Telefonica:
For calls within Peru you can use the Telefonica phone boots. Telefonica
is the national telephone operator. You can either pay with coins or with
a 147-card. To use these cards you have to dial 147 first followed by
the secret code on your card.
For long distance calls, international and within Peru, it’s cheaper
to buy a “Hola Peru” card, also from Telefonica. To use these cards you
have to dial 0800 80088 first and then the secret code on your card.
For international calls you can use the collect call numbers which you
will find in the Telefonica office at Av. el Sol, the main street of Cusco.
However these numbers do not always work.
Other operators:
You can use some cheaper alternatives to make international calls without
using the netional telephone operator. For instance you can call through
the internet in various Internet Cafes. Also you can use cards from other
operators like Perusat or Americatel.
Mobile phones:
You can buy a SIM card with a number you can use in Peru. However you
have to have a tri-band phone. It is best to buy a card in Cusco if you
want to use it here, because local calls are cheaper. You can als buy
a mobile phone, there are 2 operators, Telefonica and Claro.
With an international student card (ISIC Student card) you can get al lot
of discounts in South America.
In Cusco you can buy the Boleto Turístico, a
10 dollar ticket that allows you to visit 15 archeological sites and museums.
You get a 50% discount when showing your ISIC student card. You
can buy the Boleto at three locations:
·Av. El Sol 103 of. 102 (Galerías Turísticas)
Telf. 22-7037 Open from: 8:00 until 18:00
·Calle Mantas (Edificio el Cuadro) ·At the corner of Calle Garcilaso and Heladeros s/n (Casa Garcilaso)
Telf. 22-6919
In South America there is a network of Hostelling International.
When you have a HI-card you can get discounts on hostels, on travel and
more.
With an South American Explorers card you can get a
discount at the school of 10 %.
In Cusco there are basically two seasons, a rainy and
dry one.
The rainy
season normally occurs from December until February.
·The maximum temperature is around 30° C.
·The average temperature during daytime between 23° and 25° C.
·The minimum temperature is around 20° C.
·The average rainfall in this season is 1000 mm per year.
From March until November the weather is generally
sunny, during the day hot, during the night cold. So you’ll have to bring
summer as well as winter clothes with you.
·The maximum temperature is 32°C
·The average temperature during daytime between 17° and 18°C
·The minimum temperature is 4.4° C
·The average rainfall in this season is less than 500 mm per year.
Peru uses a 220 Volts / 50-60 Hz power system. Some wall sockets may differ,
in that case you’ll need an adapter, also available in the local stores
in Cusco.
The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/), although US Dollars are also
used in the more expensive restaurants, hotels or the travel agencies. There
is no fixed ratio between US Dollar and Nuevo Sol. For the current exchange
rate check http://www.sbs.gob.pe/PortalSBS/.
To change your US Dollars for Nuevos Soles in the street.
There are a lot of Cambistos at Avenida Sol. (see the map
of the center of Cusco).
There are also a lot of cash machines (ATM’s) that
accept all the networks like Plus and Cirrus. Interbank and Banco de Credito
Peru (BCP) are good options.
If you are using Traveller Checks, you can cash them
at various Casas de Cambio.
In Cusco you can use your MasterCard in cash machines.
In general though, Visa is more accepted in South America.
The school only accepts US Dollars or Nuevos Soles
More than 85 % of the people of Peru can’t read or write. There are some
3 million indigenous people on a total of 27 million in Peru. Two million
of these 3 million indigenous people don’t speak Spanish, but Quechua
or Aymara. The people in Peru are generally very friendly, and receive
you very warmly.
You always have to be very careful though with your belongings. Don’t
walk about with much money, keep an eye on your camera. When traveling,
keep your personal documents, passport and money with you, favorable on
your body (see the tips on Security later
on).
Water
The water in Cusco is not safe to drink. You have to buy bottled
water or boil it before drinking.
Toilet
In South-America you can’t flush toilet paper down the toilet, this to
provide the toilet / sewage system from getting stuck. You can deposit
your toilet paper in the waste buckets.
Heat system
The houses in Cusco don’t have a heating system. Thus important to bring
your winter clothes and to use some extra blankets at night.
Hot water
Normally spoken hot water works with electricity here. You have to turn
it on one hour before using the shower or you turn it on when the water
is running, this is more common. However hot water, or even water is not
always available, that is a common problem.
Taxi
Agree on a price before taking a cab. In Cusco the fares in the city are
S/ 2,00 during daytime. At night the tariff is S/ 3,00.
There are a lot of domestic and international flights
leaving from the Cusco airport Alejandro Velasco Astete,
10 minutes from the city center.
There are two train stations in Cusco.
The trains to Machu Picchu leave from the San Pedro station. Trains to
Puno and Arequipa leave from the Wanchac station, located on Av. Pachacútec.
This is a dangerous neighborhood, so be careful with your belongings and
take a taxi to get there.
You also can travel by bus.
There are two small bus stations and one
large one for longer distances.
The bus station for Písac, Calca and Urubamba is located at Av.
Tullumayo.
The bus station for Oropesa, Urcos
y Sicuani is located at the Santa Mónica neighborhood.
The inter-provincial buses arrive and leave from the Ttío station at Av.
Pachacutec.
There are many services to many destinations. You can
choose between a economic service, special, bus-cama (more luxurious,
sometimes with a terramozo (steward) and meals included). The price
of a bus-cama service is of course more expensive but the service
is a lot better, leaving and arriving at time at least. The last couple
of years, Peru improved the conditions of its roads, however some parts
may be bad, especially during rain season. You can always ask for the
conditions at a tourist office.
You can ask the school for traveling tips, we are willing
to help you with your travel plans.
The bus stations are named terminales terrestres
and sometimes you have one especially for North- or Southbound.
You can find more useful information about transportation
on this
site.
Keep a copy of your passport with you all the time. Also put a copy in your
traveling bags.
Keep a copy of the school address and the place where
you stay with you in case of an emergency.
Carry a minimal amount of money with you and don’t
wear expensive watches or jewelry.
Be careful walking alone at night.
Carry your personal papers, your passport and money
with you (best to use a money belt), especially when traveling long distances
in a bus at night.
Ignore paint or similar smears on your clothes, it’s
just a way to distract you.
Ask for identification when a plain police officer
wants to see your personal papers. You shouldn't give him your documents
until you’re at a police station.
Don’t take candy, cigarettes or drinks from strangers,
they might be drugged.
The experience is that Cusco isn’t the hazardous place
in the world, but just be careful, there are a lot of thieves due to the
large number of tourists.
Take care of the necessary vaccinations, your family
doctor can advice you on this, especially when you want to travel to different
countries. It is recommended that students purchase health insurance.
You should have a vaccination against typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis.
If you are going to the jungle a yellow fever vaccination
is required. Also take malaria pills with you when you
want to visit the jungle, but educate yourself about the side effects
(there is no malaria in the Cusco area!).
There are a lot Farmacias (Pharmacies) where
you can buy medicine available without a prescription.
Be careful using mayonnaise in restaurants.
The Cusquenian people often prepare it using fresh and unprepared eggs.
You might be infected with the salmonella bacteria when eating it causing
diarrhea. Also be aware of sauces which might be prepared with unboiled
water.
Soroche or altitude sickness:
In Cusco you might have to adapt to the altitude (3300 meters). Symptoms
are headaches and shortness of breath.
If you experienced problems before with altitude, it
is best to travel first from Lima to Arequipa (by plane
or bus) and stay here for one or two days before continuing to Cusco.
Arequipa is situated 2000 meters above sea level.
When you have some trouble with the altitude in Cusco,
it’s best to rest , to drink a lot of fluids (coca-leaf tea) and avoid
alcohol and heavy meals. There is a medical station at the airport for
visitors that have immediate problems with the altitude.
If you want to stay with a family, here some advices:
It’s nice to bring a gift for your guest family, it
can be helpful to make the first contact
Try to accept and understand the habits and customs
of your family.
You are free when to go and come since you have your
own keys. However communicate with them in advance if you are going to
skip lunch or if you are going to arrive at a different hour.
When you want to use family belongings such as the
fridge
You can use the family telephone only to receive calls,
when you are calling collect or using a telephone card. Just advise them.
When you want to stay longer with the family just
advise the school.
Keep your bedroom tidy, so that the family can clean
your room.
