By Allie E. Almario

At Premier Tours, we are very proud to provide all of our travelers with up-to-date information to make sure your preparations for your adventure goes perfectly. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we are asked about travel in Peru:

HOW DO I MAKE PHONE CALLS IN PERU?

Peru’s international phone code is 51.

From the USA, you must first dial 011 51 + the following codes for different cities:

Lima: 01
Cusco: 84
Puno: 51
Huaraz: 43
Arequipa: 54
Madre Dios: 82
Trujillo: 44
Chiclayo: 74
Ica: 56
Loreto: 65

If you are calling within Peru, you must add a 0 to all city codes. Ask your guide or hotel staff to help if you are having trouble getting through.

Lots of our travelers recommend downloading something like WhatsApp which allows you to text or call for free internationally as long as you are connected to wifi. Most hotels do offer wifi.

ARE IMMUNIZATIONS REQUIRED?

As always, it’s recommended that you speak to a travel medical specialist. The other resource is the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/

If you plan to travel to the rainforest, the administration of a Yellow Fever vaccine 10 days in advance is strongly recommended. Keep your yellow immunization card with you in case you are continuing on to other countries that may ask to see proof of Yellow Fever if you are arriving from Peru.

No vaccinations are currently required for entry into Peru for US citizens.

WATER – IS IT SAFE TO DRINK?

We recommend you drink only bottled or safely filtered water (provided at all of the first-class and luxury hotels we book for you). It’s also a good idea to bring your own reusable water bottle, especially if you will be travelling outside of the larger cities. To prevent dehydration and altitude sickness, especially in the mountains, drink two to three liters of liquids daily, especially water.

WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?

Although Peru is in the tropics, its weather varies due to its geographical diversity and to the cold water of the Humboldt Current heading northwards along most of the coast.

A favorite website we recommend to look up current weather forecasts: https://www.wunderground.com/

On the coast, the central and southern region of the Peruvian coast is generally sunny in the summer (November to May) and cloudy during the rest of the year. Temperatures vary between 70s and the high 80s during the summer and 50s and mid-60s during the winter. The northern region of the coast has sunshine almost all year. It can also get cloudy with some rain between November and March, depending on the seasonal presence of the “El Niño” current.

In the Sierra (Highlands), the Andes usually have a rainless winter that runs from April to October, where dayS are very warm and a rainy season that lasts from November to March, being heaviest in January – February. In the highlands, temperatures have accentuated variations between day and night, with sudden dips after sunset (sometimes up to 60s) in the winter months (May-August).

In the rainforest, it can rain all year round and there may be high temperatures and lots of humidity. From November to May, rain is heavier, rivers rise, but from May to September temperatures are generally milder but never cold, except sometimes in Madre de Dios area (south) where cold air-masses move in from Bolivia and Argentina in the winter months. Then you may need to wear a light jacket/sweater. As always, we welcome you to call our destination experts to ask specific questions about your travel plans to South America. We can give you helpful advice depending on your travel dates and areas you are planning to visit.