Travel Guide Peru

Peru is a world’s premier travel and tourism destination, and traveling to the country is absolutely safe. If you’re planning a business or holiday trip to Peru, then it’s advisable to take some basic travel tips on Peru to make your trip completely hassle free. Travour offers you some useful travel tips on Peru for your convenience.

Major International Airports: Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima
Language: Spanish

Some Useful Travel Tips for Peru

• You should have a valid passport and return ticket. Residents from most of world countries, except Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Russia, Pakistan, India, and China, receive a visa upon arrival for up to 90 days.
• You should have Xerox copies of your passport, visa and other important travel documents, keeping them separate from the originals.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Vaccines are necessary only if travelers are visiting areas where there is an epidemic such as Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A & B.
• Though Spanish is the main spoken language in Italy, English is understood in major cities in a limited way. Learning the basic Spanish phrases may come in handy.
• All international credit cards such as Diners, American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in hotels, shops and other commercial establishments including the tour operators. Travelers Cheques are accepted at major establishments. Exchange your money only from authorized moneychangers or banks in Peru.
• Tap water in Peru is of poor quality, so avoid unboiled tap water. Also don’t eat food prepared in the streets, or unpasteurized milk products.
• Most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge in the bills as tipping, but some do not.
• Bargaining is very common in Peru. While shopping, say a price about 20-30% lower than asked price.
• International direct dialing phones and Internet cyber cafes can be found in major cities and tourist destinations of Peru, so communication with family and friends back home is not a problem.
• In case of trouble, contact the nearest police station or Peru Embassy.

Peru has a rich cultural heritage dating back to thousands of years, which is also one of the richest in the entire South American continent. The culture of Peru is a fine blend of local Inca and Spanish cultures, presenting an interesting experience for visitors. The population of Peru constitutes of approx. 45% indigenous, about 37% mestizo (mix of indigenous and Spanish), 15% Europeans, and the rest Asian, African or other descent.

During pre-Columbian times (the era before European influence), Peru was an important center of art and architecture in the Americas. The world-famous Inca cultures, inclduing Moche, Nazca and Chimu, produced great artistic works in forms of art and architecture, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and textiles. The recent archaeological discoveries suggest that music has been played in Peru for over 10,000 years. The findings of ancient musical instruments such as quenas, zampoñas, and pututos (trumpets made from sea conch) are testimony to this fact. In addtion, the fascianitng towns of Machu Picchu and the Cuzco offer excellent examples of Inca architectural heritage.

When the Spanish arrived in the region in the early 16th century, they influenced the culture of Peru in a significant way. They gave a new language, religion, architecture, and even new customs and traditions to Peru. The 16th century historical chronicle of Garcilaso de la Vega, son of a Spanish conqueror and an Inca princess, deals with the greatness of the Inca culture and empire. Over the past centuries, there has been a long process of inter-cultural mixing in Peru, creating a unique culture known as “mestizo,” that’s a part-American Indian and a part-European heritage.

Today, Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Peru, while the Native Americans follow a unique religion, which is a fine blend of Catholicism and local traditional beliefs. Spanish is the main language in Peru, while English is also spoken and understood in major cities of the country. Peru is also renowned for its rich varieties of seafood. Festivals are other important part of Peruvian culture. The people of Peru are known for their liveliness and love to celebrate very happy occasion in their life. Peru celebrates some 3,000 festivals a year, and you’ll find a festival in Peru on almost everyday of the year, in one or other part of the country.

Travour offers you online information on climate in Peru. For more information on Peru climate, please click on relevant links on this page, or write to us.

Flights are by far the most convenient way to reach Peru. Peru is a major tourist and business destination in South America, attracting millions of visitors every year from worldwide destinations. Peru has three major international airports at Lima, Iquitos and Cusco. The Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is the most important among them with frequent flights from major cities of USA, Canada, UK, and several other countries in Europe and South America.

There are direct flights to Lima from Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City in the United States; Toronto in Canada; and Madrid in Spain. There are no direct flights from London and all flights from London go via Madrid only. Iquitos and Cusco normally handles flights from the South American cities of Leticia (Coloumbia) and La Paz (Bolivia) respectively.

Major airlines operating regular direct or connecting flights to Peru include the American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Madrid, Alitalia, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Lacsa and United Airlines

Approximate Flight Duration to Lima

Buenos Aires - 4 Hours
Los Angeles - 5 Hours
Miami - 6 Hours
New York - 9 Hours
Madrid - 12 Hours
Frankfurt - 14 Hours
London - 15 Hours
Rome - 14 Hours
Paris - 16 Hours
Tokyo - 20 Hours

Peru enjoys a varied climate, with 28 out of 32 world climates found in one or other part of the country. Though Peru is located in the tropics near the equator, its climate does not correspond to its geographical location. The two main reasons are the Andean Mountain Range and the cold Humboldt Current, which greatly influence the regional climates in Peru.

The climate of Peru varies from region to region, as well as with changing altitude. On visit to Peru, you’ll find hot and humid tropical climate in Amazon area, mild and pleasant temperate climate in the coastal region, hot and dry desert climate in western Peru, as well as temperate to frigid climate in the Andes Mountains. Though rains are less frequent in most parts of Peru, the Amazon area has torrential rains all round the year.

July to September is the best time to visit Peru, and most foreign tourists travel to the country during this period. February and March can also be an ideal period to visit Peru, when weather is fairly tolerable everywhere.

Seasons in Peru

Summer: December-March
Autumn: March-June
Winter: June-September
Spring: September-December

Peru is one of the world’s major travel and tourism destinations, attracting thousands of tourists and business travelers every year from all over the world. Peru has an excellent tourism infrastructure, having world-class airports, hotels, roads, tourist information centers, tourist places and much more. As a result, tourism in Peru has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, and today it’s one of the highest revenue grosser in the country. Thousands of adventure seekers, culture travelers, and nature and wildlife lovers travel to Peru every year from destinations across the world. if you’re planning a dream vacation in South America, then Peru is your destination to be in. Travour offers you relevant information on Peru travel tourism to make your vacation a completely hassle free affair. Find useful information on Flights to Peru, Hotels in Peru, as well as Top Attractions of Peru with Travour.

Truly Peru is a tourism destination with a difference, as very few countries in the world offers as much varieties as Peru offers to visitors. Earlier it was only the adventure freaks and birding enthusiasts who made a beeline for this amazing country. However, things have changed now as even leisure travelers have started looking at Peru as a unique tourism destination to visit. Peru has lots to offer its visitors in terms of tourist attractions and activities. For nature lovers, Peru has spectacular mountain ranges, volcanoes, deserts, beaches and lush tropical jungle teeming with amazing variety of wildlife. For culture lovers, the rich historical and archaeological past and enduring indigenous cultures of Peru promise a memorable vacation. Peru is also a popular tourism destination for adventure seekers, offering good conditions for hiking, trekking, mountain biking, as well as varieties of water-sports like surfing, boating and fishing.

Peru has set up 15 tourist information centers around the country to help visitors solve any problems they may encounter. There is a round-the-clock hotline based in Lima, offering all relevant information on travel and tourism in Peru. If you’re considering a trip to Peru and other amazing destinations in South America, then consider buying a Visit South America Pass. The pass allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in all the major countries across South America, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Travour offers online information on flights, hotels, and major tourist attractions of Peru. So what are you waiting for? Plan your vacation in Peru with Travour right now.