What do you need to know before traveling to Peru?
There is always a first time to do something. If this is your first time traveling to the Inca country, there are 11 things you need to know before traveling to Peru. The first time you travel to a country, no matter what it is, you should be clear about several important factors that can help you make your journey much easier.
It is normal that you may have some doubts about what you need to enter Peru. However, you do not have to worry because below, we will clarify most of the questions related to the trip and stay.
1- What is the best time of the year to go to Peru?
Among the 11 things you need to know before traveling to Peru, it is important to mention when you should go to this beautiful and interesting Latin American country. It is recommended that you plan your visit between the months of April to November if you will visit destinations such as Cusco or Arequipa. This is the period of the year in which there is drought in the Peruvian highlands.
However, there are many people who like the mystique of the landscapes left by the rainy season, so it depends on your tastes so you can decide.
In the case of visiting Lima, the summer season is from December to March. However, it does not usually rain in the Peruvian capital at any time of the year.
2- Do I need a visa to enter Peru?
Regarding visa requirements for tourists, there are certain particularities that you should take into consideration. Some countries do require visas and others do not. Depending on the region you are coming from, it applies as follows:
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North America
Citizens coming from the United States, Canada or Mexico do not require a visa to enter Peru.
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Central America and the Caribbean
El Salvador, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua do require a visa. The rest of the countries do not have this restriction.
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South America
Only Venezuelans need a visa to enter Peru.
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Europe
For the most part, those countries that are part of the European Union do not need to apply for a tourist visa. There are some exceptions in the European continent such as Albania, Georgia, Armenia, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina that do require a visa. *
If you require a visa due to your nationality, but you live permanently in countries such as Chile, Mexico or Colombia (Pacific Alliance), Peru exempts you.*
*(Source: http://www.consulado.pe – Information obtained to date, 06/2023)
3- Can I travel to Peru without a passport?
If you are a native of countries such as Brazil. Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, it is not necessary to present your passport to travel to Peru. In this case, it is enough to present your national identity card of your country.
On the other hand, if you come from Mexico, the European Union or the United States, you must carry your valid passport. At this point it is important to note that the passport must be valid for more than six months at the time you travel.
4- What languages are spoken in Peru?
If you come from an English-speaking country, you don’t have to worry because all the tour guides speak English perfectly. However, the official language of Peru is Spanish.
Likewise, this country has a great diversity of native languages that you can discover. The oldest communities of the Inca country have more than 300 unofficial native languages and 100 that are spoken throughout the national territory.
5- What currency is used in Peru?
The official currency in Peru is currently the nuevo sol. One dollar is equivalent to 3.73 nuevos soles. This currency has been in effect since January 1991 when it was officially decreed.
It is possible to find coins from 1 nuevo sol to 5 soles. In the case of bills, they range from 10 soles, 20 soles, 50 soles, 100 soles and 200 soles.
6- Are credit/debit cards accepted in Peru?
Regarding this issue, you can mostly use credit or debit cards in Lima or big cities where there are ATMs. In small towns it is likely that you will not be able to find ATMs available to withdraw money.
Also, it is possible that, if you find an ATM, it will be of a specific bank, in this case, the Banco de la Nación.
7- Be aware of altitude sickness
If you want to visit the city of Cusco or any other city in Peru whose altitude above sea level is high, you should consider altitude sickness. This is nothing more than the feeling of shortness of breath when you are at high altitudes.
This condition is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue and other symptoms. In any case, it is best that you inform yourself about this issue so that you can take all the necessary precautions.
8- What time zone is Peru in?
Peru Time (PET) is located five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5). Peru has only a one-time zone. Another important fact is that, thanks to this, there is no daylight saving time as it is usual in some countries.
During the winter season, the time remains the same. PET is exactly the same as that of the North American Central Time Zone.
9- What voltage do I find in Peru?
The voltage you can find in Peru is 220 volts. This is one of the 11 most important things to know before traveling to Peru. That is to say, if you connect appliances that have 110 voltage, they can break down. For this reason, if you are going to visit this country you must acquire voltage converters.
In this country it is quite common to need voltage converters. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about. Most hotels already have all kinds of adapters. However, if you wish, you can buy the ones you need in any hardware store.
10- What vaccinations do I need to travel to Peru?
This is another of the 11 things you need to know before traveling to Peru.
Officially, there are no health requirements to enter Peru, it means that technically, there are no mandatory vaccinations. *
However, the Ministry of Health recommends getting vaccinated against yellow fever if you want to visit the Amazon region of the country. In this regard, a fact that may be considered is that this vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before the trip to be effective. **
* (Source: http://www.consulado.pe – Information obtained to date, 06/2023)
** (Source: http://www.peru.travel – Information obtained to date, 06/2023)
11- Do I need to have travel medical insurance?
In Peru, the most frequent incidences are related to the need for medical attention due to accidents, illness, hospitalization and consultations.
For this reason, it is essential to have good travel medical insurance to Peru that has full coverage. On the other hand, it is best that your insurance company can provide you with 24-hour service in case of an emergency.
Conclusions
Are you ready to get to know Peru? Undoubtedly, Peru is a country worth visiting. If you have already decided to travel to Inca lands, do not forget to take into account all these aspects that we have mentioned above. We hope these 11 things you need to know before traveling to Peru will be very useful for your trip.