Peru Travel Specialists
Our Peru specialists are experienced and passionate about the country - between them they have spent many weeks a year researching new experiences and ensuring everything is of the highest standard. They know Peru inside out.
LizziePeru Specialist01993 838 616
Cuzco is a haven for jewellery, with many shops selling earrings inlaid with semi-precious stones. But don't forget to barter a little on the price!
Peru travel specialist - Lizzie
AnnaPeru Specialist01993 838 626
Check out the markets around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley for Christmas gifts such as alpaca woollens which are lightweight and easy to pack in your suitcase to bring home and make fantastic presents.
Peru travel specialist - Anna
BethPeru Specialist01993 838 608
Don't miss out on jungle food when in the Amazon. It is utterly different to the typical cuisine of the highlands.
Peru travel specialist - Beth
SarahPeru Specialist01993 838 623
In most South American countries you will be given an immigration card on arrival - keep this with your passport as you will need to present it when leaving the country.
Peru travel specialist - Sarah
RichardPeru Specialist01993 838 624
It is hard to miss the breathtaking scenery Peru offers visitors, but your experience will also be enriched by taking time to engage with the charming and friendly Peruvian people.
Peru travel specialist - Richard
OonaghPeru Specialist01993 838 627
A visit to the Santa Catalina convent is a must while you are in Arequipa. It is a beautiful walled city within the city itself and haven of peace and tranquility.
Peru travel specialist - Oonagh
JoannaPeru Specialist01993 838 999
If you are going to partake on an Inca Trek, remember to take a few days to acclimatise as altitude sickness can affect even the fittest.
Peru travel specialist - Joanna
HollyPeru Specialist01993 838 619
Don't underestimate just how warm alpaca clothing products are. So much cosier than wool so remember to stock up for winter in the Andean markets and they make great gifts too.
Peru travel specialist - Holly
- Lizzie
- Anna
- Beth
- Sarah
- Richard
- Oonagh
- Joanna
- Holly
Practical Information
Peru has an array of ‘must-see’ sights that tend to be visited in a logical route, and at Audley we pride ourselves on being able to offer our clients these classic trips but also something to make your trip a more authentic and personal experience.
During our extensive travels throughout the length and breadth of the country researching hotels and excursions we have discovered some options that will allow you to escape the crowds just for a while, be it a quiet lunch in a hacienda, a homestay or a private Inca Trail walk.
Managing your time in Peru
To make the most of the country, trips to Peru tend to be busy affairs with plenty of early mornings and long days, although we will ensure that you have time to rest, and also time to acclimatise to the altitude.
Internal flights
Internal flights (which tend to be scheduled in the mornings, hence the need for early starts) are used where necessary, but wherever possible we prefer to make use of the spectacular road and rail journeys that link the main towns and sights.
Language
Spanish is the official language, English is spoken in tourist areas. Many indigenous communities in the highlands still have the ancient languages of Quechua and Aymara as their mother tongue.
Food and drink
Seafood is a speciality in the coastal areas, especially the traditional 'ceviche', fish marinated in lemon juice and hot peppers. Highland cuisine is based around corn and potatoes, there are many nutritious and tasty soups and the main delicacy is roasted guinea pig ('cuy'). The most famous drink is pisco, a white grape brandy with a unique taste. Coca tea is made from an infusion of coca leaves and helps to ward of altitude sickness, the most popular soft drink is the national institution of Inca-Kola, a luminous yellow drink that is probably best avoided.
Tipping
Tipping for good service is an accepted fact. Amounts are discretionary.
Money
The Peruvian currency is the new sol. Change is always in short supply. ATM's are available in the major cities and towns. Most machines take all debit cards, as well as Cirrus and Plus cards. Visa and Amex are widely accepted (Mastercard to a lesser degree). If you want to bring traveller's cheques, they should be in US dollars, and not sterling although in general the rate of exchange and commission charges will not be as favourable as that received with cash or cards.
Under The Skin
Read
Joe Simpson, 'Touching the Void'. A gripping true story recounting one man's struggle with a near fatal accident in the Andean Huayhuash mountain range and his pure determination to survive all the elements. The book has some great descriptions of the Peruvian Andes and Joe Simpsons trek in central Peru.
Listen
At least once in your stay in Peru you will experience the unforgettable sound of the 'Flight of the Condor' with pan pipes, charangos and zamponas.
Watch
John Simpson's 'In the Forests of the Night'. This account by the BBC news editor of the Peruvian Shining Path touches on the problems encountered by Peruvians during the terror years of this extreme movement in the early nineties. 'The Motorcycle Diaries' by Che Guevara. A great moment when Che and Ernesto struggle up the Inca Trail and a small Andean local sprints past with no effort at all.
Eat
Ceviche on the coast of Peru. A delicious dish served best before midday, raw fresh fish and seafood marinaded in lime juice, onions, chilli peppers and garlic.
Drink
Chicha. Look out for the red flag hanging outside the Peruvians front doors. The locals brew this ancient recipe in their own home, a complex process of boiling fresh maize, crushing it, reboiling it and letting it ferment for a few days, then they serve it to passers by for about 30p a glass. A fresher alternative is a non-alcoholic version called Chicha Morada, it is a very tasty soft drjnk often served with lunch made from the purple corn growing in many of the fields in the Andes.
Word
Salud!
Trademarks
Amazon, Machu Picchu, the Incas, ponchos and panpipes.
Pick up some good quality leather shoes in Lima and some warm alpaca jumpers to keep warm in the winter.