WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT PERU? WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?

March to October: Dry season
November to February: Rainy Season
May to September: High tourist season
February: Inca Trail closure (for cleaning and restoration works)

Peru has an incredibly diverse landscape, so climates can also vary a lot.

• The coastal desert (including Lima) is generally dry but cloudy through most of the year. However, January through March tends to see higher temperatures and clear skies.

• In Cusco and the Andes, the dry season takes place from April to November. Skies are generally clear with strong sunshine in the mornings, though as the day progresses there may be more clouds. However, especially in the Andes, anything is possible at any time of year, including rapid and unexpected changes, rain or even snow! At night, even during the dry season, it can get very cold (even around or below freezing point) - particularly around Lake Titicaca.

• Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the Cloud Forest (as are the Inca Trails) and attract large amounts of precipitation all year as clouds move up from the Amazon basin. Rain here can be heavy, but rarely lasts long.

• The Amazon Rainforest is generally warm and humid, though it can also drop in temperature there at any time of year, most often in June and July. We recommend taking some warm clothing with you to the lodge, just in case of sudden changes in the weather.

FLOODING & LANDSLIDES During the wet season in Peru (November to April) there have been occasions of torrential rains and flooding in some parts of the country. Landslides and inclement weather can cause disruption to road and rail travel as well as trekking and hiking routes. These can include Cusco, the routes to Machu Picchu and the north of Peru.

EARTHQUAKES Peru is in an active earthquake zone and there are frequent tremors. If in a building when an earthquake strikes keep away from the windows and make your way to the safe zones marked in most buildings with an ‘S’ sign. If you are outside keep away from buildings and other areas where objects, like trees or power lines, could fall.

WHAT ARE PERU'S PUBLIC HOLIDAYS?

Peruvians are big into parades and celebrations, so to experience this part of the culture, you may want to consider traveling during these public holidays. On the other hand, you may want to avoid them entirely because of the larger crowds, higher prices and lower availabilities.

There are many other days (including Mother's Day) that have special significance, though not officially public holidays, and every town or region will have their own so you're very likely to catch some special celebration at some point along your trip.

Date	Holiday Name	Comment
January 1	New Year's Day (Año Nuevo)	Similar to a lot of other countries, celebrations begin the night before and continue during the first day of the new year.
March/April	Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo)	Part of the Holy Week, the Thursday before Easter. Commemorates the Last Supper.
March/April	Good Friday (Viernes Santo)	Part of the Holy Week, the Friday before Easter. Commemorates the crusifixion so more solemn parades.
May 1	Labor Day (Día del Trabajador)	Besides parades, this day off tends to include a lot of alcohol.
June 29	St. Peter & St. Paul Day (Día de San Pedro y San Pablo)	Commemorates the martyrdom of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
July 28&29	Independence Day (Día de la Independencia)	Celebrate the independence of Peru from Spain. You can expect parades, parties, but also lots of businesses to be closed.
August 30	St. Rose of Lima Day (Día de Santa Rosa de Lima)	The patron saint of Peru and the indigenous natives of Latin America is celebrated.
October 8	Battle of Angamos (Combate de Angamos)	Commemorates a key battle during the War of the Pacific against Chile.
November 1	All Saints' Day (Día de Todos los Santos)	A colorful day of family feasting.
December 8	Immaculate Conception	A major religious feast day.
December 25	Christmas Day	Peruvians make a bigger deal out of Noche Buena or Christmas Eve (when attending church is a big part of the celebration).

PASSPORT & VISA: WHAT DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL?

Please double check the validity of your passport, most countries require that it remains valid for a minimum of 6 months after your trip finishes. It's also important to ensure that the name on your flights and tour tickets matches that of your passport exactly. This is one of the reasons why we ask for a copy to secure your booking and reservations. It can occer in South American countries that you receive an immigration card when entering, keep this safe as you may need to provide it when you exit the country. Some countries or airlines require you to provide information of your return flight. On arrival, you’re normally given permission to stay for up to 90 days in Peru.

Also make sure to check any visa requirements for your travel to Peru, including any transit visas for your flights (some countries such as the United States and Canada require them, even if you do not leave the airport). Government/consular websites are the best source for this information as each country will have different regulations for different nationalities.

Citizens of Australia, USA, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, New and Zealand do not currently require a visa for Peru. For all nationalities please reconfirm your visa or entry requirements with the Peruvian consulate in your home country.

If you do need a visa, be aware that they can sometimes take a few weeks to process so it's best to start organising this as soon as you have booked your trip. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Passports and visas are the individual traveller's responsibility.

We recommend to make copies of all your important documents and have one copy in your bag and another copy at home with family or friends.

HEALTH INFORMATION: DO I NEED ANY VACCINATIONS? WILL I PHYSICALLY BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS TRIP? WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

All travellers should be in good physical health in order to participate fully on our tours. Each tour will have detailed information about the level of difficulty and anything that should be taken into consideration. Make sure you have read through this info and itinerary carefully, and make sure you feel confident about participating and enjoying fully. If you have some doubts, please do contact us to discuss.

Please note that our group leaders and local guides will asses whether or not each traveller is capable of completing the itinerary without risk to themselves or the rest of the group - they might advise you some alternatives, or Papi's Treks reserves the right to exclude anyone from all or part of the trip without refund.

VACCINATIONS There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever. If you are travelling to the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to seek further medical advice from a professional. We recommend to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent (DEET is best), and wear long-sleeved (loose fitting and light colored) shirts and trousers while in the rainforest.

Please consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We also recommend that you carry with you a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements, as they may not easily be obtained at every location on this trip. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS Anyone traveling above 2,500m may be affected by altitude sickness, regardless of age or fitness! It is the reaction of the body adjusting to decreasing amounts of oxygen at higher altitudes.

Everyone reacts differently, and there's no way of knowing in advance. Symptoms may be mild and subside/go away after a day’s rest, but if they are ignored, be aware that in extreme cases this can be life threatening.

Most travellers are able to successfully acclimatise, however, there are instances where medical treatment is required. We encourage you to discuss any symptoms with your tour leader/guide straight away so you both can follow your acclimatisation progress. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly. You're more at risk if you've had altitude sickness before, if you exercise or drink alcohol before acclimatising to the altitude, or have health problems that affect breathing. See your doctor before travelling and get advice specific to you and your situation. Certain medications are reported to aid acclimatizing to high altitude. Please discuss these options with your doctor. Also check that your insurance covers emergency evacuation from altitude and related medical costs.

Symptoms can start to appear within 1-2 hours although most often appear gradually 6-10 hours after ascent and generally subside in 1-2 days as the body adjusts to altitude. They may reappear as you continue to go higher. It can be one or a combination of the following:

• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Disturbed sleep or drowsiness
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Nausea/vomiting
• Dizziness
• Swelling of hands, feet & face

The altitude can make physical activity feel more tiring than at sea level so take it easy and go at a slower pace than normal, especially the first few days. Make sure to drink plenty of water.

If the body is unable to adjust to altitude symptoms will persist and, if they are left untreated, altitude sickness may progress to High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). Both can be fatal if ignored.

Ultimately, the best treatment for acute altitude sickness is to descend to a lower altitude. There may be times when your leader makes the decision that you or a member of your group is at risk of serious altitude sickness and for safety insists that you cannot ascend further - please respect that they are within their rights to do so and are making that decision in the best interests of your health and well-being.

MEDICAL TREATMENT Medical treatment can be expensive and is not always of high quality in some parts of the country. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

It is compulsory to have travel insurance to take a tour with Papi's Treks, this is your responsibility and cost to cover. Please ensure that your policy covers you for all areas and activities (including optional ones) that your itinerary covers, up to the maximum altitude of the trip.
Inca trail: up to 4,450m above sea level
Rainbow mountain: up to 5,200m above sea level
Colca canyon: up to 4,910m above sea level

IS PERU SAFE TO TRAVEL IN?

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before booking and again before departure. Ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.

While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport, and when arriving at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Always be aware of your surroundings. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. Leave your valuable jewellery at home and use the hotel safety deposit boxes, where possible. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. In order to avoid fraud and theft, it is advisable that you withdraw money from ATMs located inside banks or guarded shops during business hours only.

In accordance with local laws governing tourism in Peru, trekking groups of up to and including 8 trekkers must be led by one local guide.

It's crucial that you adhere to the local guide's safety instructions. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns.