Supplementary general information
Tourist information and addresses:
In every significant touristic city in Peru there is an office of "el ministerio de turismo". In Lima this office is located at half a square of the Plaza de San Martín in Jirón de la Unión 1066, the street is also known as Jirón Belén. The place is open from 9h to 18h and closes Saturday on 13h. They can offer you a free magazine of "Peru Guide". With a little bit of luck you'll find an English-speaking staff. In the same street a bit further there are some other places to obtain advice about hotels, transport and local tours like the Inca Trail for example. But don't overrun. The best place to find information about Machu Picchu is of course Cusco. There is an office of the ministry of tourism in Cusco at the Plaza de Armas.
If you should arrive in the tourist and beautiful district of Miraflores in Lima, you can always knock the door of Aventura Latino Americana. Mr. Guy Vanackeren and his sympathetic wife Carine Beckers offer information in English, French, Spanish and Dutch. You can find the office of Aventura Latino Americana in Avenida Mariscal la Mar, 146 in Miraflores (Lima 18) or call them on (51-1) 447.96.85. You can also send them an email and let them know about your questions. They are also willing to let your post coming in on their address and reconfirm your fly-back ticket. Remember that reconfirmation has to be done at least 72 hours before you're flight and that company are sometimes difficult or impossible to reach during weekends and holidays.
A classic address to obtain information is the South American Explorers Club. You'll find up-to-date information about everything in Peru: detailed maps, addresses, useful tips, travel reports, weather conditions, trips for the adventurer or for business and 5-star excursions. Who wants to obtain information has to pay a fee of $30 a person and for couples $40. You find them in Republica de Portugal 146, Lima. Office hours are from Monday to Friday from 9h30 to 17h.
Money and other kinds of valuables:
Somewhere between earth and the gold of our labor you find the common finances of the world. Travelling is an expensive hobby at location and before. Getting a good backpack, walking shoes, suitable dresses, all kinds of handy tools and of course your ticket. The question is always: "How much money do I need on this holiday and how do I keep it save?" The answer depends on three factors: length of your holiday, the country where you are going to and the wanted luxury. National currencies in Peru are the Nuevo Sol and parallel the US dollar. De Sol can fluctuate so it is difficult to say how much you get for a dollar. This month (March '99) you get for 1 US$ 3.40 Nuevos Soles. Using traveler's checks in Peru is not the easiest thing to do. In some places it is hard to change them and commission vary from 5 to 10 percent. If you choose to take traveler checks with you, get Thomas Coock or Visa. These are the easiest to change and the Banco Latino and Banco de Crédito receive them (5% commission) and sometimes you have to get in line for more than half an hour just to get in and maybe then they tell you that this bank can not change them. Because only the central bank in the Center accepts them, etc.
Sometimes it is easier outside Lima to change traveler checks in exchange offices. They ask you a 5 to 10 soles commission. Try to avoid changing checks to street changers, go into an office instead. Changing money on the street is a normal thing to do in Peru. Look though for those who have a vest saying "dollar seguro" or "cambeista" and avoid the unofficial changers. We heard reports of accidents happen, a tourist received a false bill of 100 Soles. Before existed the possibility of receiving old bills ("el Sol"), so make sure that the bill indicates "Nuevo Soles". The government did a good job reducing this false players so possibilities got small to be cheated.
If you change your dollars on the street, hold the dollars in your hand or pocket, receive the Nuevo Soles and count them carefully, look for watermark, type of paper and color, compare bills with each other. Note: there are two generations, so don't start jumping if you actually see difference. If you are satisfied, then give your dollars to the moneychanger. They are used to wait until the people give them the dollars. So if one is conspicuously impatient, check twice or more the received money or just give his money back and go to another moneychanger. Go to places where more than one is working; this raises the possibility of a good and correct service. Don't get startled though if they come to you with two or more. A gringo generally changes at least $100 and they know that. The commission they earn is their daily bread.
How much money do you need to travel in Peru?
This depends on the formula of your holiday. If you choose for an organized holiday and want to eat every day in luxury and buy lots of souvenirs, count on $150 a day a person. The other extreme is the budget traveler. If you are satisfied with local menu's of 10 Soles, cheap hotels of S./15 and don't spend any extra's, you should do with $30 a day in average. Peru is a very big country (more than 1.2 million square km) so transport is a money magnet.
Who doesn't travel organized and wants 5-star luxury, count on $300 a day a person because class hotels are expensive if you rent individually a room (=not in group). The budget traveler in couple or with three persons sleeping in cheap hotels with private bathroom and looking for menus in the cheaper restaurants, should do with $80 or less a day. This does not include local trips like Machu Picchu or the Colca Cañon in Arequipa. A budget holiday of three weeks in which you want to see as much as possible will cost around $1.000, but take a $300 to $500 spare money with you!
International credit cards:
It is strange that in travel books about Peru the use of a credit card is dissuaded. We can actually advice using credit cards in Peru, especially Visa. Try to avoid Dinners Club and company, American Express will do. You can access money with Visa and American Express at cashpoints in every big and middle big city in Peru. Especially Visa is common in Peru. You can pay in the better shops and restaurant, in hotels and tourist offices all over the country with these two cards (visa & AE). If you insert the card in a cashpoint, a menu let you make the choice between Spanish and English and you can select US$ or the Nuevo Sol. Rates are good. The dollar is a bit cheaper because of the better rates on the street to change them to Nuevos Soles.
Banks open generally from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday from 9am to 12pm, especially in Lima. In the provinces banks often close from 1pm to 3pm. Avoid going to a bank on Friday or Saturday morning. Expect long queues because this is payday for many people. Cashpoints are generally less crowded, so getting money with a credit card goes quicker. Remember you need your passport to get money out of a bank or a exchange office, but not for a cashpoint of course.
Note: if you receive false money out of a cashpoint, don't panic. The company putting the money inside is not the bank itself and every bill has an invisible stamp. Go to the bank and show them the false note (even after days, but go the same bank company), they will check the stamp and give you a good note in minutes.
Note2: although we spoke a lot here about false money, it is getting rare to receive it. After two years travelling in Peru I got false money only once, so we can not call it a general problem. But always take care. But don't accept torn or old looking money from banks, moneychangers or public services. In the end, it will be difficult to get rid of them and the institutes and moneychangers don't accept old or damaged money or change them to lower rate.
A last remark about money: banks are easily to find in Peru. Except in the small villages and some non-tourist mid towns banks are found anywhere.
Sites on the Internet about Peruvian Banks:
Banco Latino
Banco República
Interbank corp
Banco Central de Reserva
Post and telephone
The central post office in Lima is found on half a block form the Plaza Mayor in the street left from the presidential palace. It's a long and crowded gallery and halfway on the right hand side you'll find the post office. Who has a prepared travel scheme can give following easy to remember addresses to family and friends. On the envelope they have to write your full name (for passport check afterwards) and "Correo Central, Lima, Peru" or if you will be next week in Cusco: "Correo Central, Cusco, Peru", or "Correo Central Arequipa, Peru", etc. Even the smallest places have their correo central. A taxi can bring you there. Generally they are situated on the Plaza de Armas or a block away. Sending letters from all over the world to Peru takes about 5 to 10 days. Sometimes letters are received after two working days, but only in Lima and maybe Cusco (in case you lose your money and family has to send money for example). Opening hours are the same of the banks.
For the moment is the only Telephone Company in Peru the Spanish Telefónica (yes, they're still here :=). Calling abroad is possible in city or town in Peru, with public phone or in a telephone office. ALWAYS ask the price a minute before calling. Recently Telefónica has dropped prices for calling abroad to 60%. For example calling to the States cost now less than 3 soles a minute and Europe less than 5 soles. Telephone cards are common and public phones accepting them as well. Sending faxes are generally around S./10.
A relative new and maybe the easiest and cheapest way to let everybody know how you are doing are the public Internet cabins. They are cheap (S./6 to even S./3 an hour) and are getting very common in Peru. In Lima and Cusco you can find them everywhere. So, before going on holiday, join one of the free Internet services like Yahoo or Hotmail.com and let everybody know from time to time how you are doing.
Car rental
Hertz rent a car
av. Ricardo Revera Naverrete 550
San Isidro
Tel 442.45.09
Avis rent a car
av. Javier Prado Este 5235
Camacho
Tel : 434.01.01
Budget rent a car
C. y Moreyra 476
San Isidro
Tel : 442.87.03
Dollar rent a car
av. La Paz 438
Miraflores
Tel : 444.30.50
Inka's rent a car
Cantuarias 160
Miraflores
Tel : 447.92.00 en 445.57.16
We actually dissuade everybody renting a car in Peru. First of all the rates are relatively expensive, secondly public transport is really cheap (it's cheaper renting a taxi all day than a car, the price is normally S./15 an hour or less) and driving in Peru is dangerous if you are not used to the crazy traffic. Many roads in Peru are from bad quality and in a city like Lima of 7 million people it is easy to loose your way.
If you take a taxi, discuss price before entering, especially because they see you are a gringo. Bid for a better price. In Cusco for example taxi's in daytime are S./2 and at night S./3. A taxi from the airport of Cusco to the center shouldn't be more than S./5 and from the airport in Lima to the center of Lima S./15 and to Miraflores S./20.
In every significant touristic city in Peru there is an office of "el ministerio de turismo". In Lima this office is located at half a square of the Plaza de San Martín in Jirón de la Unión 1066, the street is also known as Jirón Belén. The place is open from 9h to 18h and closes Saturday on 13h. They can offer you a free magazine of "Peru Guide". With a little bit of luck you'll find an English-speaking staff. In the same street a bit further there are some other places to obtain advice about hotels, transport and local tours like the Inca Trail for example. But don't overrun. The best place to find information about Machu Picchu is of course Cusco. There is an office of the ministry of tourism in Cusco at the Plaza de Armas.
If you should arrive in the tourist and beautiful district of Miraflores in Lima, you can always knock the door of Aventura Latino Americana. Mr. Guy Vanackeren and his sympathetic wife Carine Beckers offer information in English, French, Spanish and Dutch. You can find the office of Aventura Latino Americana in Avenida Mariscal la Mar, 146 in Miraflores (Lima 18) or call them on (51-1) 447.96.85. You can also send them an email and let them know about your questions. They are also willing to let your post coming in on their address and reconfirm your fly-back ticket. Remember that reconfirmation has to be done at least 72 hours before you're flight and that company are sometimes difficult or impossible to reach during weekends and holidays.
A classic address to obtain information is the South American Explorers Club. You'll find up-to-date information about everything in Peru: detailed maps, addresses, useful tips, travel reports, weather conditions, trips for the adventurer or for business and 5-star excursions. Who wants to obtain information has to pay a fee of $30 a person and for couples $40. You find them in Republica de Portugal 146, Lima. Office hours are from Monday to Friday from 9h30 to 17h.
Money and other kinds of valuables:
Somewhere between earth and the gold of our labor you find the common finances of the world. Travelling is an expensive hobby at location and before. Getting a good backpack, walking shoes, suitable dresses, all kinds of handy tools and of course your ticket. The question is always: "How much money do I need on this holiday and how do I keep it save?" The answer depends on three factors: length of your holiday, the country where you are going to and the wanted luxury. National currencies in Peru are the Nuevo Sol and parallel the US dollar. De Sol can fluctuate so it is difficult to say how much you get for a dollar. This month (March '99) you get for 1 US$ 3.40 Nuevos Soles. Using traveler's checks in Peru is not the easiest thing to do. In some places it is hard to change them and commission vary from 5 to 10 percent. If you choose to take traveler checks with you, get Thomas Coock or Visa. These are the easiest to change and the Banco Latino and Banco de Crédito receive them (5% commission) and sometimes you have to get in line for more than half an hour just to get in and maybe then they tell you that this bank can not change them. Because only the central bank in the Center accepts them, etc.
Sometimes it is easier outside Lima to change traveler checks in exchange offices. They ask you a 5 to 10 soles commission. Try to avoid changing checks to street changers, go into an office instead. Changing money on the street is a normal thing to do in Peru. Look though for those who have a vest saying "dollar seguro" or "cambeista" and avoid the unofficial changers. We heard reports of accidents happen, a tourist received a false bill of 100 Soles. Before existed the possibility of receiving old bills ("el Sol"), so make sure that the bill indicates "Nuevo Soles". The government did a good job reducing this false players so possibilities got small to be cheated.
If you change your dollars on the street, hold the dollars in your hand or pocket, receive the Nuevo Soles and count them carefully, look for watermark, type of paper and color, compare bills with each other. Note: there are two generations, so don't start jumping if you actually see difference. If you are satisfied, then give your dollars to the moneychanger. They are used to wait until the people give them the dollars. So if one is conspicuously impatient, check twice or more the received money or just give his money back and go to another moneychanger. Go to places where more than one is working; this raises the possibility of a good and correct service. Don't get startled though if they come to you with two or more. A gringo generally changes at least $100 and they know that. The commission they earn is their daily bread.
How much money do you need to travel in Peru?
This depends on the formula of your holiday. If you choose for an organized holiday and want to eat every day in luxury and buy lots of souvenirs, count on $150 a day a person. The other extreme is the budget traveler. If you are satisfied with local menu's of 10 Soles, cheap hotels of S./15 and don't spend any extra's, you should do with $30 a day in average. Peru is a very big country (more than 1.2 million square km) so transport is a money magnet.
Who doesn't travel organized and wants 5-star luxury, count on $300 a day a person because class hotels are expensive if you rent individually a room (=not in group). The budget traveler in couple or with three persons sleeping in cheap hotels with private bathroom and looking for menus in the cheaper restaurants, should do with $80 or less a day. This does not include local trips like Machu Picchu or the Colca Cañon in Arequipa. A budget holiday of three weeks in which you want to see as much as possible will cost around $1.000, but take a $300 to $500 spare money with you!
International credit cards:
It is strange that in travel books about Peru the use of a credit card is dissuaded. We can actually advice using credit cards in Peru, especially Visa. Try to avoid Dinners Club and company, American Express will do. You can access money with Visa and American Express at cashpoints in every big and middle big city in Peru. Especially Visa is common in Peru. You can pay in the better shops and restaurant, in hotels and tourist offices all over the country with these two cards (visa & AE). If you insert the card in a cashpoint, a menu let you make the choice between Spanish and English and you can select US$ or the Nuevo Sol. Rates are good. The dollar is a bit cheaper because of the better rates on the street to change them to Nuevos Soles.
Banks open generally from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday from 9am to 12pm, especially in Lima. In the provinces banks often close from 1pm to 3pm. Avoid going to a bank on Friday or Saturday morning. Expect long queues because this is payday for many people. Cashpoints are generally less crowded, so getting money with a credit card goes quicker. Remember you need your passport to get money out of a bank or a exchange office, but not for a cashpoint of course.
Note: if you receive false money out of a cashpoint, don't panic. The company putting the money inside is not the bank itself and every bill has an invisible stamp. Go to the bank and show them the false note (even after days, but go the same bank company), they will check the stamp and give you a good note in minutes.
Note2: although we spoke a lot here about false money, it is getting rare to receive it. After two years travelling in Peru I got false money only once, so we can not call it a general problem. But always take care. But don't accept torn or old looking money from banks, moneychangers or public services. In the end, it will be difficult to get rid of them and the institutes and moneychangers don't accept old or damaged money or change them to lower rate.
A last remark about money: banks are easily to find in Peru. Except in the small villages and some non-tourist mid towns banks are found anywhere.
Sites on the Internet about Peruvian Banks:
Banco Latino
Banco República
Interbank corp
Banco Central de Reserva
Post and telephone
The central post office in Lima is found on half a block form the Plaza Mayor in the street left from the presidential palace. It's a long and crowded gallery and halfway on the right hand side you'll find the post office. Who has a prepared travel scheme can give following easy to remember addresses to family and friends. On the envelope they have to write your full name (for passport check afterwards) and "Correo Central, Lima, Peru" or if you will be next week in Cusco: "Correo Central, Cusco, Peru", or "Correo Central Arequipa, Peru", etc. Even the smallest places have their correo central. A taxi can bring you there. Generally they are situated on the Plaza de Armas or a block away. Sending letters from all over the world to Peru takes about 5 to 10 days. Sometimes letters are received after two working days, but only in Lima and maybe Cusco (in case you lose your money and family has to send money for example). Opening hours are the same of the banks.
For the moment is the only Telephone Company in Peru the Spanish Telefónica (yes, they're still here :=). Calling abroad is possible in city or town in Peru, with public phone or in a telephone office. ALWAYS ask the price a minute before calling. Recently Telefónica has dropped prices for calling abroad to 60%. For example calling to the States cost now less than 3 soles a minute and Europe less than 5 soles. Telephone cards are common and public phones accepting them as well. Sending faxes are generally around S./10.
A relative new and maybe the easiest and cheapest way to let everybody know how you are doing are the public Internet cabins. They are cheap (S./6 to even S./3 an hour) and are getting very common in Peru. In Lima and Cusco you can find them everywhere. So, before going on holiday, join one of the free Internet services like Yahoo or Hotmail.com and let everybody know from time to time how you are doing.
Car rental
Hertz rent a car
av. Ricardo Revera Naverrete 550
San Isidro
Tel 442.45.09
Avis rent a car
av. Javier Prado Este 5235
Camacho
Tel : 434.01.01
Budget rent a car
C. y Moreyra 476
San Isidro
Tel : 442.87.03
Dollar rent a car
av. La Paz 438
Miraflores
Tel : 444.30.50
Inka's rent a car
Cantuarias 160
Miraflores
Tel : 447.92.00 en 445.57.16
We actually dissuade everybody renting a car in Peru. First of all the rates are relatively expensive, secondly public transport is really cheap (it's cheaper renting a taxi all day than a car, the price is normally S./15 an hour or less) and driving in Peru is dangerous if you are not used to the crazy traffic. Many roads in Peru are from bad quality and in a city like Lima of 7 million people it is easy to loose your way.
If you take a taxi, discuss price before entering, especially because they see you are a gringo. Bid for a better price. In Cusco for example taxi's in daytime are S./2 and at night S./3. A taxi from the airport of Cusco to the center shouldn't be more than S./5 and from the airport in Lima to the center of Lima S./15 and to Miraflores S./20.
Comments