Frequently Asked Peru Travel Questions

1. How is the weather in Peru?

The best time to visit the highlands is April to October. Clients do also enjoy Peru travel packages during fringe seasons such as November, December, and March, and also have a great experience. The coast will be colder during the peak Highland season, so Peru vacations may have sunny and warm weather December to March. The Amazon is rainy December through March, and dry June through October. Peru adventure travelers to the Amazon should expect sporadic showers all year round as well as hot and humid tropical weather..

2. Will we be in high altitude places?

Yes, during your Peru holiday you will experience high altitudes in Cuzco, Arequipa, and Lake Titicaca. We encourage our clients to check with a doctor before travel. Upon arrival, please rest the first day, drink "mate de coca" (coca tea) and suck on lemon sweets. It is also important when arriving at high altitude to drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. Altitude sickness pills are available at the pharmacy in Cuzco by the name of "soroche" pills, but if you think you need this it is better to get them from your doctor at home, because those are more effective. Your expert Travel Consultant can also help you plan your Peru custom tours to ascend slowly to higher altitudes, like visiting Arequipa first located at 7500 feet, then Cuzco situated at 10,000 feet, then finally Lake Titicaca which is 12,000 feet.

3. Do you need a visa for your Peru vacation?

American citizens do not need a visa. Upon arrival they will receive a permit to remain in Peru up to 90 days. Other nationalities may need a visa, please inquire with our Peru tour company.

4. What inoculations should we get?

For Peru tour packages, no inoculations are legally required to enter Peru's main cities such as Lima and Cuzco from the United States or Europe. However, yellow fever vaccination is recommended if traveling with a Peru Amazon tour to Tambopata, Manu and Puerto Maldonado. We also recommend taking yellow fever vaccination and malaria pills if traveling to Iquitos. Please beware that some countries like Brazil and Costa Rica, may require you to have a yellow fever certificate if you have traveled to Peru before visiting them.

5. What is the voltage on the electrical plugs in Peru?

Peru uses both 220V and 110V. Some hotels have 110V electrical plugs, some have 220V, and some have both… Therefore, we recommend for your Peru trips buying a voltage converter just in case. We also recommend asking at the front desk in the hotels what the voltage of the electrical plugs is, and which electrical plugs in the room have an 110V. This will help to avoid any damage to electronics.

6. Is there a limit on the number of people who can visit Machu Picchu in Peru?

Yes, under advisement from UNESCO the Peruvian government has placed a limit of 2,500 people daily will be allowed to visit Machu Picchu. To ensure a Machu Picchu guided tour, Yampu encourages clients to book in advance. In no uncertain terms does Yampu Tours advise anyone to take trips to Machu Picchu without booking tickets to the ruins in advance. Yampu's Machu Picchu sightseeing tours all include two days in Aguas Calientes, a village at the foothills of the ruins. The first day includes a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Subject to availability, Yampu will work to confirm entrance to Machu Picchu on this first day in Aguas Calientes. Please take note that entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The second day is at leisure with an optional return to Machu Picchu or option to hike Huayna Picchu; neither activity is included. The expert Yampu Travel Consultant will request tickets for a second entrance or a Peru trekking tour up Huayna Picchu at booking if indicated by the client. These tickets are also subject to availability.

7. What is needed to book an Inca Trail hike?

The Peru Inca Trail tours require a permit for everyone entering the Inca Trail including clients, guides, and porters. These trekking tours must be booked with plenty of notice. Permits may sell out anywhere from 3 -6 months, or more, in advance during the high season. Macho Picchu hiking trip permits will be confirmed on a first come-first served basis, passport number and date of birth must be provided at time of booking. The passport number provided on the booking form must be identical to the one you will be traveling with and presenting to the Peruvian authorities upon entrance to the Inca Trail. Please let us know if you will be receiving a renewed passport before your trip and send us a copy of the new one as soon as you receive it. In this case, to ensure your Inca Trail trip, make sure to bring both the old and new Passports on the trip, failure to do so may result in you being denied entry to the Inca Trail.

8. What is the international airport?

The major hub for your Peru travel packages is the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Yampu will book the majority of your international round-trip flights in and out of Lima.

9. When are the Festivals?

Inti Raymi, celebrated on June 24th, is the Festival of the Sun, and the second largest in South America and attracting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Occurring annually in Cuzco, Inti Raymi is a weeklong celebration marking the summer solstice and the beginning of the year. Easter is also a huge time for festivals, one of the best can be seen in Ayacucho.

10. Language

The official language in Peru is Spanish although several indigenous languages are still widely spoken including Quechua and Aymara

11. Currency

Nuevo Sol (PEN)

12. What it the earliest bus from Aguas Calientes for travel to Machu Picchu?

There is a mini bus service from the village to the entrance of Machu Picchu in Peru that runs daily every 15 minutes from 5:30 AM. The sunrise is usually around 6:30AM, but often there can be a mist in the mountains instead of a typical sunrise. The mountains behind Machu Picchu can also make the sunrise seem to occur later. In any case, early morning is a lovely time to enjoy a quieter and possibly more private Machu Picchu tour.

13.What are the hours of operation for trips to Machu Picchu?

The Machu Picchu sanctuary is open from 6am and stays open until 6pm daily.

14. How can I enjoy Peru hiking tours like Huayna Picchu and Sungate around Machu Picchu?

Trekking Huayna Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu, needs to be planned in advance. Visitors now must buy a new combined Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu entrance ticket. These Peru trekking tours have designated times of departure, usually at 8:30 am and 10:00 am. Currently, there is no control for treks to the sungate, we suggest you ask your guide to point out the trail for you.

15.Can I change the name on my Inca Trail Permit?

Unfortunately, it is not longer possible to change a passport or name information on a permit already purchased for Inca Trail trips.

16. What are the typical meals on during an Inca Trail tour?

The typical meals on the Inca Trail packages are:
Continental Breakfast: Fruit salad, pancake, milk, coffee, oats, hot chocolate, bread, butter, marmalade.
Lunch: Soups, creams, lomo saltado (beef dish), chicken, red meat, rice, potatoes and spaghetti, hot drinks.
Dinner: Corn cream, moraya cream, vegetables soup, sémola, wheat cream, rice with chicken, spaghetti with meat. Fruit and cold and hot drinks (coffee, tea, coca)

17. What do I do with my luggage during my Machu Picchu group tours?

When you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), you will be met by a representative of the hotel where you will be staying. That person will take your luggage to the hotel while you take the bus for your Machu Picchu guided tour. When you return, your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel. Please remember to lock your luggage in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

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