Facst for the visitor

Who will ever plan to visit Peru (we truly hope so) will encounter a country with a peculiar history and virgin nature of unspeakable beauty. Nobody promises hidden Inca-temples and secret brotherhoods that keep the rich history alive, but there is more than enough to see and to visit. More than once you will feel like Indiana Jones if you choose for more extreme trips. Peru is a country full of mysteries and has an invaluable cultural and natural wealth. More than 60% of Peru’s territory is virgin rainforest, so huge that a lost group found an Inca settlement mid 1996 on 12 days walking from the nearest village. Lot’s of secrets and world wonders were already discovered and often not understood, but a lot more is still hidden in the veils of Peru’s ancient times.

Until Christopher Columbus America was unknown territory to the Western world. This continent and especially Peru has therefore a totally different history that can not be compared with any other place. (You can read more about the history in this site). But there are a lot more interesting aspects about Peru than it’s past. The people are friendly, hospitable and curious to other cultures. This might be a genetic inheritance of the Inca-civilization. They really want to know everything and shall answer your questions frankly. And the Spanish spoken here is probably the easiest to understand on our blue ball. They speak slowly and clear without a strong influence of slang.

The Peruvians have of course their own words for common concepts, but visitors who speak basic Spanish will find their way and will learn a lot in short time. Peruvian friends are easily made and they try to adapt to the Spanish knowledge you have. Besides Spanish there are two other official languages: Quechua and Aymara. Quechua is mainly spoken in and around Cusco while Aymara will be heard on the shores of the lake Titicaca and big parts of the highlands in Bolivia. It’s still hard to find people in Peru who can reasonably speak foreign languages. Visitors who really want to travel in Peru and learn a lot about this country should consider a guided tour. This is also a tip for those who do speak enough Spanish, but the more experienced traveler always finds his or here way.

Peru is near to the equator so winter and summer have another meaning on this side of the planet. All year long it is relatively hot, except for the areas above 3.000m (la Cordillera or the Andes) where it can get pretty cold at night. The influence of the rainy and the dry season is another important factor to reckon with.

In normal circumstance wintertime at the coast (May to September) has the only disadvantage of being cloudy. Rain is rare and limited to some drizzle. The low hanging clouds in and around Lima are called "garúa" and can get quiet greasy and mixed with yellow smog. While in the Andes and the tropical rain forest (Selva) it is dry season and almost every day blue sky and sunshine. Take care of this altitude sun and in the rain forest, you’re colored like a crab before realizing it. Use a good sunblock.

When it is wet season (from November to April) it can get very wet and rain for days in the Andes and the Selva. Rising moon dough is usually known as being dryer. Think about this if you plan to do the Inca Trail or a trip in the jungle. This time of year is hot burning summer at the coast. Temperatures of 30 and more are no exceptions, especially if you go up north to Ecuador. Generally Peru can be visited all year round, extreme circumstances are rarely seen (except with "El Niño" of course).

	The desert	The Andes	La Selva
May to September	Cloudy and sometimes rain	Dry and sunny	Dry and sunny
November to April	Sunny and hot	Rain and cloudy	Rain and cloudy
Temperature	Hot and dry	Wet and cold	Wet and hot

After putting right these changed facts, let’s talk about the real problems in Peru. First of all we have a word about health. Who wants to travel to the jungle and make a day trip on a boat and by foot should take medicines against malaria. Try to avoid taking Lariam. First of all this pill has a destructive effect on your body and brains and secondly it makes the virus more immune, which is a danger to the local people who’s body defense system doesn’t adapt that quickly.

In general, in big cities like Iquitos there is no danger for malaria and if you don’t go to far away from the Amazon River (less than one day walking), chances are still small to catch malaria. But those who want to go on extreme tracks should always take medicines. The best remedy is prevention. Good repellents avoid possible problems more than any medicine can do. You will see that in daytime there are almost no insects. But when the sun kisses the world goodbye, the mosquitoes come from everywhere. Go to sleep early and get up early. Nights are more romantic in the jungle with your eyes closed. If you forgot repellent, ask your guide. The jungle offers several natural repellents like sweet smelly fruits and termites. And they are free to get (close your eyes though while rubbing in your skin with thousands of termites )

In the Andes and the desert coast there are no natural enemies and diseases. But you can encounter other difficulties. Before going to a country with a lower life standard than the western world, vaccinate yourself in your local hospital. No proof of any vaccination is requested entering the country. In the text underneath we’ll speak about altitude sickness. In the end, who doesn’t blind himself watching the beauty of the mountains during the Inca Trail and makes a misstep into the abyss, should have one of the most exciting holidays of a lifetime and be back home healthy and full of stories.

In 1998 Peru won a world contest of culinary local kitchens in France where they got the first price with 406 different dishes. Food in Peru is absolutely delicious and cheap. Make sure although not to eat at the street and the extra cheap places in remote areas. Nobody can guarantee the quality of the food you’ll find on these places. Better pay some soles more for a reliable restaurant. Avoid spending hundreds of dollars in hospitals and being homesick. Around the Plaza the Arma of every city in Peru you’re able to find good restaurants. If you think or feel that you ate something of poor quality, go to a shop or a bar somewhere and ask for a "pisco puro", cañaso (made of sugar reed) or a similar strong alcoholic drink. This will disinfect your stomach. Peru restaurants

Wherever you go, near or far, always keep the following rule in mind: don’t let your money, backpack, documents or cameras be kicked around the place. On every corner of the world there could be somebody with quick hands and an accident is happened before you know it. It is absolutely not necessary to travel paranoia in Peru. Relax and simply keep this rule at heart. Most of the Peruvians work hard and do not feel the need to steal. But a few rotten apples in every city can destroy your vacation.

Consider this remedy before you leave home: guard all valuable stuff like gold, silver, watches, etc., safe in your own house. Prevent that people will look at you like a walking bank. Buy a hidden money belt and when doing an evening walk leave passport, credit cards and spare money in your hotel. Ask the reception to guard your valuables after you putted them into a small, not transparent bag. Group travelers have it easier. Everybody can watch the stuff of the others wile going to the toilet for example.

My travel experience in Peru and Europe tells me that Peru is safer that Milan or Barcelona, just to name some. If you don’t expose what is valuable, you are reducing the change of theft nearly to zero. If it should happen, ask the local people around if nobody knows the robber ("ratero" is the word common used in Peru). Local people don’t like thieves too, because they are bad publicity and tourists bring a lot of money in Peru. More than once the goods were returned by the guardia civil or even a taxidriver the same day.

Important to know is that some arias in Peru are situated on extreme heights. Cusco for example is situated at 3.400m and Puno at 3.800m. Most of us are not used to heights and if we don’t take care the first day(s), we can get really sick. Take your time and take it easy when you arrive. Don’t drink any alcohol but drink some cups of tee extracted from the leaves of the cocaplant instead. These are common in the Peruvian Andes and help reducing the negative effects of altitude sickness and stomach problems.

At 3.500m or higher the air is dry and thin. This makes your skin and especially lips dehydrate. If you feel this coming, buy some cream or lipstick and save yourself from wetting your split lips every minute. The same can happen in the jungle, so prepare yourself. The Peruvian food is generally salty which prevents dehydration of the body. Have at least two litters of liquid a day (not only beer because you’ll have a terrible headache the next morning...;)

The only dangerous wildlife is found in the tropical rainforest. Take car of snakes and don’t touch any trees, insects and no caterpillars. We don’t know this green misty world; the first adventurers crossing the jungle called this place "the green hell". The Selva is very beautiful and walking in the biggest green ocean of the world is an unforgettable experience. The guide will tell you what you can and can not do.

Don’t take any pictures of military buildings, banks or any construction that has something to do with the government. If you hesitate, ask an official before shooting your picture. Taking pics of the local people is no problem in Peru if you give them a tip. In Bolivia you can not do that. The people believe that while taking a picture, you take away a piece of their soul. On marketplaces, streets and inside restaurants and nature of course it is no problem shooting all your films. If you really want to take pictures of local people without them knowing it, use a zoom because Peru is no zoo and the Indian people want to be respected.

The religion of the people is for 99% catholic so for a mutual understanding it is important to respect their religion, history and try to avoid making them look back at the recent difficult political history of their country. For those who try to understand the situation, history and present of the people might receive some spiritual knowledge and wisdom of life during his or her holiday. Because of their isolation during centuries, these countries developed their own mentality, moral and culture.

Who got eyes to see and ears to hear will gain lots of experience in short time. The Peruvian people are generally poor but have a lot to show to the modern western world. For some things words are superfluous. In their simple way, many Peruvians show us something that we in our world forgot long time ago. Sensible open-minded visitors will feel the mysterious and mystical atmosphere hanging in many places in Peru, especially in and around Cusco. The expression left in the hearts of many travelers to Peru is an unforgettable experience that they will remind often in their lives. Many of them prefer going back to the Golden South on their next holiday.

And what can we tell you about the women? Yes, they are very beautiful and sweet.