Currency - The monetary unit throughout Peru is the Nuevo Sol. Most banks and hotels have money changers that can easily convert your countries money into local ones quickly. Most banks are open in the bigger cities Monday through Friday during regular hours and until noon on Saturdays. However money changers seem to give a better rate than most banks and are open longer hours. The currency is set up almost like the USA denominations, but bills go from 10-100 and cents go from .05 - 1.00. You will find it easy to keep track of since the currency rate has varied only slightly in the past few years.

Customs - Usually you are allowed to bring into the country the following items: 3 liters of spirits and up to 400 cigarettes. Most personal items such as climbing ,kayaking, and camping gear is allowed but in certain quantities not to exceed the number of people traveling with you. Artifacts are not allowed to leave the country, and most other surrounding countries do not allow them in. Coca leaves for teas are legal in Peru, but you won't find the surrounding countries tolerance levels to be the same as Peru.

Medical Care - Medical care is widely available in Peru, but depending where you are could be the determining factor of how good of quality the care provided is. In the bigger city of Lima, services are excellent at the major hospitals, and are open 24 hours a day. Rural areas have almost none to very little medical services available. Doctors expect payment for services on the spot and in cash no matter what insurance you have. Visitors should check with their own insurance companies as well as travel insurance policies before traveling to see what documents they will need for reimbursement. Most travelers may want to protect themselves even further by getting vaccines for: cholera, hepatitis A/B, malaria, tetanus, typhoid fever, and yellow fever. If your planning on traveling to the lower basins these should be carefully considered as mosquito populations are high due to standing water.

Electricity - The electrical current of Peru is 220 volts. You should bring adapters or purchase them locally for your electronics if they can not convert the current.

Population - The population of Peru is around 28 million. Contraceptives are available, but are not widely used.

Language - Spanish is the nation language of Peru. Terms and words used is day to day conversations may be varied from region to region. Be prepared to encounter some local dialects.

Important Phone Numbers - Country Code (51), Police (105), Fire (116), Directory Assistance (109).

Cities of Peru

Amazonas - The Amazon basin known for its incredible wildlife and virgin rainforests extends into the northeastern part of Peru and continues down the eastern border adding to the diversity of the region. Rainfall in the Amazon basin is very high and should be considered before planning a trek into the area. Local guides are invaluable since they know the terrain, local languages, and cultures. For more information on the Amazon Basin, simply click the name displayed above.

Arequipa - There are a lot of legends about how this city got its name. It's also one of the places you can stop to acclimate to the high temperatures before continuing on into the Andes Mountain range. Old world Spanish style is still present in different parts throughout the area. Coddled in the peaks it's shadowed by the volcano El Misti. Incas left their mark on its peaks by burying human sacrifices there. It was once thought that the volcanoes were gods who needed to be appeased by human sacrifice. Today the city is still plagued by eruptions and earthquakes, but this can be avoided by a little research before your trip. For more information on Arequipa, simply click the name displayed above.

Ayacucho - As the Andes cities go, this one is especially interesting since most of the colonial ambience is still just as much alive today as it was hundreds of years ago. Still in much need of modernization, but is quickly getting there. The people are friendly and welcome tourists with kind enthusiasm. Among some of the sites to see here are famous battle sites and of course the architecture. For more information on Ayacucho, simply click the name displayed above.

Cajamarca - The place where a fallen Inca rulers last days were spent, this city has amazing history. Just a few buildings from that era still remain as the Spanish destroyed most of it to rebuild the city in a colonial style. It was said that here Atahualpa paid a ransom of 6000kg of gold and 12000kg of silver to Spanish conquerors for his freedom. His freedom was never given even after the ransom was paid. Instead he was sentenced to death when the Spanish learned of his attempt to summon an escape party. For more information on Cajamarca, simply click the name displayed above.

Cusco - A city with a past and future presents itself within the historical walls of the city. Ruled by both Incan rulers and conquistadors, the city has become the tourist magnet of South America. Most of the cities downtown has become commercialized to accommodate the ever growing tourism industry that attracts travel oriented people everyday. If your not amazed by the history and artifacts this city has to offer then the nightlife and tours it has to offer will excite you. The city is constantly changing to serve the whims of the booming tourism industries that produce most of it's wealth. Often known to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, this city is well worth traveling to. Be prepared to rest after landing there since the city rests at high altitudes. For more information on Cusco, simply click the name displayed above.

Huancavelica - This city is a little more remote than most others, and can sometimes make you feel like your in a different world. The weather is somewhat cooler than most Peruvian cities due to its high elevation. Marketplaces and hot springs make the area worth traveling into during the dryer seasons. Old mines can be seen within the area as Spanish conquerors used slaves to mine the wealth it held. For more information on Huancavelica, simply click the name displayed above.

Huanuco - This city is known for its extremely well known artifact, The Temple of Kotosh. The temple has been moved in recent years to Lima, but a replica stands in its place to give visitors a feel of how it once looked. Not much is known about the molding but its history dates back several thousands of years to around 2000 BC. For more information on Huanuco, simply click the name displayed above.

Huaraz - Huaraz is the capital of Ancash located 400 km to the north of Lima and 3,091 meters above sea level; this is the point of reference for visiting the rest of the cities. This city has lots of services for tourists like hotels, restaurants and markets, almost like a little Lima. Also the architecture has changed in these times. After the earthquake occurred in 1970 which destroyed this city, “Huaracinos” (people who were born in Huaraz), rebuilt houses and only Soledad neighborhood still has architecture of the olds Huaraz houses. It’s a mix of the modern styles of the city and the native culture.

Junin - This small town has lots to offer bird enthusiasts as Lago de Junin, is a large lake elevated by the high mountainous region where it rests. More than a million birds at any given time makes this a Ornithologists dream place. Be careful when traveling to this area due to altitude sickness. For more information on Junin, simply click the name displayed above.

Lambayeque - This city was once the larger of the cities within its area but has since gotten fewer residents and visitors causing it to give way to Chiclayo. The city does support some very fine museums and is worth seeing along the way. The longest balcony in Peru is said to be here, and is only visible from the street. For more information on Lambayeque, simply click the name displayed above.

Lima - The capital of Peru and home to more than 8 million residents, makes this busy metropolis a target for good and bad things and people. The city boasts some of the best restaurants, museums, schools, hotels, and nightlife. On the other hand, it is also the birthplace of most of the robberies that occur in Peru every year. Do not be put off by this because the pros definitely outweigh the cons of visiting the wonderful city. For more information on Lima, simply click the name displayed above.

Loreto - The area is made up of several smaller cities and one bigger city, it's usually the gateway into the jungles and national reserve parks. The area was famous decades ago for rubber production and the exporting of it. In recent years it has slowed to a more tourist area preserving more of the land for these reasons. For more information on Lareto, simply click the name displayed above.

Madre de Dios - The larger river system of the country gives this area a colorful decor. The river for which the area gets its name stretches hundreds of miles and gives a new way of finding wonderful towns and sites. For more information on the Madre de Dios area, simply click the name displayed above.

Pisco - This area is a gateway to the island chains that have been deemed wildlife parks and are rich with life. The islands nearby were once the object of war. One of the islands in particular serves as a bird sanctuary and the top soil (bird droppings) have over many years compounded into a nitrogen rich soil. The soil is very valuable to agriculture and at one time was even one of Peru's largest export items. For more information on the Pisco area, simply click the name displayed above.

Piura - This area was the landing place of the Spanish conquistadors into the Inca Empire. The sandy desert has been reformed into agricultural lands that have seen their share of natural disasters. Many times the crops and roads have been destroyed by floods and ill tempered weather. There are numerous museums and tombs around the area, and some of the local areas have history dating back to the time of Christ. For more information on Piura, simply click the name displayed above.

Puno - This small town is known as the birthplace of the first Inca Manco Capac. There is even a statue commemorating him as it looks out over his birthplace. The most famous attraction for travelers is Lake Titicaca. The lake attracts many tourists and locals, however most prefer not to swim in the waters of the lake. The weather is very cold here due to it's altitude and during the winter months the temperature falls below freezing. Don't be discouraged though as most stalls in the market sell sweaters made from the wool- like hair of the Alpaca. There are tons of archeological sites in the area and getting to them is fairly easy due to the lake. For more information on Puno, simply click the name displayed above.

Tacna - The southern city of Peru gives a lot of modern conveniences usually only seen in the capital city of such countries. The medical and educational institutions are among the best in the country. Some of the more famous architects that have made their mark on the city is a cathedral designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France). Many of the inhabitants are very patriotic and Chilean influence is abundant in the city. For more information on Tacna, simply click the name displayed above.

Tumbes - This city is said to be one of many national parks and beautiful areas for trekking. Insects make it a lesser traveled area and keep most travelers away, excluding nature lovers. It was said Pizzaro invited an Incan noble to have dinner aboard his vessel while two of his men inspected the city. They found the city to be rich enough to convince Pizzaro to return just a few years later and explore the rest of Peru. For more information on Tacna, simply click the name displayed above.

Cities of Peru