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PERU TRAVEL ESSENTIALS Passport, Visa, Currency, Money Exchange

A passport and proof of onward passage are needed. Citizens from USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and from many countries visiting Peru as tourists do not need a visa. However we recommend checking travel document requirements with your professional travel agent before departing. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your date of arrival. Tourists may stay a maximum 90 days; longer stays require an extension from the Peruvian immigration authorities (Migraciones). Non-US citizens should contact the Peruvian Consulate in their country of residence to check visa requirements.All visitors fill out and receive a copy of a tourist card. These short applications are provided on your flight to Peru or at border crossings. While traveling in Peru, keep your copy with your passport and present it to authorities when departing the country. The international departure tax ($29 as of September 2003) may be paid with dollars, its equivalent in soles or a combination of both.

CURRENCY AND MONEY EXCHANGE
Peruvian currency is known as the NUEVO SOL, written as (S/). It comes in bills of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 nuevo soles, and coins of 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimos, 1 sol, and 5 soles. The latest exchange rates can be found at http://www.xe.com/. US dollars are welcome at many shops, restaurants and service stations at the current exchange rate. When changing U.S. dollars, use new or undamaged bills, as torn or heavily crinkled bills are not accepted.

Most establishments accept major credit cards, including Visa, Master Card, Diners Club and American Express, but there is often an additional charge; you may want to inquire about this before ordering or purchasing anything with a credit card. Although they may be exchanged at banks and hotels, the use of traveler's checks as a form of payment is not as common; ask if they are accepted before using them.

If you have Peruvian currency left over at the end of your trip, you can exchange them for dollars at the airport or use them to pay your departure tax.

World Heritage List in Peru

• City of Cuzco
• Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
• Chavin
• Huascarán National Park
• Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone
• Manú National Park
• Historic Centre of Lima
• Río Abiseo National Park
• Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana
• Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa

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