banks and authorised exchange bureaux (open approximately between 9.30 am and 6.00 pm). The US Dollar exchange rate varies, so check before changing your money. For other currencies, check with the
exchange bureaux. To find out the exchange rate please visit:
Many of these are in a secure location accessed only by your card.
Offices
Monday to Friday - 8 am to 7 pm with one to two hours lunch break
Shopping
* In general, stores, shops, shopping centres and crafts markets are open every day from 9 am to 8 pm.
* Bargaining for prices is acceptable in markets as well as with beach or street vendors. This practice is known as regateo. Do be aware that a few traders will try to charge gringos more.
Documents
You should always carry your personal documents with you as you may be required to produce them at
any time, particularly in banks, to police or to security guards to gain access to premises. If you
wish to hire a car, you will need an International Driving Permit. (In the UK these can be obtained
from main post offices).
Valuables
You should avoid unnecessary risks by depositing your valuables in the hotel safe or in a bank and
only carrying low denomination banknotes and travellers cheques.
Post Offices
Expect to queue. These are generally found near the centre of towns and are open at roughly the same
times as banks.
Telephone/Internet
There are many internet cafes, many of which contain telephones, in addition to public phone boxes.
We recommend that you purchase a telephone card for making phone calls. These are available from
kiosks and supermarkets. Be careful with internet cafes, as not all are on broadband and you can
lose your connection while in the middle of composing an e-mail. You should ask if they have banda ancha (broadband).
Transport
We recommend taxis as the means of transport (rickshaw/motorcycle taxis in Iquitos). It is usual to
tip the driver if he carries your luggage for you. The hotel will arrange a taxi for you, for a certain time or place, or you can always pick one up on the street. It is normal to negotiate the fare with the driver before setting off. The hotel will tell you what you should expect to pay.
Safety
We should like to stress that Peru is a safe country to visit, providing you take normal precautions.
There is no more terrorism than found in Europe or North America and crime is not a major problem.
But we should like to make these observations:
* If you decide to use public transport, be careful of the areas they pass through and take particular care of your belongings. Do not wear a hat if you are sitting beside the open window of a bus, as it might be snatched. Snatch thieves particularly like gorros (baseball caps).
* Be discreet when carrying valuable items. Do not carry large amounts of cash.
* Carry your money and ID in a money belt, but be aware that thieves have been known to slit the
bottom of these, but to do this they have to be very close to you. Therefore get away from anyone who
attempts to crowd you. Keep an eye on your bags and luggage.
* We have experienced someone coming up to us and asking if we have any change. When we show him what
we have, thinking he wants to change something, he takes it and says thank you; hell pay us back.
Then he runs off.
* Take normal precautions against pickpockets.
* Do not carry your case, handbag or backpack on your back.
* Do not change money in the street.
* Avoid walking alone or in dimly lit areas at night.
Food and Drink
Peruvian cuisine offers a great variety of typical dishes from the Coast, the Highlands and the Amazon Region. Ask about ingredients as some may be hot or very spicy problematical for stomachs not used to it. Also, there are restaurants serving international food.
As for drinks, try chicha morada (purple corn juice), chichi de jora (fermented red or yellow corn
drink) or any fresh fruit juice. Inka Kola is a very popular gaseosa (soda) which is less fizzy than
Coca Cola. They call it the golden cola and it is much more popular than Coke.
Tipping
In Peru, the tipping amount varies from one place to another and will depend on your satisfaction
with the service you receive, but beware that as you leave airports porters will descend upon you
and try to take your baggage, although you may not need it carried.
