Transportation

1. Air

Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima, is the main hub for domestic and international flights in Peru. Air travel can be used for traveling to some jungle destinations and tourist spots within Peru. Reliable airlines in Peru are Aero Continente, TANS and Lan Peru. Aero Condor and Aero Santander are other small airline services in Peru. Small aircrafts and passenger flights connect major cities with jungle towns such as Pucallpa, Tarapoto, Satipo and San Ramon.

2. Bus

Buses are the best mode of intercity transport. They usually start from fixed points, following fixed schedules and connect almost all major cities with coastal areas, tourist spots and towns. First-class express buses, complete with video, checked luggage and even meal service is available for travel between major cities. A passport may be required to purchase a ticket. It is best advised to purchase a ticket at least one day prior to the travel. Long distance journeys usually cost about $1.50 per hour. Some of the reliable bus services in Peru are Cruz del Sur, Ormeńo and Movil.

Buses can also be used for traveling within the city. It costs about US$ 0.20 to $0.40 for traveling within the city.

3. Car

Cars can be very handy for reaching remote tourist destinations but it is not advisable to use them at major cities in Peru, as the traffic is chaotic and reckless. International driving licenses are valid for thirty days in Peru. Cars can be rented at all major cities. Some of the reliable car rental services in Peru are Aamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National Car.

4. Ferry

A few ferry crossings on the Amazon River offer transport facilities to tourists. Boats and ferries follow regular schedules and routes and connect areas along the Amazon River such as La Paz, Bolivia and Puno. Motorboats, motor canoes and balsa rafts can be used to get to forest areas.

5. Ship

A large number of cruise ships depart from different ports in America and arrive at numerous ports in Peru such as Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa and Yurimaguas. Cruises to Peru from America usually last for one to two weeks.

6. Taxi

Taxis are found everywhere at all towns and cities in Peru. Taxis can be flagged on streets or can be called to the hotel for a pick up. Taxis are not metered so negotiate the fare before getting into the taxi. Colectivos or shared taxis are unique to Peru and offer affordable and reliable service for traveling to coastal towns and tourist spots around the country.

G. Facts and Figures

- Official Name: Republic of Peru

- Passport/Visa Requirements: A valid passport and a return ticket is required to be shown at the time of entering the country. Tourists must hold visas for stays up to 90 days.

- Population: 28,302,603

- Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

- Predominant Religions: Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3%

- Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5 hours. No daylight saving time.

- Voltage Requirements: 220V 60HzHz

- Telephone Codes: 51 - international country code.