GEOGRAPHY
Peru is the third largest country in South America with 1'285,216 square kilometers or 498,222 square miles. It is divided into an arid coastal strip reaching form north to south of the Country, The andes with their snow-capped peaks and fertile valleys, and the tropical rainforest of the amazon basin in the east. Tour Operator Cusco.

POPULATION
22'000,000 in Peru, with around 6'000,000 in and surrounding the capital, Lima: 50% of the population is indian, 35% mestizo, 15% Caucasian, negro and oriental. The official language is Spanish, but all over the andes qheshwa, is largely spoken. Aymara around the Titikaka lake and some other native dialects are also spoken in jungle areas.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You need a valid passport for entry, Tourist cards will be provided on the plane before landing. These must be kept with your passport for the duration of your visit. Some countries do need an entry visa. Please request for information at the closest Peruvian consulate.

CURRENCY
This is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (Current exchange rate is S/3.5 per dollar as per 7/99)
Money exchange can also be done at most hotels or authorized exchange houses. Check with your local agent.
ATM machines are available in town .

ELECTRICITY
220 volts, 60 cycles

TIME
GMT -5Machu Picchu Peru,Peru is the third largest country in South America with 1'285,216 square kilometers or 498,222 square miles

WEATHER AND CLOTHING
Because of Peru's varied topography, and tropical location its climate is varied also. The seasons are nor marked or do not exist at all. The typical seasonal division is Rain or dry. The jungle areas are always hot and humid with rains throughout the year. In the Andes the temperature tends to be warm during the day but cold at night, with the rainy season between December and April. The temperature in Lima rarely rises above 80F, 28C in the summer (December to may) or falls below 57F,13C in winter (June to November). It never rains in Lima, but the city is often shrouded in a damp, Grey mist during the winter months. Lightweight cotton clothing and sun & insect protection is recommended for the jungle, and plenty of layers of both warm and cool clothes for the Andes. Comfortable walking or hiking shoes are recommended for most of tour and sightseeing’s in the Andes.

SHOPPING
Shopping hours is Monday to Saturday from 10.to 13.oo and 16.oo to 20.oo hrs. In most of Peru's cities there are handicraft markets & regular shops where quality is better chosen.
Peruvian handicraft is rich and varied. We have from gold and silver jewelry, to hand-woven goods of fine Alpaca wool, textile llama & alpaca rugs, sweaters and shawls, pottery and straw and basketwork and elegant woodwork.

Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and Huancayo specialize in Alpaca and woolen goods while in Iquitos, Pucallpa and other jungle areas you can buy blowguns, spears and necklaces.

FOOD AND DRINKS
Peruvian cuisine is delicious and diverse with jungle fruits, succulent fish and seafood, hot peppery souses. There are traditional restaurants specializing in the famous "ceviche"-fresh fish marinated in lime-juice, or " Anticuchos" - shis-kebads of spicy marinated meat cooked over charcoal, Or Chifa restaurants, which provide Peru's exotic alternative to Chinese cuisine. Or try Andean specialties such as roast guinea pig with peanut sauce, Or Pachamanca where different meats and vegetables are roasted together over hot stones in pits.
Peruvian beer is excellent, and wine is good, but the national drink Of course is the Pisco-sour, made from a grape brandy with limejuice and eggwhite. Chicha ( a corn beer) is largely drank in the andean areas where they also make strawberries drinks.

WATER
It is purified in most of Peruvian cities, however it is safer drinking purified water . Please help us preserve our natural environment: don´t buy plastic bottles. Some hotels and agencies like us offer to refill your bottle for free or at cost. Be part of “Boicott Plastic” program.

TRANSPORT
Domestic airlines link with daily flights most of Peruvian destinations. To have information about local flights (Perú), please contact us.

Road transportation is also available, It is paved on the coast, and some of the Andean tourists roads are also paved.
Railroad network operates in regular passanger itineraries :

· Cusco-Machupicchu.
· Cusco- Puno