Peru Travel Guide

Language

Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist centers and hotels.

Currency

The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100 céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all major international credit cards, including Diners Club and MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments. Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travelers checks may also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and travelers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment. Casas de cambio(exchange bureau) often give better rates than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.

2.7505

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz (Arequipa 50Hz). Two-pin, flat blade and round plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for Peru is +51, and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1) for Lima. A mobile phone operator provides a GSM 1900 network with coverage limited to major towns and cities. Peru is well connected to the Internet with a proliferation of inexpensive Internet kiosks, called cabinas pública,available on street corners in most towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Peru over 15 years old do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 50g of tobacco; 2kg of food; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5 liters; and gifts to the value of US$300. Items such as sausages, salami, ham and cheese may only be brought in if accompanied by an original sanitary certificate. The import of ham from Italy and Portugal is prohibited. The export of cultural or artistic items from the country is not permitted.

Tourist Office

PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru), Lima: +51 (0)1 224 3279 or www.peru.info

Embassies in Peru

• United States Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 618 2000.
• British Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 617 3000.
• Canadian Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 319 3200.
• Australian Consulate-General, Lima: +51 (0)1 222 8281.
• South African Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 440 9996.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Lima: +51 (0)1 242 2640.
• New Zealand Consulate, Lima: +51 (0)1 422 7491.

Peru Embassies Abroad

• Peruvian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 833 9860.
• Peruvian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 1917/2545.
• Peruvian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 1777.
• Peruvian Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 7351.
• Peruvian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 8744.
• Peruvian Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 499 8087.

Emergency

Emergencies: 116/105

Language

Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist centers and hotels.

Currency

The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100 céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all major international credit cards, including Diners Club and MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments. Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travelers checks may also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and travelers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment. Casas de cambio(exchange bureau) often give better rates than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.

2.7505

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz (Arequipa 50Hz). Two-pin, flat blade and round plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for Peru is +51, and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1) for Lima. A mobile phone operator provides a GSM 1900 network with coverage limited to major towns and cities. Peru is well connected to the Internet with a proliferation of inexpensive Internet kiosks, called cabinas pública,available on street corners in most towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Peru over 15 years old do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 50g of tobacco; 2kg of food; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5 liters; and gifts to the value of US$300. Items such as sausages, salami, ham and cheese may only be brought in if accompanied by an original sanitary certificate. The import of ham from Italy and Portugal is prohibited. The export of cultural or artistic items from the country is not permitted.

Tourist Office

PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru), Lima: +51 (0)1 224 3279 or www.peru.info

Embassies in Peru

• United States Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 618 2000.
• British Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 617 3000.
• Canadian Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 319 3200.
• Australian Consulate-General, Lima: +51 (0)1 222 8281.
• South African Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 440 9996.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Lima: +51 (0)1 242 2640.
• New Zealand Consulate, Lima: +51 (0)1 422 7491.

Peru Embassies Abroad

• Peruvian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 833 9860.
• Peruvian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 1917/2545.
• Peruvian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 1777.
• Peruvian Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 7351.
• Peruvian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 8744.
• Peruvian Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 499 8087.

Emergency

Emergencies: 116/105

Language

Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist centers and hotels.

Currency

The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100 céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all major international credit cards, including Diners Club and MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments. Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travelers checks may also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and travelers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment. Casas de cambio(exchange bureau) often give better rates than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.

2.7505

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz (Arequipa 50Hz). Two-pin, flat blade and round plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for Peru is +51, and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1) for Lima. A mobile phone operator provides a GSM 1900 network with coverage limited to major towns and cities. Peru is well connected to the Internet with a proliferation of inexpensive Internet kiosks, called cabinas pública,available on street corners in most towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Peru over 15 years old do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 50g of tobacco; 2kg of food; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5 liters; and gifts to the value of US$300. Items such as sausages, salami, ham and cheese may only be brought in if accompanied by an original sanitary certificate. The import of ham from Italy and Portugal is prohibited. The export of cultural or artistic items from the country is not permitted.

Tourist Office

PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru), Lima: +51 (0)1 224 3279 or www.peru.info

Embassies in Peru

• United States Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 618 2000.
• British Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 617 3000.
• Canadian Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 319 3200.
• Australian Consulate-General, Lima: +51 (0)1 222 8281.
• South African Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 440 9996.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Lima: +51 (0)1 242 2640.
• New Zealand Consulate, Lima: +51 (0)1 422 7491.

Peru Embassies Abroad

• Peruvian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 833 9860.
• Peruvian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 1917/2545.
• Peruvian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 1777.
• Peruvian Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 7351.
• Peruvian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 8744.
• Peruvian Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 499 8087.

Emergency

Emergencies: 116/105

Language

Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist centers and hotels.

Currency

The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100 céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all major international credit cards, including Diners Club and MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments. Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travelers checks may also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and travelers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment. Casas de cambio(exchange bureau) often give better rates than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.

2.7505

Time

Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz (Arequipa 50Hz). Two-pin, flat blade and round plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for Peru is +51, and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1) for Lima. A mobile phone operator provides a GSM 1900 network with coverage limited to major towns and cities. Peru is well connected to the Internet with a proliferation of inexpensive Internet kiosks, called cabinas pública,available on street corners in most towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Peru over 15 years old do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 50g of tobacco; 2kg of food; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5 liters; and gifts to the value of US$300. Items such as sausages, salami, ham and cheese may only be brought in if accompanied by an original sanitary certificate. The import of ham from Italy and Portugal is prohibited. The export of cultural or artistic items from the country is not permitted.

Tourist Office

PROMPERU (Commission for the Promotion of Peru), Lima: +51 (0)1 224 3279 or www.peru.info

Embassies in Peru

• United States Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 618 2000.
• British Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 617 3000.
• Canadian Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 319 3200.
• Australian Consulate-General, Lima: +51 (0)1 222 8281.
• South African Embassy, Lima: +51 (0)1 440 9996.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Lima: +51 (0)1 242 2640.
• New Zealand Consulate, Lima: +51 (0)1 422 7491.

Peru Embassies Abroad

• Peruvian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 833 9860.
• Peruvian Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 1917/2545.
• Peruvian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 1777.
• Peruvian Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 7351.
• Peruvian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 8744.
• Peruvian Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 499 8087.

Emergency

Emergencies: 116/105