Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [53]
Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (ICPNA; 706-7000; www.icpna.edu.pe) Central Lima (Map; Cuzco 446); Miraflores (Map; Av Arequipa 4798) Perhaps the biggest of the foreign cultural institutes, with expansive libraries, a video archive, Spanish courses, art exhibits, and theater and dance performances.
Emergency
Policía Nacional head office (Map; 460-0921; Moore 268, Magdalena del Mar; 24hr)
Tourism Police (Policía de Turismo, Poltur; Map; 460-0844; Colón 246; 24hr) A division of the Policía Nacional (National Police) that usually has English-speaking officers who can provide theft reports for insurance claims or traveler’s check refunds. In heavily touristed areas, it is easy to identify members of Poltur by their white shirts.
Immigration
For general information about visas and stay extensions, Click here. Click here for a list of embassies in Lima.
Arrive first thing in the morning to the oficina de migraciónes (immigration office; Map; 417-6900, 417-6950/6951/6952; www.migraciones.gob.pe; Prolongación España 734, Breña; 8am-1pm Mon-Fri) if you want to get your tourist-card extension (US$50) on the same day. The specially stamped paperwork can be bought beforehand at the nearby Banco de la Nación (S40.47). You will need a copy of form F-007 (available for download on the website, in the section titled Prórroga de Residencia), along with your passport and the immigration slip you received upon entry into Peru. Make an extra photocopy of each to make the process faster. If you’ve lost the immigration slip, it will take longer and be more expensive. You may be asked to show a ticket out of the country, or prove that you have sufficient funds – the more affluent you look, the less hassle you’ll have. Process your paperwork only with officials inside the office; do not accept offers of help from people on the street.
Internet & Fax
There are internet cafes (many of which can send faxes) on practically every block in the city. In addition, most hotels offer internet access – many through wi-fi. The following places provide high-speed access for S1 to S2 an hour.
Cabina Internet (Map; 446-6814; Pasaje Tarata 230, Miraflores; 24hr)
Internet cafes (Map; cnr Av Grau & Sáenz Peña, Barranco; 8am-11pm)
Internet Mundonet (Map; Ancash 412, Central Lima) Access is through the main lobby of the Hotel España, via Calle Azángaro.
ZonaNet (Map; 221-5463; Av 2 de Mayo 615; 9am-10pm Mon-Sat)
Laundry
Hotels can have your laundry done for you or direct you to the closest lavandería (laundry), of which there is an abundance. Some charge per item rather than weight; most offer overnight or rush services (the latter for an extra charge).
KIO (Map; 332-9035; España 481, Central Lima; per kg S3; 9am-8pm Mon-Sat)
Lavandería 40 Minutos (Map; 446-5928; Av Espinar 154, Miraflores; 2 items same day S11; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun)
Lavandería Neptuno (Map; 477-4472; Av Grau 912, Barranco; per kg S3)
Servirap (Map; 241-0759; cnr Schell & Grimaldo del Solar, Miraflores; single load S16-43; 8am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm Sun)
Left-Luggage
You can safely store bags at left-luggage (517-3217) at the airport for S14 a day. Many hotels will store bags for a fee. Members of SAE (see boxed text, Click here) can store their baggage at the clubhouse.
Libraries
Biblioteca Nacional (Map; 513-6900; www.bnp.gob.pe; Av de la Poesía 160, San Borja; 9:15am-7:30pm Mon-Fri, 9:15am-2pm Sat) The nation’s biggest public library, with a broad collection of Spanish texts and historic archives, is housed in a corner building on Av Javier Prado and Aviación. Short-term visitors can use the library on a day pass (S8); long-term passes are also available. For books in other languages, see Lima’s cultural centers (Click here).
Medical Services
The following clinics have emergency service and some English-speaking staff. Consultations start in the vicinity of S80 and climb from there, depending on the clinic