5 Peru Travel Tips Every First-Time Visitor Should Know
And Peru fits three different worlds into one nation: desert coast, high Andes, and the rainforest in the Amazon. It is that diversity that has precisely caused inexperienced travelers to be confused by logistics, altitude and timing. The following are five items to be aware of prior to bookings.
The ASI is Not an Incidental Trip Planning.
Cusco also elevates 11,152 and Lake Titicaca is even more elevated to almost 12,500. During the initial 24 hours most the traveling people, who are flying in at the level of Lima, which is at sea level, experience some symptoms: a headache, short breaths, fatigue, and difficulty in falling asleep.
The cure is not difficult yet it takes time. The first day or two of your stay in Cusco should be devoted to practically no activity except that which may be considered necessary, take more water than you think you need, and avoid alcohol on the first night. Coca tea, which is sold everywhere in Cusco, actually works with the mild symptoms and acetazolamide (Diamox) is available in the pharmacy, an option of prevention but seek advice with a doctor before you go home.
A clever plan of routing: land at Cusco, and spend one or two nights at the Sacred Valley, which is about 2,000 feet lower, and then back up to Cusco itself. It pushes your body up with a softer incline, rather than a sharp jab.
Book Years Ahead Machu Picchu Tickets.
Machu Picchu restricts the number of visitors each day and tickets are sold with time blocks access to certain paths among ruins. Peak season (May through September) tickets and add-ons to the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can sell out six to eight weeks prior to their operating days.
It is no winging site. The official Peruvian government ticketing scheme only sells a fixed quota of passes in a single day and the Inca trail itself is also initially limited, frequently being sold months ahead of season during peak period. In the case of the aim of the four-day old Inca Trail, it is necessary to reserve an entrance through a licensed operator no less than 4 to five months in advance.
Shoulder season (in April or October) is a viable compromise in case of flexible dates: there are fewer people, as compared to peak months; the weather is not as prone to rainy as it is during the wet season (between November and March); the tickets can be secured somewhat easier.
It is Cash Still Rule Out of Town.
With Lima and Cusco overrun with ATM machines and restaurants that accept the use of a card, it is cash that is king once you get to the smaller towns and markets or rural regions. It is recommended to carry soles (PEN), and small notes are important – lots of the vendors are not able to serve a 5-sol bill with a 100 sol note.
Take money out of those bank-linked ATMs as opposed to freestanding ones in tourist destinations as these are likely to be charged at high rates but also are more often victims of card-skimming attacks. BCP, Scotiabank and interbank are safe options. Make sure you inform your bank that you are traveling as sometimes there can be an unexpected overseas withdrawal that can be frozen.
Another thing to remember is that a pocketful of US dollars in good condition (not torn or in a very bad condition) is always beneficial as some of the tour guides and other private transport drivers take them especially during trekking tips or entrance fees at some isolated places.
Not every Tour is created Equal.
On the one hand, Peru has one of the highest quality of a tourist infrastructure; on the other hand, it is quite real and dangerous, and in the case of multi-day trips and jungle tours when it comes to real danger in terrain, weather and altitude. A corner-cutter of a budget operator in equipment, training of the guide, or emergency procedures, is not only quality, but is a safety matter.
Look for operators licensed by Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, check for recent reviews that mention specific guide names, and ask directly about guide-to-client ratios on trekking routes. For travelers trying to compare options without wading through hundreds of listings, sites that curate the best Peru tours based on operator licensing, safety records, and traveler feedback can save a lot of guesswork, especially for first-timers unfamiliar with which companies actually deliver on their marketing.
This is all the more important to the Inca trail in particular where workers are regulated so that licensed operators are required and porters to weight restrictions which are real and which are complied with by reputable companies.
Pack Four seasons in One Day.
The weather in Peru is unpredictable based on its elevation and a shift of either one day can occur at an altitude. Lorn afternoons could begin in the low 70s, reach the 60s in the afternoon, and plummet right after the sun goes down. The Amazon basin, in comparison, remains hot and humid; unless during the dry season in June-to-September which are in the 80s and 90s.
Only stratification can be applied cross regionally. The highlands are covered with a waterproof shell, a warm middle with fleece, and a moisture-wicking base. In the case of the jungle, light long sleeves and legings impregnated with permethrin will reduce the number of insect bites much more effectively than short sleeves and bug spray.
Most of the travelers do not have an adequate attention on sun protection. The UV radiation is enormously high at large altitudes and sunburn takes a short time in cloudy days compared to the level at sea level.
The Bottom Line
The traveler who will have the most pleasant experiences in Peru is the traveler who takes the altitude, the logistics, as well as changes in the climates of the regions, as an agenda to planning and not an afterthought. Reserve acclimatization, book Machu Picchu tickets well in advance, bring plenty of cash, ensure tour operators are trusted, and bring layers that can accommodate both a frosty morning pampered Andean and a sultry Amazon afternoon. The five things are sure to put the rest of the trip almost in place.
