FAQ

Some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about Peru.

What does Turismo Exploring Perú do?
Turismo Exploring Perú – Specialist in designing sustainable, tailor-made adventure trips in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Our team specializes in creating personalized multi-day trips that include transfers, guides, hotels, activities, cruises, train tickets, and entrance tickets. All of our trips are customized, specifically designed to meet your interests, budget, and available travel time.

Why should I use a travel agent to book a vacation?
A travel agent is prepared to plan a trip and utilizes the expertise of the team of collaborators for travelers planning a significant trip, at no cost to you.

Does it cost money to get a quote?
No, there is no fee for our vacation planning services. Creating international itineraries requires personalized participation.
We require a genuine intent to travel to begin the process.

How do I get to Peru?
All international flights arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru. From the US, there are direct flights with airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and LATAM. From Europe, there are also direct flights, such as to Madrid (with Iberia) and London (British Airways). We have connections to South American countries such as Colombia (Avianca) and Chile (LATAM).

What is the best time to travel to Peru?
You can visit Peru year-round. Due to its great geographical diversity, including the jungle, coastal desert, and the Andes, the climate in Peru varies from region to region throughout the year. The Andes and Machu Picchu have a dry and rainy season. The dry season is from May to October, with daytime temperatures of 18-25°C/65-77°F. The rainy season runs from December to May, with daytime temperatures of 20-26°C/68-79°F. The highest probability of rain is in January, February, and March.
Lima is humid and can be cloudier between May and October. Average daytime temperatures are 23-28°C/74-82°F. In the jungle, the dry and rainy seasons are the same in the Andes (mountains), but temperatures are higher and fluctuate relatively little throughout the year, with an average temperature of 21-30°C/70-86°F. In Lima and the coastal desert, and the beaches of Mancora and Huanchaco, there is little precipitation.

Will I need a visa?
This depends on your passport. Citizens of most Western European countries and the United States and Canada entering Peru as tourists do not require advance visas and receive visas upon arrival. However, anyone traveling with a U.S. passport requires a visa for Bolivia, though not for Ecuador. Travelers who require advance visas can usually obtain them at embassies or consulates in their countries of residence. For specific and timely information, please contact your nearest consulate.

Do you organize trips for solo travelers?
Since all our itineraries are tailor-made, we are happy to design trips for individual travelers, whether you plan to travel alone for part or the entire trip.

Do you organize group or shared-service tours?
We offer shared-service group tours with fixed departures, which we list on our website. We also organize private tours and design custom trips for many groups: families, work, study, exploration, and organizations visiting Peru.

How do I book and pay?
Reservation requests must always be made in writing and sent to our office by email 30 days in advance, especially for groups, due to company policy.
Please contact us or you can pay by bank transfer or online with Visa, Mastercard, or Amex.

Where can I find my itinerary once I’ve booked my trip?
Your itinerary booked through Turismo Exploring Peru is available on our website; you can view it with your specific reservation code. We are directly connected to our suppliers’ reservation systems (airlines, transportation lines, hotels, cars, trains, etc.).

How do I cancel a trip?
The percentage of reservations canceled by the client is due to unforeseen circumstances, such as flight delays, social unrest (strikes or riots), bad weather, roadblocks, landslides, and any other inconvenience caused by third parties.
The penalties applicable for service cancellations are:
• 10% of the total amount 30 days before the departure date.
• 30 to 7 days before the departure date: 50% of the total.
• 6 to 0 days before the departure date: 100% of the total.

s, train tickets, entrance fees to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, hotels, transportation, etc. These are purchased and reserved in advance, and many of them are non-cancellable or non-refundable.
Important Note:
Hiking and climbing costs are non-refundable. This includes entrance fees to the Inca Trail, train tickets, guides, porters, cooks, and muleteers (Cusco, Huaraz, Arequipa). This is because services are reserved and paid for at the time of booking, which is why the required deposit is non-refundable.
No-shows: We will retain the full amount and are not responsible for the client’s no-show due to flight delay or cancellation. The company is not responsible for damage to or loss of luggage, accidents, unforeseen expenses, unavoidable delays, services provided by third parties, or direct causes beyond our control. In the event of a no-show due to unforeseen causes, the company will provide the client with a certificate for processing with their insurance company.
Important note: If the client withdraws from the tour for any reason, any additional expenses are the client’s responsibility, and the company is not responsible for any refunds.

Can I change the date of my reservation?
In the event of a pandemic such as COVID-19 or similar, we are flexible. Should something happen during your trip and for any reason you are unable to come to Peru and cannot perform the service due to flight delays or cancellations, social unrest (strikes or riots), bad weather, roadblocks, landslides, or any other inconvenience caused by third parties, we will be happy to assist you.
You will have the option to change your travel date to any future date, without any additional fees or charges.
If you need to change the date of your reservation, please contact us. (+51 998831355) or send us an email to info@exploringperu.com indicating your name, reservation code, and travel date. All changes are subject to availability. The sooner you request the change, the greater the chances of finding availability on other dates.
Date changes must be made 30 days or more before the scheduled date.
Changes are not accepted after 30 days.

How do I know I can trust this travel provider?
We are dedicated to providing personalized service at all times. We choose to work only with well-known and trusted providers to maintain a high standard of service.

• Best price guaranteed. – Our prices are competitive with the current market price/quality ratio and may vary depending on the number of participants.
• 100% Peruvian company. – We create a job opportunity for our community.
• Direct contact. – By negotiating directly with us, you can avoid surprise costs and hidden fees. No intermediaries. Direct and immediate confirmation of your reservation is provided.
• Reservation Modification: You can modify the dates and other details of your reservation through the confirmation email or by contacting us.
• Confirmation via email/WhatsApp: You will receive a confirmation email for your reservation, and if you wish, we can send a message to your cell phone.
• We work 24/7 to answer your requests and questions.
• We speak your language.

Do I need any vaccinations to travel to Peru?
No specific vaccination is required to enter Peru. However, for those traveling to the rainforest, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended by the CDC and WHO. Travel to the rainforest regions of Peru previously required the yellow fever vaccine, and although the rules are less strict, it is not uncommon for certification to be requested. The vaccine is typically required or recommended for all rainforest regions worldwide and must be administered at least 15 days before arrival. If you are continuing your travels directly from Peru, check if a valid vaccination certificate is required to enter your next destination. Additionally, for certain areas of the rainforest, malaria pills are recommended, but not required. It’s best to consult your doctor before traveling.
Altitude Sickness:
There are different ways to alleviate the side effects that may occur during your trip due to being at high altitude. Diamox can help when taken a couple of days before ascending and a couple of days once at altitude. Once you arrive in Peru, a natural remedy is coca tea, which will be helpful during your stay at high altitude. You should also drink plenty of water before your high-altitude flight and throughout your stay. Eating lightly before and after arrival and resting also minimize the effects of altitude, which can include headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, or loss of appetite. Arriving a few days before the start of a trek or climb

This will help your body adapt to the altitude more easily, as this will help your body acclimatize naturally.
Personal First Aid Kit:
We have a basic medical kit, but you may want to bring some of your own medications, especially for hiking or adventure activities: anti-diarrheal pills (Imodium), Pepto Bismol for stomach pain, antihistamines (both capsules and balm), pain relievers, band-aids and blister plasters, and insect repellent. There are pharmacies in all cities and towns in Peru, but if you have specific medical needs, please bring your medication with you.

Will I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is not required, but we recommend that you have insurance. Exploring Peru Tourism recommends that all passengers have accident and/or travel insurance, and, if possible, evacuation insurance.
We do not provide accident or travel insurance, and it is not included in our rates. If a passenger or group member becomes ill or has an accident, we will transfer them to the nearest clinic for appropriate care.
In the event of an accident or when evacuation is necessary, we organize all rescue and evacuation logistics; in both cases, the costs are borne by the client or their insurance.
We recommend that companies and tour operators verify that the passengers they send have travel insurance.

Can I rent a car in Peru?
Renting a car in Peru is possible with a tourist visa; our trips include a driver. There are certain disadvantages to renting a car in Peru: the more rural areas lack signage and are not clearly located on Google Maps, some roads are of poor quality, depending on the region you visit, and, in general, driving standards are less rigorous in Peru than in more developed countries, so you must be a highly experienced and confident driver.

What type of currency should I bring?
The Peruvian Sol is the country’s currency. Although US dollars are often accepted in hotels, shops, and larger restaurants in larger cities and tourist destinations like Cusco, they are not always accepted. We recommend that you always travel with local currency, especially for smaller purchases in local shops, markets, and restaurants. Exchanging dollars and euros for Peruvian soles is possible at banks, through official street money changers (recognizable by their vests and official IDs), at the airport, in hotels, at exchange offices, and in some shops (in small towns). The exchange rate is generally the same with the exception of hotels, where it tends to be set at a slightly less advantageous rate. Keep in mind that $100 bills can be difficult to exchange, so it’s best to have smaller bills. Dollars are easier to exchange than euros. Any torn dollar bills (small rips) are generally not accepted. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are also generally accepted in Peru, although Visa is more widely accepted. When making purchases with a credit card, you may have to pay a 5-6% surcharge and may be required to present your passport to make the purchase.
We recommend exchanging traveler’s checks at a bank, and for security reasons, we especially recommend using ATMs at airports and hotels instead of street ATMs. Counterfeit bills (both dollars and local currency) are commonly found in some countries in the region, so be sure to check your bills or contact us.

What should I pack?
Due to its diverse geography, you will likely experience several microclimates during your trip. Wearing several layers of clothing works very well for this, especially in the Andes. In major tourist destinations, travelers tend to dress casually, even in hotels. We recommend bringing appropriate footwear for walking in cities.
Here are some suggestions:
• Comfortable sneakers or walking boots
• Short- and long-sleeved polo shirts
• Raincoat
• Fleece jacket
• Jeans or casual pants
• Camera and perhaps binoculars
• Backpack
• Insect repellent, eye drops, lip balm, and sunscreen
• Sunglasses

How much should I tip?
Tips are entirely at your discretion. All our guides and drivers are paid fairly, so it’s not required, although it’s always welcome. It’s best to leave a cash tip.

Will my cell phone work during the trip?
Phone and internet coverage is fairly good in the cities and even in some rural areas, although there is no phone coverage on the train ride to Machu Picchu. Most foreign smartphones work in the region if you have a data plan and International calls. If your phone is unlocked, you can purchase a local SIM card that will work for you while traveling.
We provide a free phone and SIM card for local calls for the duration of your stay. We can also purchase SIM cards with data plans in your name so you can connect upon arrival.

Penalties apply for services such as airline tickets.