What To Know Before Travel In Peru

Visa and Passport Requirements
A passport is required for entry into Peru and should be valid for six months after your return date. An advance visa is not required for American citizens. Non-US citizens should check with the embassy or consulate of Peru in your country of origin.
Traveling with Children Take special care when traveling with children, rates for kids are only considered less than 12 years old in some cases like Jungle Manu there are not kids’ rates.

Health
A consultation with your doctor, a local travel clinic, or public health office will help you decide which medications or inoculations are necessary for your safe participation on the trip.
With simple precautions, travel to Peru is very safe. There are no immunizations required for travel to Peru. However,  Peruvian health authorities requires all travelers entering into the Amazon to carry proof of Yellow Fever inoculation (although they rarely ask to see the certificate). Recommended immunizations you should consider for travel to the Andes and Amazon are typhoid, polio (booster if had as a child), tetanus/diphtheria and Hepatitis A. Risk of malaria exists along the north coast of Peru and in rural areas in the Andean lowlands and the Amazon. Anti-malarial pills are important considerations for jungle travelers. However, the two principal regions of Tambopata and Manu
As in any developing country,  we recommend you  to be careful of what you eat and drink. Contaminated food and water are the usual sources of organisms that cause travelers’ diarrhea or cholera. Avoiding uncooked foods in low quality restaurants or from street vendors.
Drinking bottled water will greatly reduce your risk.
Some people might experience the High altitude sickness, to avoid that we suggest you to take it easy the first day of your arrival, fluids and headache remedies are helpful. Diamox, a prescription diuretic, is also helpful.

Language
The official languages are Spanish and Quechua. Aymara is also spoken, as well as 55 Amazonian languages. At most hotels, restaurants and places frequented by tourists there is someone who understands English

The Weather
Peru is located into the tropical belt and near to the equatorial line, but its weather is not as it is supposed to be for this area. Apart from the tropical weather, this country has a range of weathers and climates that make it so diverse and different from other countries.
In the world, you can find a total of 32 kinds of climate and Peru has 28 of them (87.5% of the total!). In other words, a trip through Peru can signify to come across with hot deserts, dry forests, humid savannas, plain rainforests, cold plateaus, cool steppes and icy mountains.
As a way to explain its average weather we can say that in the time of the typical northern hemisphere summer, in Peru you will have winter in the coast, and summer in the Andean highlands and the jungle. In the opposite, winter in northern hemisphere, you will have in Peru a rainy season in the Andes and the jungle, ( from December to end of March) but a hot summer all over the coast. The following chart can help you to understand how the Peruvian weather "works":
The typical four seasons in the south hemisphere are:

Spring: September 23 - December 21
Summer: December 22 - March 21
- Autumn/Fall: March 22 - June 21
- Winter: June 22 - September 22

Currency and Foreign Exchange

Peru’s official currency is the Nuevo Sol and its symbol is S/.
Outstanding currency denominations are as follows:
Coins of 10, 20 and 50 Céntimos. S/. 1, S/. 2, and S/. 5 Nuevos Soles
Paper bills of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles
Exchange rate: US$ 1 = S/. 3.44
Dollars are also received in places frequented by tourists.

Never change money on the street, for security reasons.
There are ATMs at most banks, close to every hotel in Lima and your all destinations, where cash can be withdrawn on your credit cards.
American Express, Visa, Master Card and Diners are accepted at most establishments.
The use of traveler’s checks is not recommended because there is a heavy charge on the exchange.
ALWAYS carry loose change – a generalized problem is that no one ever has change.

Security
Though you will most likely feel very safe in Peru, use common sense when it comes to your personal security. Avoid wearing valuable jewelry, keep an eye on your personal belongings and don’t go out alone, especially at night.

Traveling with kids
We particularly don’t recommend Peru for families with small children (toddlers and preschoolers). It’s fine for them, but many of the things that U.S. parents and children are used to (e.g. playgrounds, libraries, public programs specifically for kids, hotel programs for kids, etc.) doesn’t exist there, and they are too young to enjoy or remember the truly unique travel experiences that abound in Peru
For older kids, Peru is a fabulous destination, with adventures and many places to go that will capture children’s imaginations. They can see and learn things there that they would never dream of.
Tips for traveling in Peru with smaller children:
Bring along anything that you need, or want in a particular brand Although many items are available in Lima and several of the larger cities, brands and sizes may vary and you may not be able to find those size   when you need them.
Doses and brands of children’s over the counter medications also vary so we recommend bringing your standard remedies for colds and teething etc. If you have a picky eater brings his or her favorite foods as well. (snacks candies)

Restaurants:
Pollo a la brasa (broaster chicken) is a classic that almost always comes with French fries (papas fritas). Rice (arroz) is ubiquitos. A sandwich mixto is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich (sandwich de queso is usually a grilled cheese sandwich). Spaghetti is referred to as spaghettis and it comes with red sauce unless you specifically ask for it without. (say "solamente con mantequilla y queso parmesano" if you have a child that only wants butter and parmesan on his pasta). When you order water be specific and ask for it "sin gas" and make sure that they bring the bottle to the table. You can also order verduras (vegetables) but make sure they are cooked.

Clothes:
Clothes appropriate to the season. This is more difficult than it seems because the seasons are ‘reversed’ (I, for one, have a terrible time packing for winter in Peru in June or July when it’s roasting hot at home and the kid’s have already outgrown their winter stuff). For Lima and much of the coast you’ll need warm clothes in Peruvian winter (June-August) although short sleeves can be in order in the middle of the day on the North Coast or in the low elevation inland areas such as Nasca. For the highlands in any season you’ll need layers that can be made really warm and night – and in November-April don’t forget the rain gear. If worst comes to worst you can go to the big Lima Department store Ripley and buy some basics when you get there
What will always work is to wear a T-shirt then a sweater, and a Jacket so you won’t get cold when is cold and won’t get hot ( you can just get out your clothes and wear your t-shirt)

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