A Note to Participants
You will fly into Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru. We
will all meet up, to begin our journey, at the Hotel San Antonio in Lima on
October 21, 2008. Your pilgrimage fee includes the cost of accommodations for
this night. Travel insurance is required for this trip.
In late August, I will contact you for additional information including
flight information and any special needs (vegetarian meals, early arrivals or
departures, etc.). I will also know at that time if there are any single
accommodations available. If you would like to come into Lima a day or two
early, we can arrange for you to check-in early at the Hotel San Antonio. The
cost for a single room is US$37.50 and US$25.00 per person for a double room
(US$50.00). Transportation to the hotel costs US$15.00 for one person, US$10.00
per person for two.
To help you plan your international return flights I have listed the flight
schedule from Cusco to Lima below.
Leave Arrive
CUZLIM 0725 0845
CUZLIM 0745 0905
CUZLIM 0920 1040
CUZLIM 1110 1230
CUZLIM 1115 1235
CUZLIM 1250 1410
CUZLIM 1310 1430
CUZLIM 1400 1520
CUZLIM 1420 1540
CUZLIM 1510 1620
I will be communicating with you regularly, providing additional information,
packing tips, etc., once registration closes on August 15, 2008. If you have any
questions or concerns, please contact me.
What’s Included:
Bilingual guides for all tours.
All airport and hotel transfers.
All land transport during the itinerary.
The cost of entry for all scheduled tours and archaeological
sites.
All hotel accommodations (on a twin share basis).
Meals as noted.
What’s not included:
International round-trip airfare to and from Peru.
Personal expenses (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages,
medical or travel insurance, laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
Additional meals, if desired.
Pre-departure health preparations
You should be in good health and relatively fit. Because of the high
altitude, if you have any pre-existing conditions, especially heart and lung
problems or high blood pressure, you should get advice from your doctor before
registering.
Normal vaccinations for tetanus, polio, diphtheria, and
tuberculosis should be up-to-date. It is also advisable to be vaccinated for
Hepatitis A & B. To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least
4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect .
Health care
Peru generally maintains good health conditions. Hospitals
and clinics provide adequate services, especially in Lima and the other main
cities. To avoid altitude sickness or soroche, it is recommended that you
ascend gradually in order to become acclimatized, rest on the first day of your
arrival, eat light foods, drink plenty of water and keep lemon candies at hand.
If you have heart problems consult your doctor. To keep from getting
gastrointestinal infections, it is recommended that you take care when eating
raw foods. Drink purified, filtered orboiled water, and do not eat food from
street vendors. The general rule is: if you can’t peel it, wash it in purified
water, cook it or shell it—don’t eat it!
Languages
The official languages are Spanish (80% of the population),
Quechua (Andean and highland regions), and Aymara (in the Puno high plateau). In
addition, there are around fifty native languages. It is possible to communicate
in English with tourist services workers such as tourist guides, travel agency
employees and 3 to 5-star hotels staff.
Currency and forms of payment
The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. US$1.00 = 3
soles.
It is also possible to exchange currency (US$ and Euros) at
hotels, banks, and authorized exchange houses. Working hours for most banks and
exchange houses are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays to
12:00 p.m. The country’s main cities have ATMs that accept different kinds of
debit and credit cards. The most widely accepted credit cards are: American
Express, VISA, and MasterCard and most establishments charge 5% more if you pay
with credit card and no charge with debit card
Electricity
220 volts.
Weather
The Mountain Highlands (Cusco, Lake Titicaca, etc)
May – October.
This period is the dry season, with hot, dry days and cool dry nights. The
average temperature in late October is 40°F low - 70°F high (4°C - 40°C).
The Coast (Lima, Arequipa).
May – November
Arequipa is dry and sunny all year long. During August, the weather gets
slightly cold at night and at dawn, but the mornings and afternoons are warmed
by bright sunshine.
Generally speaking, the weather in Arequipa is mild with
temperatures fluctuating between 50°F - 75°F (10°C - 24°C).
Machu Picchu
Temperatures run from the low 50s°F (10°C) at night to the
mid 80s°F (26°C) during the day. Given its exposed location, it can get quite
hot in Machu Picchu, and at its elevation, the sun is strong.
Things to bring
Make sure you pack a hat, sunscreen, and bug spray. Pack
lightweight clothing (silk, fleece, etc.) as opposed to heavy items like denim,
sweatshirts, etc.
A little about Peru
Peru has one of the largest jungles in the world, the
planet’s driest desert, and a large section of the world’s second highest
mountain range. Because of these extremes, Peru has an extraordinary range of
life forms. Twenty of the planet’s thirty-four life zones can be found in Peru,
which is more than any other country in the world.
