Tips And Advice To Stay Safe When

Social Conventions
Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. Visitors should follow normal social courtesies and the atmosphere is generally informal. A small gift from a company or home country is sufficient. Dress is usually informal, although for some business meetings and social occasions men wear a jacket and tie. Life is conducted at a leisurely pace.

Approximate flight times
From Lima to London is 15 hours (including stopover in Madrid), to Los Angeles is six hours, to Miami is five hours and to New York is nine hours. Direct flights from Europe take between 12 hours (from Madrid) and 14 hours (from Frankfurt).

Vist South America Pass Vist South America Pass:
This must be bought outside South America in country of residence and allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), IBERIA (IB), LAN-Chile (LA) and Qantas (QF). A minimum of three flights must be booked, with no maximum; the maximum stay is 60 days, with no minimum, and prices depend on the amount of flight zones covered. Children under 12 years of age are entitled to a 33 per cent discount and infants (under two years old) only pay 10 per cent of the adult fare. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.

Departure Tax
US$28 from Lima’s airport. Transit passengers and children under two years of age are exempt. Payment must be paid in cash prior to boarding.

Sea
Main ports: Callao and San Martin. Some international cruises occasionally call at Callao, such as Princess Cruises (website: www.princess.com)

Road
The main international highway is the Pan-American Highway running north–south through the coastal desert of Peru from Tumbes to Tacna. Transport from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela is available through companies like Bus Tas Choapa Internacional, Empresa Paraguaya de Transporte, Ormeño, El Rápido and Rutas de América. It is also possible to go from La Paz in Bolivia to Puno on Lake Titicaca (south Peru).

Duty Free
The following items may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age into Peru without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; alcoholic beverages not exceeding 2.5l; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; gifts or new articles for personal use up to a value of US$300; 2kg of processed food.

Traveling.- Although the vast majority of tourists enjoy their stay in Peru without experiencing any problems, there are a few to be aware of to make sure that you make the most of the country and stay safe!!!!!!

Taxi. - You should be particularly careful when arriving at Lima Jorge Chavez international airport. Unwary passengers are often approached by thieves masquerading as tour operators, people who pretend to know them or bogus taxi drivers. There have been frequent cases of rogue taxis being used to orange taxis counters at the information kiosk next to the airport exit. Tourist have also been targeted and robbed by bogus taxi drivers elsewhere, especially at night, the safest way to travel by taxi so to always call a licensed taxi company, which may be marginally more expensive, but it is much safer than hailing a taxi on the street .if possible you should always book a taxi in advance from reputable company, hotels and tour guides will be able to chance with unlicensed taxis. If you can not ovoid taking a taxi from the street, try to use a taxi that is licensed. It is not always easy to determine this as taxis vary greatly in different areas of Peru. Generally licensed taxis will have their registration number on the side of the vehicle and drive’s identifications card prominently displayed in the vehicle .but in all cases be sure to take a conspicuous note of the registration number before getting in to vehicle.

GENERAL THEFT TECHNIQUES
There are different techniques.

THE SPIT TRICK
Usually carried out by a group of 3 or 4,in very busy streets. one will walk behind you and spit or splash liquid on the back of you neck when you them turn around in disgust loosening your grip on anything that that you have in your hands, an accomplice walking without the other way will grab your possessions and disappear behind you before you have time to work out what is going on, or who took your bags, if you feel a liquid hit the back of your neck, just keep walking without turning around and hold on to your possessions variations on this technique include distraction you by spilling things on your clothes, or street children begging or fighting in front of you.

BAG OPENING /SLASHING
In crowded streets, thieves will walk behind you and carefully undo pockets on your back packs, taking out your belongings. Other carry a small knife ,with which slit open the bottom of you bag or back pack( sometimes even trouser leg) to tike things out without you noticing. you still have a hold on your bag so don not realize that there is hole in it, this type of robbery can tike place everywhere crowded ,be particularly vigilant when waiting to cross the street ,where people pushing behind you might not just be in a hurry to cross. Also, be aware if you take local transport, specially combis or buses and in and around bus stations. People will often work together .as you sit between 2 people whilst one talks to you .the other is carefully slitting open your pockets and looking for your wallet.

STRANGLE ROBBERY
A group of at least 4 works together ,one comes from behind and holds you head while another pushes you head down you lose consciousness for up to seconds, when awake you have been stripped of everything , including clothes in some cases. This type is not very common and tends to take place after dark in relatively quiet areas. Ares to avoid try not to walk alone after dark .walk in a group when possible, and always walk with direction and purpose. take a registered taxi after an evening out and avoid areas that are particularly know for opportunistic crime .check with local and professional guides or hac,csand and sae for more information.

CASHPOINTS/ ATMS
When withdrawing money from an atm, check to ensure that not additional card reading devices are attached to the machine .make sure no one is looking over your shoulders ,and remember to remove your card as well your sash .if you have problem with your card ,don not accept assistance from anyone except banks staff .many of the banks have security guards by the ATMS at all the times when leaving the bank don not go down isolated side streets ,as you may being followed .if you are going on somewhere walk a short distance away from the ATM and take a taxi .it is not advisable to take a taxi from directly outside the ATM.

STREET CHILDREN
Although the children who approached you in the street may be cute, be aware that many work in groups to rob tourist .while several distract you, one is searching your pockets back packer etc. whilst not true of all the children, please also remember that giving money to them only encourages begging a more productive way of helping is to make a donation (or do some voluntary work if you have time ) in one of the many drop in centers for street children which support them encourage them to go to school. DRINKS Usually free drinks are made with the cheapest alcohol available which is not necessary of high quality .also in any of the discotecas be sure to watch barman make your drink and the keep an eye on it. Don not leaves it.

TOUR GUIDES AND TRAVEL COMPANIES
We recommended that you use reputable and recognized travel guides at all the times. Be aware of any people who be friend you (day or night) offering you tours and trips to unknown areas, it is often a trick to lure you to an isolated areas. If you want to go don not go alone. When you want book any tour here in Cusco, do with official travel companies (where they have to show different licenses or permissions of the Peruvian ministry of tourism as authorization from: -Licenses from municipality of Cusco Or district -Authorization from dircetur. So you have ask them to show you these licenses otherwise THEY ARE NOT TOUR OPERATORS.

They just sell tours and pass you onto official licenses tour operators. Just to get an idea Inca trail tour operators we are ONLY PERUVIAN TRAVEL AGNECIES NOT FOREIGERS!!!! If you will buy with foreigner’s travel agencies they pass you ONTO LOCAL TOUR OPERATORS. Of course most the money stay in those countries here comes just little almost nothing. the local travel agencies we are doing some social works at communities we don not just earn money we support local people NO LIKE THE FOREINER TRAVEL AGENCIES THEY LOOKING ONLY EARN MONEY AND NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE SO JUST MAKING MONEY AND NOT DOING ANTTHING. Remember that we are professional tour operators .we also are guides and this travel agency it is managed by experienced tour guide. Who were working on the Inca trail, and some others treks as well, and tours in the jungle. Cultural tours, expeditions with more than 6years of experience .however there are other companies who have OWNERS who never been on those treks or country. So we are people who are experienced in tourism .if you need some free information come with us and deal with official guides and travel agencies and enjoy experience with local people ,come on check it out!!!!!