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Click on the links below for information about Suriname. Tourism and General Information Getting There and Around Cities, Towns, and Areas of Peru Hotels and Other Accommodations Foods and Dining Attractions and Things to See and Do Tours To and In Peru Luxury Travel in Peru Links for Peru World Wide Travel Related Links! Getting Away Travel Store - Travel Items and Accessories Discounts and Deals - Save Money, Buy on Line Posters and Framed Art for Peru

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Getting To and Around in Peru
Getting There
Getting Around

Getting There
AeroPerú and Faucett, Peru's international airlines, are indefinitely shut down. There is talk of reopening AeroPerú in some form. For the time being, you must use a non-Peruvian airline for international flights. Lima's international airport, Jorge Chavez, is the main hub for flights to the Andean countries from North America and Europe, and has plenty of connections to neighboring countries. Some international flights land at Iquitos, in Peru's Amazon region. There is a departure tax of approximately US$25 on international flights.

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There are overland border crossings between Peru and Bolivia at Desaguadero and nearby Yunguyo on the shores of Lake Titicaca; between Peru and Chile at Tacna; and between Peru and Ecuador at Tumbes. It is possible to travel by river from Colombia and Brazil to Iquitos.

British Airways (ba.ccom) flies to Lima

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Tours to and in Peru

Getting Around
Peru is a big country, so many travelers take internal flights if they have limited time. As of August 1999, Aero Continente has effectively monopolized the domestic market. Prices have risen accordingly, and route coverage is limited. In July 1999, LanPeru, co-owned by LanChile, resumed domestic flights. There are also a handful of small airlines flying to remote destinations in light aircraft. There's an 18% tax on domestic flights, but you can avoid most of this if you buy tickets abroad. There's also a US$4 departure tax on domestic flights.

Public buses are the usual mode of transport over long distances. They are cheap, frequent and relatively comfortable, at least on major routes. When traveling between towns, have your passport with you as it will need to be shown at police checkpoints. Armed robberies on night buses are not unheard of in Peru, so travel on a day bus (or fly) if you have the option. Trucks often double as buses in remote areas. The fare is usually standardized according to the distance, but agree on the fare in advance. Local buses are slow, cheap and crowded; when you want to get off just yell out. Taxi fares need to be haggled over; there are no metered cabs.

The government-owned railways (INAFER) is facing imminent privatization. Services go from the coast to the highlands: The Central Railroad runs from Lima to La Oroya, where it branches north and south. The northbound line goes to Cerro de Pasco and the southbound to Huancayo; although there are plans to open the southern route to passenger trains, both of these routes are currently for freight use only. A short passenger line continues from Huancayo to Huancavelica. The Southern Railroad runs between Arequipa to Lake Titicaca and Cuzco. Services are cheap and fairly comfortable, but not particularly safe.

Boat travel is important in Peru's eastern lowlands. Dugout canoes powered with outboard engines operate as water taxis; larger cargo boats are often also available as water transport.

Click on Peru Expeditions for some interesting ideas on ways to see and get around in Peru including some interesting tours.

Accommodations in Peru
Costs in Peru are lower, on average, than those in developed countries, but higher than those in many neighboring countries. Lima and Cuzco are the most expensive places in the country. If you're on a tight budget, you can scrape by on around US$15-20 per day, but if you want to stay in modest hotels and eat out at restaurants, you'll have a better time on around US$50 a day. Prices for luxury accommodations run up to US$200 at popular destinations like Machu Picchu.

Here are some examples of what you might expect to pay:
►Budget: US$5-10
►Mid-range: US$10-15
►Top-end: US$15 and upwards

A combination of taxes and service charges are added to bills in the best hotels and restaurants and can total as much as 28%. The cheaper hotels and restaurants don't add taxes. 

¿Buscas hoteles? Compara más de 30 sitios de hoteles aquí!

Lima - My preferred hotel chain is Marriott. I have stayed Residence Inns, which are prefect for longer stays with all the comforts of home; Spring Hill Suites, which I have found nice for longer stays as the have up to 25% more room than comparably priced rooms; Towne Place Suites, again when I want more room or am on a longer stay; Courtyard by Marriott, which has everything the business traveler needs, as well as families; Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, which I find spacious, comfortable and affordable. Another great idea is to stay at one of the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts where you can enjoy a new dimension for your vacation or holiday. and Marriott Hotels and Resorts and have found them all to be of consistent quality and service. I have also stayed at some of their Vacation Club properties and have enjoyed each visit. AAA members can get discount rates at Marriott, as can Seniors. Click on Great Getaways for less at Marriott for special officers and great deals at Marriott hotels worldwide!

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At Travelocity, not only can you find the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also find Great Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on Hotel Deals, hundreds of Cruise Deals, some of the Top Vacation Deals deals on the Internet and much more. You can click on the Weather Center to see what the weather will be like at your destination, and even use their Currency Converter So you will be ready to go as soon as your arrive. At Travelocity, you can find it all.

Dining in Peru
Dining can be an experience in Peru. Try some of the local cooking and have fun. The food is good and plentiful. Here is what you might expect to pay for restaurant meals:
►Budget: US$2-5
►Mid-range: US$5-10
►Top-end: US$10 and upwards

Costs in Peru are lower, on average, than those in developed countries, but higher than those in many neighboring countries. Lima and Cuzco are the most expensive places in the country. If you're on a tight budget, you can scrape by on around US$15-20 per day, but if you want to stay in modest hotels and eat out at restaurants, you'll have a better time on around US$50 a day. 

A combination of taxes and service charges are added to bills in the best hotels and restaurants and can total as much as 28%. The cheaper hotels and restaurants don't add taxes. Tipping is not expected in budget restaurants. A tip of 10-15% is fine in up market restaurants if a service charge has not already been added to the bill. 

Taxi drivers are not tipped - bargain hard beforehand and stick to your price. Local guides should be tipped US$3-5 per day. Bargaining is a way of life in markets.

Things to See and Do
Trekking and mountaineering are popular during the May to September dry season in the Andes. The most popular hike on the continent is the 33km (20mi) Inca Trail, west of Cuzco. Equipment can be rented in Cuzco and the trek takes three days. Huaraz, north of Lima, is the climbing and trekking center of Peru and the site of Huascará, at 6768m (22,199ft) the highest mountain in the country. Equipment, drivers and guides are readily available; the best time for hiking is June to August.

Enjoy Peru is an interesting site about Peru Travel which has more than 6000 pages including, at the present time, 4 languages, 1500 photographs, 15 destinations, 11adventure sports, 8 nature activities, and a lot of useful information for  travelers. On their site you can find all the information you will need to travel by yourself. Or, if you like, they can arrange all of your travel needs for you. I think you will like this site. Jim. The also have similar sites for Ecuador and Bolivia. 

Jungle treks can be arranged at Iquitos. Guides will probably approach you but their quality and reliability varies considerably so try to get a recommendation or a reference, and proceed with caution. The better companies that run jungle lodges can provide reputable guides. Treks can last anywhere from a day to over a week; bring plenty of mosquito repellent.

The Río Urubamba, near Cuzco, has white-water rafting possibilities. Yarinacocha has pleasant canoeing. The Peninsula de Paracs and nearby Islas Ballestas have the best-known bird and marine sanctuaries on the Peruvian coast, plus there's great swimming from secluded beaches from January to March. Tours to the sanctuaries are available daily and are relatively cheap. There are bodegas (wineries) to visit in the city of Ica, on the south coast, and guided tours to Colca Canyon, near the city of Arequipa.

Tours to and in Peru

PERU BERGSPORT e.i.r.l. is an international adventure tour operators for the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in Ancash, Macchupichcu Inka Trail, Ausangate Llama Trek, Salkantay Llamatrek in Cuzco and in the Lake Titikaka Floating Islands Uros, Amantani, Taquile, and Necropolis of Sillustani in Puno. This company has gained a preferential place by international tourists with its special and new product of llama trekking in the Andes ancient routes of Incas. We work with different companies from the world from America and Europe offering our passengers a special quality services. PERU BERGSPORT e.i.r.l. is based in Canrey Chico (trail head from Canrey Chico – Chavin Pre-Inka Trail Trek) and also has a local office in Cuzco and Puno. GAP Peru Adventure Travel and Eco-Tours is a small group grass roots adventure travel & eco tours of Peru and all its sites. Experience Machu Picchu. Hike the Inca Trail. Discover the mysterious Nazca Lines, and much more. 600 itineraries, 100 countries. Memories to last a lifetime!