FAQ

None of the seasons of the year are bad to visit Peru. Peru’s climate can be divided into two seasons – wet and dry – though this can vary depending on the region. Temperature is mostly influenced by elevation: the higher you climb, the cooler it becomes.

Peru’s peak tourist season is from April to October, which is the dry season in the Andean highlands. It’s also the best time to go if you are interested in hiking, cycling or mountain climbing. For travelers who visit the highlands year-round, the wettest months, January and February, make trekking a muddy proposition. However, many of the major festivities occur around this time and continue undiminished in spite of heavy rain.

On the coast, Peruvians visit the beach during the sunny, humid months from December through March. The rest of the year, the coast is clothed in mist.

In the eastern rainforests, it naturally rains a lot. The wettest months are December to May, but travelers visit year-round. It is due to it rarely rains for more than a few hours at a time and there is plenty of sunshine to enjoy.

We recommend that you book your trip at least 3 months in advance, but if you are doing the Inca Trail, we recommend that you book your trip 6 to 9 months in advance, especially if you are traveling to Cusco between June and August, which is a high season.

Payment can be made by credit card, via PayPal (5% fee) or bank transfer. In case of bank transfer all transfer costs should be assumed by the client.

International flights are not included in the price due to travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours. For this reason we do not make international flight arrangements in our tours, but we can do so if requested. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking. You may also book these flights through your preferred travel agent in your country.

All of our Tours include domestic airfare and transportation. Whether a Tour offers flights, private vehicles, buses or train transportation, Arpay Hikes and Treks provides only the best service.

Citizens from most countries in the Americas (including the United States and Canada) and Western Europe do not need to get a visa in advance. You obtain a visa upon entering the country. Bolivians, Ecuadorians, and Chileans may even enter specific regions of the country just by presenting their national identification documents. Nevertheless, it would be a good idea to check with the Peruvian consulate in your country. The maximum authorized length of stay for tourism is 90 days stamped into your passports and onto a tourist card, called “Tarjeta Andina de Migración” or Andean Immigration Card, which you must return upon leaving the country. The Immigration office can extend this period. Carry your passport and tourist card with you, or at the very least, always keep a photocopy of your passport on you at all times, especially when traveling in remote areas (it’s required by law on the Inca Trail).

We do not provide travel insurance in our tours due to the majority of travelers have their own travel insurance, but if you need one, just ask for a quote when making your booking. We strongly recommend you obtain travel insurance for your trip. If you already have one, review your personal insurance and your health insurance to ensure you have appropriate cover to meet your needs, and the needs of your family and dependents, in case of any loss of property, accident, injury or death, trip cancellation, interruptions, delays and lost luggage insurance. Also check with your credit card provider. Some credit cards come with traveler’s insurance programs as part of their service. Some organizations such as the AAA (Automobile Association) also offer insurance services for travelers. There are many well-established insurance companies that specialize in traveler’s insurance services. Make sure that at least you have good emergency medical coverage, especially if you will be participating in extreme sports activities.

It always depends on how much you plan to spend in restaurants, souvenirs, etc. Arpay Hikes & Treks tours are usually all inclusive, and extra money is only needed for an occasional meal and for purchasing souvenirs. Tips are not included in the tour price. If you wish to give tips it is recommended that you bring along extra cash.

Altitude sickness, also known as soroche in Peru, is a pathological effect of high altitude, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen. The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen at a specific altitude. An infusion, called “Mate de Coca” or coca leaf tea, made with the leaves of the coca plant (considered to have been a sacred plant for the Incas and still seen as such by many people in the highlands of Peru) is recommended. It is purported to help relieve altitude sickness and you can find it easily. Like regular tea it has a mild stimulating effect and a pleasant taste.

Sorochi or Gravol are pills that can help and can be purchased locally over-the-counter at pharmacies and airports. Nevertheless, we recommend you consult with your doctor if you are worried about traveling at high altitudes. Ask if it is OK for you to take any of these medications, or bring your prescriptions with you.

Most travelers do not have any problem with the altitude, just following these recommendations:

• Eat light dinner on the eve of a day trip to the height.
• Do little physical activity on the first day.
• Eat light foods, especially at night.
• Drink plenty of fluids.

Consume mates of coca leaf or muña that help good digestion.

You only need vaccinations if you are planning to travel to the Amazon Rainforest. You should take the proper measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites: vaccinations against tropical diseases, insect repellant and medication. Consult your doctor before traveling. Note that a Yellow Fever vaccine is required if you will be traveling in the rainforest, and must be administered at least 10 days before your trip. If not, it will not take effect.

Breakfasts are included every day with hotel stays. Depending on the hotel or destination, we also occasionally include several lunches during the tours and select dinners. Meals that are included in our Tours are excellent and the restaurants carefully chosen in order to give our customers the best dining experience possible. Nevertheless, we prefer to keep most lunches and dinners free to allow travelers to see how they feel each day and what type of cuisine they desire. Peru has a great number of superb restaurants and Peruvian cuisine is ranked amongst the top ten in the world. We make advanced restaurant reservations when requested, and we provide detailed lists of recommended restaurants in each location you will be travelling in.

It is best to bring the luggage you feel most comfortable carrying, but you can travel with a suitcase if you prefer. Choose one with sturdy wheels if possible. If you will be doing the Inca trail bring a backpack or duffel bag. Waist bags are highly recommended so that you can keep your money, credit cards and passport on you at all times.

We always recommend packing as light as possible; however the specific requirements for your tour will vary widely depending on where and when you are traveling. If you are coming in Summer you can bring shorts, jeans, T-shirts, sandals, quality sun block and a hat, as well as a light jumper or jacket, as there is often a cool breeze at night. During Winter a jacket and thicker wool or cotton clothes are essential; they can be obtained here in malls and clothing stores. If you are going to the Andean plateau or jungle you should take waterproof clothing or an umbrella for the rain, as well as insect repellent. Our hikes and treks also require proper footwear and comfortable clothe depending on the difficulty of the hike.