General Info

[Chuday]

Can anyone recommend me a good travel agency or tour operator? I want to visit cusco & machu pichu. This is a rather last minute travel plan and wanted to see if there is someone who comes recommended.

I have seen quite a few tour operators on Ave Larco & Jose Pardo and not sure if they are any good. Any recommendations??

By the way, today on my way to Vivanda I noticed these guys wearing green jacket exchanging money on Ave Larco. I take it they are all legit? Is there a chance of getting scammed by these guys? What about receiving fake soles? Is it a good idea to exchange money on the street just to make a few extra soles in the transactiion?

Thanks to you all in advance for your reply.

[Stymie]

i just got back from peru and wanted to give a summary of my trip and provide some insight to anyone that may be going soon.

before i talk about anything i want to give david_33 his due. the guy is a magician. the girls he put us in contact with were definitely the best gfe experiences we have ever had and that include most of central america, south america and europe. the girls were all attractive and very sweet. we can not thank david_33 enough and hope to get back down very soon.

overall lima was very nice. as far as chicas go the only other place we visited was tequila rock. while there were actually some very attractive girls in here, the atmosphere in this night club is more depressing than others like it in buenos aires, costa rica and rio, but the some very attractive girls can be found in here. the girls we brought home were nice looking but were definitely hardened from working the clubs. they were pretty hardcore in the bed as well though, no complaints there, so if you can deal with the shakedown and prefer the nightclub pickup you will probably enjoy this place. we, however never went back after arranging something through david_33. we stayed in miraflores in an apartment. miraflores in general felt very safe with police on nearly every corner. the town did turn into a ghost town on monday-wednesday by 1 am and all bars were closed by 1:30 on those days. barranco had a lot more night life and tended to be more vibrant but maybe not as safe.

we were able to get sim cards for our unlocked phones at the claro on the corner of 28 de julio and av larco. when you go in you get a number by pushing prepay/non claro customer button on the touchscreen menu after you enter the door. you then wait til your number comes up on the tv screen at the back of the strore showing you what number rep to c. she then has you go pay for your sim at the cashier and come back. the sim was like 15 soles. you then have to remember to go back to the cashier and add dollars to your card so that you can make calls. calls were charge at. 15 soles a minute i believe. in addition we added unlimited internet for the week to the card. the price for this was 70 soles for the week. we were able to retrieve emails and internet sites on the phone and it was pretty quick. phone said 3g network and speeds were good. also by having internet we were able to utilize google maps on the phone along with gps and could navigate anywhere we wanted since google maps works in lima. this was all on an unlocked google phone that we brought with us and was essential since the taxis really do not know where anything is at. be warned that there are some proxy settings that you have to set on your phone for the claro network to work and the instructions can be found with a simple google search.

i speak no spanish so i was worried about haggling with the no meter taxis before entering. this turned out to not be a problem at all. the rates they quoted were always 1 or 2 soles higher than they normally would charge but they came down quickly with a counter. that said, most if not all do not have a good understanding of the streets so you need to have a cross street and a major landmark to tell them. i think the best way and the best prices we were quoted was when we wrote it on a piece of paper and presenting it to them. you also need to take note of which borough(san isidro, barranco, miraflores) your street is located in as the same street name might be in two different boroughs miles apart and the taxi will take you to whatever he knows. the gps enables phone with google maps came in handy to show the taxi driver where we needed to be as well.

a note about getting taxis to the airport. hailing a taxi off the street to the return to the airport was next to impossible as most refused to go. best to arrange a ride in advance so as not to miss your flight. we were charged $25 for ours. more than we wanted but no taxis would take us. the food in nearly every restaurant we went to was great. especially enjoyed tanta, la mar and brujas de cabiche sp?,

last, if you are into coffee in the third wave style(intelligentsia, counter culture et al) there is a small coffee shop that roasts its beans in the back of the store and makes a very nice shot with some award winning local coffee farmers supplying the beans. the shop is called arabica and it is located in miraflores on av recavarren between jose parde and berlin.

lima was great and definitely goes to the top of the list for places to monger. and once again i can not thank david_33 enough. do yourself a favor and contact him.

editor's note: i would suggest that the author or another forum member consider posting a link to this report in the reports of distinction thread. please click here for more information.

[Xpartan]

At Puerto Maldonaldo there where 2 lines as you enter the arrivals. One for with and one for without Yellow Fever shots. I believe it is the same in Lima. Ask some one when you arrive. Keep the WHO Certificate you will have proof.

I have been to over 30 countries since Peru nd have never been asked about Yellow Fever shots.

Since I was heading to Costa Rica after Peru, I did the Yellow Fever shot on arrival at the airport in Lima. It was quick, cheap and painless. I think the shot and international certificate cost me less than $25, compared to $150+ in the States. I was also asked twice to present the certificate: first at the TACA counter before the flight, and the second time by the immigration in San Jose, so guys: don't risk it. It ain't worth a ruined vacation. 10 days period is correct.

[Bandy]

Brazil official urges more sex for better health

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100426/...mF6aWxvZmZpY2k

Bandy

[Bowline]

There is a clinic in the airport. If you are facing the check-in desks it is way over to the right and past the escalators to departures. Just near the toilets on the ground floor.

Note that their is an "activation" time for Yellow fever. I think it is 10 days prior to travel. So either get it done in time or negotiate a backdated certificate with US $.

Polvo

At Puerto Maldonaldo there where 2 lines as you enter the arrivals. One for with and one for without Yellow Fever shots. I believe it is the same in Lima. Ask some one when you arrive. Keep the WHO Certificate you will have proof.

I have been to over 30 countries since Peru nd have never been asked about Yellow Fever shots.

[Polvo]

Anyone know where I can get Yellow Fever immunization in Lima? I just learned I'll need it since I'm going to Costa Rica after Peru.

There is a clinic in the airport. If you are facing the check-in desks it is way over to the right and past the escalators to departures. Just near the toilets on the ground floor.

Note that their is an "activation" time for Yellow fever. I think it is 10 days prior to travel. So either get it done in time or negotiate a backdated certificate with US $.

Polvo

[Kabooby]

Anyone know where I can get Yellow Fever immunization in Lima? I just learned I'll need it since I'm going to Costa Rica after Peru.

Try SuizaLab, they got an International Vaccination Center
www.suizalab.com/en/servicios_vacunatorio.htm

[Kalifornan]

Not many people realize it but the Yellow Fever immunization is at least theoretically required by quite a few countries after you visit Peru. That said, I was never asked to prove I had the shot (but I always carry with me the Certificate of Vaccination - just in case).

I'm actually going to Machu Picchu, but I'm not doing it for Peru. It's a Costa Rica entry requirement for passengers traveling from Peru.

[Xpartan]

If you will stay in Lima only ... ''No, not at all!'' If you will reach small villages in the rainforest it would be better to do it.

I'm actually going to Machu Picchu, but I'm not doing it for Peru. It's a Costa Rica entry requirement for passengers traveling from Peru.

[FoxesHunter]

Anyone know where I can get Yellow Fever immunization in Lima? I just learned I'll need it since I'm going to Costa Rica after Peru.

If you will stay in Lima only ... ''No, not at all!'' If you will reach small villages in the rainforest it would be better to do it.

[Xpartan]

Anyone know where I can get Yellow Fever immunization in Lima? I just learned I'll need it since I'm going to Costa Rica after Peru.

[Srslice]

What I have done in the past is get a couple of certified copies done. Visit a notario. This will ensure your copy is certified by a public authority and I have got them to accept this at Ripley and Saga (at least in Miraflores). It costs about s/20 to get this done, but worth it.

Vic, how are you? This guide is great, and I wish I had it when I first came down! My only differences would be:

1) Stores will generally NOT accept a foto of a passport. I've shopped at Ripley and other stores and if I want to use a credit card I need the real deal.

2) I can't imagine fitting everything I need for a two week trip into just carry-on bags.

Thanks for all those great tips, my friend!

[Doc Bill]

Vic, how are you? This guide is great, and I wish I had it when I first came down! My only differences would be:
1) Stores will generally NOT accept a foto of a passport. I've shopped at Ripley and other stores and if I want to use a credit card I need the real deal.
2) I can't imagine fitting everything I need for a two week trip into just carry-on bags.

Thanks for all those great tips, my friend!

[John Gault]

Newbe check list
After learning many things the hard way I thought I would share some info on helpful travel hints.
1. Before you depart call all banks and credit companys about your plans. Get the international phone numbers for any problems once you are in place. Have at least 2 different ATM cards.
Bring some cash also. Your call depending on how long your trip will be.
2. Keep a list of friends and family phone numbers you may need to call if problems arise.
3. Make a couple of copies of your passport photo page. Do not carry your passport unless you must as a copy will do most anywhere except the airport.
4. Pack so you can only use carry on bags. This will save you time at the airport and also no worry about bags. I have had my bags lost twice and it took each time 2 days to get them back with an extra trip to the airport to retrieve them.
5. At the airport keep most of your cash hidden on your person as this is a most dangerous time for you as crooks know you did not come to their country without money in your pocket.
6. For longer stays get an apartment, for short stays always get a girl friendly hotel close to the action.
7. Never fool around with girls who work at your hotel. I can not stress this enough.
8. Check ISG often on your laptop. Yes a laptop is a great tool for info and down time.
9. Try and hook up with other more experienced Mongers if possible. At the least you will save money on cabs, and no doubt learn a lot from a experienced hand.Also take cabs to bad areas that you visit.
10. At places you want to return get the card. It is way better to show a cab driver a card than use your most likely limited Spanish.
11. Try and learn at least some basic Spanish like numbers and greetings and such.Better yet take a course before you leave home
12. If you are with a person who is from the country you are at and it comes time to get a price on goods or services it would be wise to lay back so the other party does not give a Gringo price
13. .Be a good fellow to the girls you meet. Treat them like a lady and you will be rewarded with most likely good service.
14. Don’t over pay or over tip the working girls. Do not spoil things for other Mongers.
15. Try as best as you can to blend in to the local scene. Don’t wear shorts to night clubs
16. If you get drunk in a bar you are now a possible target for bad guys. Yes they are out there and are watching for easy prey.
17. This one should have been closer to the top. If you are in for a long stay and are tired the first night then go to bed . Yeah I know you want action, but for me I always wish I would have taken it easy the first night. For you way younger guys you can disregard this warning.
18. Very important. Have fun, this is your time. Make the best of it. If you make a mistake don’t sweat it just move on.

[Doc Bill]

I went to El Sol for a couple of weeks and they are great. As an added bonus their teachers are really hot!