Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [467]
Always ask the fare in advance, as there are no meters. It’s acceptable to haggle over a fare; try to find out what the going rate is before taking a cab, especially for long trips. The standard fare for short runs in most cities is around S5. Tipping is not the norm, unless you have hired a driver for a long period or he has helped you with luggage or other lifting.
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TAXI
Hiring a private taxi for long-distance trips costs less than renting a car and takes care of many of the problems outlined earlier (Click here). Not all taxi drivers will agree to drive long distances, but if one does, you should carefully check the driver’s credentials and vehicle before hiring.
Colectivo (shared) taxis for longer trips wait on busy corners and at major roundabouts, often by a signposted taxi stand.
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TOURS
Major tourist towns have dozens of travel agencies offering group tours of the surrounding area. Whether you want to visit archaeological ruins, watch wildlife or be whisked around the city’s sights in a private air-con minibus, there’s a tour guide waiting for you.
In fact, the local tourism industry makes it too easy to join a tour, especially since doing it yourself can often be more rewarding. Keep in mind that group tours rarely give you enough time to enjoy the places you want to visit. The major exception is trekking the Inca Trail (Click here), for which you’re legally required to sign up for a group tour in advance.
Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno, Trujillo, Huaraz, Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos have the most travel agencies offering organized tours; for details, see the Tours sections listed under these and many other destinations in this book. For all-inclusive package tours from abroad, Click here.
For more specialized, individual or small-group tours, you can generally hire a bilingual guide for about US$15 an hour or US$50 a day plus expenses; tours in other languages may be more expensive. Some students or unregistered guides are cheaper, but the usual caveat applies – some are good, others aren’t. A few local guides are listed in this book, but it’s always good to ask other travelers for up-to-date recommendations.
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TRAIN
The privatized rail system, PeruRail (084-58-1414; www.perurail.com), has daily services between Cuzco and Aguas Calientes, aka Machu Picchu Pueblo, and services between Cuzco and Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca three times a week; Click here for details of both services. Passenger services between Puno and Arequipa have been suspended indefinitely, but will run as a charter for groups.
Train buffs won’t want to miss the lovely Ferrocarril Central Andino (01-226-6363; www.ferrocarrilcentral.com.pe), which reaches a head-spinning altitude of 4829m. It usually runs between Lima (Click here) and Huancayo weekly from mid-April through October. In Huancayo, cheaper trains to Huancavelica leave daily from a different station. Click here for details of both services. Another charmingly historic railway makes inexpensive daily runs between Tacna on Peru’s south coast and Arica, Chile (Click here).
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HEALTH
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CONTENTS
Before You Go
H1n1
Online Resources
Further Reading
In Transit
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Jet Lag
In Peru
Availability Of Health Care
Infectious Diseases
Travelers’ Diarrhea
Environmental Hazards
Traveling With Children
Women’s Health
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Prevention is the key to staying healthy while abroad. Travelers who receive the recommended vaccines and follow common-sense precautions usually come down with nothing more than a little diarrhea.
Medically speaking, Peru is part of tropical South America, which includes most of the continent except for the southernmost portion. The diseases found in this area are comparable to those found in tropical areas in Africa