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VISAS
No visa is necessary for most countries (check with the Peruvian
Embassy in your home country). The tourist visa will allow you 90
days in Peru. You are allowed a maximum of three 30-day extensions
for up 180 days (6 months) in Peru. Each extension will cost you
about $ 25.00. You might want to consider just crossing the (Bolivian
or Chilean) border, if you need more time in Peru. It'll take you
about two days and you'll be guaranteed another 90 days.
WHAT TO BRING
Dictionary; Spanish grammar book in your own language (there are
no Spanish grammar books or dictionaries available in Cusco); email
addresses; a guidebook; novels; a small gift for the guest family;
a warm jumper/sweater; a raincoat; walking shoes/hiking boots; sleeping
bag (for Inca Trail, although these can be rented as well); water
purification tablets (can be bought in Cusco as well); pocket knife;torch/flashlight.
JETLAG
Jetlag is caused by disruption of your "body clock" -
a small cluster of brain cells that controls the timing of biological
functions (circadian rhythms), including when you eat and sleep.
The body clock is designed for a regular rhythm of daylight and
darkness, so that it is thrown out of "sync" when it experiences
daylight and darkness at the "wrong" times in a new time
zone. The symptoms of Jetlag often persist for days while the internal
body clock slowly adjusts to the new time zone.
 Abstaining
from alcoholic beverages while on board (and drinking lots of water
instead) is both a physical and a mental remedy--it helps to offset
dehydration and it promotes mental clarity. There is no quick fix
to alleviate all the symptoms of jetlag. There is no single pill
or remedy for all these symptoms. We can cope, however, with a little
consciousness in our daily life. First of all, spend some time outside
during daylight hours. Even being in a room with windows helps to
enlighten our body clocks. it is also important, you adjust your
bedtime to the new, local timetable as soon as possible. Along with
the adoption of the local bedtime, try doing what the locals do:
their food preferences, meal times, recreational activities, and
even the way they dress.
CLIMATE
The rainy season in Cusco occurs from November through March. Students
may still walk the Inca Trail, however, it may be wet at times.
During the dry season, from April to October, the weather is generally
sunny. Temperatures are hot during the day and cold at night. It
is recommended that students bring a wet weather coat and a warm
coat for the nights and inside buildings, as they don't have heating.
MONEY IN PERU
The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. At the time of writing USD
$1.00 was equal to S/. 3.20. There are a number of automatic contador
machines that take credit cards and there are numerous "Casas
de Cambio" where Travellers Checks may be cashed. There are
ATM machines, which are Banco Latino and Banco del Sur. It is useful
to arrive with American dollars.
EXPENSES
The following list gives you some indication of what you may wish
to plan for during your stay in Cusco. Taxis $0.75; local transport
$0.20; a set meal/menu in restaurant $ 2.50; a beer in a nightclub
$1.75; a cappuccino in a trendy café/bar $0.75; international
phone call $3.00 per minute; laundry service $1.00 per kilo; email
service $1.00/hr.
COMMUNICATIONS
Generally, it'll be no problem to contact home, either by phone,
mail, fax or internet. Long distance phone calls are about $ 3.00
per minute. There are lots of cybercafes in Cusco, the price for
an hour of internet is about $ 1.00.
HEALTH CARE
It is recommended that prior to arrival, students undertake a thorough
medical examination, purchase health insurance and consult their
physician about the necessary injections. You should be protected
against typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis. A yellow fever vaccination
is only required if you are going to the jungle. Check malaria prophylactics
for all lowland rural areas to be visited (there is no malaria in
the Cusco area!). Vaccination against cholera is not necessary.
Further information on health risks abroad, vaccinations etc. may
be available from your local travel clinic.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS (soroche)
Some people experience some discomfort at this altitude. We recommend
at least a couple of hours of rest prior to the commencement of
classes (or any other activity). The symptoms of altitude sickness
or soroche are headaches, dizziness, stomach upset and tiredness.
These symptoms can be managed by reducing the alcohol intake; drinking
lots of fluids (coca tea!); eating light meals and getting plenty
of rest.
SUNBURN
Watch out for sunburn at high altitude. The ultraviolet rays are
extremely powerful. The air is also excessively dry at high altitude
and you might find that your skin dries; use a moisturiser and some
vaseline.
TRAVELLING IN PERU
Generally, it is pretty safe and relatively easy to travel around
by yourself in Peru. There are buses, planes, taxis etc. All over
the country as well as hotels of all categories. There are all kinds
of travellers and tourists around and it will be easy to meet other
people.
TRANSPORTS BETWEEN LIMA AND CUSCO
The fastest and easiest way to travel between Lima and
Cusco is undoubtedly by plane. Flights are between $ 90.00 and $
125.00 for a one way ticket and run between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 11:00 a.m. only. Most travellers arriving from Lima do so by
air.
If you want to go overland, there are two options. The first route
will lead you to Cusco via Ayacucho, Andahuaylas and Abancay and
is really beautiful. However, most part of the road is unpaved (and
the buses and the hotels bad) and it might be a little too much
for the traveller who has just arrived to Peru. All together, it
will take you about 48 hours to get to Cusco. There are several
bus companies that offer this service throughout the year; however,
the route is too dangerous to consider in rainy season.
The second option will go to Arequipa first, and then to Cusco.
The Lima - Arequipa part is fast: the majority of the trip is via
the Panamerican highway, along the coast. Buses are fine and depart
about every half an hour from Lima. Arequipa is a beautiful, colonial
city, where the traveller might want to consider staying a day or
so before continuing the trip. But if you prefer, there is a direct
connection to Cusco that departs between the hours of 4:00 and 8:00
p.m. The road is not too good, it might be freezing cold at night
and the bus crowded. Now you will start traversing the Andes, this
is the real side of Peru! You will arrive in Cusco in the early
morning, between 4:00 and 8:00.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Guidebooks
- Lonely Planet PERU, by Rob Rachowiecki
- The Rough Guide to Peru, by Dilwyn Jenkins
- THe South American Handbook, by Ben Box
- Exploring Cusco, by Peter Frost
Novels
We recommend you the following Peruvian and Latin American writers:
- Jose María Arguedas (Peruvian)
- Mario Vargas Llosa (Peruvian)
- Jaime Bayly (Peruvian)
- Gabriel García Márquez (Latin American)
- Isabel Allende (Latin American)
- Julio Cortázar (Latin American)
- Angeles Mastretta (Latin American)
- Laura Esquivel (Latin American)
WORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Officially, your tourist visum doesn´t allow you
to work and it is really complicated to get a working permit. However,
there certainly are opportunities to stay a little bit longer and
Cusco and work. Most of these jobs are in restaurants and bars and
what you should do is just pop by once you are in Cusco. It will
be hard to arrange something beforehand via the internet. You can
also try to get a job as an English Teacher at one of the Language
Schools but these jobs are normally for native, qualified English
teachers only. There might be a couple of agencies that could want
to make a deal with you although this is more difficult.
AMAUTA SPANISH SCHOOL also hires foreign people (either in exchange
for Spanish classes or not).
>> If you are interested in one of our JOB OPPORTUNITIES,
click here!
MORE INFORMATION
For general information, contact the South
American Explorers Club in either Quito, Lima or Cusco.
This non-profit organization functions primarily as an information
network for Peru and South American and is the most useful organization
for travellers in the continent.
>> Amauta offers 10% discount to members of the SAE. |
