Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [447]
Lima Tours (Map; 01-619-6901; www.limatours.com.pe; Jirón Belén 1040, Central Lima) A travel agency that is not exclusively gay, but that organizes gay-friendly group trips around the country.
Movimiento Homosexual de Lima (Map; 01-332-2945; www.mhol.org.pe; Mariscal Miller 822, Jesús María) Peru’s best-known gay and lesbian activist organization.
Purpleroofs.com(www.purpleroofs.com) Massive GLBT portal with links to a few tour operators and gay-friendly accommodations in Peru.
Rainbow Peruvian Tours (Map; 01-215-6000; www.perurainbow.com; Río de Janeiro 216, San Isidro, Lima) Gay-owned tour agency based in Lima, with a multilingual website.
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HOLIDAYS
On major holidays, banks, offices and other services are closed, hotel rates can triple and transportation tends to be very crowded, so book ahead. If an official public holiday falls on a weekend, offices close on the following Monday. If an official holiday falls midweek, it may or may not be moved to the nearest Monday to create a long weekend. Major holidays may be celebrated for days around the official date.
Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days) is the biggest national holiday, when the entire nation seems to be on the move. Major national, regional and religious holidays include the following:
New Year’s Day January 1
Good Friday March/April
Labor Day May 1
Inti Raymi June 24
Feast of Sts Peter & Paul June 29
National Independence Days July 28-29
Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima August 30
Battle of Angamos Day October 8
All Saints Day November 1
Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8
Christmas December 25
Click here.
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INSURANCE
Having a travel-insurance policy to cover theft, loss, accidents and illness is highly recommended. Many policies include a card with toll-free or collect-call hotlines for 24-hour assistance (carry it with you). Not all policies compensate travelers for misrouted or lost luggage. Some policies specifically exclude ‘dangerous activities,’ which can include scuba diving, motorcycling and even trekking. Also check if the policy coverage includes worst-case scenarios, such as evacuations and flights home. A variety of travel-insurance policies are available. Those handled by STA Travel (www.statravel.com) and other budget travel organizations are usually good value.
Always read the fine print carefully. You may prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and make a claim later. If your bags are lost or stolen, the insurance company may demand a receipt as proof that you bought the goods in the first place. You must usually report any loss or theft to local police (or airport authorities) within 24 hours. Make sure you keep all documentation to make any claim.
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INTERNET ACCESS
Accessing the internet is a snap in Peru. Wi-fi is becoming increasingly common in big cities, where internet cafés are also plentiful. Even tiny towns will usually have at least one internet café. Many McDonald’s fast-food outlets in big cities offer free wi-fi (provided you don’t mind the smell).
Rates for high-speed connections at internet cafés average less than S2 per hour, and it’s only in remote places that you will pay more for slower connection speeds. Most internet cafés are open from the early morning till late and also offer cheap phone calls (Click here). Hotel business centers are generally overpriced, with some charging up to US$6 per hour. Many top-end establishments now offer wi-fi or high-speed cables in your room.
Before plugging in your laptop, ensure that your power source adheres to Peru’s 220V, 60Hz AC electricity supply. You may need a portable converter with a built-in surge protector. Your PC-card modem may not work, but you won’t know until you try. The easiest option is to buy a ‘global’ modem before you leave home. Dial-up internet access is generally a hassle because few ISPs have