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Home > Destinations > South
America > Peru > Know
Before You Go
The more you know about the destination and the conditions
you can expect on your Wildland Adventure, the more you
will enjoy your experience. We invite you to call our destination
specialists at 1-800-345-4453 so that we can answer any
questions or concerns. The following information will also
help you prepare for the exciting experience ahead and enable
you to get the very most from your trip.
Air Travel Arrangements
We are pleased to assist you with your international flights
to Peru. We offer discounted bulk rate fares with preferred
airlines and are familiar with the best schedules and routing.
International flights for Wildland Adventures’ trips
to Peru arrive in the capital city of Lima. There is no
obligation to purchase your international tickets from Wildland
Adventures although our fares are usually competitive based
on advanced purchase and availability. The principal airlines
that we recommend from the U.S. to Lima, Peru are American
Airlines, Continental, Delta and Lan Chile/Peru. Local flights
within Peru are already included in the cost of your Wildland
Adventure.
Health
Once you sign up for a trip, we provide detailed information
about health precautions and possible immunizations for
travel to each destination. 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. Wildland Adventures
staff are not licensed medical authorities, however, we
know the exact areas, environments and conditions under
which you will be traveling, all of which can affect the
relative risk of exposure to health conditions and help
you make decisions concerning immunizations and prescription
medicines. Preventative measures against infectious diseases
may require advance planning for immunization. Pregnant
women and parents traveling with young children should consult
their physician or pediatrician.
With simple precautions, travel to Peru is very safe. There
are no immunizations required for travel to Peru. However,
official policy of 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
in the Amazon that offer the best wildlife experiences where
we conduct our rain forest trips in Peru are low risk malarial
areas.
As in any developing country, you want 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, and drinking bottled
water will greatly reduce your risk. Most people who visit
Peru experience some effects of high altitude. Typically
symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, headache,
insomnia and loss of appetite. Plenty of rest, fluids and
headache remedies are helpful. Diamox, a prescription diuretic,
is also helpful.
MD
Travel Health: Complete travel information updated daily
for physicians and travelers.
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.
Peru
Embassy/Consulate in the U.S.
U.S.
State Department Passport Services
Reading List
Enrich your travels by using our recommended reading list
and online ordering through Longitude Books. For each destination,
we feature "Essential Reading," four or five books
that are a comprehensive introduction to each region. This
list favors well-written, concise books that capture the
spirit of a place including guidebooks, memoirs, histories,
field guides, natural histories, novels or other great books.
You will also find the new and hard-to-find books, field
guides, classic accounts of exploration, travel narratives,
books on art and archaeology, novels, essays and well-written
academic books.
Peru
Reading List
Travel Supplies and Packing List
We provide you with a specific packing list and recommended
travel products for your trip once you have signed up for
your Wildland Adventure. Two companies we recommend for
travel supplies include:
ExOfficio
We highly recommend their performance engineered,
quick dry and lightweight travel apparel designed for
outdoor-oriented adventure travel.
www.exofficio.com
TravelSmith
A resource for every travel clothing category
and a variety of specialty travel products.
www.travelsmith.com
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the accommodations like on a Wildland
Adventure in Peru?
Accommodations on your Wildland Adventure in Peru are as
diverse as the country itself. Whether you are camping on
a full service trek in the Andes or relaxing at a charming
4-5 star hotel or converted colonial hacienda, the common
denominator among them all lies in the charm, location,
comfort, safety and warm hospitality. Rustic, open-air jungle
eco-lodges are designed into nature so you feel secure within
the rainforest, not apart from it. All of our preferred
accommodations offer extraordinary personal service and
a combination of international cuisine with local culinary
delights. If you want to stay at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Lodge on the mountain at Machu Picchu you must book far
in advance.
2. Is there a lot of crime and theft in Peru?
Compared to earlier years, common thievery has
diminished, although pickpockets, especially in Lima and
Cusco are widespread. Theft can easily be avoided. Carry
passports and money in a pouch worn around the neck inside
your shirt or in a money belt around the waist under your
clothes. Keep an eye and a hand on your things at all times.
Be especially cautious in bus and train stations and in
markets. Lock your suitcase when you are not in your room.
Don’t take anything with you that you can’t
afford to lose or can’t replace like a fine watch
or expensive jewelry.
3. Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag on
the Inca Trail Trek?
We recommend bringing your own sleeping bag, however it
is possible to rent one if you really need to. Tents and
comfortable sleeping pads are provided.
4. Am I responsible for carrying all my gear on
a trek?
No, your soft luggage on trek will be carried by Quechua
Indian porters or horses. On the Inca Trail the weight limit
of each trekker’s duffel pack is strictly controlled
to around 20 lbs per traveler. You carry only your day-pack
with essential items you will need for the day while you
are trekking such as water, camera, snack and a jacket.
Destination Information
For further information about Peru we recommend the following
websites:
CIA
World Factbook
General International Travel References
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