Peru is the adventure of lifetime. There’s something for everyone from delicious food and amazing restaurants in Lima, fascinating history and breath-taking hikes near Cusco, to diverse wildlife and lush landscapes in the Amazon rainforest. Peru should be at the top of the list for any kind of traveller! To make your trip the best it can be, I’ve compiled a list of 10 things you need to know before visiting.
1)Get All Your Vaccinations And Medications
A few months before your Peru trip, you should visit a travel clinic to receive any vaccinations you may need and get prescriptions for medications. This varies based on what area in Peru you will be visiting.
For Cuzco (&Machu Pichu):
Get: Acetazolamide (Diamox) Diamox is a medication prescribed to prevent altitude sickness. You should begin taking Diamox 2 days before you get to Cuzco and continue taking it throughout your stay. In the US, you need a prescription, but you can buy it in most pharmacies.
Consider: Azithromycin. There’s nothing that can ruin a trip like traveller’s diarrhea can. Azithromycin is the preferred medication to treat this. I will start working within 2-3 hours of taking it although you might not start to feel better right away. An over the counter medication to take instead is Immodium or Pepto Bismal.
For the Amazon:
Get: The yellow fever vaccine
Consider: The rabies vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Typhoid vaccine, Malaria pills
For Lake Titicaca
Get: Diamox (acetaxolamide). At 12,500 feet, Lake Titicaca is at an even higher elevation than Cuzco. Make sure you have enough Diamox pills prescribed if Lake Titicaca is included in your itinerary.
2)Prepare For Altitude Sickness
After going from Lima (at sea level) to Cuzco (11,000 feet), your body will probably hate you and it will take some time to adjust. The best thing you can do is prepare ahead of time.
Start taking your altitude sickness medication such as Diamox 2 days before arriving in Cuzco. Diamox can be prescribed at a travel clinic, but if you did not visit one before your trip, most pharmacies in Peru will have the medication over the counter. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of (bottled) water.
If you decide against the Diamox, Ibuprofen is also effective in relieving altitude sickness symptoms. Many of the hotels will offer Coco tea which is thought to also help with altitude sickness (although not completely proven).
3)Practice Your Negotiating Skills
It is completely normal and expected to negotiate down the asking price when shopping in Peru. For mass produced items, start by offering around 30 percent lower than the asking price. The end offer should be a 20-25 percent discount from the initial price. For hand-made items, I tend to negotiate a much lower percentage or not at all.
Higher end stores typically do not bargain, but it can never hurt to ask if the set price is the best they can offer.
Keep in mind that although it is normal to negotiate down the price, a few Peruvian soles tends to mean a lot more to the seller than the typical tourist. Be respectful of the seller and the products they are trying to sell.
4)Give Yourself Enough Time!
Machu Picchu just scratches the surface of all the amazing things to see and do in Peru. For your first trip to Peru, I would recommend visiting the Amazon, Cuzco & Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca. This will take at least 12-13 days. I booked a tour through Alpaca Expeditions that included all of these locations at an unbeatable price. They are a locally owned Peruvian owned company with some of the highest reviews. The guides were some of the friendliest people that went out of their way to make my trip the best experience. Even better, they booked everything for me, down to the hotel pickups and airport transfers. One of my favorite parts of the trip was Lake Titicaca when I got to stay with a local family for a night and eat homemade meals with them.
If one week off is all you can manage, I would recommend this 7 day tour with Alpaca Expeditions which includes the Amazon, Cusco, and a Machu Picchu hike.
5)Safety
When traveling to any new city, it’s important to use extra caution and be aware of your surroundings. I encountered plenty of solo travellers on my trip and personally never felt unsafe, but like any country, Peru has its rougher areas. Lima and Puno are two cities in Peru where some extra caution should be advised especially when traveling in the evening or alone.
Petty crime such as pit-pocketing is the most common issue you would most likely encounter. The diminish the risk of that, limit your belonging to only essential items and leave your more expensive items at the hotel. Not all hotel rooms in Peru have safes. Consider buying this Master Lock Portable Safe if you are unsure if your hotel will have a safe and especially if you are staying in a hostel.
When getting a taxi, book only the “Green” taxis inside the airport or bus station. Do not wander outside the area for a taxi. Also, you should confirm the price before getting into the taxi as some drivers in Peru are known to upcharge or take longer routes.
6)Don’t Drink The Tap Water
The tap water is not safe to drink in Peru. Most hotels will supply you will one bottle of water per person, but I always made sure to have 2 bottles on hand in case they did not. You can also boil water for at least one minute and use a reusable water bottle.
Remember that you also should not use tap water to brush your teeth. A good hack to remember this is to tape your toothbrush to a bottle of water. Also, be sure to request no ice in drinks when you are out at a restaurant or bar.
7)Pack Appropriate Clothing
The climate can differ drastically based on where you’re going in Peru and the time of year that you’re going. A good place to start is to pack in layers to cover most of your bases.
Starting with your baseline layer, you should include a light pair of leggings, athletic shorts, tank top and t-shirts. The middle layer should consist of hiking pants, a pair of jeans, sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt. Finally, a raincoat or windbreaker depending on what time of year you are going and the chance of rain.
Remember that the rainy season in Peru is from October until March each year. If you are visiting during any of those months, pack a good-quality rain jacket or a poncho.
Remember that you will be walking a A LOT during your time in Peru so a good pair of hiking socks and proper footwear is a must.
8)Buy A Sturdy Pair Of Hiking Boots
Even the best quality sneaker probably won’t cut it for your Peru trip. If you are hiking Machu Picchu, a good pair of hiking boots is an absolute must. Aside from that, many of the tourist attractions will have you climbing up steep stairs and walking on uneven terrain. Investing in a good pair of hiking boots is essential.
9)Try The Local Food and Drinks
Peru had some of the most amazing foods and drinks I’ve ever had. Each region you visit in Peru will have differences in their cuisines, but some staple foods used consistently in Peruvian dishes are potatoes, corn, quinoa, and legumes. Peru is known widely for their Ceviche which is a must-try when you are visiting. Alpaca and Cuy (guinea pig) are two popular sources of meat that can be found at many restaurants.
Not only is the food delicious, but in many restaurants, even the simplest of dishes is beautifully presented.
Don’t leave without trying the a Pisco Sour! Try the Inka Cola (even if it tastes like bubble gum).
10)Brush Up On Your Spanish
It’s always good to know at least some basic words before traveling to any foreign country. Not only is this respectful to the local people living there, but can be useful when navigating the city or buying from the markets. Like most tourist destinations, many people in Cusco and parts of Lima can speak English and you could get by.
