LIMA
Lima tends to be rather humid and warm all year round. For travelers staying in Lima, they should pack loose, cotton clothing if travelling during January through to March. Between March and April, travelers may need something warmer to wear at night. During December and April is the best time to visit Lima, as the weather is mild and the sun is out. It hardly ever rains in Lima, so travelers wanting to visit do not need to worry about wet weather gear.
CUSCO
This includes weather information about areas of Cusco as well as the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The rainy season is between November to March, thus the dry season is between April until October. However, do not be put off from coming to Cusco in the rainy season as it does not rain all day, usually for about an average of 3-4 hours per day, and you will often get to see some sun. The average temperature fluctuates between 11°C and 13°C and during sunny days the temperature can reach up to 20°C. During the nights in May, June and July, the temperatures can drop down to 7°C.
PUNO
During the dry season between April to October, most of the days are sunny and warm, but the nights will get cold. During the rainy season, the days can be warm and have periods of rain but also periods of sunshine.
AREQUIPA
The weather in Arequipa is generally nice all year round. It is sunny during the day and is warm during the night. Even during the wet season from November to March, it hardly ever rains, thus it is an ideal tourist destination all year round.
THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
All year round, the Peruvian Amazon has temperatures between 15°C to 30°C, but it may rain heavily during the wet season from November to March, and especially in December and January. During the wet season, the Amazon features some heavy periods of rain but then may be dry for a few days before continuing the cycle. If you are going to the Peruvian Amazon during this time, make sure you take waterproof clothes with you.
NAZCA & ICA
In this area of Peru, the weather is nice all year around and it hardly ever rains. Most of the days are warm and sunny and it stays warm during the nights. During the winter, the nights can get a little chillier, so you may want to bring some warm clothing.
NORTH PERU
In this region of Peru, it is warm all year round (between 18°C to 28°C) and it hardly ever rains. During the summer, it can reach temperatures of between 25°C to 35°C. We advise you to dress lightly for this region and make sure you take sunscreen with you.
The official languages in Peru are Spanish (80% of the population), Quechua (Andean and highland regions), and Aymara (in the Puno high plateau). In addition, there are around 50 native languages. Most people who work in tourism or provide tourist services speak English.
Peru generally maintains good healthcare facilities. There are enough hospitals and clinics that provide adequate services, especially in the main cities, such as Lima, Cusco and Arequipa.
The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.). The U.S. Dollar is accepted at most stores, restaurants and hotels.
There are many currency exchange houses in the cities where you can exchange foreign money (US Dollars and Euros). Always try and carry small bills / notes or coins with you as larger bills / notes may be difficult to break in some places. ATM´s are easy to find in cities, so you do not need to worry about drawing out a large sum of money prior to your trip. In order to avoid any unnecessary stress, please inform your bank of the dates and to where you will be travelling. Please also verify with your bank any fees or charges incurred by using foreign ATMs and swipe machines before travelling. The most widely accepted credit cards are: American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard. There are some limitations to using traveler´s checks in Peru, so please check that they are accepted by establishments prior to purchasing them. For more information:
Visa (01) 242-2975 | 108 - (001) 410 5819754 (from a land line)
Master Card (01) 311-6000 | 108 - (001) 636 7227111 (from a land line)
American Express (01) 221-8204 / 221-8207 | (001) 312 9353585 (reverse charges)
Diners Club (01) 615-1111
To avoid altitude sickness or soroche, we suggest following the steps:
Do not exercise too much on the first day in high altitude areas
Eat lightly during the first two days.
Drink plenty of water and high energy drinks.
If you have any heart, respiratory or pulmonary problems, please consult your doctor
We highly recommend drinking lots of coca tea. The consumption of coca tea, as well as chewing the leaves, increases the absorption of oxygen in the blood.
A yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended for traveling to jungle cities. The vaccination must be administered at least 10 days before your trip in order for it to be effective. No other vaccinations are required.
In general, most outlets in Peru use 220 volts. Most 4 and 5-star hotels have outlets equipped for 110 volts. Most outlets use two types of plugs, which are shown below:
Due to the diversity of weather conditions and activities in Peru, we recommend that our passengers bring light clothes such as shirts, short pants, sandals and swim suits as well as warm clothes, such as a warm jacket, raincoat (in the rainy season Nov to Mar) and comfortable shoes for hiking. Please see our weather information for more details.
Other important things to bring are: Original and photocopies of Passport, travel insurance and airline tickets. US dollars, travelers checks, credit or debit card, Luxury Machu Picchu Itinerary and ´Pre-Travel´ information, any required entry visas or vaccination certificates, camera and battery charger, reading/writing materials, sun protection cream, insect repellent, sun hat, sport sandals, sunglasses, watch or alarm clock. Optional items may include binoculars, purification tablets or water filter and ear plugs. It is also recommended that you pack a basic first-aid kit containing lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids and blister pads, allergy tablets, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder (Gatorade), and any extra prescription drugs that you may be taking.
Information about the Inca trail, the Salkantay trek, or any other trekking excursions If you are doing the Inca trail, the Salkantay trek or any other trekking excursion; it is important to bring:
EQUIPMENT
Sleeping bag (can be rented with Cultural Immersion for approx. $30 USD)
Cover for backpack
Inner sheet for sleeping bag
Basic first aid kit
Refillable water bottle
Hiking stick
Small towel
Wet wipes and pocket tissues
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Flash light
Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry
Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)
Camera with spare batteries
Insect repellent
Plasters
Small towels and basic toiletries
Anti septic hand gel
CLOTHES
Fleece top
Windproof/waterproof jacket
Shirts / t-shirts
Sun hat
Pair of shorts
Hiking / track pants
Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes
Light sandals/ Flipflops (not for hiking)
Wool hat/ Beanie (can be easily purchased in Cusco)
Mitts or gloves (can be easily purchased in Cusco)
Warm comfortable Socks
Underwear (including thermal top and leggings)
Rain poncho (can be easily purchased in Cusco)
Swim suite (optional, to visit hot thermal springs)
All other camping equipment for the trekking excursions are provided and included in the cost of the package. Porters carry the gear, so you will only be responsible for carrying your daypack. But please be aware there are weight limits on what the porters can carry, thus every passenger is limited to 7 kg (15.5 lbs), including sleeping bags that weigh approximately 1.5kg (3.3 Ibs). All other items may be stored in your hotel in Cusco. Train to Machu Pîcchu All passengers travelling on the train to Machu Picchu only have a limit of 7kgs (15.5 lbs), so please leave any unnecessary items in your hotel.
All domestic flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. All internal flight tickets are electronic so you will not receive any physical tickets. We will be able to provide you with your booking reference number and electronic ticket number. You will only need to present your passport at the airline counter in order to check in. Additionally, the boarding passes will be overhanded by your tour guide or driver, as we do the pre-check-in for you. Please be aware that there are different luggage restrictions, given by the different airlines, especially regarding your carry-on luggage.
Baggage information about the airlines we use:
LAN Airlines: 23kg checked baggage + 8kg hand luggage (55cm x 35cm x 25cm) + 1 personal item (purse, laptop or diaper bag)
Star Peru: 25kg checked baggage (75cm x 45cm x 35cm) + 1 piece of hand luggage (4kg, 40cm x 35 cm x 20cm)
Peruvian Airlines: 25kg checked baggage + 8kg hand luggage (40cm x 32cm x20cm) (Exception: On the route Lima Cusco, you are only allowed to take 5kg of hand luggage)
For any special restrictions, please have a look at the websites of the airlines!
To keep away from getting gastrointestinal infections, we recommend you to not eat any raw meats or unpeeled fruits, drink only bottled or boiled water and do not eat food from street vendors.
Please be aware, that there are luggage restrictions for jour journey to Machu Picchu and the Peruvian Amazon. All passengers travelling on the train to Machu Picchu only have a limit of 7kgs (15.5 lbs), so please do not take any unnecessary items. Of course, it is possible to store your luggage in your hotel in the Sacred Valley or Cusco. In case you will not come back to the same hotel, we will make sure to transfer your luggage safely to your next hotel. When travelling to the Peruvian Amazon, you will have to leave part of your luggage at the loges´ office in Puerto Maldonado, as it is not allowed to bring more than 10kg to the lodges.
When taking a taxi in Peru, make sure you negotiate a price before starting the service, as the taxis here do not have meters. If you are unsure with how much you should pay, you can ask a local or hotel employee how much a fair price is. Taking an official taxi is more secure than taking an unregistered taxi from the street. When you are in Lima, ensure that you take a secure taxi, especially at night by either asking your hotel or restaurant to call you one. (Some registered and reputable taxi companies in Lima are Taxi Amigo - Tel. 01/349-0177, Taxi Móvil - Tel. 01/422-6890, Taxi Line - Tel. 01/330-2795) Taxi costs in Lima vary from 5 to 50 soles depending on the distance. A taxi from Miraflores to the City Centre should cost approximately 15 soles. For the other cities, please take taxis with phone numbers on top of the vehicles. In Arequipa, it is a good idea to phone a taxi rather than flag one, simply as it is the safest option. The price of a taxi in Cusco, Arequipa and Puno ranges from 3 to 5 soles.
If you need to contact us for any reason please call our local office in Cusco.
Luxury Machu Picchu
Office Hours:
Mon to Fri: 8am to 1pm & 3pm to 8pm local time (GMT -5).
Saturdays: 8am to 2pm
PERU: 00 + 51 997396835
Cusco Emergency 24 Hours Phones:
Yamil: (51) 997396835