TOURISM

Airport tax
Assistance in Peru
Currency & Money Exchange
Eating & Drinking
Electricity & TV Systems
Entry requirements
Health Regulations
How to get there
Information in Peru
Information in the UK
International Driver's License
Maps
Postal codes of Lima
Recommended Reading
Time zone
Transportation within Peru
Tour operators & Travel agencies
Weather

Peru is considered to be one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Latin America. Peru is a safe country and a "must" for those interested in adventure, history, landscapes, gastronomy, ecology and bio-diversity.

The aim of the Embassy of Peru in the UK is to be not only a means for promotion but also, a creative center for new business opportunities and innovative ideas. We strongly believe that in this area an Embassy must be an efficient Public Relations Office as well as a bank of good ideas.

Flights to Peru

There are no direct flights from London to Lima. However, Alitalia, Americana, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Continental, Iberia, KLM, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic can take you there with connections in Paris, Milan, Bogota, Madrid, Amsterdam, Miami, Houston, Washington, Newark and New York.

PERUVIAN AIRLINES IN THE UK

• Nuevo Continente
Shakespeare House 168, London SW11 5FT
Tel 0207-8016234, Fax 0207-8016242

• LAN
Oak House, County Oak Way, W. Sussex RH11 7ST
Tel: 07786 513127

• Taca Perú
Flighthouse, Fernhill Road, Surrey RH6 9SY
Tel 0870-2410340, Fax 0870-2402208
www.flightdirectors.com

Weather in Peru

Average temperatures in Celsius (rainy season between November and March in the Highlands; wet throughout the year in the jungle):

	Arequipa	Cuzco	Iquitos	Lima	Puno
Jan	22/9	18/6	32/21	28/19	17/3
Feb	21/9	19/7	32/22	29/20	18/3
March	22/9	21/4	33/22	29/19	18/3
April	23/9	20/3	32/22	27/10	18/2
May	22/8	21/0	32/22	24/16	19/-3
June	23/8	20/1	32/21	20/15	19/-7
July	22/7	20/2	39/21	20/14	18/-8
Aug	22/6	20/4	32/20	19/14	17/-4
Sept	22/8	21/6	33/21	20/14	19/2
Oct	24/9	20/8	32/21	22/15	19/5
Nov	23/9	21/9	32/21	24/16	18/4
Dec	23/10	23/10	32/22	26/17	18/4

Time Zone

Peru's time zone is 5 hours behind GMT.

Electricity & TV Systems

220 volts, 60 cycles.
TV color system is NTSC, not PAL.

Entry Requirements

Visitors from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, do not require a visa for Peru when travelling as tourists. Nationals of the following countries and territories are also exempt from tourist visas and can remain in Peru for 90 days (in transit up to 2 days). Nonetheless, they must have a return ticket and sufficient funds for the length of their stay:

Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Granada, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Salomon Islands, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St Christopher & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

Nationals of countries not mentioned above require a tourist visa. Please contact the Peruvian Consulate on 020 7838 9223, fax 020 7823 2789.

Health Regulations

• Inoculations not required.
• If visiting tropical areas within Peru it is advisable to have Typhoid, Hepatitis, Yellow Fever, Smallpox and Malaria vaccinations.
• As in most places health insurance is recommended.
Lima and the main Peruvian cities have modern hospitals and clinics and well-trained physicians.

Airport Tax

US$ 28.24 for international flights.
US$ 5.00 for domestic flights.
please check for update with the Embassy of Peru

Currency & Money Exchange

The monetary unit is "Nuevo Sol" (S/).
Notes are in 100, 50, 20 and 10 denominations. Coins are in 5, 2, 1, 0.50, 0.20 and 0.10 denominations. There are 100 centimes to one nuevo sol.

Travellers are recommended to take US dollars or traveller's cheques. Business establishments accept all major credit cards of current international use.
Banking hours vary, most banks open from Monday to Friday. Some banks open on Saturdays.

Exchange rate: US$ 1.00 = S/ 3.30 (approx.)

International Driver's License

Driving is on the right hand side.
Vehicles with foreign plates may travel freely provided they bear the entry permit "Customs Duty Payment Voucher" issued by customs on entering the country, or by the Touring & Automobile Club of the country of origin.
Foreign travellers require an ID valid for 30 days.

Transportation within Peru

TAXIS

There are a large number of unlicensed operators, which we recommend not to use. These are independent or informal taxis identified by a red and white "TAXI" sign on the windshield. As they do not belong to an established firm, they provide neither security nor guarantees. Some taxis are registered with the Metropolitan Lima taxi service. These are painted in bright yellow and are supervised by Lima Town Hall. They are also the only ones allowed to enter downtown Lima.

Meters are not used so travellers are advised to check with a trustworthy source on the approximate fare for the distance to be travelled. Agree on a rate before getting in. Fares from the airport to the centre of town are approx. US$ 25. Fares from downtown Lima to i.e. San Isidro or Miraflores can cost 6-8 nuevos soles (US$ 2.50 approx.), and to Barranco 8-10 soles (US$ 3.00 approx.). Prices increase 35-50% after midnight and on holidays.

Licensed Taxi Companies:
Lima

• Taxi El Polo: (01) 344-4509
• Taxi Fono: (01) 226-0866
• Taxi Seguro: (01) 275-2020/275-3344
• Taxi Real (01)575-1390

• Okarina: (084) 247080
• Alo Cusco: (084) 222222
• Llamataxi: (084) 222000

BUSES

It is the cheapest way to travel around Lima. There are omnibuses, minibuses (or micros) and minivans. They operate from 6.00 to 24.00 hrs in established routes.

COACHES

Several companies offer modern coach service between the capital and the main towns along the coast and in the interior:

• Cruz del Sur:
  Web site: www.protelsa.com.pe/cruzdelsur
  Tel. +51 (1) 427 1311
• Ormeņo:
  Web site: www.ascinsa.com.pe/ORMENO ,
  E-mail: gorrmeno@ascinsa.com.pe
  Tel. + 51 (1) 427 5679
• Expreso Sud Americano :
  Tel. +51 (1) 427 6548