Visitors can stay in Peru for 90 days but only for tourism, which can be extended by the Immigration Office. Travelers need a valid passport issued by Peruvian immigration authorities.

Clothing and weather
Take warming clothes, but also t-shirts and a rain coat (especially if you travel during December to March). Bring hat, sun block and sun glasses. Take comfortable shoes and a day pack for the guided tours; you can wear hiking shoes if you want to. There are cheap laundries from 5 Nuevos Soles per kilo.

Ica region is sunny all year around; do not forget your hat. Arequipa has a nice weather, but rain might appear during the rainy season. Colca Canyon is cold early in the morning and late at night, during the day the temperature is warmer. Remember that the rainy season goes from December to March.

You can check the current weather in Peru at: wheather

Altitude sickness
When travelling to high altitude, the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere can cause discomfort in some people. At altitudes above 3000m / 9500 ft, everybody will feel out of breath and experience a faster heart beat. Here are some recommendations to minimize the probable annoyances:

- When you arrive to highlands take it easy, let your body acclimatize, relax, walk slowly, rest upon arrival at your hotel and do not push yourself.

- Keep hydrated, drink non-carbonated bottled water. Try the coca tea that contains mild brew of stimulants. This will help if you drink a few cups a day, but avoid it at night, as will keep you awake, similar to coffee.

- On arrival to high altitude, try to eat light meals like soups on the first day. If you will eat meat make it chicken or fish.

- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol on your first day at high altitude.

Vaccines
Vaccines are not required to visit Peru, unless you visit the Amazon, in this case the Yellow Fever shot has to be provided 10 days before you arrival.

Currency
The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.) Most shops and restaurants take US dollars at the daily exchange rate; travelers should have local currency and especially small notes (10 Soles notes are the best). In major cities credit cards are accepted, travel checks are not widely used; check if they are accepted before.
There are exchange places at the airports and in main destinations. ATMs are easy to find, you can get Nuevos Soles or US dollars from them.

The rate is about 3 Nuevos Soles per 1 US dollar. To find the latest rate, please check: Money exchagen

Budget and tipping
Even it is relative to say, we recommend you to have 30 USD per day for extra meals; breakfasts are included in the hotels.

Tipping at restaurants is from 5 to 10% tip; this depends of the quality of service and food. You might want also to tip staff involved in the organization of the trip that have performed well. These tips are not compulsory; it should be given at your discretion.

Tour start and arrival
We will pick you up to start the tour from your hotel or the place that you assign. Also our staff will meet you in each destination; they will hold a sign with your name on it.

Ica:

Ballestas Islands: Located in Paracas at 3.30 hrs from Lima City, next to Paracas National Reserve. Speed boats depart daily at 8 am to visit the Islands, which host species such as: sea lions, penguins, thousands of sea birds and dolphins. The tour lasts 2 hours, the strong winds during August and the dense fog during winter (June to August) might delay or cancel the departures.

Sand dunes: The main activities in the dunes are the sand boarding or the dune buggy rides. The dunes are around the Huacachina Oasis, which was a resort for the rich people of the area; there you can find hostels and restaurants. The dune buggy ride lasts 1 hour.

Nazca Lines: To the south of city of Ica, on Nazca’s Pampas, lies a collection of geoglyphs and lines that were etched into the desert by Nazca civilization during the 7th century, these lines consist in draws in the shape of animals such as a hummingbird, a monkey or a fish. Paul Kosok made them known to the world in 1939, Maria Reiche from Germany and student of Kosok, dedicated her life to protect these geoglyphs, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. The overflights are everyday and lasts 45 minutes. The best time is during the morning.

Cahuachi: This complex is built of mudbricks and made by Nazca civilization. The site is located at 50 minutes from Nazca city. It was the capital of the Nazca people.

Chauchilla cemetery: Located at 50 minutes from Nazca city, this cemetery was victim of grave robbers for years, now the area is protected by the government and visitors can see the remains of the graves, which are open and set on purpose by the archaeologists. There is a small museum that shows evidences and studies made by the archaeologists.

Arequipa

Santa Catalina Nunnery: It is considered kind of small city within a city, the nunnery
was founded in 1580 for cloistered nuns and was opened to the public in 1970. It is
located in Santa Catalina St. The place is open every day from 9 hrs to 17 hrs, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays it is open until 20 hrs. The entrance costs 30 Nuevos Soles.

Ice Maiden of Ampato: There you can have a better idea about human sacrifices,
during the Incas Time. The museum is about a mummy of an Inca adolescent who was
offered as a sacrifice to stop a natural disaster. You can see the mummy who was
found in a high mountain. The museum is located in 110 Mercedes St. It is open every
day from 9 hrs to 18 hrs, on Sundays is open until 15 hrs. The entrance costs 15
Nuevos Soles.

Yanahuara: In this area there is a great lookout to see the Misti volcano; Yanahuara is a
traditional neighborhood. The lookout is near Yanahuara Square and next to the San
Juan Bautista church. To get there you can take a taxi for 5 soles. Typical restaurants
are located in the area.

The Compañia Church and cloisters: The church belongs to the Jesuit order, and it
contains barroque altars covered with gold leafs. It is worth to visit the San Ignacio de
Loyola Chapelle, which is inside the church, the entrance cost 5 soles. The cloisters
were part of the Jesuit Monastery; these are now shops for Alpaca goods. The Church
and Cloisters are located in General Moral St. next to the Main Square.

Colca Canyon: Located in Caylloma province at 184 km from Arequipa City. The Colca
Canyon is 3400 m/ 11154 ft deep. The canyon is formed by the Colca River, hundreds
of pre-Hispanic terraces along the canyon are still used today by the locals. The towns
along this valley preserve their colonial churches, customs and traditions. The main
attractions is the Condor’s view point or Cruz del Condor, which offers the
unforgettable experience of watching condors in their natural habitat.

Two days are recommended to visit the Canyon, staying overnight at Chivay, which its
hot springs are highly recommended. To visit the Colca Canyon you need to purchase
the Tourist Pass that costs 35 Nuevos Soles.

Day 1 Ballestas Islands and Ica:
Very early in the morning, you will take a bus From Lima to Paracas (4 hours); there you will board a speed boat for two hours to visit the Ballestas Islands, to watch the wildlife in the area such as: sea lions, thousands of sea birds, penguins and if you are lucky dolphins. Afterwards you will take a bus to Ica (1 hour). Upon arrival you will be taken to your hotel.

Day 2 Dune buggy tour:
You will enjoy a dune buggy tour in the sand dunes of Ica, you can practice sand boarding too, it’s a lot of fun. After the tour you will return to the hotel and then catch your bus to Nazca (2 hours). Upon arrival you will be taken to your hotel.

Day 3 Nazca Lines overflight:
In the morning you will fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines, which were maybe made in 300 AD, the flight lasts 40 minutes. Then you will return to your hotel to rest. At night you will take a night bus to Arequipa, the ride lasts 8 hours. Upon arrival you will be taken to your hotel.

Day 4 Arequipa city tour and Santa Catalina Nunnery:
In the afternoon you will have a private tour in Arequipa city (2400 m / 7800 ft). You will go the main viewpoints to see Arequipa Valley and its surrounding volcanoes. Then you will visit the Santa Catalina Nunnery, which was built on the 17th century, this place is like a city inside, it is still inhabited by nuns. You will have the rest of the day to tour by yourself this beautiful city.

Day 5 Colca Canyon tour – 1st day:
We will pick you up from your hotel to drive 160 Km to Chivay (3600m / 11800 ft) in the Colca Valley; on the way you will see the volcanoes that surround Arequipa city, also you will see the wildlife in the area such as vicuñas, alpacas, llamas and birds. After lunch in Chivay you can visit the hot springs and relax after the journey.

Day 6 Colca Canyon tour- 2nd day:
Very early in the morning the bus will take you to the Condor’s cross viewpoint to see these great birds, after you will take the same way to Chivay town for lunch, on the way you will stop in view points and picturesque villages. Then you will be back in Arequipa around 5pm.

Day 7 Transfer to the airport or bus station:
At the time you request we will take you to the airport or the bus station.