Peru

SAFETY: good
In general the country has no particular risk situations or areas, but incidents of petty crime are fairly common. The  country is at high risk of earthquakes and volcanic activity. As regards the remaining (few) pockets of revolutionary guerrilla activity, care is advised in the departments of Ancash, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, Pasco, San Martín and Ucayali.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: adequate
Lima is one of the main hubs in South America, well connected to the whole region and also to Italy. The domestic air network is good, the intercity bus network fair, and the road network acceptable where surfaced. The railway network is old and limited, but includes stretches of great scenic interest (Arequipa-Sunbay-Juliaca-Puno, Puno-Cusco, Cusco-Ollantaytambo-Machu Picchu). It is possible to enter overland from neighbouring countries.  

Main airports: Lima, Iquitos.
Main ports: Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas.

HOSPITALITY: fair
A fair choice of accommodation, generally not always up to international standards, better within the tourist circuits.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Peru – Location: South America (south-east). Borders: Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west -  Time zone: UTC -5, 6 hours behind Italy, 7 hours behind during daylight saving time – Area: 1,285,000 km² – Capital: Lima – Population: 28,700,000 – Religion: 82% Catholic, 12% Protestant, 6% other – Languages: Spanish (official language), indigenous languages; English is fairly widely understood – Measurements: metric system.

CURRENCY: Nuevo Sol (PEN). There are no currency restrictions – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted in the main centres and larger establishments; elsewhere, local currency –Exchange: exchange and payments are easier with USD.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Electrical sockets:  types A, B and C,  bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: valid passport; no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For stays of more than 90 days, a residence permit must be requested from the consulate – Driving: international driving permit– Car: local third-party motor insurance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 0051 – GSM: network available only in urban areas and their surroundings. Standard: GSM 1900/850. Local operators: Claro, Movistar – Internet: service available in the main centres and in top-category hotels – Web domain: .pe – Emergency numbers: police 01 4752995/2250220; emergency medical services 116; roadside assistance 01 2119999.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards the laws on the use or trafficking of drugs, prostitution and offences against minors, severe criminal penalties including imprisonment are in force. The law does not protect homosexuality; the country is very conservative, macho and not particularly tolerant, so great discretion is advised.

HEALTH: no vaccinations are required. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B and typhoid is recommended. For excursions into the Amazon rainforest, yellow fever vaccination and malaria prophylaxis are recommended. Hygiene and health conditions are not good and public facilities are on average rather poor; in the main cities there are some good but expensive private facilities. Beware of the effects of high altitude in mountain areas, which can cause breathing difficulties.

 
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; Good Friday and Easter (March/April); 1 May, Labour Day; 29 June, Feast of Sts Peter and Paul; 28 and 29 July, Independence Day; 30 August, St Rose of Lima; 8 October, Battle of Angamos; 1 November, All Saints’ Day; 8 December, Immaculate Conception; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Banks: Mon-Fri 9.00-13.00 – Offices: Mon-Fri 9.00-13.00  and 14.00-17.00.  Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-17.00 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE:    tropical, conditioned by altitude, with two seasons, one dry (variable) and one wet (variable, December-March). Regional variations between the coast, the sierra and the jungle, with humidity increasing inland. The coast has a hot, arid summer season and a mild winter  (December-March)  when the cold Humboldt Current produces thick fog. The coast is subject to periodic flooding caused by El Niño. Moving inland, humidity and rainfall increase and the differences between the two seasons become more marked. In the Amazon region it rains almost all year round, most heavily between December and March.

Monthly min/max temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/mm of rain

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy of Peru
Via Francesco Sciacci 2/B – 00197 Rome – Tel. 06 80691510/80691534/80691777

Consulates
Via Roberto Bracco 1 – 20159 Milan – Tel. 02/69004577
Via Tevere 15 – 00198 Rome – Tel. 06/8848273
Piazza della Vittoria 15 – 16121 Genoa – Tel. 010/589952
Piazza S. Firenze 3 – 50122 Florence – Tel. 055/2608803

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN PERU

Italian Embassy
Avenida Giuseppe Garibaldi 298 – Jesus Maria – Lima 11 – Tel. 0051/1/4632727
Web: www.italembperu.org.pe – E-mail: ambasciata.lima@esteri.it

Honorary Consulate
Av. Garcilaso 700 – Wanchaq – Cusco – Tel. 0051/1/084224398
E-mail: cancelleria consolare.lima@esteri.it