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The Andes and High Plateaus of Peru Lima Travel Guide
Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Huancayo, Ayacucho, Huaras, Lake Titicaca
CLIMATE: Whatever the season, the sun in these altitudes is intense; the days will be warm while you are walking about. However, the temperature differs between sun and shade as much as 20 degrees, so dressing in layers makes sense. Nights become quite cool, occasionally dipping to freezing in extremely high places. October to April is the rainy season and it can rain for a few minutes or pour for hours.
CLOTHING: All year a lightweight jacket is advisable. If not prepared for the. Cold, you can always wear a handsome woolen poncho or sweater purchased from the local vendors. During the rainy season, a folding raincoat or poncho is recommended. While you are in the highlands, dress will be primarily casual: tennis/running shoes, slacks or jeans, shirts and sweaters. An occasional skirt or dress for women and slacks/sweater for men will probably be the dressiest you'll ever need.
TREKKING & HIKING: You may also find it desirable to have a small canteen for water when you are climbing ruins or on one of the treks to Machu Picchu. Many travelers like to carry alight-weight day pack for the days they are climbing Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo. We suggest you carry small packets of tissue and wash & dry's with you, as some rest room facilities are primitive in this area.
RESTAURANTS: Cuzco has a multitude of good, yet reasonably priced restaurants, many of them tucked in under the arches of the Plaza de Armas. A number now have folklore entertainment nightly with the cost of dinner and the show very reasonable. Other towns in the Andes do not have the great selection of restaurants offered by Cuzco. If you want a change from you’re hotels dining room, the better eating spots are usually in or near the town's Plaza de Armas.
SHOPPING: Now is your chance to experience the fun of bargaining. It is almost always possible. to get some kind of "discount" except in the hotel, shops or other tourist stores. The highlands are the place to buy woolens of all kinds: sweaters, ponchos, shawls, wall hangings, rugs, slippers, leg warmers, blankets, gloves, etc. Each town has different specialties. Those cozy alpaca fur rugs and slippers are best bought in this region. Cuzco has the biggest selection and generally the highest quality goods.
The Indian markets of Chinchero and Pisac are good, although the latter tends to have a lot of machine-made items. Puna and Juliaca, in the Altiplano, seem to have the most inexpensive sweaters, but quality is poorer. Cuzco has an interesting neighborhood near the San Bias Church of artisans specializing in woodcarving and plaster sculpture. Also in Cuzco, paintings and decorative mirrors are great buys. The Huancayo area specializes in hand-carved gourds, colorful throw rugs, as well as the more common woolen items. The world-famous Veli brothers sell their beautiful gourds at the Saturday market for very reasonable prices.
HIGH ALTITUDES: If you have any medical problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, excessive over-weight or potential angina, consult with your physician before venturing into the high altitudes. However if you are in good physical condition (age is not necessarily a detriment unless compounded with one of the above-mentioned problems) then you should also read the following.
AL TITUDE SICKNESS: Altitude Sickness or "Soroche"(sow ROW chay) is no respector of age or physical condition, and the symptoms, although temporary and not dangerous, can ruin your vacation and make you mildly to violently ill. "Soroche" is oxygen starvation to your brain. The results are vagueness and disorientation, mild to severe headaches, and stomach "queezies" or nausea, as well as indigestion and fitful sleep. These symptoms can be avoided by following some simple precautions:
The most important advice is: take it easy that first day and allow nature to take its course. In a few hours your system will be producing the additional blood cells needed to carry more oxygen. Work with your body, not against it. LIMA, PERU Andes Travel Guide
CLIMATE: Lima is known as the city where it never rains. Nevertheless, during their "winter" (April-October), haze, overcast and sea mists are the usual bill-of-fare. Clear skies and sunshine are a welcome relief in the months November-March. Temperatures range from an average low of 56-66 to an average high of 66-82. Warmest months are December to March.
WHAT TO WEAR: For the women, it is advisable to bring along one dress that is an all-weather knit or a no-wrinkle fabric such as polyester Jersey. A sweater, which you can wear with your dress in the evenings, a shawl, or a jacket ensemble, would also be recommended. For the gentlemen, a tie and sport jacket would be the most "dress" attire you would be expected to wear. If you feel that you might be cold in the winter evenings, then a sweater/vest to wear under your jacket might be advisable.
DEPARTURE TAX: Beginning in April 1991, the government of Peru has imposed an airport departure tax on any domestic flight leaving from Lima Airport. The tax is $8.00 and must be paid at the airport. The tax for international passengers is $25.00.
ABOUT THE CITY: "Downtown" is the original part of the city with its beautiful Spanish-colonial plazas (Plaza San Martin and Plaza de Armas), patios, and wooden, carved balconies. Much of the sightseeing relating to the colonial period centers in this area. The city was truly the "City of Kings" as it was known, center of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and as such, center of wealth, culture, administration, and power. As the city has expanded, it has moved toward the Pacific Ocean. The residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores have become upscale commercial and residential sections of greater Lima. Trendy shops, bistros and restaurants guarantee a diversity of daytime and evening strolling, entertainment and dining. We suggest you take the time to visit both downtown and the seaside sections of Lima.
MUSEUMS: Lima is home to five of the world's most famous museums, and one or more should be included in your tour. However, we strongly recommend you visit some of the other museums during your free time in the city. The best knowns are:
M0NEY: The local currency, the" Nuevo Sol" is exchanged at a variety of rates - the bank rate or the more favorable public rates quoted in hotels, shops and on the street. However, be very cautious about dealing with the money changers on the street, who are often dealing in counterfeit currency and/or are flim flam artists. You'll get the most favorable exchange for cash, and slightly less for traveler’s checks. If you make purchases with credit cards, they will be equated by your credit card company at the low bank rate, so we recommend against credit card purchases if you want' the best value. If you are heading from Lima into the Andean highlands, you might want to exchange some extra dollars to take with you, as you will not get as good a rate as you do in Lima. Also, very rarely can you get a large bill in dollars broken into smaller dollar bills, so travelers' checks in $20 denominations are recommended.
DRINK: Drink only bottled water; either carbonated (con gas) or non-carbonated (sin gas). For alcoholic beverages, the most popular typical drink is Pisco, a powerful brandy made into Pisco Sours. Wine is locally produced and Chilean wines are also available.
F00D: Peru has long expanses of seacoast and much of the food source comes from the Pacific, so you'll want to sample delicious "chupes" (seafood chowders). Peru is the home of the potato and over 300 varieties exist; many are never seen in the U.S. Try "Papas Rellenas" (stuffed potatoes) or "Papas a la Huancaina" (boiled yellow potatoes with a special cheese sauce).
RESTAURANTS: Lima offers a wide variety of dining, ranging from popular eat-on-the-run "anticucho" stands (anticuchos are marinated meats on stick) to "chifas" (elegant Chinese restaurants which the local residents are mad about). There are also places specializing in seafood, Italian cuisine, and general continental menus. A few places offer Peruvian folklore shows. Check with our local office for their up-to-date recommendations.
SHOPPING: Goods from all over Peru are available in stores in Lima, including weavings from the Andean highlands, fine silver, decorative mirrors and a wide variety of arts and crafts. Check into Sylvana Prints. Av Nicolas de Piero a 714 (downtown Lima). Sylvania has designed beautiful hand-screened fabrics using many Indian motifs for her inspiration. The fabrics themselves are lightweight and make wonderful gifts and can be used for unique clothing, wall hangings, furniture coverings and so forth. Best yet, they are lightweight and take up little space in your suitcase. Along the same street the, baskets for sale are of excellent quality and come in handy for packing your overflow purchases. Carved gourds are also sold here. They are lightweight, expensive and make good gifts. Bargaining is the rule with the street vendors.
The downtown shopping complex known as "1900" at Belen #1030 houses a good restaurant and also a number of small shops and stalls with nice quality arts and crafts. "Eppa Peru", located downtown at Belen 1066. In San Isidro, is a government-run co-operative. The prices are not negotiable but are very reasonable. Stop by Artesanias del Peru at 610 Jorge Basadre Ave. in San Isidro and La Gringa at 522 La Paz Ave. in Miraflores. A hint to the wise - some of the best “buys” in Lima is personal services such as haircuts. Pedicures. Manicures etc. |
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