PERU TRAVEL SAFETY GUIDE

Transcription

1 PERU TRAVEL SAFETY GUIDE

2 Contents Contents Introduction Administrative Requirements Documents Vaccinations Currency Security conditions Crime Political tension Terrorism Sanitary Conditions Safety recommendations In case of emergency Guidelines for action Emergency telephone numbers... 9

3 1. Introduction The purpose of this guide is to provide you with the necessary actions and personal protection measures that you should follow when travelling abroad, especially if, because of your status within the company or social status, it could make you a target of criminal action. These steps should serve to prevent or at least minimise the risks inherent in travelling to a foreign country as criminal activity may be different from that in your home country, both in form and consequence. This guide will give you advise on the protective measures you should take when travelling abroad in order to avoid being the victim of criminal activity. This guide is intended for all expatriates who travel for business or pleasure and, especially, for those who travel abroad on a regular basis in order to carry out their business. 2. Administrative Requirements 2.1 Documents Passport / ID: A valid passport Visas: No visas are required for holders of ordinary passports if they are travelling for tourism, the maximum stay is 180 days (no extension possible). A visa is required if travelling for studies or business. Leaving the country: In order to leave the country you must present the duly completed Andean Immigration Card that was given to you when you entered into Peru. 2.2 Vaccinations Mandatory: None Recommended: Yellow fever if you plan to visit jungle areas. For the yellow fever vaccine to be effective it must be administered at least ten days prior to travel. Also advisable,

4 although not essential, is vaccination against typhoid, tetanus, polio, and hepatitis A and B. 2.3 Currency The maximum amount of foreign currency that can enter the country without being declared is USD 10,000 per trip during the 180 days that a tourist can stay. Entering the country without declaring capital over this amount is considered money laundering and is punishable with imprisonment. You can exchange euros and dollars at any banking institution. The only requirement to exchange these currencies is your passport. Most banks charge a 3% fee. There is always the possibility of exchanging currencies at currency exchange offices at a rate somewhat less favourable rate than at banks. Generally, almost no establishment accepts payment in dollars. You must be cautious of those which do. Therefore, it is always necessary to exchange your currency into Peruvian Sol. There is no option of opening currency accounts for non-resident foreigners. Airport taxes The payment of an exit tax is mandatory at Lima airport for both domestic and international flights. The fees are payable at the airport in dollars or soles, in cash, before flying. Payment is not accepted by credit card. Fees at other airports are lower. Fees are already included in the ticket price of domestic or international flights originating in Lima or Cuzco, so you no longer have to pay at the airport. 3. Security conditions Peru General: TAKE LOGICAL SAFETY MEASURES PRECAUTION HIGH LEVEL OF ALERTNESS RECONSIDER THE NEED TRAVEL THERE DO NOT TRAVEL

5 Borders with Ecuador and Colombia (except guarded border crossings): TAKE LOGICAL SAFETY MEASURES PRECAUTION HIGH LEVEL OF ALERTNESS RECONSIDER THE NEED TRAVEL THERE DO NOT TRAVEL Travelling unaccompanied in the interior of the country is strongly discouraged as well as travelling by car at night, not only because of the road conditions, which are not always satisfactory, but also because assaults usually occur at night. Access to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail is possible from April 1st, 2010, however the rains usually fall every year between January and May which can cause temporary disruption of access by rail to Aguas Calientes or road access to the area. Occasionally social protests are seen in the Cuzco region; their primary objective is often the obstruction of the Cuzco - Machu Picchu rail-road. You should consult your Travel agency about access. Risk areas (should be avoided): The Cholon districts (province of Marañón) and Monzón (Huamalies province) and the province of Leoncio Prado in the Huanuco department; the Tocache province in the department of San Martin, and the Padre Abad province in the Ucayali are areas where drug trafficking is present. Avoiding travel either by road or by boat to remote and sparsely populated areas of the Amazon and Loreto departments is recommended. It is also advisable to not travel at night by bus in the southern and central mountainous areas of the country. It is also dangerous to walk unaccompanied off the usual and busy paths and in the lowland forest area because the dense vegetation blocks light and can cause disorientation. In regards to hiking, climbing and other mountain activities, it is absolutely essential that you do not perform these activities unaccompanied because of the risks inherent to them, especially at heights sometimes exceeding 4,000 metres above sea level and in often unpopulated areas without mobile coverage. Medium risk area: Because of common crime, medium risk areas are the historic centres of some cities (Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa) and especially crowded areas (bus stations, markets, public transport) throughout the country. In these cases the usual precautions should be taken.

6 Unproblematic areas: The rest of the country, although it is recommended not to travel at night. 3.1 Crime Leaving your aeroplane ticket and credit cards in the hotel safe or carrying them with you but out of view is advised. It is a good idea to make a photocopy of your passport and other important documents so you can use them instead of your originals. You should be cautious of displaying money, cameras or video cameras and jewellery, to prevent theft. You must be especially careful with belongings on long journeys by bus, as well as in public establishments (bars, restaurants) and always have your handbags within view. Walking during the day or at night in sparsely populated areas is not recommended; go on tours in groups and if you are a victim of theft, do not put up any resistance, as this may encourage aggression.

7 Special caution is recommended when choosing a taxi. Upon arrival at Lima's international airport Jorge Chávez ( it is better to use official transport companies. Hotels usually have trusted taxis they use. 3.2 Political tension In general the political situation in Peru is stable. 3.3 Terrorism Remember that no country is currently safe from international terrorism. Because of the serious insecurity in areas where people who still belong to Shining Path are present and in alliance with narco-traffickers, certain areas of the country that are outside the usual tourist circuits should be avoided. Currently there is a state of emergency declared in the provinces of Huanta and La Mar (Ayacucho department), in the province of Tayacaja (Huancavelica department) in the districts of Kimbiri, Pichari and Vilcabamba in the province of La Convención (Cuzco department). These locations are part of the geographic scope of the valley of the Apurimac and Ene rivers (VRAE), known to be one of the valleys with the highest illegal coca production in the country and an area where terrorists operate. Also in states of emergency are the provinces of Satipo, in Andamarca and Comas in Concepción and the districts of Santo Domingo de Acobamba and Pariahuanca in Huancayo (Junín department). The provinces of Chincheros in the department of Apurimac and Churcampa in the Huancavelica department are along the route where you can find people who belong to Shining Path. 3.4 Sanitary Conditions Sanitary conditions are good in general, but taking out travel-medical insurance that is as broad as possible is strongly recommended. Depending on the region in question the following recommendations should be taken into account: If visiting the jungle you must protect yourself against yellow fever and malaria. For the yellow fever vaccine to be effective it must be given at least ten days prior to travel. We strongly recommend applying insect repellent on any trip to the rainforest or jungle. Wearing long sleeves, especially at dawn and dusk is advisable. Prophylaxis against malaria is recommended. In the mountainous regions or soroche, altitude sickness can begin to appear at 3,000 metres. Rest is recommended when a high altitude is reached, especially if you arrive by aeroplane from the coast (the Lima-Cuzco route, for example), and also eating light foods and drinking herbal tea. It is also advisable to use sunscreen with a high protection factor when travelling to areas that have a high altitude and especially in Arequipa, where the solar radiation index is the highest in the world.

8 On the coast you must take care with both mosquitoes and sunburn since the sun's rays are especially harsh as Peru is near the equator. In general you should avoid drinking tap water as well as vegetables and fruit that have not been washed first. Consuming fish, vegetables and fruit in establishments with limited health guarantees is not recommended. Taking anti-diarrhoeal medication with you is recommended (although they are also available in medium and large sized cities). Care in clinics and hospitals is acceptable, especially in Lima. It is essential that mountaineers be in possession of medical insurance; the use of a qualified guide and making excursions in groups is highly recommended. 4. Safety recommendations Drugs: Possession, use or trafficking of drugs (including marijuana) is strictly prohibited. The penalties imposed for drug trafficking range from 8 to 15 years imprisonment if the offence is done individually, and between 15 and 25 if the criminal is considered a member of a gang involved in drug trafficking. The penalty can reach life imprisonment if the defendant is a gang leader who uses the drug trade to finance terrorist offences. Controls at borders and airports, conducted by police and sniffer dogs, are comprehensive. It is extremely difficult to transport drugs abroad as they will be detected by the local authorities. Transport: The roads have improved greatly in recent years but you need to drive with caution as there are many cases of reckless drivers who have careless attitudes. When planning travel by land you must take into account the season, of which there are two: the austral summer (December to April) is a season when travelling along the coast is easy but difficult in the mountains and the jungle, as in those areas it is the rainy season and the dirt tracks undergo serious damage. And the austral winter (May to October); is the dry season in the mountains and the jungle, so you can visit both without too much trouble. The coast remains covered, but there is little rainfall. The calculation how long a journey will take by land in Peru includes more than the kilometres. It is essential to know what type of road you will be travelling on: motorway (on only some stretches of the coast), paved roads, dirt roads or tracks.

9 Natural Disasters Earthquakes are relatively common throughout the country. In the case of an earthquake the following procedures should be taken: stay away from walls, windows, trees, signs and similar objects, move into an open area or shelter under a door-frame or near elevator shafts if you are in a tall building, and keeping calm. The vast majority of hotels, establishments and public buildings have designated safe areas marked with the letter "S" in large letters in case of an earthquake, and they have exhaustive marking of emergency exits. Following the instructions of the authorities at all times is recommended and after the earthquake, whenever possible, contact family or friends to inform them of your situation by telephone or SMS. In case of high magnitude earthquakes, telephone calls may be difficult because of the overloading of telephone lines for some time. The use of short message service (SMS) is recommended to communicate with family and friends. 5. In case of emergency 5.1 Guidelines for action In case you are in an emergency situation, follow these guidelines: - If you are walking down the street and feel you are being watched, change direction and be alert to any reactions around you. - If you find yourself in a dangerous or difficult situation, steer away from dark or empty streets, try to find your way to a public area and telephone for help. - If you are robbed, keep calm and remember that it is more important to avoid physical harm. Attackers should never be confronted. Hand over your money and valuables without resistance, keeping a safe distance and speaking softly to build confidence. If you suffer an assault or any other criminal act, report it to the authorities and also to the embassy. 5.2 Emergency telephone numbers The phone numbers below are for dialling from within Peru. If you call from a mobile phone or a land-line in another province, you must include the appropriate provincial code. If calling from abroad, dial the country code (0051), the provincial code (without zero) and the corresponding number.

10 National police emergency telephone numbers throughout Peru: Tumbes (Tumbes) 072 / Piura (Piura) 073 / Piura (Sullana) 073 / Lambayeque (Chiclayo) 074 / La Libertad (Trujillo) 044 / Ancash (Chimbote) 043 / Ancash (Huaraz) 043 / Lima 105 Loreto (Iquitos) 065 / Ucayali (Pucallpa) 061 / Junín (Huancayo) 064 / Ica (Ica) 056 / Cuzco (Cuzco) 084 / Arequipa (Arequipa) 054 / Tacna (Tacna) 052 / Puno (Ilave) 051 / Amazonas (Bagua) 041/ Amazonas (Chachapoyas) 041 / San Martín (Tarapoto) 042 / Ayacucho (Huamanga) 066 / Carry this emergency card with you during your trip which states "In case of emergency, please call the telephone number listed below" in several languages. Write the number on the dotted line that you want called if an unexpected event occurs.

11 FRONT BACK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL THE PHONE IN DRINGENDEN FÄLLEN STEHEN WIR RUFEN SIE DIE TELEFON الهات ف ع لى االت صال ي رج ى ال طارئ ة ال حاال ت ف ي EN CAS D'URGENCE S'IL VOUS PLAÎT APPEL DU TELEPHONE EN CASO DE EMERGENCIA POR FAVOR LLAME AL TFNO.. USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS