Climate and useful information

The climate varies according to the region.

COAST: Although the weather in Peru is defined by a dry and a wet season, the west coast stays dry all the time. In Lima there is a great chance of ‘Garua’, a low hanging mist, especially in June, July and August, with an average temperature of 17º C. The rest of the year it’s sunny in Lima; then the temperature fluctuates between 20º C and 26º C. Cities like Ica en Nazca, on the westcoast, have dry sunny days the whole year around.

MOUNTAINS: In the Andes the sun shines from April to December. During the day temperatures are agreeable, but at night they cool down strongly because of the height. From December to March it rains in the Andes.

AMAZON: In the Amazon basin the wet season runs from December to March. During the dry season (April – November) sometimes it doesn’t rain for weeks (however daily short showers are possible). The day temperatures lays between 23º C and 32º C, and night minima between 20º C and 26º C. Best months to spot animals: June – September

HEALTH

GENERAL INFORMATION: No vaccine is obligatory. Advisable are a revaccination against Tetanus and a vaccination against hepatitis A. Also advisable is he preventive use of "Vivotif" that protects against typhoid and paratyphoid. Bottled water is very recommendable. It is also recommendable to buy water in the hotels or stores, and not to acquire it from ambulant sellers or ambulant salesmen. In your traveller's medicine chest you also foresee something against journey diarrhoea. It’s very recommendable to effect a travel insurance that worldwide covers medical costs.

AMAZON: Malaria: endemic of the jungle. We suggest that you br/ing sufficiently insects-repellent and an anti-malaria medication. Yellow fever: it is present but it isn't common; however vaccination certificates are always demanded at the airports in the jungle - therefore makes sure of being up to date with this vaccination and that the certificates are in order before you arrive.

CLOTHING

GENERAL INFORMATION: Concerning clothing, Peruvians are very informal. So it isn't necessary to take clothes to get dressed up. br/ing cotton clothes. It is very recommendable to br/ing warm clothes to wear during your stay in the mountains where the mornings and the nights are very cold. A good pair of shoes with profile for mountainwalkings may not be missed in your luggage. Indispensable are sunblock, sunglasses and a raincoat.

AMAZON: For jungle walks br/ing light clothes, with dense fibr/e, long and loose pants, shirts with long sleeves, a big wing hat, shoes or tennis slippers for the walks.
In the jungle lodges it is recommended to use T-shirts, swimming-trunks, stockings and sandals.
The dawns can be cold, mainly when one goes by the river, br/ing a wind-br/eaker and a pull-over. br/ing a waterproof raincoat or poncho; the rain can be very heavy for moments.

br/ing sunblock, lots of insects repellent, mosquito-net, flashlights, batteries, a rugsack, a bottle of water, personal medications, sunglasses, binoculars, pocket knife, waterproof bags with sure zip-fastener, long sleeve T-shirts.

MONEY

The monetary unit is the 'Nuevo Sol', better known as 'sol', subdivided in 100 cents. There are notes of 100, 50, 20, 10 soles and currencies of 5, 2, 1, 050, 020, 010 soles. The use of traveler's checks and credit cards, -eurocard, visa and american express is very common.

PHOTOGRAPH

A normal 100 ASA film can be used everywhere. We recommend 400 ASA films, or more light sensitive films, for the dawn or evening inside the rainforest. Protect your equipment against humidity using waterproof cases.

ELECTRICITY AND COMMUNICATION

The net tension is 220 volt. A universal adaptor is necessary. The use of phones and fax in the hotels is easy, but expensive. Cheap and very easy is the use of telephone cabins and telephone cards that are spread out over the whole country. Internet is also very common and probably the most popular way of communication.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Foreign visitors should have an international passport that should be valid for minimum six months after departure date.

BRITISH EMBASSY IN LIMA – PERU
Avenida José Larco 1301 Piso 22
Miraflores – Lima
Phone: (0051) 1 617300
Sección Consular y Visas: (0051) 1 6173050

AMERICAN EMBASSY IN LIMA – PERU
Avenida La Encalada s/n
Monterrico - Lima
Phone: (0051) 1 4343000

CANADIAN EMBASSY
Libertad 130
Miraflores - Lima
Phone: (0051) 1 4444015