3 Questions to Ask Your Travel Agent Before Visiting Peru

Are you looking for places to visit in Peru? Have you wondered about the best Machu Picchu tours, or dreamt of seeing the real Nazca lines at the foot of the real Andes? There is a lot to see and do in Peru, and you want to see it all, right? You can improve your chances of having a great adventure in Peru by asking your travel agent the right questions. Let’s look at three of them.

Have you traveled to my destination?

A good agent travels often for business and for pleasure. He or she is familiar with the country. They can save you money and time; they can also save you from from a great deal of stress.

Our agents are experts on Peru. We live and work in this beautiful country, and travel extensively.

We can give you tips on eating out, including what restaurants have the best ceviche and who grows their own vegetables and brings them straight to your table. We can advise on what to wear and what not to wear, whether you are hiking Machu Picchu or going to a play at a theater in Lima.

Our guides meet you at your destination, helping to customize your adventure to fit your desires. We will give you tips on local customs and traditions, the best time of day to visit the places you want to see, and help with options when timing or weather would best be met with a change of plans. Just ask. And keep on asking. We love to talk about Peru.

Do I need a VISA to travel to Peru?

You really have to get this right, so it’s a great question. Our agents are likely to bring it up anyway, but why not ask from the beginning; if you need a visa, you’ll have to budget the time to get one.

However, citizens of most countries don’t have to apply for a visa before traveling to Peru, as long as you go there as a tourist. A valid passport (valid for at least half a year with at least two free pages) and a TAM (Tarjeta Andina de Migracion) may be all that’s needed.

TAMS are available on planes and border crossings before entering the country. You simply fill it out and hand it to the border official, who can give you up to 183 days stay (remember that is the most you can stay any year). Here is the list of who needs a visa, as of September, 2015 (be sure to check current information when you travel):

• North America: You do not need a visa; you only need a valid passport and a TAM if you are from the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
• Europe: You only need a passport and a TAM unless you are from Albania, Armenia, Azerbajian, Georgia, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina – you will need a visa if you are from one of these six European countries;
• Countries of Central America and the Caribbean Islands: You only need a passport and a TAM if you are from Central America and the Caribbean except, you will need a visa if you are from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic.

In addition:

• All African countries except South Africa need a visa. If you are from South Africa, the valid passport and a TAM will do.
• All Asian countries in Asia need a visa except Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Note that it’s very important you keep ahold of your TAM. You will need it for hotels if you don’t want to pay the 18% tax, and you’ll need it in other locations.

What should I know about Peruvian Currency?

The currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol (commonly referred to as “sol.”) It comes in coins and paper bills. Many locations in Peru don’t accept credit cards, so ash is important, but here are two important tips:

Always have change in your pockets. Many taxi drivers and vendors do not like to give change.

Don’t accept damaged bills. Bring crisp, new bills that have absolutely no tears in them; if someone tries to make change with a torn bill, refuse it –you are likely not to be able to use it yourself, as most vendors of any size do not accept damaged bills.

We have many more answers for you! Call one of our travel agents now at … or chat or leave a message online. We love Peru, and are excited to give you the opportunity to love it as well. Book your tour and/or chat online with one of our agents here now.