connecting flight Lima – Arequipa. Transfer time between arrival LIM and departure to AQP should not to be less than three hours.
Flights Arequipa (AQP) – Lima (LIM). Currently there are five airlines operating scheduled flights (approx. 20 per day) between Arequipa and Lima (flight time one hour and twenty minutes):
LATAM [ www.latam.com/en_us ]
Peruvian Airlines [ www.peruvian.pe/en ]
SkyAirline [ www.skyairline.com/english ]
Viva Air Peru [ www.vivaair.com/pe ]
Connecting flight Lima – ???. Transfer time between arrival LIM and departure to ??? should not to be less than three hours.
Change of timetables. Be aware that departure and arrival times of domestic flights can change at short or without notice, especially in the end of March and October, when most European countries change from winter to summer time and vice versa.
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Your Flight Ticket(s)
Note the address, telephone, and fax numbers as well as e-mail addresses of the travel agency where you bought your ticket(s), and if possible the name of your travel agent. When you purchase your ticket(s), 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. changing the dates of your flight(s).
At Your First Airport of Departure / Check-in
When checking-in your luggage, make sure that baggage tags are attached, indicating your name, your (first) address in Peru (i.e. host family or hotel/hostel [in Arequipa] plus phone numbers). Secure your bags properly with small padlocks. Always have two spare padlocks at hand, since airport security may open your luggage in your absence by breaking the padlocks, particularly if you are a transit passenger in the United States or in Spain.
Important. At your first airport of departure you must check-in your luggage to Lima (LIM), even if you continue your journey the same day to Arequipa (or Cuzco, or Trujillo, etc.), no matter whether the check-in staff at the airport tells you that you can check-in your luggage directly to Arequipa (or Cuzco, Puno, Trujillo, etc.). – This means: verify that the baggage tags show LIM (Lima) as your final destination – under no circumstances AQP (Arequipa). For each piece of checked luggage, you will receive a claim tag as a receipt, which you must keep. – Even if you continue your journey to Arequipa (or Cuzco, Puno, Trujillo, etc.) immediately after your arrival in Lima (i.e. on the next available flight), or if you believe that you have a “through ticket” from your departure airport to Arequipa (or to Cuzco, Puno, Trujillo, etc.) (such “tickets” do NOT exist) – at LIMA airport you must pass trough Immigration and then pick up your luggage and then pass through customs.
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 somewhere else, we are more than happy to arrange a reservation for you in a Lima middle class hotel.
We suggest two options:
1. Hotel Kamana (official rating: ***), situated in the centre of Lima between “Plaza San Martín” and “Plaza Mayor” (former “Plaza de Armas”). – Special discount rates (the reservation must be made through the EDEAQ): single room USD 40.00, double room USD 54.00 (including breakfast, taxes and service charge). Transfer time from/to airport: approximately 45 minutes. – This option would enable you to spend the morning after your overnight in Lima; the two main squares (Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martín) and some of the most remarkable sights of Peru’s capital (like the Torre Tagle Palace) are within walking distance. – The Hotel Kamana can provide the arrival transfer from Lima International Airport (USD 22.00). The tariff of the authorised taxi companies (e.g. “Taxi Green”) is S/. 55.00 ( = approx. USD 16.00).
www.hotelkamana.com
2. Hotel Manhattan Inn (official rating: ***), situated close to the airport. – Special discount rates (the reservation must be made through the EDEAQ): single room USD 45.00, double room USD 55.00 (including breakfast, taxes and service charge). Transfer time from/to the airport: approx. 15 minutes. – The Hotel Manhattan Inn can provide the arrival transfer from Lima International Airport (USD 15.00). The tariff of the authorised taxi companies (e.g. “Taxi Green”) is S/. 35.00 ( = approx. USD 10.00).
www.hmanhattan.com/pe
Travel Documents / Visa
Passport validity. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of entry into the country.
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 Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan, plus most of the Latin American countries, 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 90/180 days. – 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 available at Immigrations), and it must be surrendered when leaving the country. Check that the length of your stay (90 or180 days) is indicated correctly. – Be informed that you cannot extend your stay, i.e. after 90/180 days you leave the country and re-enter. Overextending (your 90/180 days) will cost you, when you leave the country, USD 1.00 per day (to be paid in USD).
Second document. We recommend that along with your passport you should have a second document of identification with you, e.g. an ID card Please make photocopies of the most important pages of your passport, and keep these copies separate from your passport. We also recommend that you have two recent passport photos with you.
Should you believe that you need a visa (which is most unlikely – you will enter Peru as a “tourist”, and not as a “student”), and before contacting a Peruvian diplomatic representation (embassy / consulate), please contact the EDEAQ [ contact@edeaq.com ].
Money / Change
The Peruvian currency is the “Sol” (plural “Soles”), abbreviated “S/.” or (according to ISO 4217) “PEN”. 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 and 10 “céntimos” in circulation (be aware that 2- and 5-Soles coins look very much alike). – For the current rate of the US-Dollar (USD) and of other currencies against the PEN, consult the following websit www.xe.com/ucc
You should bring a sufficient amount of USD in cash (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 be informed that a) changing traveller’s cheques into USD cash and/or Soles is a time consuming procedure, and b) that the banks in Peru usually charge hefty charges for cashing traveller’s cheques, and c) that they want to see the receipt of the purchase of your traveller’s cheques). – Important: Please note that damaged, stained, worn-out, crinkled, wrinkled, etc. USD banknotes/bills will not be accepted in Arequipa (and everywhere else in Peru), neither by banks, exchange offices, shops, restaurants, etc. – Be aware that changing foreign currencies other than USD (e.g. EUR, CHF, CAD, GBP, etc.) will result in exchange rate losses of approximately 10%.
Never change money with unlicensed money changers in the street, as they sometimes have rigged calculators. When you change money, check carefully each banknote/bill you receive to see that it is not counterfeit. Do not accept banknotes/bills that have (slight) rips, or have been “repaired” with adhesive tape, or have other imperfections. Insist on 10, 20 and 50 Soles banknotes/ bills in particular. Unless you are in a supermarket/department store or in a large restaurant, the 200 or 100 Soles banknotes/bills are hard to spend.
Credit Card(s)
Do not entirely rely on your credit card(s) as your primary instrument 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) in many places in Peru (in cities and larger towns, but not in remote villages). However, you will often be charged a somewhat higher price in comparison with if you had paid cash. It is also quite likely that the special sales prices advertised are granted only to those paying cash. And 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 5% “commission” on your bill because you paid by credit card and not cash, etc.
Please note that the EDEAQ does not accept credit cards or cheques.
Payments must be made in cash (USD or Soles [PEN]).
In exceptional cases, bank transfer is possible.
Also refer to www.edeaq.com/wp/booking-conditions (Art. 1.2. to 1.7.)
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) driving licence is sufficient.
Before you rent a car through a travel agency at home or on-line, we recommend that you contact the EDEAQ in order to get pertinent advice.
According to Peru’s Ministerio de Transportaciones y Comunicaciones (“Decreto Supremo Nº 040-2008-MTC”): driving licenses from other countries may be used for a maximum period of six months from the date of entry into the country.
Your Mobile Phone
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 are 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 land-line 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.
Mobile 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.
Communication / Free Internet Access
EDEAQ. Desktop computer plus laser printer/scanner are at your disposal, and there is WiFi on the entire premises.
Host Family. WiFi is available.
Hostal Los Andes / Hostal Las Mercedes / Hotel Tierra Sur. Desktop computers in the lobbies/sitting rooms are at your disposal, and there is WiFi on the entire premises.
Our recommendation: do not travel to Peru without a device (laptop/notebook/tablet/iPad, iPod/smartphone/iPhone, etc.) with which you can receive/send e-mail messages.
Electricity
Peru uses 220 volts, 60 cycles AC, except Arequipa, which is on 50 cycles. The sockets are “American”, but in particular in the bathrooms of hotels/hostels and in private houses/apartment as well, you will find “combined” “European”/”American” sockets.
Climate / Weather
As a result of its immense geographic diversity and significant differences in altitudes, each region in Peru has more or less its own climate pattern, without mentioning a myriad of different micro-climates.
The climate of the city of Arequipa is predominantly dry in winter, autumn and spring, due to the low atmospheric moisture and an effective precipitation corresponding to that of a semiarid climate. Arequipa has also approx. 350 days of sunshine a year on average. Throughout the year, temperatures do not exceed 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely drop below 10 °C (50 °F). – The pattern for Arequipa (2330 m / 7,644 ft.) reads as follows:
| Temperature Maximum | Temperature Minimum | Rain Days | Daily Sunshine Hours | Sunrise |
Sunset | |
| January | 23°C / 73°F | 15°C / 59°F | 8 | 7 | 05:26 h | 18:25 h |
| February | 24°C / 75°F | 16°C / 61°F | 7 | 6 | 05:41 h | 18:19 h |
| March | 24°C / 75°F | 16°C / 61°F | 5 | 8 | 05:49 h | 18:01 h |
| April | 23°C / 73°F | 14°C / 57°F | 1 | 9 | 05:54 h | 17:38 h |
| May | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 54°F | 0 | 10 | 06:02 h | 17:23 h |
| June | 20°C / 68°F | 11°C / 52°F | 0 | 11 | 06:12 h | 17:21 h |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 10°C / 50°F | 1 | 11 | 06:15 h | 17:29 h |
| August | 20°C / 68°F | 11°C / 52°F | 0 | 11 | 06.04 h | 17:37 h |
| September | 21°C / 70°F | 12°C / 54°F | 0 | 11 | 05:42 h | 17:41 h |
| October | 21°C / 70°F | 12°C / 54°F | 0 | 11 | 05:18 h | 17:46 h |
| November | 22°C / 72°F | 13°C / 55°F | 0 | 11 | 05:04 h | 17:58 h |
| December | 23°C / 73°F | 14°C / 57°F | 2 | 10 | 05:08 h | 18:14 h |
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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 mat (which is normally made available by the operators/outfitters).
Ascent of El Misti and Chachani: warm clothes (that includes thermal underwear with long sleeves, gloves, ski mask), plus a 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/poles. Chachani: plus crampons and ice axe (normally made available by the tour operator/outfitter).
Being a foreign visitor in Arequipa, dressing like Arequipa middle class people is advisable, applying the “When In Rome, Do As the Romans Do” principle. Avoid multi-coloured flashy clothes or typical (beach or backpacker) tourist outfits. It is recommended that you dress discreetly and inconspicuously. – In any case,ring at least one elegant, formal dress with appropriate shoes, i.e. suitable for possibly elegant and/or more formal events.
What Else to Take Along?
Arequipa offers quite well stocked supermarkets (food and non-food), department stores of respectable dimensions, displaying a large selection of quality products, and small, but rather modern shopping malls, 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 lotion, any peculiar battery you may need for your camera, etc. Some of these items can eventually be found in Arequipa, but finding them can be very difficult and time-consuming. 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 (and also clothes, shoes, home electronics, etc.), but trying to find the battery charger for your digital camera might be a difficult undertaking.
What you should take along: 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 items(tennis racket, swimsuit, jogging shoes, etc.).
Didactic/Course Material for Your Language Classes
You will receive the necessary didactic/course material (except a dictionary) for your Spanish classes here in Arequipa. But please supply your own notebooks, pencils, etc.
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 from heart or circulation problems are advised to consult their doctor regarding the high altitude, even though Arequipa’s elevation of about 2,350 m (just over 7700 ft.) is not considered a critical zone. Usually the human body needs two or three days to acclimate 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 pharmacies. Especially good help is the so-called “mate de coca” (tea from coca leaves).
Jet lag. Students coming in directly from Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the Far East will certainly suffer from the jet lag, i.e. they will feel a bit exhausted and sleepy during their first days in Arequipa until the “inner clock” has adjusted.
Medicines. Please bring sufficient medicine with which you are familiar, in particular those you would need to cope with cold/influenza, throat pain. The same goes for stomach/intestinal irritation or digestive trouble in general, although risks have, in this respect, decreased considerably in the last thirty years, as a result of improved hygienic standards and practices.
A stay in Peru and in Arequipa in particular does not – from our point of view and applying elementary precautions – imply any particular health risks, apart from the AIDS-risk specifically existing in Third World countries. The most serious illnesses are yellow fever and malaria, which both occur in jungle areas of the north and south Amazon, and in a few parts of the Northern coast.
Insurance
Most private health insurance plans also cover expenses incurred overseas. If you do not have a private health insurance, you should get an additional travel insurance. An insurance for your luggage is strongly recommended as well.
Leisure and Sports
Refer to www.edeaq.com/wp/about-arequipa-leisure-and-sports (subtitle “Leisure and Sports”).
*****
.The EDEAQ does its utmost to provide correct information. However, no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of this information, and all legal claims will be denied.
________________
EDEAQ – Escuela de Español Ari Quipay
Calle La Merced 123 (entrance Hostal Los Andes)
Arequipa – Peru
e-mail: contact@edeaq.com
Phone (Monday to Friday: 08:00 h to 13:00 h and 17:30 h to 20:00 h)
Phone (Saturday / Sunday: 09:00 h to 13:00 h and 17:30 h to 20:00 h)
+51 54 27 25 17 or +51 95 561 56 79 or +51 95 934 26 60 or +51 95 235 05 70
Impressum
| Text management, editing, photos: | Max Seelhofer |
| Proof-reading: | Kathleen Peters, Pamela Harmsen, Ellen Purcell, Shana Bertetto, Joy Weatherwax |
| Webmaster: | Max Seelhofer – contact@edeaq.com Matthias Jöstl |