PRINCIPAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CUSCO PERU Is the city of Cusco safe ? Yes, the city is safe, you have to just use your common sense. What type of weather can I expect in Peru? The weather varies greatly from region to region in Peru. At the Coast you can expect a damp and cloudy winter that runs from June to September. Average temperatures are around 14°C. During the summer, temperatures can peak at 28°C or over. In the Highlands, the sun shines all year round and temperatures descend at night, averaging 5°C. Rainy season runs from November to early April. The climate in the Amazon jungle is tropical all year round. In both regions, the rain season runs from November through April. I'm arriving at Lima, are taxi's expensive? Taxi's are no problem in Lima, except taxis from the airport, where you may be charged as much as $30! Please ensure that if nobody is meeting you that you book your taxi from within the arrivals hall and do not take a taxi from the street! We can also arrange your transfers if you prefer. What airlines operate to Cusco ? You have a choice of LANPeru, AeroCondor or StarPeru. Do I need a visa? Travelers with a US, Canadian or European passport do not need a visa. Visit (www.embassy.org/embassies/pe.html) for entry requirements if your passport is from another country; or (http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html) for further details pertaining to US citizens. Is my passport valid? Your passport must be valid at least 6 months following the end of your trip for entry into Peru. If it expires sooner, you must get a renewal (http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html). Do I need any shots? No vaccinations are required for travel to Peru from the USA. Call the CDC Travelers' Hot Line at 888-232-3228 or visit the website (www.cdc.gov/travel). Most travelers receive innoculations for Hepatitis A, Typhoid Fever and Tetanus. If traveling to the Amazon region, you should consider Malaria prophylaxis and Yellow fever. When is my balance due? Your land balance and local flight payment is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are paying by American Express or participating on a custom trip, the balance is due at 90 days. An invoice will be sent with your Pre-departure Packet. Will I be met at the airport? Yes, if you arrive according to schedule or have arranged extra transfers through our office. Meeting instructions and local contact information will be given with your Final Documents. Who books the local flights within Peru? You can book the flights in conjunction with your international itinerary. Southwind will provide you with an air schedule to best match your trip. We can also recommend a Latin American ticketing specialist to assist you with all your airline ticketing needs. Most local airlines use 727/737 jets except for charter flights into the Amazon Basin (ie. Manu Park) or overflight of Nazca Lines where smaller (8-15 passenger) prop planes are used. Should I bring cash or traveler's checks? Cash is the easiest to exchange and most places accept US dollars, traveler's checks are also OK. Visit (www.oanda.com/converter/classic) for current exchange rates. Are ATM machines available? Yes. There are ATM machines in the main cities such as Lima and Cusco. We recommend using the ones located inside some hotels, stores, restaurants or banks. Be cautious as some thieves may watch these machines and target tourists and others who take out large amounts of cash. Consult with your guide for safety recommendations on ATM's or exchanging money. What is the elevation of Machu Picchu? Machu Picchu is actually lower in elevation than Cusco (7,874' versus 11,150'). Is Peru safe? We consider Peru a safe destination. After more than 15 years of operating trips to Peru, our travelers have never experienced a problem with safety, whether in the cities or trekking routes. You can receive an updated Consular Information Sheet from the US State Department's website (http://travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html) or call their hotline at 888-407-4747. What about thievery? Petty thievery in Peru's cities is not higher than in any large city in the US. Common sense is important. Use the safety deposit box at your hotel for your passport and extra money (carry only as much as you might spend) and leave jewelry and expensive watches at home. What about sunrise at Machu Picchu? Due to the mountain location, it is not possible to actually view the sunrise over the horizon from Machu Picchu. What is commonly referred to as sunrise at Machu Picchu occurs when the first light strikes the citadel itself. This happens between 6:30am and 7:20am depending on the month. The gates to the ruins open at about 5:30am which should allow anyone wishing to witness this phenomenon time to locate a special spot within the citadel. There are early buses up to the ruins from Aguas Calientes for those staying at the Pueblo Hotel to enjoy 3-4 hours at Machu Picchu before the tourist train arrives at about 10:30am. What about the full moon at Machu Picchu? Due to stricter visiting hours, it is not possible to enter the ruins at night. The gates to the Machu Picchu ruins close at 6:00pm. How do I train for my trip? If you lead an active lifestyle (walking, cycling, swimming, tennis, etc. on a regular basis) you will do fine on a Grade I or II trip. For Grade III trips you should plan to jog or stair climb for at least 45 minutes 4-5 times per week (more frequency for a Grade IV trip). How do I adjust to the altitude? Gradual exposure to higher elevations and time are the best ways to acclimatize. If possible, try to arrive to Cusco (elevation 11,150') a day early. Drink plenty of water, eat lightly and avoid alcoholic beverages for the first day or two. Many travelers find that drinking coca tea is also effective. What about an emergency while traveling? Southwind has never had a life-threatening emergency for a traveler in more than 15 years of operations. Our guides are trained in mountain/wilderness first-aid. Depending on the circumstances, a vehicle, horse or helicopter may take an injured or ill person to the nearest medical facility. English-speaking doctors and clinics are available in all major cities (Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, Lima, etc.). Who will be my guide? We work with the most respected and experienced local guides, many of whom have advanced degrees in tourism, biology, Andean culture or other specialities. All speak fluent English and are knowledgeable, patient and fun to be around. Your Final Documents will provide guide details. Are there alternative routes ? Short 2 day Inca Trail - easy to moderate Inca Jungle Trail - Machu Picchu 5 days trek -moderate to difficult. Mollepata-Salkantay-Santa Teresa 5 days trek - moderate to difficult Ausangate 6 days trek -moderate to difficult Lares Valley 4 days trek - moderate Choquequirao 4 to 5 day trek - moderate Vilcabamba 7 days trek - moderate Why Peru Cusco Travel? We are a licensed tour operator that works with knowledgable, experienced Tour Guides, really cares about the porters´ welfare, is environmentally sensitive and believes strongly in sustainable tourism in general. PC Travel are created jobs for some 100 guides, porters and cooks and contributes to the Peruvian government with 19% taxes on all sales (overseas companies are exempt from paying this so do not contribute to the Peruvian economy in this aspect). Do I need to be fit? Yes. As all our treks (the Inca Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate etc.) are moderately difficult, long and mountainous, we highly recommend that you are relatively fit - and acclimatised - before undertaking them (stair master helps!). During the months (or at the very least, one month) before your trip, you should take regular, moderate exercise. We want you to have an amazing experience and the fitter you are, the more enjoyable the treks will be. Since we go over heights of 4200m/13750ft to 5200m/17000ft during these treks, we also strongly suggest that you stay in Cusco (3334 metres/10900ft) or another high altitude city (Arequipa (2320m/7586ft) Puno (3850m/12589ft) for some days before leaving on any of these adventure trips. It generally takes 4 weeks to fully acclimatise, however a 4 to 5 day period in a high altitude city will give your body time to adjust and reduce the possibility of altitude sickness affecting you. Some recommendations to help your body acclimatise are: Avoid over-exerting yourself when you first arrive (however, some gentle activity during the day is better than sleeping) Eat lots of carbohydrates Drink lots of fluids Avoid cigarettes and alcohol Avoid taking sleeping pills Drink coca (ancient traditional leaf) tea