Peru - Country Information

Film Commissions

Permits
Can be arranged by a local agent.

General Information

Location: South America
Local Time: GMT -5
Capital City: Lima
Population: 28,674, million
Area: 1,285,216 square km, 496,225 square miles.
Language(s): Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Minor Amazonian Languages
Dialling Code: 51
Emergency: Police: 313040. Fire: 723333. Ambulance: 400200
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: NTSC
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: New Sol (PEN 1 = 100 Centimos)
Notes: PEN: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200
Coins: Centimos: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50; New Sol: 1, 2, 5

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted although limited outside of Lima. All banks and certain hotels and Casas de Cambios exchange foreign currency. Receipts for exchange of foreign currency into PEN must be presented when re-exchanging from PEN into foreign currency

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1000-1700-1800 Mon-Fri (variations during summer months)
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 1000-1300 & 1600-2000 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 20 Maundy Thursday, Mar 21 Good Friday, May 1 Labour Day, Jun 29 St. Peter & St. Pauls Day, Jul 28-29 National Independence Days, Aug 30 St. Rosa of Lima Day, Oct 8 Battle of Angamos, Nov 1 All Saints Day, Dec 8 Immaculate Conception, Dec 25 Christmas Day

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Spanish. Constant eye contact is important. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: A 15% service charge is normally added to the bill. It is customary to add a further tip of around 5%. Tips are not customary for taxis

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 6 months.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever* (for those who intend to visit jungle areas below 2,300 metres), rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria precautions are essential in low-lying rural area all year round except that the risk is minimal west of the Andes except in the plains in the far north. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Please contact nearest embassy/consulate

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Peru
2) For tourist visits up to 90 days provided holding a departure ticket & sufficient funds for length of stay:
a) Nationals of United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Granada ,Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (south), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau Islands, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia & Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, St. Christopher & Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country within 24 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding confirmed tickets and documents for their next destination

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets & documents required for next destination

Climate

The Pacific coastal area has a dry desert climate which has relatively cold temperatures for a tropical latitude with little difference from month to month. It is extremely dry and not uncommon for years to pass without an obvious amount of rainfall. The northern coastal areas however can experience frequent low cloud, fog and drizzle which is unusual for such a dry region. The Andean mountain and plateaux areas climate is influenced by altitude. There is a noticeable reduction in temperature throughout the year with a single rainy season between Nov-Mar and during the dry season frost can occur. The eastern lowlands of the Amazon Basin are typically tropical with no real dry season and high temperatures and humidity throughout the year

Clothing

Lightweights from Jan-Apr and medium-weights from Jun-Nov. Warmer clothing and raincoat necessary in the Andean regions

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Tourist Department
Embassy of Peru
c/o Hills Balfour Synergy
1 London Bridge Walk
London, SE1 2SX
tel: +44 (0) 207 367 0900
fax:+44 (0) 207 407 3810

Embassy
Consulate General of Peru
52 Sloane Street
London, SW1X 9SP
tel: +44 20 7838 9223
fax: +44 20 7823 2789
e-mail: peruconsulate-uk@btconnect.com
website: www.peruembassy-uk.com
hours: 0930-1300 (Mon-Fri)