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Useful Tips by Carl & Paula D'Angio
1. Laying over in Lima Airport (Chavez):
In many cases due to international flight arrivals and
departures, and connecting internal flights within Perú,
it may be necessary to spend many hours at the Lima
airport waiting for your connection. In some travel
books you will read that the Diner's Club, located on
the second floor of the airport, will allow card members
to pass the time in their lounge, and for non card
holders, a fee of $6.00 U.S. will get you in. This is
only partly true. The Diner's Club will allow members
only. Non members may not get in at all. This lounge is
strictly closed to card members. So if you are not a
card member what do you do? If you are traveling with
all your luggage, there is a luggage locker at the far
left end of the airport that will hold your luggage for
about $3.00 U.S. for 24 hours. But be careful. There is
a room where many bags are held behind the counter in
plain sight. Demand a locker for your bags. Each locker
needs 2 keys to open and they are located in the
concourse of the airport away from prying eyes. The
baggage room attendant has one key and you are given the
other. This is still not 100% fail-safe but is
preferable to the back room storage. If you have time to
spend waiting for your connection and are not a Diner's
Club member, there is a pleasant little restaurant/bar
located on the second floor all the way to the left of
the Diner's Club (above the baggage holding area) with
couches where you can stay as long as you want to in
relative comfort as long as you eat or drink something
there.
2. Money Exchange and Carrying Money:
When you arrive in Perú, it is best to do so with U.S.
dollars. While most western currency can be exchanged
for Peruvian Soles rather easily, any shop, restaurant,
or business will take U.S. dollars as payment. This
cannot be said readily of all other western currency. Be
prepared however to receive your change in Soles. 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. There are money changing booths
almost everywhere in every major Peruvian city in the
Plaza de Armas and their hours and rates are usually
better than the local banks. But be aware, regardless of
what western currency you are carrying you will find
that when you exchange it, the money changer will look
it over with a fine toothed comb. Not so much to judge
its authenticity, but to examine the condition of the
bill. You will find it difficult if not impossible to
exchange bills, regardless of their authenticity, if
they are not in pristine condition. That means no torn
edges, no tape, no missing pieces, no writing, and/or no
stamp marks on them. Do not take bills to Perú that do
not meet these conditions or you will wind up taking
them back home with you. 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 Perú. If you find it necessary to carry
travelers checks, 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. Carry only as much money as
you think you will need for the worst case scenario of
your outing. If necessary, go the Plaza de Armas more
than once a day to change money as you need it.
3. Taxis as Transportation:
It is recommended that you have your hotel call a taxi
for you when you plan to leave for several reasons.
First, all reputable hotels, such as The Orquidea, have
a working relationship with at least one radio
dispatched taxi company. They know the taxi company and
will set the rate for you before you leave. This leaves
little chance of being overcharged. Secondly, it is not
uncommon, when you just hail a taxi from the street, to
have one rate agreed upon, only to find that the rate
has changed when you reach your destination, or the
driver doesn't have enough change when you get there.
Some street taxis may also try to pick up other fares
during your trip which you didn't bargain for. While
this is not the general rule, it does happen, so let
your hotel arrange for your taxi service.
4. Medications and Hygiene:
Assuming that you are not going into the Amazon
tributaries, the altitudes experienced in the Andes may
have an adverse effect on you if you are not accustomed
to such heights. A visit to your physician prior to
coming to Perú is recommended. Diamox is a good
medication for altitude sickness. You may also want to
discuss with your physician other medications such as
antibiotics to take along with you. One recommendation
for visitors is to drink bottled water only even for
things such as brushing your teeth. One observation
regarding Perú is the unavailability of toilet paper in
almost all public places. 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. Bring an ample amount of
tissues that you can take around with you on your
journeys. If you are going into the Amazon tributaries,
it is recommended that you let your physician know
beforehand. A current yellow fever vaccination, and anti
malarial medications should be discussed. And bring
plenty of D.E.E.T. with you. It is probably best to call
your State Board of Health for recommendations on
medications for the Amazon.
5. Passports and Intra National Flights:
It will not be unusual for you to be asked for your
passport when you are flying even within Perú 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
Perú just in case. Carry your passport anytime you fly
within Perú and of course when you leave. Whether you
have tickets in hand or not, it is necessary to have all
of your flights reconfirmed prior to going to the
airport. The Orquidea, or other reputable hotels will
gladly perform this service at no charge. But do not
just show up at a Peruvian airport thinking that you
will get on a flight that you have a ticket for if it is
not reconfirmed in advance. Also be aware that every
flight has to be taxed. You will get your boarding pass
and then go to a tax booth to pay the airport tax,
usually 24 Soles per ticket. Do not try to do this any
other way or you may run into trouble, or at least miss
your flight.
6. Street Safety:
One of the things that are immediately apparent upon
arrival to Cusco and other major cities in Perú is the
plethora 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
traveler 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 Perú. While we have
never experienced anything even resembling a troublesome
situation, you cannot help but feel for the little
children on the street. When we go to Perú, we bring
with us 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 I have ever seen.
There is nothing quite so priceless as the face of a
child with a new toy they have never seen before. This
is preferable to just handing out a few Soles, and will
give you something to remember forever.
7. Internet and E-Mail:
Times have really changed in Perú regarding the ability
to communicate with folks back home. 1 year ago, you
could find a few internet places with 28.8 modems that
would work but would seem to take forever to transmit
data out of the country. Today, internet cafes are
common and they all seem to have DSL or ADSL fast
connections. Explorer, Netscape, and Hotmail are readily
available at every internet stop. Expect to pay about 2
1/2 Soles for 1/2 hour of internet time, more than
enough to keep in touch with the folks back home on a
daily basis if you wish.
First time visitors to Perú will be intoxicated by its
beauty and diversity. I have seen no other place in the
world with as many natural wonders and treasures as I
have found in Perú. From the amazing Amazon and its
countless numbers of birds and natural wildlife, to
Andean pre colonial cities like Cusco and Arequipa, to
the ancient temples of Machu Picchu, to the pristine
waters of Lake Titicaca near Puno, to the largest canyon
in the world, I can think of no other country that
contains as much to see in so small a geographic area.
Perú gets into your blood, and once there, you will go
back. The people at Orquidea will ensure that your visit
to Perú will be customized to your liking and truly
unforgettable.
Until next time!
Regards, Carl & Paula D'Angio
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