Peru Travel Information

The currency is new soles, it is issued in coins of 5, 2, 1, 0.5 soles and in bills of 10, 20, 50 and 100 soles.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)
To find out the locations of ATMs in Peru , click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Business hours

Banks are open from Monday to Saturday, from 9.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00.

Transportation

Road
Except in the cities and in the PANAMERICANA highway which goes along the coast from North to South, the condition of the roads is generally bad. There are no problems in finding fuel. It is not advised to drive by night. In case of a vehicle rental, subscribe an insurance policy for yourself and for possible damages caused on third parties. It is better to travel with the well-known bus companies. In the cities, the use of a taxi is easy.

Rail
Only one line, AREQUIPA-PUNO-CUSCO, which covers 900 km, reaches its highest point at 4,000 metres and serves Machu Picchu. The maintenance is poor and delays are common.

Air
It is uncertain whether all the maintenance procedures for the domestic air fleets (AEROPERU, AERO CONTINENTE, AMERICANA DE AVIACION) are scrupulously respected. Delays are frequent. Do not hesitate to inquire beforehand.

Internet

The Internet suffix is: .pe

Basic conversation guide

Yes = Sí
No = No.
Thank you = Gracias
Hello = Hola
Good morning = Buenos días
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes
Goodbye, Goodbye = Adiós
I do not understand = No entiendo
What's the price? How much does it cost? = ¿Cuánto esta? ¿Cuál es el precio?
I would like to buy = Me gustaría comprar...
Do you accept the credit cards? = ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
Where is? = ¿Dónde está?
Post office = la oficina de correo
The bank = el banco
The police station, the police force = la estación de policía; la comisaría de policía
The pharmacy = la farmacia
An airport = el aeropuerto
The train station = la estación del tren
One ticket to..., please. = Un billete para..., por favor.
Would you have any available rooms for tonight? = ¿Tiene habitaciones para esta noche?.

Languages spoken 

Spanish and Quechua are Peru's official languages. This country is home for more than one hundred different languages. However, Quechua is the largest linguistic native group, followed by Aymara. Quechua does not represent any homogeneous linguistic community because it is divided into about twenty dialects. Finally, it is interesting to note that about 60 languages are spoken by a tiny number of people in Peru and that these are gradually disappearing.