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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 can not 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 used 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 Cuzco
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 Cuzco 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 |
